Much has been documented about the pioneering music that came out of the U.S. in the ‘60s and ‘70s, amid the social and political strife of the era. But the scene wasn’t just about the Summer of Love or Woodstock. There was another movement happening in the Latin neighborhoods of New York City as cultural barriers loosened. Beginning in the mid-‘60s, musicians were filling clubs with an irresistible combination of soul, R&B and Afro-Cuban dance rhythms. By the turn of the decade, Latin music in the U.S. had evolved, often integrating socially conscious lyricism (in both English and Spanish), rock and funk influences, and a heavy dose of psychedelia. That sound is captured on Flash & The Dynamics’ album The New York Sound, a rarity from the Fania Records vault. The 1971 album, which marks the band’s sole release, blends traditional Latin melodies with distorted guitars, soulful psychedelia and funky rhythms. Listeners will be transported to another era with jams like “Everybody’s Got Soul,” “Guajira Sicodélica,” and the trippy instrumental “Electric Latin Soul.”
