The Caribbean has much to offer in terms of good music that represents adversity of cultures: Jamaica is the home of reggae and ska, Trinidad and Barbados produce soca and calypso whilst Haiti prides itself on the quality of its compas and roots music. Puerto Rico and Cuba are pioneers in salsa and smaller islands such as Martinique and Guadeloupe have made their contribution in the form of zouk music.Caribe! Caribe! provides an exceptional overview of contemporary Caribbean music and it features some of the regions most talented, up-and-coming stars. Several of the songs create a party atmosphere--EQO's "Prome Bia", for example, relies upon an infectious accordion riff that is complemented by sporadic drumming and a hyperactive horn selection. Other songs such as Andy Palacio's "Nabi" and Chris Combette's "La Nati" are simply breathtaking as they experiment with an assortment of sounds and manage to piece them together beautifully. If your mood needs a temporary lift or you require a short break from Britain's unpredictable weather, Caribe! Caribe! is the solution to your problems. It is not only a great party album; it also provides a musical tour around the warm shores of the Caribbean. --Kweku Obed