Artist: Cumbeley
Title: Guayabo Nostalgico
Label: Pachamama Music (www.pachamamamusic.com)
Genre: Latin
11 tracks, 54 minutes from
Joe Cumbe - piano, teclados, guitarra, voz lider y
coros
Alex Acevedo - bajo, guitarra de 6 y 12 cuerdas,
mandolina cuatriple, coros
Brian Bastidas - guitarra de 6 y 12 cuerdas, bajo,
percusion
Tino Anserma - percusion, voz lider 1 y 4
Diego Jimenez - percusion
German Jimenez - acordeon
All Latin, all Spanish sung, and like the included cd
artwork, everything is seeking an outdoor
feel, like finding a private island in South America,
where the sun always shines, where snow and sickness
are myths not to be believed.
One of my favorites is the accordion-laced 'La Casa e
la Cumbiamba,' very up, up tempo, but not in the pace.
In the attitude. I've no idea what the lyrics are
saying, but as far as the music is concerned, it could
be a prayer to the good gods of Fun that living is the
best way of spending your time! (Though I have a clue,
via another review, that the cd is full of somewhat
political lyrics...)
For more rhythm than you and your whole family might
need, go over to 'El Exilao' and marvel at the vocals
(and the accordion again). Does it remind you vaguely
of 'Copacabana' by Barry Manilow? The syncopation in
the opening, I mean. The vocals - which is one of the
main components of the tight band sound - are strong
and packed like freeze-drive coffee. Impossible to
separate one throat from another, as on the chorus
work of 'Soy Colombiano, No Marihuano.'
The only thing I'm not utterly happy with is the
'piano' which most of the time sounds like a synth to
me. Since I hear other keyboard sounds now and then,
the synth is probably a mainstay of the band. Which
will mean nothing to most people, only small minded
people like myself who would rather hear a smarter,
clearer/cleaner tone in all of the solo moments. And
of course, if it Is a real piano, I'll be such a fool.
Cumbeley jams like family, without the extension of a
lot of horns, drenching heat and cluttered merriment.
Ths music is also favorable to rock and Western music
influences that have kickstarted modern tastes. Well
worth a listen.
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