*** Plastilina Mosh

AQUAMOSH

(Capitol)

You'll likely find Aquamosh in the newly christened "rock en español" bins at the record store. But if 1998 -- the year rock en español broke -- has taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected from bands who mix Latin and rock. The Mexican duo of beat-arranger/multi-instrumentalist Alejandro Rosso and vocalist/guitarist Jonas are masterful genre fusers, folding Brazilian jazz samba, dubby London club beats, squiggly Moog rock, and deconstructed blues swagger into hip-hop and rock beats. Having friends in high places doesn't hurt: Beck drummer Joey Waronker helps out on five tracks, and Mellow Gold producers Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf also lend a hand. But Plastilina Mosh go way beyond español when Café Tacuba vocalist Anniomo sings in Japanese on "Bungaloo Punta Cometa" and French vocalist April March croons on "I've Got That Milton Pacheco Kinda Feeling." It's cross-cultural creativity that feels wild and loose yet effortlessly groovy.

-- Mark Woodlief