Various – Putumayo Presents Mexico
Label: Putumayo World Music – PUT 187-2
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2001
Genre: Latin
Style: Norteño, Ranchera, Trova, Son
Even in the northern states, Mexican music is easy to find on American radio, but airplay almost exclusively consists of the Tex-Mex norteño style. In contrast, there's barely an accordion in earshot on this sparkling collection of traditionally rooted songs. Los Bravos del Norte de Ramon Ayala weigh in with the bouncy ranchera "Andan Dicendo," but on all other fronts guitar trills rather than squeezebox sighs propel the music. With violin swoops and falsetto vocals, La Calaca unleash the galloping son huasteco/ranchera "Rogaciano." The same ensemble graces the gusto "El Tecolote" with less ferocity but equivalent momentum. Los Lobos dip way into their past with a 1977 version of the son jarocho sped up into a self-proclaimed son loco on "Flor de Huevo," complete with dizzying fretwork and a flailing rhythm. The delicate instrumental son istemeno wedding song "Mediu Xhiga" from Dueto de los Hermanos Rios brings exquisitely ornamented requinto guitar from Mexico's Pacific Coast. Rounding out the set is a slice of Latin cabaret complete with braying clarinets and a gritty vocal takeoff on, of all things, a traditional Mexican Christmas carol via Lhasa de Sela's "Los Peces." --Bob Tarte (Amazon review)
Tracklist:
1 –La Calaca El Tecolote 4:19
2 –Claudia Martinez Ranchu Gubina 3:19
3 –Los Lobos Flor De Huevo 1:54
4 –Conjunto Jardin La Bruja 4:22
5 –La Calaca Rogaciano 3:18
6 –Dueto De Los Hermanos Rios Mediu Xhiga 3:08
7 –Dueto De Tinito Y Porfirio La Petrona 3:02
8 –Lila Downs Naila 3:11
9 –Binni Gula'za Ra Bacheeza 3:08
10 –Los Bravos Del Norte De Ramón Ayala Andan Diciendo 2:45
11 –Los Hermanos Rios* Son Huini 3:03
12 –Lhasa* Los Peces 3:39
13 –Pastor Cervera Nuestro Nido 2:43