Charanga Moderna improves upon the previous year's pachanga album for Riverside and introduces the hit single "El Watusi," which is really a boogaloo struggling to get out from beneath the strings. "La Moderna" and "Guajira y Tambo" showcase the "modern" sound of this charanga, and "Los Pollitos" is an uptempo number that keeps the second side alive. As with most pachanga albums, however, really liking it depends on one's preference for the sound of a charanga playing Latin music. Progressiveness does not last forever, the lush Tico sound can only do so much, and the material is not really extraordinary except among pachanga albums.
Charanga Moderna has great integrity, but "El Watusi" makes a good case for the less tasteful fun of things to come. ~ Tony Wilds