Merengue Típico from the Dominican Republic / Merengue Tipico from the Dominican Republic

When Latin music fans think of merengue, they think of uptempo Dominican dance music performed by glamorous singers fronting large bands with horn sections playing tight arrangements. But the music on Merengue Típico represents a more traditional — if no less frenetic — version of the style. In this roots genre, the accordion rules, percussion instruments have a more prominent role, and the players improvise. (Merengue típico is rooted in the Cibao region of the Caribbean country that shares an island with its neighbor, Haiti.) La India Canela, a.k.a. Lidia María Hernández López, who plays button accordion with great flair, is this excellent album’s star. The drums — consisting of tambora, güira, and congas — drive the music hard, and the sax gets wild when it’s not outlining the melodies along with the accordion. The lyrics express unrequited love, tell tales of cockfights, and sing the praises of rum. You can certainly hear the earthiness beneath the gloss of big-band merengue, which is also known as merengue de orquesta, but merengue típico’s fiery rhythms spring from the soil. This album burns from beginning to end.