Beéle – BORONDO

Review

The sultry Caribbean breeze of Barranquilla flows through every groove of "BORONDO," transporting listeners straight to Colombia's vibrant coastal heartland where cumbia meets the world. Beéle's debut album serves up 26 tracks that dance between reggaeton's infectious pulse and the warm embrace of Afrobeats, creating a musical pasaporte that stamps its way across continents. The artist's hometown influence shines through like sunlight on the Magdalena River, where traditional Caribbean rhythms have always mingled with whatever sounds drift in from distant shores.

When Marc Anthony's seasoned salsa soul meets Carla Morrison's indie-pop sensibilities on this collection, the result feels like a late-night jam session in a Cartagena cantina. Standout tracks "si mañana me muero" and "arena" showcase Beéle's gift for weaving together collaborators from different musical worlds, much like how Caribbean cooks blend African, Indigenous, and Spanish flavors into something entirely new. The album's romantic themes flow as naturally as conversations between lovers strolling along the malecón at sunset.

This debut transforms Beéle from singles artist into a storyteller who understands that great albums, like great meals, need variety to keep you coming back. "BORONDO" captures that essential Colombian spirit of celebration and connection, where every gathering becomes an opportunity for musical fusion. To complement this coastal Colombian journey, try your hand at arroz con coco - the sweet coconut rice that perfectly mirrors the album's blend of familiar comfort and exotic adventure, simmered slowly until all the flavors become one irresistible whole. - Amara