Kindred Souls

A spacy and exploratory journey into Latin-flavored jazz, Aura's Kindred Souls is a moody listening experience. Although traditional in many ways, Aura places an emphasis on letting the tracks grow and develop slowly. Tempos and rhythms straight out of flamenco music drive the music forward, but the instruments take their time unveiling soulful melodies and solos that move from a sexy slow groove to a complex virtuoso performance. The album is quite light, never delving too deep into anything but the basic structure. But the songs are usually strong enough to maintain the listener's interest, especially when they are as sensual and slow-building as the title track. Although it may be too light for many tastes, Kindred Souls is a rewarding listen for anyone looking for a steamy Latin jazz album.