The tracks on “A Lo Cubano” (“In the Cuban Way”) are certainly hip-hop, but they’re no mere knockoffs of American styles. The band draws on both the rich palette of Cuban rhythms and on the more recent European traditions found in trip-hop. Orishas has four distinct voices, singing and rapping in Spanish. They’re backed by horns, percussion, Cuban stringed instruments such as the cuatro, as well as machine beats and scratching.
The best aspect of the disc: The band manages to recreate the original songs they pay homage to, rather than merely sample. For example, their “537 C.U.B.A.” is instantly recognizable as a reworking of the Buena Vista Social Club’s stand-out tune “Chan Chan.” Overall, the CD is very satisfying. By combining the disparate sounds of their homeland, their adopted home–and a small dose of American hip-hop–Orishas has created a uniquely global sound all their own.
