New World Party

Amazon.com

In celebration of the millennium, Putumayo, known for its roots, folk, and international musics, casts a wider net than ever with New World Party. A thoroughly digable collection, these 11 songs not only go global, but hit the club circuit as well, spinning out a rockin’ celebration of Algerian funk, Brazilian rhythm & blues, Haitian-Creole rap, and Senegalese hip-hop. Loaded with fat beats and pumping with energetic melody, the offerings of New World Party get the good times started and keep the booties shaking long past midnight. Chico César‘s “Da Licenca M” (or “Excuse Me, Dude”) brews up some reggae-inflected Brazilian pop music, Miriam Makeba updates her signature South African song (a hit in 1967) to “Pata Pata 2000,” and things kick into high gear when Los Mocosos refresh the classic Mexican tune “La Boa” with a raunchy salsa style crossed with modern swing. New World Party is terrific for those wishing to branch out, yet not knowing where to begin sampling more exotic fare. The Fugees‘ Wyclef Jean scores some points with “Sang Fezi,” which, with the Refugee Allstars’ fine accompaniment and Lauryn Hill wailing an English chorus, is one of the record’s strongest tracks. –Paige La Grone