Yerba Buena: President Alien

Latin Beat Magazine, June-July, 2003 by Jesse Varela

(Razor & Tie)

Andrés Levin is the mad professor behind the Latin alternative sounds of Yerba Buena. With a cast of outstanding players, this urban dance album grooves with wild beats and sonic streams that shake the listener from top to bottom. The vibe is irresistible with the personalities in this musical garden: singer Xiomara Laugart, a Cuban diva in her own right; Cucu Diamontes, who adds charm to coros; El Chino, con rapeo duro; the jazzy herbal horns of Ron Blake (reeds) and Rashwan Ross (trumpet), and Levin on guitar, keys and craziness.

As a producer, engineer, programmer and multi-instrumentalist, the Venezuelan-born Levin has helped create some of the most provocative Latin re-mixes of the last 10 years. Working with Los Alterciopelados, Caetano Veloso, David Byrne and the "Red Hot" series, the Juilliard graduate is a force shaping the sounds of today. When listening to President Alien, one realizes Yerba Buena is where his experiments become realities.

Levin is surrounded by a posse of talented individuals full of character and personality, all of whom enrich his music by adding their collective stamp. The sonera spirit of Laugart radiates on Electric Boogaloo. Inspired pregones are delivered by Laugart in a clear, seasoned voice, while jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove is soloing to the solid beats of trap drummer Dafnis Prieto. Wassamatter Baby is Afro-pop a la Fela. Definition of a Warrior is on the mark with cascading batá drums and Stic (Dead Presidents) on rap vocals. Solar, an upbeat Latin soul rumba with Horacio "El Negro" Hernández, caps it nicely.

Guajira (I Love U 2 Much) is the opening track and obvious single featuring rapper Don Divino and Dave Valentín on flute. Throughout, special guests abound: Meshell Ndegeocello, Carlinhos Brown, Mark Ribot and Orlando "Puntilla" Rios. From traditional world textures to abrasive metallica sounds, Levin takes complex influences and grafts them, cross-pollinating flowers and weeds alike into a cool Yerba Buena anti-depressant.