Born in the Netherlands and raised in Aruba, Esmeralda was embedded in the Dutch-Caribbean island’s vibrant music scene from an early age, first as a teenage dancer, then as a singer with latin band Los Bravos. She was soon a fixture of the local circuit, singing in hotels, bars, and carnival parades, before setting off on a solo career. Recorded in the late 80s and early 90s with a cadre of friends and collaborators both at home and in New York City, her debut album, All My Love 4 U, pulled together her wide-ranging influences into a sun-soaked, genre-blurring statement.

The album was a success, even landing a couple hits at NYC pop station Z100, but ultimately the momentum was short-lived. After being stiffed by her record label and with a child on the way, Esmeralda retired from music in 1998. Though she reemerged in 2010 with her own radio show on Aruba’s 98.8 Cool FM, and later returned to the stage in 2014, her debut CD faded quietly into obscurity.

Now three decades after its release, listening to “All My Love 4 U” feels like opening a time capsule that perfectly captures the optimistic, globalized essence of the early 90s with impressive versatility. Sultry balearic jams, uptempo dancefloor house, soca, breakbeat-forward new jack, and hip-hop all find a groove here, colliding with a boundlessly joyful and cheeky energy.

This 7” version includes the record’s two hottest hits, plus a digital download for the whole deal. On the A-Side, “Extasy” conjures images of an open air beach club, complete with the setting sun and a cocktail in hand. On the flip, it’s “Friends”, an endlessly re-playable late-night jam up there with the best of them.[info sheet from distr.]