I’ll be honest, a compilation album of Latin
music didn’t really appeal to me, but, then I spotted this line in the press
release – “If you are looking for hip shakin’, hands-in-the-air party
music...this album is not for you. Latin
Noir .....pays a gloomy homage to a new generation of the wretched of the
earth.... redemption, despair and hope.”
How could I resist?
Opening
with Latin Grammy nominated Chango Spasiuk, Tierra Colorada is an accordion
based instrumental. Slow paced, speeding
then slowing again, it’s a lovely piece depicting the search for
redemption. I’m hooked. Hopefully, the
vocalist on Todo Eso by Sequidores Del Son isn’t a 20 year old Adonis, because
he sounds like an aging, strained old man with a grating voice making the track
very unique and listenable. African and
Spanish cultures combine in a track that oozes emotion and pain.
As with
many ‘minority’ music album compilations nowadays, there are plenty of
surprises as I found out when I reviewed The Rough Guide To The Music Of
Ethiopia. The third track on Latin Noir
is no exception. Rumba Para Los Olu Bata
was more of what I’d expected from Latin and pretty laid back with an interesting
trumpet and/or horn in the background.
What I loved was when it speeded up into and almost ska fashion with
full brass accompaniment. Very
melodious, frenetic percussion and freestyle instrumentation towards the
end. It’s a corker of a tune and even
has a DJ’s nightmare false ending before kicking off again. Squeaking sax shoe-horned in for good
measure. Over seven minutes of
wonderfulness.
Following
the madness there comes the sublime. A
duet with Ana Cristina Pozo and Omar Perez fronting a quite beautiful acoustic
guitar. Almost operatic voices soar,
and, even though I have no idea what is being said, it sounds gorgeous. I hope it’s a sad lament as a happy lyric
would be such a waste!
The opening
split second on Commandante Che Guevara rings true of Peter Gabriels Solsbury
Hill. A live recording full of lament,
distress and hurt regales the revolution of promise and t-shirt iconism. There are hints of jazz within these
grooves. Ska, reggae, Cuban and
African. An inspiring trip around, evidently,
a misrepresented musical genre. There’s
a nod towards Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White on Runidera where Son Del
Mayabeque gives us a truly emotional representation of sadness. Who wants happy-clappy dance when you can
have stuff like this?!
I asked
Twitter to help me remember what piece of classical music Alturas De Simpson
reminded me of. I even uploaded a
pathetic attempt to Soundcloud to try and replicate it. Nobody could help. One night I’ll jump up in bed after
remembering. It also had a vague
similarity to the bassline of Abba’s Money Money Money. Either way, it’s a live instrumental track
performed by Piquete Tipico and it’s rather nice. Possibly an old recording – hints of
Mississippi steamboat?
There’s a
near yodel and an almost nearer reggae feel to La Distancia. Quite a jolly track, really ‘up and at
it’! There’s an incredibly high pitched
note towards the end which rivalled Morten Harket on A-ha’s Summer Move
On. Well done to Alfredo Gutierrez!
Following
more brilliant Latin woe from Grupo El Organo Pinareno there’s probably the
highlight of the album. Almost entirely
percussion with the odd (odd) wind instrument, Por Una Tigresa Que Mira Na
Estrella keeps us chugging along for almost eight minutes. Far from a Latin sound, almost African in
origin, it’s sparse yet brilliant.
The album
ends with the first female vocal of the album and the rather wonderful Watcha
Clan. I’ve liked this lot since
reviewing their We Are One single. A modern twist to the album, nice echoes and
guitar riff whilst Sista K sings a lament of the Africa/Europe boat
refugees. With a ‘skiffle ish’ backing
very similar to Depeche Mode’s Dream On, it’s a great track from my current
favourite Marseille based collective. A
little splash of dub thrown in too towards the end.
Despite my
reservations, Latin Noir turned out to be quite an eye opener. A great album, well compiled and immensely
enjoyable. Piranha Records come up
trumps yet again.
You can
stream the album here
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