Album Reviews

Lila Downs

La Cantina

2006-04-05

The rhythm loops and subtle electronic effects weave in and out of the traditional instrumentation over which Lila sings this wonderful program of Mexican ranchera songs. Downs' dark, smoky voice is the perfect vehicle for these songs, which juxtapose the deep emotion of fado and mariachi music with norteño and tejano influences. Everywhere you turn there are deeper complexities lurking beneath the already complicated surfaces of the songs: the quietly wailing clarinet that follows the distorted guitar solo on "Agua de Rosas" or the ska-funk inflections that are constantly hovering around the edges of "Tu Recuerdo y Yo". -AMG

all reviews | all world reviews

More reviews tagged #World

reviewed 11/2009
LOS CENZONTLES WITH DAVID HIDALGO & TAJ MAHAL
American Horizon
reviewed 10/2008
John Brown’s Body
- Amplify
reviewed 08/2005
Toto Bona Lukua
Toto Bona Lukua
reviewed 05/2006
Cibelle
The Shine of Dried Electric Leaves
reviewed 05/2009
The Sway Machinery
Hidden Melodies Revealed
reviewed 06/2017
Pascal Bokar
American Shores

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.