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

More reviews tagged #World

  • reviewed 03/2008

    Senor Flavio
    Supersaund 2012

  • reviewed 06/2016

    Ilya Toshinskiy
    Red Grass

  • reviewed 10/2003

    Lin Xu
    Exuberance

  • reviewed 11/2017

    E1SBAR
    Looser Futurism

  • reviewed 09/2008

    FUNKADESI
    – Yo Baba

  • reviewed 11/2007

    LENI STERN
    Africa

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.