Lándini review – Aurelio makes an elegant return to his Garifuna roots

His role as cultural ambassador for Honduras's coastal Garifuna people led Aurelio Martinez to Senegal for 2011's superb fusion album, Laru Beya. Here, he returns to his roots, to songs and folk tunes learned from his mother (who gets a co-writing credit). Despite its simplicity, Lándini is an elegant creation, its easy, swaying rhythms overlaid (at times contradicted) by Aurelio's impassioned vocals. Its subjects run from celebration to tragedy: (Milagrossa concerns a ferry sinking) there's a ruminative, melancholic undertow throughout and some deft surf-guitar work. Smell the salt air.