***1/2 Orishas

A LO CUBANO

(Universal)

On their debut release, this young Cuban vocal quartet deliver a marriage of Cuban pop and hip-hop that sounds at least as fresh and exciting as anything currently happening in either of its root genres. Orishas are deities of the African Yoruba religion, which survives in Cuba despite the Communist government's reluctance to condone it.

The celebration of Cuba's African side -- made explicit in rich percussion passages -- is about as controversial as this Havana-based band can afford to get, but the music itself is plenty revolutionary. Roldán's classic sonero vocals are part of a continuum that spans attitude-drenched rap and the harmonized call-and-response arranging that has animated Cuban pop for more than a century. Although plainly hip-hop, songs like "Represent" and "Orishas Llegó" match anything Cuba has produced for tunefulness and musicality. "1.9.9.9" unfolds in close to pure Afro-Cuban rhythm, but even the more familiar hip-hop grooves in these 15 dynamic tracks exude a distinctively Cuban undertow and sensuality. This is a welcome departure from so much international hip-hop, which just mimics the American sound in a different language. There's even a reworking of the Buena Vista Social Club hit "Chan Chan," a nod to the celebrated old-timers and a reminder that today's Cuba has its own musical treasures to offer.

Banning Eyre