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After years en el olvido, Manu Chao is back to playing live! This live LP taped at el Foro Cultural Alicia in Mexico, coincides with the closing of his 2006 worldwide tour and includes acoustic versions of some old time favorites and some of his latest repertoire from his his 2007 release, La Radiolina.
In true Manu style, this live acoustic LP includes a mellowed down mix of his festival-rousing rock, defiant politics, and multilingual lyrics and resembles the energy of his 2002 Live album, Radio Bemba Sound System minus the horns section and energizing live and electric guitars. Truly this record is to be enjoyed with a bottle of wine next to you. The dub versions of many of his songs continue his indie tradition with an even more bohemian feel to them.
La vida tombola (track 13) and El Hoyo (track 14) included in La Radiolina are perfect additions to the acoustic set and add an amazing anejo feel to a very dubby and festive performance.
Without further introduction here is Estacion Mexico. Please enjoy!
PS: thanks for the clandestino reader that shared this new album!
Sr. Flavio, Vicentico y compañia come back with their signature composition of tropical and rock in a moderate album that nonetheless feels pressured at all times. This is the kind of unfortunate album legendary bands release just before reuniting for their concert tour, no wonder, their “Satanico Pop Tour” kicked off this month in Mexico.
Before this review starts looking too depressing, I’d say La Luz del Ritmo is not a bad album, just plain mediocre. The double disc includes five new tracks that could have been more significant without the unnecessary refills. Buying this album I felt like the kid that gets coal in his stalking the day after Christmas... waiting for something better, like a good album after almost 8 years of waiting! Six of the band’s classics were remastered, but with the exception of “Muy muy temprano” these versions seem to have a better fit in their disappointing Sopa de Caracol LP.
“La Luz Del Ritmo”, the first single of the album, does give us that semi operture feel that we got when we listened to El Muerto or Sabato (Fabulosos Calavera) but falls short on Flavio's simplistic bass tabs.
“Flores” is worth mentioning as it is the only song here where they actually sound modern. The remake/remastering of Los Condenaditos sounds like a fake nortena song and falls short to deliver all the majestic and nostalgic feel it gave us in its La Marcha del Golazo Solitario version.
Los Cadillacs always aspire towards the majestic as we experienced in their past two albums, Fabulos Calavera and La Marcha, but this middling album falls short on its "epic musical vision". A pair of translated refills were included here, “Should I stay or should I go” by The Clash and “Wake up and make love with me” by Ian Dury - are dodgy attempts at sounding like they did in past albums like Vasos Vacios or Yo te Avise.
Their performance at the MTVLA VMA's which was supposed to be a hint of what’s offered in the included DVD, very energetic and collectible, sounded more like a bunch of middle aged men trying to make some money. I do have to give them props for not overflowing the market with a bunch of albums like Soda Stereo did on their reunion.
La Luz del Ritmo is irregular, sometimes even exhausting, but it is no sign for decency on their current talent, they just failed on how to put it together. This won’t stop me from wanting to attend their tour, but they won’t get any new fans jumping on their wagon either. A head-scratcher to review and a difficult to recommend, it is disappointing because of its opportunistic structure, but the new stuff fails to deliver.
Since I know many of you still have not had access to the new LP and since I want to hear what everyone thinks about it click here to download the album.
