"Top of the world" - "[This] all-female ensemble comprised of the founding trio of vocalist/drummer Lara Klaus (Brazil), vocalist/tambor alegre player Daniela Serna (Colombia) and vocalist/bandola llanera player Mafer Bandola (Venezuela), La-Da-Ma from their first names - plus vocalist/guitarist Sara Lucas (US) (...) - rework well-known South American and Caribbean rhythms like merengue and samba, and rescue more obscure genres such as ijexá and quitipla, blending them all with soul, R&B and pop to reach a wide audience. Songs switch languages as well as every theme in the woke handbook ... But Oye Mujer, their second release, has swagger and sexual energy as well as socialist principles. Samba and reggaeton are mashed up to powerful effect on pounding opener 'Misterio'. A classic ranchera is given a cool alt-country treatment for 'Tierra Tiembla'. 'Mar Rojo' is punk-thrash that segues effortlessly into shanty cumbia ... A fascinating social project, Ladama are also a thrillingly original band. This is the sound of a bright, border-straddling feminist future".
