Senor Coconut - Yellow Fever

From the world’s only German/Chilean ‘electrolatino’ Señor Coconut, comes this latest installment of acid-merengue

Renowned for his madcap laptop salsa covers of Kraftwerk, Sade and Michael Jackson, Coconut aka Atom Heart or Uwe Schmidt, has this time around recruited the services of a proper Latin big band to pay homage to Kraftwerk’s Eastern counterparts, Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Fronted by Venezuelan crooner Argenis Brito, a talented ensemble of Latin jazz players on vibraphone, marimba, double bass, horns and percussion join members of the original techno pop pioneers as well as Marina from Nouvelle Vague, Akufen, Mouse on Mars, Burnt Friedman, Schneider TM and Jorge Gonzales, to produce a playful, typically barmy melting pot of skewed Afro Cuban music.

‘Yellow Magic’ is a stunning opener full of bombast with a piano ripped straight from the Afro Cuban tradition; ‘Limbo’ featuring Yukihiro Takahashi is a driving number with plenty of twists and turns and complex musicianship; ‘Behind The Mask’ is one of the LP’s melodic gems, building cleverly upon the original, this Coconut cover could be his finest moment yet since ‘Smoke On The Water’. Rounding things off is ‘Ongaku’ a track with real atmosphere, melody and a ferocious kick.

Filled to the gills with experimental mambofied musical skits Yellow Magic will tax your brain as well as move your feet. Yet another classic Coconut take on classic pop standards.

Graham Crothers
Fly Europe Reviews