Record Rack

**** Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, “Sa~o Salvador,” Putumayo Artists. In only four years, the Congo native has jumped from charming addition to the Los Angeles scene to internationally known salsero. Lemvo’s third and best album is a mature collection of dance tunes that refines his previous sound while stretching into multiple new directions. “Sa~o Salvador” overflows with a rhythmic tension so relentless it brings to mind the sweaty soul music of Otis Redding or Marvin Gaye. These are not the pretty, Afro-lite soundscapes the world music industry has been feeding us for the last decade. Lemvo’s musical vision is gritty and humid, adding an almost painful melancholy to the most kinetic salsa jams.

The singer’s musical search is inclusive. The title ballad, sung in Portuguese, honors the ancient kingdom of Kongo, decimated by slave trade and civil wars. “Nganga Kissi” is positively funky, while “Si Tu No Sabes” finds a connection between soukous and merengue. On “Ave Maria,” Lemvo quotes a brass riff he used in his 1996 salsa hit, “Mama Kiyelele,” reinforcing that Lemvo and his band have established an identifiable style of their very own.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.