Mas y Mas

Over the last ten years or so this fine three-piece has built itself an enviable reputation for a great live show. The first impression you get from ¡Agárrate! is the sheer physical mastery of the instrumentalists in Más y Más.

The Anglo-Spanish trio play up a storm, at times sounding twice as large and hitting those vital Latin/Afro-Cuban/flamenco beats absolutely bang-on every time. Lead singer and guitar/mandolin player Ricky Thomas-Martinez also writes much of the band's material, and his ability in this direction is key to their appeal. Ricky penned all but three of the 11 tracks here, and the set opens with a cracker, "Por qué Será?" which whips in with all the acoustic appeal and chutzpah of a Manu Chao classic, with funky percussion and a measured, striding bassline.

A traditional version of a Mexican song, "En Mexico," follows, the rhythm kicks up a notch and the scene is set. The band have cut their teeth on (almost) ten years of live appearances across the world, including one in front of a whooping crowd of 10,000 at the Rainforest World Music Festival, held in Borneo in July 2004.

It's not always easy to get a live show across on disc and, indeed, the humor and stage antics are impossible to put over here. They've concentrated on what is after all the band's biggest strength: musical ability and material, probably the wisest move and certainly one which pays dividends in terms of the finished product.

There's nothing really to fault here. The production is clean, chunky and efficient and the packaging, including lyrics in English and Spanish, is fun and informative. This is Más y Más at their easy-going, likeable best. They'll be very big soon, so get in at the ground floor. Más Y Más, Latin music in the style of The Clash...they bring a unique combination of flair, passion and originality to the fore.

— Courtesy Calabash Music