De Musica Ligera: “Algiers” via Arizona

Last Friday we looked at the latest domestic album release from Colombia’s Bomba Estereo. Another album release occurred on Tuesday from an indie group who we’ve featured before.

“Algiers” is the seventh studio album from Arizona-based group Calexico and their first since 2008. Though The A.V. Club describes the songs on “Algiers” as having “the same parched and airy desert quality that all of the group’s records do”, the album reflects the variety of musical styles including Tejano and mariachi.

Perhaps no other tune from Calexico’s attest album reflects their appreciation of folkloric Mexican music as “Puerto”. The soft strum of acoustic guitars and occasional horns are some of the instruments that are used to construct a lush and melodic song. Listen for yourself:

Calexico is touring London, Paris, Stockholm and other Europe cities this month before returning to tour the U.S. in October.

Video Source – YouTube via Anti Records

Online Sources – Casa de Calexico, The A.V. Club, The Latin Americanist

De Musica Ligera: Vamos a Coachella!

Yesterday the official lineup was announced for this year’s Coachella Music Festival. Paul McCartney, The Killers and My Bloody Valentine will headline the three-day event to be held in mid-April in California.

Bonde Do Role and Café Tacuba were two Latin American groups who performed in 2008 yet other artists from the region will be presenting this year. The following are some of those artists:

Mexican rock/hip-hop band Molotov has been around for fourteen years and will perform on the first day of Coachella. The group typically rails against establishment and social injustice such as abuses against immigrants.

• Molotov – Frijolero (YouTube)

Thievery Corporation specializes in lounge, downtempo music which sometimes carries a political message. Their 2000 album The Mirror Conspiracy includes some bossa nova and lovely vocals from the late Pam Bricker.

• Thievery Corporation - Air Batucada (MP3)

Ex-The Smiths frontman Morrissey is not Latin American yet he has developed a cult following among Latinos (including yours truly). “The First of the Gang to Die” is an ode to his Latino fans, especially Chicano youths.

• Morrissey - First of the Gang to Die (MP3)

Formerly known as the Bajofondo Tango Club, Bajofondo hails from Uruguay and Argentina. The group’s music combines electronic beats with platense music such as tango.

• Bajofondo - El Anden (MP3)

We’ve featured Calexico in our best music of 2008 post and described their music as having a “great folkloric Mexican sound.” In reality, their music is not easy to categorize; just listen for yourself.

• Calexico - Convict Pool (MP3)

Mexican Institute of Sound is one of the premier groups specializing in tube fusion of Latin alternative rock and electronic music to form “Latintronica”. MIS will be featured on the last day and I cannot think of a no better way of finishing Coachella than with them.

• Mexican Institute of Sound - Lala Meda (MP3)

Image- BBC Radio 3 (Southern Cone group Bajofondo will be one of several Latin American musical ensembles to perform at Coachella this April)
Online Sources- Too many to list!

De Musica Ligera: Tunes of ‘08

2008 is about to come to an end but before that why not enjoy some primo songs from the past year? Juanes, Sergio Mendes, and Julieta Venegas were a few of the great artists who released new and exciting music over the past year. The wide range of tunes released this year by Latin American/Latino musicians can satisfy just about every musical taste as evidenced by some of the exceptional songs below:

• Aterciopelados – 28 (Don’t forget to revisit our interview with Hector Buitrago!)
• Banda de Turistas - Todo mio el otonio (Very poppy, 60s- tinged music from an underrated Argentine band)
• Breeders - Regalame Esta Noche (Kelley Deal may not be fluent in Spanish but her emotion cannot be ignored in this ballad cover)
• Calexico – Absent Afternoon (Calexico’s music has a great Mexican folkloric sound which must be heard)
• Juana Molina - Un Dia (Sweet, slightly eclectic music from an excellent South American chanteuse)
• Nortec Collective - Akai 47 (One of the best representatives of the “latintronica” genre)
• Pistolera – Guerra (Great song with a political message from this New York-based band)
• Plastilina Mosh – Party (Do you remember Summerstage, Maegan?)
• Sonido Del Principe - El Principe (A Dutch DJ puts a modern tinge on tropical cumbia music)
• Yma Sumac - Bo Mambo (This isn’t a single from 2008, but its worth noting that the Peruvian singer died in November)
  

Image- daylife.com (Colombian rockeros Aterciopelados were one of several great musical groups with new albums and music in 2008)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, yousendit.com

Today’s Video: Calexico

Arizona-based rock band Calexico will come out with a new album this September. Entitled “Carried To Dust”, the album carries the group’s distinctive musical style; one that has been described as “part country-folk, part jazz and part rock with surprising touches of Afro-Peruvian music, traditional Portuguese folk and even surfer rock” according to NPR.

The following is a very brief promo video for “Carried To Dust” which showcases the band’s sound:

A quick word of thanks to Quarterstick Records for informing us of Calexico’s upcoming album.

Sources- Casa de Calexico, NPR