Los de Abajo – Los de Abajo v. the Lunatics (Real World)
Reviewed by Sadie O., 2/13/06
Mexiska tropipunk! Lots of influences, particularly from a variety of latin musical styles, as well as the Caribbean. Energy, great percussion and horns, a bit of hip hop, and a hint of leftist leanings – so much fun! Lots of different styles, but all tracks good to great.
No FCCs that I can hear. Hard to pick faves! Any of the first 5 will do.
1. **downtempo and deceptively sweet sounding salsa with a leftist message. Both male and female rap and vocals. False ending and a couple seconds of silence in middle. Great beat and groove.
2. **Trumpet flourish intro into irresistible midtempo ska. Lovely male vocals and cool horns, and so danceable! Spanish version of track 14, Fun Boy Three cover.
3. **Uptempo mariachi rave-up, female vocals, wild and fun.
4. **Slow but energetic cumbia, both male and female vocals, bits of electronica.
5. **Uptempo salsa-ska bounce
6. *a few seconds of quiet, then totally crazed ska with tubas. Bits of punk, then back to tubas and mayhem.
7. *Sweet midtempo waltz – ooops, switches to uptempo polka. Whoop-la!
8. *Lovely midtempo combo of acoustic guitar and big drum. Simple and nice.
9. *Midtempo reggae with lovely male vocals. Salsa-inflected syncopation and dub bits – also orchestral moments. Sneaky!
10. **Midtempo, sort of a march on the drum, almost an 80’s pop feel to instrumentation and vocals. Oddly compelling. Switches suddenly to mariachi reggae. Can’t keep up with these guys! Ends a few seconds early, bit of eerie whistle…
11. *uptempo, rather spooky and nervous, oddball pop with male vocals.
12. **Terrific uptempo salsa with male and female vocals, plenty of energy. Ends a few seconds early.
13. *relaxed vibe with odd intertwining of melodies and rhythms. Sweet vocals, partly sung and partly spoken. Very pretty, but speaks of the killing of turtles and much else besides. Hints of traditional Mexican folk music; “dub” only starts after 4 and a half minutes. SLOW fade with just male and female vocals repeating chorus.
14. **Cover of Fun Boy Three hit featuring a member of FBT, midtempo ska in English. Lots of layers of music and vocals, a bit of toasting, salsa dub.
15. *Slightly relaxed, highly syncopated salsa/cha cha with guest vocals by Egyptian diva Natasha Atlas and some bellydance hand drums. Turns quite atmospheric. ENDS A FULL MINUTE SHY, then 40 seconds silence and weird bit of telephone stuff…