LOS FABULOCOS FEATURING KID RAMOS Source: Rockabilly Hall.com Date: 10/2008 Writer: Shaun Mather

Los Fabulocos are an all encompassing rock 'n' roll band who describe themselves as Cali-Mex which is basically roots oriented, with equal measures of blues, zydeco, Conjunto, Norteno and rock 'n' roll. In the 80's I used to listen to a lot of this sort of hybrid music from Los Lobos and the Texas Tornados to the Beat Farmers, but in recent times I've become a bit limited in my taste, listening to just rockabilly, blues and country. This release is therefore a breath of fresh air for me, and I would suspect, anyone with an ear for rootsy music with a party atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, this isn't sing-a-longa Jive Bunny, this is raw, energetic forays into mainly blues and zydeco.

Kid Ramos will be familiar to most as his CV includes the James Harman Band, X, The Blasters and a seven year spell with the Fabulous Thunderbirds. He also released three successful solo recordings on Evidence Records and currently plays guitar for the all-star revue, The Mannish Boys. When he teamed up with vocalist/accordionist Jesus Cuevas (The Blazers), bassist James Barrios and drummer Mike Molina, Los Fabulocos were born. Executive Producer Randy Chortkoff sums up the whole feeling behind the band and the labels aspirations, "I knew upon hearing Los Fabulocos that this project would strongly add to the flavor and diversity of the Delta Groove label. Being from California myself, I saw this as a perfect fit and a wonderful opportunity to expand our brand to accommodate a larger slice of the American musical art form without straying too far from my original vision for the label. Their music encompasses the roots of all American music; from Rhythm & Blues to Rockabilly, Tex-Mex to Blues, to the origins of early Rock 'N' Roll."

The album is split half and half between originals and covers but the general ambience of the CD sees them gel seamlessly. The album kicks off with a chugging, bar-room interpretation of Huey Smith's Educated Fool which sets the scene for the whole shebang with lashings of hot guitar and accordion. Cuevas' own If You Know is hypnotic, totally engaging and goes like the clappers. There's a swamp pop burner in Crazy Baby and some fun-time rock 'n' roll on Barrios' You Keep Drinkin'. I love the version of Lloyd Price's Just Because, it epitomises everything great about this band. There's a couple of songs sung in Spanish including the attractive ballad, Como Un Perro which could be about fighting a donkey with a switchblade but is probably a love song! Un Mojado Sin Licencia is surely what Cali-Mex is all about, fun, danceable and thoroughly hypnotic. There was only two I couldn't really take to, the call and response cover of Clifton Chenier's All Night Long and surprisingly, the Burnette Brothers' Lonesome Tears In My Eyes, which was a bit to Latin for my tastes. Best of an excellent bunch is the instrumental, Burnin' The Chicken. The poor hen couldn't have been the only thing burnt as the guitar must have been near melting point as Ramos scorches away. Surely a starring role in a Tarrantino movie awaits this sizzling instro. A cracking album that should find a wide ranging audience - I bet they're cracking live.