Hammock House - Africa Caribe (Deluxe Edition)

Album Review

The first disc of Hammock House: Africa Caribe consists of an elaborate and sprawling DJ mix from Joaquin "Joe" Claussell, who was loaned the Fania label’s multi-track tapes. Claussell’s aim was to create a journey, and he did so by manipulating original material from the likes of Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaría, Eddie Palmieri, and Rubén Blades and Willie Colón — sometimes with overdubs — and adding some of his own productions, including one with a contemporary vocalist who sounds nothing like a Fania artist. Some of Claussell’s embellishments and original material stick out; they’re rather heavy-handed. However, the whole set is hypnotic, and it’s a unique way to approach the label. Claussell is truly the only producer/DJ who should have been given this level of creative freedom with the Fania catalog. Disc two features nine of Claussell’s remixes in complete, unmixed form.