Marinah: El Baile de las Horas review – 'Commercial world pop'

The artist formerly known as Marina "La Canillas" Abad is back, with a shorter name and a new musical direction. As Marina, she was singer with Ojos de Brujo, the most successful experimental band in Barcelona, who deservedly won a Latin Grammy for their enthusiastic fusion work, mixing flamenco with anything from hip-hop and funk to jazz and Indian styles. The new Marinah takes a more commercial approach on her first solo album. Her self-composed "world pop" songs put an emphasis on breezy good-time ballads that are interrupted by instrumental passages from flamenco guitarists Dani de Morón or Ruben Labaniegos. Then there's a collaboration with Philippe Cohen Solel of the Gotan Project on the slower, slinky electro-tango of El Carrusel, while on Te Gustó there's a romping dance work-out featuring Roldán and Ruzzo from the Cuban hip-hop band, Orishas. Entertaining, but a little safe.