Latin Electronica

Nortec Collective's "Tengo La Voz" is a big beat romp that sounds like a happy marriage between Fatboy Slim and Los Tigres del Norte. Kinky's propulsive "Mas" has been heard on tv shows like Nip/Tuck and CSI:Miami, and helped put the Monterey-based five piece band on the map. Gotan Project — based in France but with an Argentine member — update tango music for the 21st century on "Santa Maria (del Buen Ayre)."

You'll never hear New Order in the same light after listening to Tanghetto's tango-fueled interpretation of the '80s classic "Blue Monday." Washington, DC's Thievery Corporation are favorites of late night lounges worldwide — "Sol Tapado" finds them exploring Latin funk and world rhythms. Venezuela's Los Amigos Invisibles are masters of seduction; their track "Otra Vez" is an irresistible slice of tropical trip-hop.

Señor Coconut has found a home in Chile, where he continues to mesmerize the world with his hypnotic cover songs; "Smooth Operator" finds the German expatriate offering an infectious Esquivel-inspired cover of the Sade staple. Bitman & Roban is a Chilean DJ crew whose "Get on the Floor" is sure to jumpstart the party. We conclude our Latin Electronica adventure with Barcelona's The Pinker Tones and their bossa nova time machine anthem "Beyond Nostalgia."

Norteño-soaked big beats from Tijuana, sophisticated late night chill-out vibes from Buenos Aires, and soothing vocals by way of Brazil are all part of the cosmopolitan genre known as Latin Electronica. This set showcases many of the brightest lights in electronic/dance music from Latin America, including such leading figures as Nortec Collective, Gotan Project, Bebel Gilberto, Sidestepper, and Kinky. You'll also discover up-and-coming artists from Chile to Spain, plus many exotic locales in between.