Rhumba Country

For a guy who initially based his career on sounding like he passed through a time warp from 1929 into the 21st century, Pokey LaFarge has developed a rare talent for jumping from era to era, picking up new sounds and styles along the way. Hes developed an internationalist bent on his tenth studio album, 2024s Rhumba Country. As the title suggests, LaFarge has discovered he has a taste for Latin music since 2021s In the Blossom of Their Shade, and on tracks like "One You, One Me," "For a Night," and "Run Like Run," LaFarges twangy Midwestern voice accompanies tunes suitable for cutting the rug in the mambo or rhumba styles. At the same time, hes also put a fresh spin on these old-school Latin genres, with "One You, One Me" and "For a Night" built around rhythm loops, samples, and vintage tape loop keyboards like the Mellotron, creating an effect thats futuristic and nostalgic at once. LaFarge also tips his toes into reggae and rocksteady on "Like a Sailor," evokes 1960s soul on "Sister Andre" and "Made to Be Loved," and digs some funky rock & roll on "Its Not Over." Anyone who pegged LaFarge as a one-trick retro pony early on gets shown the door on Rhumba Country; he clearly still loves the sounds of the past, but he knows the past covers a lot of ground, and hes willing to explore all his creative options. Hes also a fine singer whose reedy voice becomes more adaptable with each album, and theres a warmth in his lyrics thats welcoming and sincere, especially when he adds touches of gospel on "Home Home Home" and "You Make My Garden Grow." Pokey LaFarge manages to show off some depth and have a lot of fun at the same time on Rhumba Country, and listeners should have a ball right along with him. ~ Mark Deming