LHASA – “The Living Road”
Nettwerk, 2004

Lhasa De Sela is a Mexican-American woman now living in France. This is her second album, and it’s a winner. Her voice is husky, world-weary despite her youth. The vibe is very similar to that of her compatriot Lila Downs, but infused with the sounds of European street-corner bands: atmospheric and just a bit sinister, it suggests illicit meetings in dark alleyways. Most of the songs are about travel (or emotional journeys). Lyrics are in Spanish, French, English. A bit of a downer, but very good!

Fo’s picks: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9

1. 4:30 – medium/uptempo, layered sound. Quiet intensity with violins.
2. 3:24 – quiet and dramatic: clarinet, piano, cello, bells, in French
3. 4:37 – hand-slap rhythm, sonorous synths, English vox, floating trumpet
4. 4:03 – sleepy cowboy vibe: steel guitar, Spanish vocal
5. 5:58 – like an interlude from Cirque du Soleil: moody band, French vocal
6. 3:02 – romantic Mexican tune: guitars, trumpets, violins, Spanish vocal
7. 3:45 – mysterious trumpets, slinky rhythms, breathless French vocal
8. 2:26 – folky song in English, clunky percussion and soulful vocal
9. 4:17 – dark rhythm with elec.piano, drums, bells; poetic lyrics in English.
10. 4:32 – slow and heavy piano and melancholy Spanish vocal
11. 4:23 – quiet start, then low-key but driving, with guitar reverb, violin
12. 4:46 – sleepy piano and slooow English vocal, a bit creepy

[ Fo ] – 11/30/2004