Hard-Wired Other Review
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Artist
The Mexican Institute Of Sound
Title
Soy Sauce
Format/Cat
COOKCD472
Label
Cooking Vinyl
Style
funk/electro/dance
Date of review
13 March 2009
Reviewer
Anya Hastwell
Rating
8/10
Hola! Is the Mexican Institute Of Sound's new album hotter than a surreptitiously concealed chilli in your tortilla? Well, possibly.

This inspired jamboree of funk electro dance-pop will make you get up and dance, definitely. But how you dance, is up to you, dear reader, but I'd leave the open window and red light alone for now. Times aren't that desperate. Yet. But this Mexican-titled bundle of grooves has sent me heading to that trusty tool of anyone who never did terribly well at Spanish at school, Babel Fish (too busy playing with razor blades in the corner, obviously). So let's not let things get lost in translation: "Yo Digo Baila" means "I Say Dance", "Hiedra Venenosa" is "Poison Ivy", "Te Quiero Mucho" equals "I Want You Much", and "Sinfonia Agridulce" is "Bittersweet Symphony". Hours of fun on its own!

"Te Quiero Mucho" is a buzzing, howling tribute to Serge Gainsbourg, who really could eat his own heart out and have it accompanied by a plate of nachos. Ooooh, and Prince can run for his money too, as "Raspberry Beret" gets a nod on the intro to "Comite Culficador", which then proceeds with more Snap, Crackle and Pop than a bowl of Rice Crispies. Power-bass lines reminiscent of Basement Jaxx come in on "Karate Kid 2", which also recommends yoga and tai kwon do. Ace! Oh, and Richard Ashcroft can go and stick "Sinfonia Agridulce" in his pipe and smoke it – what a fantastic tribute and compliment.

Speedy Gonzales would love it, and you will too.