Electronic: Buscemi - Retro Nuevo

Here in Belgium we have all the luck: two true masters of latin lounge music regularly provide us with their much-needed chillout tunes. Sven Van Hees and Buscemi have both played sets all over the world (including latin america), and since their first releases over ten years ago little changed in their style, or in their success. We're gonna review Buscemi's most recent record (which is all over the radio here), so you'll have to check out Sven Van Hees on your own.

Retro Nuevo is Buscemi's fifth album, and his most international to date. When Camino Real (2003) and Our Girl In Havana (2001) focused mostly on Latin America, his musical endeavors roam the whole world now. We hear soft female vocals in English, Spanish ("Retro Nuevo"), Arab, Hindi and Portuguese, but as usual loungy music and exotic samples form the foreground. Take "Não Falo Português" (I Don't Speak Portuguese): an irresistable 'patati-patata' chorus over samba percussion and weird electro sounds.

As with most lounge fusion, this album is best enjoyed at some beach, with a cocktail, watching the sunset. Opening track "Lost" would be the perfect soundtrack, and as Isabelle Antena puts it in "Nothing To Worry About":

Don't stress, it ruins everything, even happiness

Electronic albums often suffer from the 'originality syndrome': songs can sound very much alike. Retro Nuevo however has some interesting sidesteps: "Sahib Balkan" mixes Arab desert sounds and chants with balkan horns à la Beirut. "Jazz Jumper" lets Fay Lovsky sing along a skipping jazz piano like a true muse. And mind-blowing dance track "Bollywood Swing King" borrows its dry techno beats from Underworld, and its irresistable violins from an Indian movie soundtrack. Check out the video below.

An impressive journey through sounds and samples. After ten years and five albums, I'm still not tired of Dirk Swartenbroekx (Buscemi's not-so-exotic real name) and his tropical beats!

Buscemi ft. Fay Lovsky - Não Falo Portugues mp3 buy@iTunes buy@Amazon

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Pop: Vaya Con Dios

Vaya Con Dios is (in contrary to what the name suggests) a quite successful Belgian band. Back in the nineties, their gypsy jazz music quickly conquered Europe, and the latin feel to some of the singles ( Nah Neh Nah, Puerto Rico) even gave them some success in Latin America. Ten years ago singer Dani Klein quit the music business ("too stressful"), but now a greatest hits album was released, accompanied by a little gem of a single: Pauvre Diable. Die-hard reggaeton fans will recognize the melody and lyrics, because in fact "Pauvre Diable" is a French-language cover of Don Omar's major hit Pobre Diabla.

It's a complete style shift compared to their previous work, but I love this song. They kept the original bachata feel, but without the electronics and synth beats, giving the song more authenticity. And of course Dani Klein's hoarse voice is a great addition. Or maybe I'm a bit personally biased here: "Pauvre Diable" lays a link between my two home countries, Belgium (I heard loads of Vaya Con Dios in my kid years) and Guatemala (where I discovered Don Omar and Pobre Diabla).

PS: Sorry for the slowness of the site these days. I think it's Blogger's fault, my own server is quicker than ever...

Vaya Con Dios - Pauvre Diable mp3 buy@iTunes (Europe only) buy@CD Universe

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Reggaeton: Akro, Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel

Big news from the Belgian hip hop front: Akro, one of the main MCs of the very talented Starflam crew, released his solo album last week. L'Encre, le Sueur et le Sang (Ink, sweat and blood) is a variating album, including the dark oldschool Liegeois hiphop we're used to, but also sophisticated, socially engaged ballads. Why I mention this on a latin music site? His DJ (Mig One) is from Colombia, and he convinced Akro do to a reggaeton track on his album. Roldan, of Cuban hiphop formation Orishas (very popular in Europe and beyond), joins him on the track. "Elle Veut" is exactly how I like reggaeton: a strong beat, exotic and sweaty mood, forcing you to dance. If you don't understand French nor Spanish: the lyrics are (of course) about girls.

Don Omar will release his eagerly anticipated new album King of Kings next Tuesday. Our collegues at Reggaeton.be have compiled an album preview. It sounds very promising! More about this very soon...
In other news, El Don will also write some tracks for the religiously inspired disc Linaje Escondido, a new reggaeton concept that wants to bring a positive christian message. Those who wonder why a rapper like Don Omar, who mostly sings about guns, women and partying, makes christian songs: in a previous life, he was an evangelical priest.

Puerto Rican reggaeton stars Wisin y Yandel will make their first crossing to Europe next month. Probably thanks to the success of their collaboration with R Kelly (Burn It Up), which made the reggaeton duo famous around the world.
Ze zullen op vrijdag 23 juni optreden in Powerzone Amsterdam ter gelegenheid van de Puerto Rican Reggaeton Party. Tickets aan 22,5€ in voorverkoop.

Akro ft. Roldan - Elle Veut mp3 buy@iTunes (only in Belgium)

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