Grupo Fiesta

There's so much potential waiting to be unleashed by this band that it's scary. They could easily be the updated '60s Santana, full of Latin fire, or a classy Latin pop band. The problem with this record is that they don't seem to be sure which direction to take -- and are covering all of their options. On both "Caliente" and "Truenos Distantes" (which reappears in an English version as "Distant Thunder"), the arrangement peaks before exploding in a tasty guitar solo in best vintage Santana style, while on "Que Claros Es" guitar and accordion (uncredited, as is the excellent piano work) manage a very rootsy, delicious sound. Elsewhere, such as with "Sueño" and "No Te Quiero," they're a great pop band in the traditional sense -- memorable songs and excellent hooks. Cindy Padilla is a strong singer and guitarist/songwriter Cecilia Villar has the ability to become a powerhouse. But they still have a way to go -- there are really only eight songs on the disc, as two are repeated in Anglo versions, and they need more material. They also need a better producer who can take their strengths and push them. The excitement factor of this disc would be higher if the percussion was more forward in the mix, for example, propelling it along. And they need to discover their focus -- exactly which way they're going to go. But once they've got that figured out, they could be unstoppable.