CD Review: Cafe Tacuba
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"Sino" (Universal)
Some lucky fans were able to catch new music from Cafe Tacuba - hands-down Mexico's most important rock band - during spot performances during the summer, such as at New York's Summerstage and the KCRW World Festival in Hollywood. Now the rest of us can listen in and enjoy.
On "Sino," the band's first studio album in four years, these innovators of rock en español bend the genre in new and exciting directions. The band's art-school roots remain in evidence as they stretch their musical sound - this time pulling influence from 1970s progressive rock and the music-as-story form so well done by The Beatles near their end.
The music is exquisite. Tight. Complex and harmonic. There are flourishes of technical mastery in these intriguing compositions, notably with the keyboard-led rhythms and grooving percussion. (Check out the drum solo on the finale, "Gracias"). Ruben Albarran's vocals over these 15 tracks continue to shift shape as easily as he changes his name. His tone can be fragile and delicate as on "Arrullo," and then back to his gritty punkness as on "Cierto O Falso."
Despite their popularity, Cafe Tacuba has never been overtly commercial. And thank the gods there's no sign of it here. But nonetheless, the sheer musicianship of "Sino" makes it one of those rare efforts where it is experimental and artful while being enjoyably listenable all at the same time.
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