Cafe Tacuba strikes gold with masterful 'covers' album - cantantes mexicanos de música rock - TT: Mexican rock music singers

Latin Beat Magazine, Dec-Jan, 1996 by Ernesto Lechner

Ritmo

Mexican "Cafe Tacuba," one of the most masterful practitioners of "Rock en Español" who gained instant stardom with their second album Re, has a new release out through Wea Latina. At a little over half an hour of length, Avalancha de Exitos finds the Mexican quartet on an even higher creative plateau than their sophomore album. Words pale to describe the sophistication, crystal clear production, and undeniable lightness of spirit that runs through this seemingly random selection of "cover songs," ranging from the hilarious to the romantic. Apparently, as they were recording their third full length release, the members of Cafe Tacuba found themselves stuck without being able to decide which of the 95 songs they had ready for recording would make it to the final cut. Tired of championing some songs versus others, they decided to put the whole project on hold and record instead some of their most loved songs by other people. The spontaneity of their decision is fully reflected on the finished sounds, as well as the brilliant tactic of not taking themselves too seriously, which should secure these guys a long and fruitful life in the history of rock.

The songs on the ironically titled Avalancha de Exitos are: Juan Jaime López's wicked Chilanga Banda, which uses every imaginable term of Mexican slang for a punchy, quite poignant effect; the tuneful Metamorfosis; the angry No Controles; the bossa-nova tinged No Me Comprendes; Alarmala de Tos, an old tune by Mexican institution of rock Botellita de Jerez; a wonderful, slick instrumental version of Perfidia, with the bass guitar carrying the melody; the Juan Luis Guerra tune Ojala que Llueva Cafe; and Argentinian Leo Dan's Como Te Extraño Mi Amor.

Whereas Cafe Tacuba's trademark "modus operandi" is to blend every possible musical influence on the planet for their distinctive style of shrieking vocals and tender instrumental touches, the man responsible for the brilliance of their recorded sound is producer Gustavo Santaolalla, himself a lover of the new and the old and explorer of musical traditions. Unfortunately, an initial thought of incorporating cover songs in English didn't materialize, an enticing idea, considering one of the proposed ditties was Duran Duran's Planet Earth. Ultimately, what transpires from this experiment in fun is the charismatic personality of articulate Mexican rock and roll, a unique combination of self deprecating humor and a heartfelt need to connect with the past and the country's rich lyrical tradition. By now, it has become obvious that Mexico and Argentina are walking hand in hand in expanding the limits of Rock en Español, giving it a mature voice of its own.