There's more than a touch of the '70s about From the Rooftops. There's old-school funk, plenty of Afro-beat, and even several pieces that wouldn't sound out of place on a ‘70s Latin funk compilation. Led from the back by keyboard player Will Rast, they switch between styles very easily, with the horns as the lead voices -- the only vocals are the rapping on "Funky DC," which offers a nod to the heyday of the Parliament/Funkadelic axis. There's plenty of homage to Fela Kuti, whether it's the minor key of "A Blade Won't Cut Another Blade" or in "El Beasto," which mines the musical area between Kuti's Nigeria and Latin America. There's nothing frantic here; it's all a wonderful mid-paced, groove-based workout where the tracks build and the instruments have a chance to enjoy a good workout, the mellowness spreading west of the Atlantic with "Carretera Libre." The four horn players carry a heavy load, but do it in fine style, whether playing the lines or improvising, and trombonist Greg Boyer deserves special mention for his invention and tone, although Rast remains the glue that holds everything together. It's all excellent stuff that bodes well for the future, but more variety of tempo would have been a plus here, if only to shake things up a little. But once a groove like "Horchata" begins, it's impossible to stop the feet moving and the body swaying. Definitely a band to watch.