I almost passed on this CD because I didn’t think I knew enough about this kind of music. However, the duo was celebrating their 20th Anniversary and I decided to just slip the CD into the player and let it ride. Twenty-years performing — quite a generous stretch and deserving of some attention. Sometimes a person needs to educate oneself about undiscovered things…things like music that others have enjoyed for twenty years and while blissfully ignorant of it — maybe this is my opportunity to be enlightened.
And so — a few tracks in and there were several tunes that caught my ear immediately. The musicianship alone is captivating despite its different language, approach, arrangements, feel and mood. But, the spirit gets through effectively.
The CD was packaged and performed with such delight that the music actually stuck in my ears. In order to place the style of music into one jug I would have to call Intakto’s new album “Lazos” – (Ties) — world music. But that’s like a cop-out because there are many genres within this collection that are woven with expertise.
There’s a generous helping of Latin American flavor, some Gypsy, Euro beats, generous South American flavors, a dash of jazz and just a collaboration of brilliant colorful, well-thought out melodies. The duo is Chilean singer/guitarist Alejandro Venegas and a Quebec, Canada violinist Simon Claude. There are several additional musicians who assist in their tapestry and it’s quite an excellent partnership and execution.
While the majority of the songs are sung in a “foreign language” a listener has to transcend the foreign element, and enjoy the music. If you can listen carefully, you just may understand what the singer is singing even though you may not understand his native tongue. Let’s not forget that some foreign songs have been interpreted brilliantly by other countries and languages through the years. Some were even hits despite the foreign language: The Sandpipers’ “Guantanamera,” Dominic Madugno’s “Volare,” Andrea Boccelli’s “It’s Time To Say Goodbye,” with Sarah Brightman. There have been English-language interpretations of foreign songs: Elvis Presley’s “It’s Now or Never” is actually the Italian song “O Sole Mio,” and his hit “Surrender,” is actually another Italian song “Come Back to Sorrento.” So, we should not dismiss the fact that some foreign music is absolutely worth exploring. If not, then you are not serious about music and you would be ignorant of some marvelous works.
The second track is exciting “Una Amistad, Dos Mundos, Un Canto,” – a Spanish title — (“A Friendship, Two Worlds, A Song”) — has some wonderful energy, acoustic guitar and mood. The musical highlight is the persistently melodic gypsy style violin that weaves around the melody like a long slick snake. The percussion keeps the tune wound tight. Europeans, South Americans, have a tendency to write their music with a different bent than Americans and the English. This is having a romantic lilt, a mystery and an optimistic drive all derived by strong memorable melodies.
The song “Hada Melusina,” – an Arabic title — starts with European-Middle Eastern style arrangement and the warm violin quickly dresses up the passion in the notes. Basically, an instrumental it has the drama necessary for a motion picture theme. Another vocal tune, “Tu Semilla En Mi Canto (A Tocota)” – a Spanish title — “Your Seed in My Corner” – has intricately picked acoustic guitar with splashes of violin and a warm, calm sincere vocal. The group that accompanies the duo are adept at layering perfectly flexible accompaniment around the vocalist without intruding.
While not everything on this album may be easily consumed by the average American ear, there are passages and melodies that are intriguing. While these songs are filled with melodies, it’s still like exploring music that may not be entirely understood. But, isn’t that what jazz is all about? These are not jazz songs but, they do have that density that can be appreciated like jazz. In “Tus Pasos,” – Spanish – “Your Steps” — I found the gentle percussion, gentle swishes of bells and cymbals a nice surprising addition to what is a sad melody but, sad does not translate here into dour or dire. The violin is definitely in a more contemplative mood.
“Mi Voz Y Tu Ausencia,” – Spanish – “My Voice and Your Absence,” — has little watery special effects at the intro – and is paced nicely by acoustic guitars and piano tinkling. This ballad ambles along slowly but, because it’s a nice reflective Euro-Spanish type song it has substance that most American songs usually do not achieve. They seem to fold under commerciality and cliché when they write songs like this. This is tenderized and the vocalist absolutely knows which words require a stronger inflection. Typical of the quality the late, great Chilean folk singer Victor Jara often displayed. There is a touch of drama but, nothing overwhelming. It all stays grounded in balanced sentimentality instead of overt sweetness.
Nice piano-violin intro in “Orage A Rouyn,” — Spanish – “Storm in Rouyn,” – is my favorite of the entire collection.
This song is dynamic with drum rolls, mystery, brief synth or scratching that is a pleasant surprise. A steady woodblock type beat, splendid violin-gypsy melody. There is something wonderful about the marriage of acoustic instruments with carefully placed electronics. It’s like when a male vocalist with a gruff voice sings with an angelic female voice. It’s like salty potato chips and dark chocolate. The contrast is beautiful. That’s what this is – it’s early morning city streets, rain slicked alleys, and cats jumping off trashcans, and an attractive girl in a thin linen dress walking toward you in color while the urban landscape is black and white. This is a great instrumental. It conjures images in the mind.
Produced by Francois LaLonde with assistance from Simon Claude – the band’s contribution is impeccable: Hugo Larenas (solo guitar, electric guitar); Sebastien Pellerin (bass); Eric Auclair (bass); Jean-Francois Groulx (piano); Francois LaLonde (percussion, electric guitar, drums, vibraphone) and Esmeralda Sumar (backing vocals).
The conclusion of the 12-track CD is “Con Motto,” — Italian – “With Motto” – an instrumental led again by sophisticated violin sawing framed by acoustic guitars. Very Euro style – and like most Euro instrumentals the melody is paramount over showboating passages. It’s all about setting a mood, igniting emotions and sustaining interest. This is a wonderful song to dance to – and it has an old-world flavor to it. If you filmed a movie with a boy and girl riding bicycles on a spring day through the countryside this just may be the music to accompany them down hills, across streams and under trees. It has an optimistic feel and it has summertime running through it. My only criticism or I should say suggestion? A better song title would do this justice especially in the American market.
So, I was going to pass – and I would have been wrong.
This has moments to justify the time to listen and appreciate. Listen, once, twice and by the second go around, there will be more than one tune that will stick with you. I understand now why these two musicians have lasted twenty years – they are deserving of a listen.
Website: http://www.intakto.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Intakto-215179201838344/?fref=ts
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-134828342
Justin Time Records: http://www.justin-time.com/en/profilArtist/208
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review / commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of No Depression. All photography is owned by the respective photographers and is their copyrighted image; credited where photographer’s name was known & being used here solely as reference and will be removed on request. YouTube images are standard YouTube license.
John Apice / No Depression / Written by January 2017