Grupo Fantasma - Sonidos Gold [album]
 

I’m sorry, what now? Grupo Fantasma come from where??? Texas…Nah, shut up, you’re wrong.

So apparently, the internet can be trusted…Texas it is.

Not only does the name mislead the origin (generally translating from Spanish to Phantom Group), but there is nothing typically Texan and nothing remotely country about Grupo Fantasma’s Sonidos Gold whatsoever. My nonsensical reaction above now justified, here’s a little of what Sonidos Gold is:
• Grammy nominated
• Endorsed by Prince (“Real musicians playing real music” -Prince)
• Awesome (Okay, that may be just my opinion)

Bullet point list out of the way, I’ll get down to the adjective laden full description of the 10 strong Latin/funk/soul group’s third and most esteemed album to date, Sonidos Gold.

Sitting in my cute little London walk-up on a dreary Wednesday evening, turning on Grupo Fantasma’s Sonidos Gold, I am immediately taken back to my days lying on a remote Brazilian beach front, SKOL beer in hand, listening to whatever local music we had been able to get our hands on and generally loitering with intent to laze.

The grass roots, festival feel of the music is as infectious as the most impressive street party during Carnival, through the use of, among other instruments, timbales, a trumpet, saxophone, congas and a trombone.
Sonidos Gold has so many moments of utter genius, it’s hard to come down after my 53 minutes of listening pleasure, with the jazz toned provocative intro to ‘Gimme Some’ still ringing in my ears and the Pulp Fiction-esque ‘Perso Fra I Mesquites’ fading out as my favourite track from the solid album.

Usually, I get frustrated when listening to an album that is primarily not written in English (Sonidos Gold features Grupo Fantasma’s first and only English track ‘Gimme Some’), as it lacks the pull that masterfully written lyrics have, having to rely entirely on the music, arrangement and production. But Sonidos Gold is of such a high musical standard that the contagious lyrics have me thinking I can not only just sing exceptionally, but also sing exceptionally in Spanish.

If I were to hear a single track from Sonidos Gold without having it surrounded by its fittingly similar accompaniments, I would be most likely to assume someone had switched the disk for the Miami Sound Machine reunion, but as a whole this album is cohesive and has just the right amount of big band frivolity. With its technically traditional bass sound piled high with Sublime-like unashamedly perfect disregard, Grupo Fantasma’s Sonidos Gold is the perfect feel good album for many summers to come.