If
Elvis Costello's Attractions or
the Clash were primarily into world music, perhaps they would sound something like
Brave Combo -- an unorthodox and quirky quartet that combines touches of new wave-ish rock with a variety of Latin styles. These guys are hardly purists, and therein lies the thing that makes
A Night on Earth so much fun. Showing an adventurous spirit,
Bravo Combo are consistently unpredictable and draw on everything from Afro-Cuban salsa to Mexican ranchero/polka to Brazilian choro. On the well-known tango "Jealousy,"
Combo rejects the suit-and-tie sophistication that characterizes much Argentinean music in favor of a tougher, harder-edged approach. And on "Italian Melody #1," they successfully take a Tex-Mex approach to traditional Italian songs. ~ Alex Henderson