Review: ‘If You Want It’ by Pacha Massive

If You Want It is Pacha Massive’s follow up album to their successful debut, All Good Things. The New York-based Latin Fusion group, fronted by Dominican born DJ Nova, was the hottest new band in the Latin Alternative market in 2008 after MTV3 chose them as their first Descubre and Download artist. Their single, “Don’t Let Go”, is a timeless classic that even non-Latinos will be groovin’ to for quite a while. It is because of their early success that my expectations for a second album from them were sky high.

After first listening to If You Want It all the way through, my first impression was that is lacked something. I figured out that what was lacking for me was a stand out single to really get the buzz going. Nothing jumped out at me enough to make me want to either turn the volume up or push the repeat button for a particular song. Still, I let the album play all the way through and never felt the urge to skip any songs.

Reason being, If You Want It is a good album. It is not a few good singles here and there with fillers in place to make up a complete album.  If You Want It is also a very different enough album in comparison to All Good Things, but not too different to the point where it would disappoint their current fan base.  There is still the very funky, jazzy and soulful vibe that caught my attention last year. This time there is a hint more dub influence, es poquita mas electronica and is very laid back over all. It is a record that you will find to be very relaxing, but something you have to be in the mood for in order to absorb.

If You Want It does have some great guest collaborations. With no shortage of Latino star power, Pacha Massive collaborated with one of my favorite singers, Sarah Valenzuela, on “Thinking About You”. Any track Valenzuela sings on is going to be stellar to say the least, but “Thinking About You” is the album’s sexiest track. Other notable collaborations worth mentioning are the three songs which feature Monica Rodriguez from the New York City band Zigmat: “Lejos Cerca”, “Tonight” and the title track. Rodriguez adds a beautiful Latin jazz element that flows well with Nova and Pacha’s whole vibe, a vibe you will enjoy from beginning to end on If You Want It.