Best New Music of 2007 – Part II

Finally Part II, a week or so later… the next six in alphabetical order… 
Federico Aubele – Panamerica
The Argentine guitarist-songwriter’s second album reaches far beyond the tango+electronics of his first album, although both are present.   With real songs, sung mostly by women, each song combines various Latin American styles and traditions. Poetic and pointed lyrics reward concentrated listening. Especially [...]

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Best New Music of 2007 – Part I

Yes, another “Best of 2007″ list. These 12 cds, are my favorites from artists primarily of Latin American origin and with lyrics in Spanish and Portuguese. Some were released in Brasil, Mexico, or elsewhere in 2006 but found their way to the United States in 2007.
The First Six In Alphabetical Order:
Bebel Gilberto-Momento
Doesn’t break any new ground, really. Just another beautiful bossa nova album with [...]

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The Pinker Tones – The Million Color Revolution

The Pinker Tones, Barcelona DJs and musicians Professor Manso(Alex Llovet) and Mr. Furia(Salvador Rey), combine house and lounge with chants, raps, and lyrics in Catalan, French, Spanish and English. This disc is a fun dance party similar to the techno and lounge tracks by the Mexican band Plastilina Mosh. The two duos share a similar sense of humor too. The most [...]

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Ojos de Brujo – Techarí and (update) Techarí Remix

The Catalonian band Ojos de Brujo has been the most recognized of a neo-flamenco movement emerging from Barcelona in recent years. Their newest collection Techarí continues their previous style of melding hip-hop with flamenco.
On this album they expand their exploration of Arabic and North African music, beyond the natural afinity between those styles with flamenco, [...]

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Film – La Vida Abismal (Catalonia, Spain 2007)

La Vida Abismal(released as Living on the Edge in the USA) is a fun, stylish film set amongst small time card games in Catalonia in the 1970s. Directed by Ventura Pons, based on a memoir by Ferran Torrent, the movie chronicles young Ferran’s poker and 54 apprenticeship with the charismatic compulsive player El Chino. The movie focuses on the friendship and [...]

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