Malo - MALO***

Pana/Just Say Goodbye/Cafe/Nena/Suavecito/Peace

Eponymous debut album from the San Franciscan Latin-rock band Malo, similar to Santana but with a greater emphasis on horns. Features the US top twenty hit Suavecito. Future albums would be less commercially successful. (US:14)

“Latin flavoured semi-commercial pop rock, with progressive influences. They really do sound just like Santana, but with way too many horns. But this is so good, it manages to overcome this.”

“There are definitely some really strong grooves to be found here. Don't let the Santana comparisons fool you, Malo are very much their own entity and this is just so funky throughout. The only real exception to this is Suavecitobut even this has got some pretty cool instrumentation backing it up.”

“Well played but dull and typical Latin rock with far too many horns for my taste. It may have Latin rhythms and lots of lead guitar, but it doesn't sound much like Santana to me. The guitar tone is different and the song writing is uninspired.”

“Nice Latin rock featuring guitarist Jorge Santana, brother of you know who. Suavecito was the big hit, the whole album has a funky, soulful Latin feel. The brass is ever present on nearly all the tracks and their playing is as tight as possible.”

“The album mainly consists of uptempo songs with wah-wah guitars, excellent brass and percussion sections and great arrangements. Peace is a suite beginning with a heavy rock vamp leading into a swinging jazz improvisation by the trumpet; a quiet guitar improvisation leads back to the rock vamp from the beginning.”

“Malo made a solid debut with the release of their self-titled album. The tracks are nice and long and there is never a dull moment. While I consider Santana's style more rock with a Latin influence, the Malo sound can be seen as the opposite, Latin rhythms with a rock influence. It's too bad Malo were never as big in the mainstream as Santana, because on this album they display a unique sound that is all their own.”

Highlights are Suavecito, sung in English, a mild rumba and a quiet storm classic with lovely harmony vocals and subtle percussion. Just Say Goodbye, a little suite starting with a slow introduction, then a rocking part takes over featuring a guitar solo, great congas and organ, eventually vocals sing a falling line.”