Customer Reviews

Susana Baca

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the best CDs I've bought in a long time. The grace and sophistication of Baca's voice are allowed to shine on this one. Many of her recordings have been marked by over-production or color-by-number arrangements that blunted the beauty of her voice. Not this one. Baca's voice is sexy, even more so because of the restraint she shows. Where most vocalists would cut loose with vocal aerobatics Baca teases you with simple and deliberate control. The band is clean, imaginitive and simple. Top quality arrangements don't allow the band to hide. Lesser musicians would have fallen flat. These guys offer shifts and solos that are so clean they cause you to grin.

I stumbled upon this CD while shopping at one of the major music stores in NYC. It was being played over the PA system. The music stopped me dead in my tracks! I ran and bought it on the spot. This should be listed as one of the best CDs of the year. All beautifully sung melodies by Ms. Baca harks back to a place and time when black Peruvian slaves and their descendants sang about their joys, hopes and desires to each other. Every song on ths CD will either move you to tears or make you dance the "lando." If you love afro-latino based musical traditions (salsa, samba, afro-cuban jazz, merengue, plenea or yoruban-type music) then I suggest that you make this a MUST in your CD collection! You won't regret it.

This is, in my opinion, Susana Baca's best work, and one of my favorite recordings PERIOD. It is her best both compositionally and vocally, as well as the quality of the arrangements and the percussion section and the passion of the music. This recording has also quickly become a classic of afroperuvian music, with stunning traditional percussion backing up hauntingly beautiful melodies. You will not be disappointed.

I accidently stumbled on this cd when I checked it out at the library. I couldn't stop playing it. Haunting melodies and wonderful beats. Reading the English translations of the words was a surprise. I don't easily hand out 5 stars but this one earned every one of them.

A wonderful CD--very special. It was so rewarding to hear Peruvian music from the coast.

IF SUSANA BACA NEVER MADE ANOTHER ALBUM AFTER THIS ONE, HER PLACE IN
MUSICAL HISTORY WOULD BE ASSURED. NEVER HAVE I HEARD SUCH BEAUTIFUL,
MEANINGFUL, AND RELEVANT MUSIC! HER VOICE IS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL, AND
HER BAND DOESN'T MISS A BEAT, THE SENSATION WAS AS IF I HAD FINALLY
RECONNECTED W/MY AFRICAN ROOTS. AND WHAT BEAUTIFUL ROOTS THEY ARE. SHE
FIRST CAME TO MY ATTENTION THROUGH LINK TV(CHANNEL 375 FOR DIRECT TV).
THEY HAD A 1 HR BIO SKETCH OF HER LIFE AND MUSIC AND TOUCHED BRIEFLY ON
THE HISTORY OF AFRO PERUVIANS. HER POETIC BEAUTY AND HER CONNECTEDNESS
TO HER HISTORY MADE ME SO PROUD OF WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE, TO HAVE USED
OUR MUSIC TO TRANSCEND THE BRUTAL REALITY OF OUR KIDNAPPING,
BRAINWASHING, AND ENSLAVEMENT. THIS ALBUM IS INFUSED WITH DEEP AFRICAN
SPIRITUAL MEDICINE, AND I RECOMMEND THAT YOU LISTEN TO THIS ONE WHEN THE
WORLD DENYS YOUR RIGHT TO BE (DAILY). I DONT EVEN SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AND
YET I AM TRANSPORTED BY A STRENGTH AND BEAUTY THAT I HAVE NEVER
IMAGINED! THIS ONE'S A KEEPER. SUSANA, WE LOVE YOU! YOU ARE IN OUR
PRAYERS! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
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This is a beautiful merging of Afro Latin music with deep rich lyrics. I have seen the artist perform live and this CD captures the beauty,wisdom and sensuality of the experience.

you can endlessly listen to this great collection; susana baca starts w/ a sad and very moving ballad , (great cover by david byrne); most of the rest are more upbeat.

This CD is rhythmicly complex, and beutifully performed. Ms Baca has a wonderfully expressive voice, and although this CD has a somewhat mornful sound, I recomend it highly.

This CD exceeded my expectations in every way. Tried it on a whim and am not disappointed. If you enjoy music from South America, this is a must for your collection.