Golden

Three years after his pop breakthrough, 2014’s guest-studded Fórmula, Vol. 2, bachata king Romeo Santos returns with a more intimate set of grooves, sounding as if he’d rediscovered the sensual pulse of that singularly Dominican rhythm. Golden once again oscillates between delicate and danceable, with the most striking moments swirling like R&B slow jams built from pointillist Latin percussion (“Imitadora”). Whatever the tempo, though, the main draw remains his airy-but-aching falsetto, which hits soulful new heights (“Tuyo”). And while Golden scales back his previous eclecticism, Santos still sprinkles in a few surprises, including a mischievous tribute to Motown ballads (“Un Vuelo A La”).