It's ironic, though perhaps predictable, that consciously pan-Afro-centric groups are so often less deeply Afro than bands that simply do it. That's certainly true of Ara Ketu, who mix-and-match pretty much everything Afro they can come up with. It all works best when the overarching Brazilianism is most intense. The crossover mixes don't really jell, nor are they much different from bands actuated by mere trendiness. Of course, the same could be said of the start of many a major movement... ~ John Storm Roberts, Original Music, All Music Guide