You already know how we feel about The Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band's cover of Dr. Dre's Xxplosive, and when the same track opens up the latest full-length from the German outfit, expectations will run high. The Serpent's Mouth does not disappoint, as the 14-tracker goes through more excellent reinterpretations as well as originals to take the listeners on a funky, Afro-Caribbean musical excursion. Steelpans lead the charge on the album named after the eight-mile strait between the island of Trinidad and the coast of Venezuela; check out how the band freaks classics like Jackson 5's "Great To Be Here" or Amerie's smash hit "1 Thing." Mary J. Blige's "I Love You" also gets a flavorful makeover, and the group even tackles "Crockett Theme," the theme to Miami Vice. Original compositions mash nicely w/ the familiar cuts—check out the epic "The Serpent's Mouth."

• music label: Big Crown Records 2018

reviewed by rei kwondo 10/18