After two years of laying low, Dominican merengue-fusion group Ilegales have returned with a strong album that features heavy merenguetracks and a couple of bachatas as well. The hit single “La Otra,” which has remained at the top of the charts since its release, is a beautiful and swinging merengue-bachata(a merenchata?) thatfeatures the group’s front man and creator/producer/composer Vladimir Dotel singing with bachata diva Alexandra (from successful duo Monchy & Alexandra). The song is about a woman telling her man that she doesn’t want to be the “other woman” in his life. He, in return, assures her that she isn’t. As expected from a group that has mastered the music form of sound fusions, La República offers guest compilations from such artists as Gisselle and Magic Juan. The 15-track CD is packed with fast rhythms and club beats that are sure to make you sweat!