Although it is difficult to classify, A Way In lends itself to the worlds of Afrobeat, Cumbia, Salsa, and Soul–a stirring of potent rhythms and enigmatic melodies that make Mitchum Yacoub’s sophomore album stand tall in the world of groove music. Syncopated dance tracks, definitive horns, and steady backbeats carry tales of anguish, love, and uprising. It is a record that reveals the human spirit: a confluence of thoughtful introspection and earth-shaking ritmo.
Yacoub recorded, produced, and mixed the album, ensuring the meticulously layered sound first heard of his debut, Living High in the Brass Empire. His formidable horn section–Travis Klein, Bradley Nash, and Wesley Etienne–returns in full force and with a range of masterful spotlights. Longtime friend and collaborator Divina also returns, offering understated, soulful vocals on Hurtin’, When I’m With You, and Gold. Panamanian vocalist, Lourdes Iri, stamps her debut on the resistance anthem Profecía and the sensual upbeat Cumbia, Deseo Celestial. These vocal tunes fit into a kaleidoscope of instrumentals, including Away, found in the echoes of Ethio-jazz, and Sala, which feels like Hermanos Gutiérrez meets Willie Colon–after sharing a smoke and a listen to Water No Get Enemy.
| A1 | Mr. Terrestrial |
| A2 | 89 |
| A3 | Hurtin' |
| A4 | ProfecÃa |
| A5 | Sala |
| B6 | When I'm With You |
| B7 | Away |
| B8 | Deseo Celestial |
| B9 | De La Selva |
| B10 | Gold |
