Blow Up

The international smash "Fuego" showed what Colombia’s Bomba Estéreo were all about: freewheeling rhythm—drawing from reggae and Latin funk—with stylish production and the fiery vocals of Liliana Saumet. Leader Simón Mejía is a studio wizard who blends programmed grooves with live percussion and guitars; he conjures everything from an African juju beat on "La Boquilla" to Eno-like synthscapes on "Palenke." Saumet is magnetic throughout, whether she's fast and sassy on "La Niña Rica" or soft and seductive on "Feelin'."