El Guincho - Alegranza

Alegranza is just what Scotland needs when faced with autumn’s volatile clouds and persistent winds: Escapism. We need marimbas; we need warm Spanish vocals; we need relentless beats. On his debut LP, El Guincho captures the vibe of an all-night Caribbean beach party and commits it to wax. Finding infectious rhythms in pulsing African drumbeats and sweet tropical song, one might draw connections to Vampire Weekend and M.I.A., but El Guincho avoids the precious indie of the former and doesn't quite match the often-breakneck tempo of the latter. But songs like Antillas and Prez Lagarto will surely get toes tappin', and Cuando Maravilla Fui could get even the most stoic listener on the dancefloor. One drawback, though - while it's a great party record, some of the grooves become a bit repetitive: Great for bustin' a move, not quite so much for an iPod listen. [Jason Morton]