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Utility Sections Wires - Utility Entertainment - Wire Music Reviews - Wire
Music Reviews - Wire
Posted on Wed, Jul. 02. 2008 08:01 PM
Friday Jul 11 2008
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MUSIC REVIEWS: Latin CDs for
sizzling summer listening
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Digg it
By ED MORALES
Newsday
Sitting on a beach or by
• http://www.newsday.com/
the pool with a guide to
summer reading, but no
advice on what's rocking
the Latin music world? Look no further. Here are a few albums that could make this a
summer to remember
Alla, "Es Tiempo" (Crammed Discs). Whether you'd prefer thinking about them as the
Latino Stereolab or the second coming of Tropicalia, this Chicago-based trio makes
psychedelic groove sounds that go well with mojitos and meditation. Lupe Martinez's
vocals are mysteriously seductive
Cabas, "Amores Dificiles" (EMI) - Feels like a statement album, dedicated, of course, to
this Colombian pop-rocker's lady love. Fito Paez-ish ballads with minimalist
instrumentation - a departure from previous cumbia-rock ambitions. "Bonita" is the
bittersweet hit single and "He Pecado" features Enrique Bunbury and Orishas.
Natalia Clavier, "Nectar' (ESL Music) - Talented young Argentinean chanteuse who sang
for Federico Aubele gets full-length backing of Thievery Corporation breakbeats. Slippery
tango here. Morcheeba-like dub there. As sweet as the title suggests
Cineplexx, "Picnic" (Portia Records) - Buenos Aires transplant based in Barcelona floats
through his hybrid art rock world with the help of indie rock titans Jad Fair and Norman
Blake of Teenage Fan Club. The result sounds like a graphic artist intoxicated with Belle
and Sebastian. Perfect for that surreal Sunday in the park.
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Gilberto Gil, "Banda Larga Corder" (Warner Music Latina) - Brazil's rocking minister of
culture offers some of his most beautiful songs ever. Longtime collaborator Liminha helps
Gil keep that pan-Afro-beat edge. From the languid R&B of "Olho Magico" to the quiet
bossa ballad "Amor de Carnaval," Gil reminds us of the simple complexity of the tropical
experience
Star Speakers Bureau The Pinker Tones, "Wild Animals" (Nacional). These Barcelona synth-rockers have found
a way to become the next big Daft Punk confection without seeming derivative. I'm partial
to "Electrotumbao," a rewed-up Cuban son with robotic handclaps.
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Charlie Cruz, "Dinamico" (Sony Norte) - Guess what, salsa romantica isn't dead yet, and
that's a good thing! Such songs as "Corazoncito" push Cruz's scatting to lofty heights as it
pushes you across the dance floor. Time for a midsummer Caribbean vacation
Rebio Diaz, "El Lugar en Lugar del Lugar" (Spanic Attack) - Diaz's discordant take on
Caribbean-to-New York migration embellishes minimalist prog rock with nueva trova.
Looking-glass lyrics try to find a sense of place even as it slips away from him. With
Spanic
Attack cohort Monxo Lopez's jangly guitarwork, Diaz's earnest vocals bring it all
back home
Grupo Fantasma, "Sonidos Gold" (Aire Sol Records) - This 11-piece orchestra from
Austin, Texas, combines cumbia, funk and salsa. Their cover of Los Van Van's "Bacalao
con Pan" is more 70s than the actual 70s. It's not often a Southwest band swings with
this authenticity and precision Guest appearances by Larry Harlow and Maceo Parker
make them an eclectic delight.
Yusa, "Haiku" (Tumi Music) - Forward-thinking new music from Cuba, delivered by a jazz
instrumentalist who has morphed into a thoughtful singer-songwriter. Once a member of
Brazilian rocker Lenine's band, Yusa writes songs that are sometimes melodic poems,
others full-bodied ballads. Best listened to at sunset, with friends
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