Grupo Fantasma is riding the wave of a breakthrough year that saw the ensemble score a major endorsement from Prince. The band did a month-long Thursday-night residency at the Purple One's former Las Vegas nightclub, opened for him in front of 8,000 fans in Miami, and took its first trip overseas to open for Prince in London, among other high-profile events. Grupo also scored national attention on PBS-TV's "Austin City Limits" program and National Public Radio.

The outfit's most recent album, 2006's "Comes Alive," captures Grupo Fantasma's energetic live show. A few songs from the set are streaming at the band's MySpace page. Its next studio album is due in late spring and will be supported by North American and European tours, according to a press release.

Meanwhile, the eight-member Brownout has scheduled a Jan. 29 drop date for its long-awaited debut, "Homenaje." In their rare time off from Grupo Fantasma, the bandmates grabbed used analog tape machines, home studios and laptops where they could to record the album over two and a half years, according to a press release. The record is said to be chock full of Latin, Afro funk and psychedelic sounds, keeping with the spirit of the '70s while honoring the musicians' South Texas roots.

Brownout has built a fanbase with two vinyl releases, one of which was recently named "Best Album of the Year" by the Austin Chronicle.