Brownout is their name and hot, sweaty Latino funk is their game. Seriously, this is good stuff. This album might be stonking 15 tracks long, but Brownout don't drop the ball at any time. The grooves just keep on coming, and coming, and coming! But then this eight-piece funk outfit from Austin, Texas, is the offshoot of another powerhouse outfit Grupo Fantasma.

1. Con el Cuete
2. Another Fire
3. Ayer y Hoy
4. C 130
5. Chanclas de Ninja
6. Con el Cuete
7. Cuete Interlude
8. Family Show
9. Framed By Death
10. Nawlins
11. Olvidalo
12. Pole Position
13. Semi Futuristic Love Affair
14. Slinky
15. Tell Her
16. The Flea

Whether it's slinky, soulful grooves, like "C130" or Tequila-soaked floorshakers like "Nawlins", they really do not put a foot wrong. There are nods to Blaxploitation and the late, great Isaac Hayes, particularly on the superbly titled "Chanclas de Ninja", which means something like the flip-flops of a Ninja. It's like Hayes had fired Lalo Schifrin from scoring "Enter The Dragon" and taken on the job himself. This track in particular in one of the few non-instrumentals on the CD, but still packs a mighty punch.

A few more vocal tracks would have been welcome, but ultimately this CD is still a taut and exuberant record. You genuinely can't fault it. It's the whole enchilada and the band are on fire. It will make you dance all night long, drink Desperados and have a real good time.

~ Jamie Hailstone

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