Animo, Gente Mía

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 1998 by Luis Tamargo

LOS NOVO Animo, Gente Mia (Ahí-Namá)

Vocalist/guitarists/composer Roberto and Pedro Novo are representative of the nueva trova branch from the Cuban seaport of Cienfuegos, where U.S. based label Ahí-Namá has recruited other distinctive acts, including the traditional conjunto Los Naranjo and the incomparable group Arte Mixto, thus providing an alternative to those aggressively hyperactive, brass-heavy bands from Havana.

Accompanied by flute, contrabass, tres, laúd, and Cuban percussion, Los Novo inject various native forms (son, guaracha, guajira, etc.) into their mostly original repertoire, which is enhanced by creative lyrics. This is particularly evident in the first (and best) track, Son del mareo, a picaresque portrait of the prototypical Cuban curda's joyful inventiveness: "I would wish that death/When it is going to appear/Would remember to bring/A little bit of aguardiente."