Customer Reviews

Radio Bemba Sound System

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Some of the negative reviews that I've read here about this title seem to be a result of the fact that on many of these tracks, Manu Chao strays quite a bit from the original arrangements as originally presented in their studio counterparts. While some of the songs on "Radio Bemba" are missing some of the texture that made them so wonderful in their initial incarnations ("Bongo Bong" for example), over all the re-workings of many of the songs make for a refreshing listen, especially if you have already spun your beloved "Clandestino" CD over a thousand times. While not necessarily a substitute for the original studio versions, many of these songs benefit from the energy infused into them in the live versions, and I think that it proves to be a satisfying listen for the Manu Chao afficianado (especially if one doesn't go in expecting a regurgitation of the studio versions). I was hesitant to pick this up after reading some of the negative reviews, but I am glad that I picked it up.

Listening to Manu Chao is synonimous with party. His music is packed with chords and choruses that promise to make you smile, make your feet move and make you want to clap the night away, looking at the stars with your friends. Recorded around the world live between 2000 and 2002, with a powerful ensemble consisting of no less than 25 band members bursting in sounds that show the influences of reggae, ska, flamenco and all sorts of world music, the former front man of Mano Negra, Manu Chao came back in 2002 with the very contagious album 'Radio Bemba Sound System'. Tastefully handpicked arrangements for the live versions blow new life into several of his classic songs and a few borrowed from his Mano Negra years. Listening to the album is transporting yourself to the 'ramblas' in Barcelona or by the beach in Rio de Janeiro, dancing to his music with the crowd. Enjoy it!

This live set, compiled from various locations over Mano Chao's recent world tour is exemplary of his sheer raw energy and the synergistic relationship he has with his fans. If you are familiar with Mano the music here comes mostly from his second solo release entitled "Proxima Estacion:Esperanza" and it is killer. If you can sit without moving to this music have someone check your pusle. Beginning with the now familiar(if you've heard his last release) time zone check, Mano leads into a zippy rendition of "Bienvenida A Tijuana" which is an appropriate calling of arms to his Radio Bemba to begin an uptempo set that has every style from slow bass thumpng reggae that morfs into ska- Latin punk- flavored rhythmns. They move easily from song to song, including anothe version of "Welcome To Tijuana." The utilization of stage sound system effects folow the style of his albums including his political messages delivered via the words of EZLN leader sub commander Marcos. With 29 songs the lively set moves as fast as the sheer energy of Mano Chao. His eclectic brand of music slows down the tempo for simmering versions of "Por El Suelo" and the memorable backbeat "Mr. Bobby" in honor of Bob Marley that displays the singing talents of members of his Radio Bemba as they chorus in trailing into a hip-hopish delivery that smokes into a speedy frenzy. This album also covers some of his muisc from "Clandestino" and his days with Mano Negra. As stated before the vast majority is from " Proxima Estacion:Esperanza, " and the tour that has touched on several continents. Mano Chao is like a circus ring leader with his musical entourage Radio Bemba following suit and performing magic for the audience. I was lucky enough to catch these modern troubadors in Tijuana and I can say that this disc captures the essence of his live performance. If you get a chance to see them live do it, if not buy this CD for the next best thing. Recommended for old and new fans of Mano Chao, your challenge is keep from standing still while listening.

This is one of the most vivacious albums I have ever had the privilage of listening to. Many of my favorite Manu ditties are all here. Pop it into your player and be sure to be in an environment which is conducive to singing along, dancing eratically, and general flailing (FYI: A high school study hall is none of these things, I learned that the hard way). Nothing picks up my spirits like a little Manu Chao. ENJOY!

I love Manu Chao, but this live CD is not worth your money.
From the first track, the listener is bombarded with familiar manu tracks set to a constant backbeat of hey! hey! hey! hey! ad nauseam. Nearly every song features that repetitive background vocal, and, while initially the album strikes one as energetic, upbeat, and fresh, it quickly becomes stale about halfway through the twenty-plus tracks, burying itself in its own droning, repetitive vibes.
Energy in a live performance isn't created just by making your audience jump up and down to a "hey!" beat.
Two hours of this amid a sweaty audience and too much beer in your system might work, but on a CD, it translates to music that annoys.
Stay away.

This the the archive of the live creature that is Manu Chao.

This is the vital energy that the polished studio stuff springs from. When he accepted a major European music award a couple of years ago everyone expected him to come out and play an acoustic ballad or something. Insead he shocked their sensibilities with a series of fast punk tunes.

The key point is that his music is about the street and the energy of the street. Sometimes that means guitar by moonlight, but other times that means banging pots and pans on the top of a barricade. This album has some of the most energetic music you will ever hear, and some of the most thrilling music ever layered together in front of a live audience. It is loud and full and no sonic gap is left unfilled. A wall of sound.

That being said, I would say that the energy in this album does lag in the second half and a lot of the tunes begin to sound the same on this long CD more from exhaustion on the part of the listener than anything else. I suspect Manu still has a few steps to take before he gets to the level of Bob Marley - his idol - in crafting a subtle build to his concerts or compilation CDs. If you accept that this album is about delivering an exciting message to young people and don't expect easy listening gems - not that there aren't delicate and beautiful songs on the album - then you will like it just fine.

This album is a major disappointment. And let me start by saying that I am a HUGE Chau fan, I think that Proxima Estacion is one of the most exciting records made in years.

But this live album is awful. Reminded me of a caraoke bar in a French university, with impressionable teenage boys singing badly and impersonating reggae singers in the hope of attracting girls. I kept thinking the next track would be better, but one by one all of my favourites (Primavera, Mr Bobby, Clandestino etc), ruined, none of them a patch on the originals. All this albumn did for me was make me want to listen to the studio versions again, to purge for ever the nightmare of these renderings.

Few bands produce great live albumns. Invariably, the ones that disappoint most are the ones where the technical innovation / mixing etc of the studio albumns have been greatest (for example, going further back, the Pink Floyd and Roger Waters live albums were pale shadows of the originals, and revealed the sad truth that Roger can't actually sing).

Manu Chao need to get back to the recording studio asap, and produce more original brilliant sounds to atone for this crime against acoustics.

i've read all the previous posts, and i'm shocked that no one has said a thing about the editing and mixing.

i mean, come on. if you listen to this cd straight through, it doesn't make sense. if someone cut two minute snippets of twenty-nine songs and stuck them all together with masking tape, it would sound like this. songs don't start or end; jarring random cuts happen mid-song.

someone keeps bumping the jukebox, but you don't hear the needle scratch.

which might be cool if this wasn't a LIVE ALBUM. being a live recording, these cuts affect the sound of the audience as well. large crowds of people do not sound like this.

listening to this cd in my car made me mad enough to get off my butt and figure out how to post a review. and i like manu chao. whoever assembled this live package shouldn't be allowed to work with recordings again. this album is easily the most unlistenable thing i've heard in years.

energy and rythm and color make this an awesome album. Manu's voice is perfect you can smell the sweat thought the music. Not for the faint of heart or for someone looking for an easy listen. Get ready to get taken away by the ska/reggae/spanish/world feel that dosent let up for an instant.

As evidenced by these reviews, you either love this album 5 stars or hate it. What you get here is high energy and anthemic reggae and other assorted dance songs recorded all over the world. The whole idea of the album being repetetive is non-sense, reggae and ska music have a consistent sound and just because the people at the concerts are obviously enjoying themselves and screaming "hey, hey, hey..." does not mean this is a badly recorded album.
Buy this album and add some color to your life. BOOM 5 stars!