By 2002, Certificate 18 was breaking away from their drum'n'bass reputation and released
Acapulco Now! by Mexico's
Ruisort. In contrast to virtually everything else on their roster (
Klute,
Pilote, Sounds of Life),
Ruisort produced scrubbingly clean up-tempo lounge music of the
Andrea Parker and
Thievery Corporation disposition, but with a hip-hop feel and affectionate little touches of abrasive breakbeats, border-town salsa, wildlife sampling, and South American hopefulness. It was an uncharacteristic and inconsistent combination.
Ruisort was on firm footing for "Ipanema 5-0," which starts as chunky
Landslide before a modulated blast of horns launches the song to the skies, and on worse footing for the stern, piano-laden tracks like "Walking Straight" and "Suite Caleta." A fine step forward for Certificate 18 altogether, but not quite enough of a leap. ~ Dean Carlson