Ani Cordero and her band are all about mood. Forget all the
clichés about Latin music, the spicy this, the fiery that,
because none of that cuts it with this Brooklyn indie outfit that just
happens to operate in Ani’s native tongue rather than Engish. Take the
vocals out of the mix and Cordero can easily be mistaken for Calexico,
but comparisons are pointless here except as a ballpark frame of
musical reference. De Donde Eres, Cordero’s fifth album and
second on alt-country label Bloodshot Records, flat rocks in any
language. More importantly, it doesn’t copy anything or anyone, unless
you want to make far-flung associations like “Fin del Mundo” sounds
like U2 jamming with R.E.M. in a Nuevo Laredo mariachi bar. Whether
she’s singing a quiet, tense ballad like “Guarasecretos” or rocking on
the slinky “Ruleta Rusa” — yeah, that’s Russian Roulette —
Cordero’s voice is absolutely riveting. Combine that voice with the
band’s funky, syncopated beats, jazzy keys and trumpet that comes from
somewhere near Miles Davis and you’ve got a musical mixture that
transcends styles, borders and cultures, providing something truly fine
for all who listen with open ears and minds.
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2009.