Fiesta !

The Kronos Quartet have long since ceased to record general reperatory disks, instead going in for "projects". They have collaborated with for instance Indian and African musicians. This album, Nuevo, is their Mexican project. Although the strong presence and influence is also apparent of Osvaldo Golijov and his long time collaborator Gustavo Santaolalla. Their style is particularly evident in the "found sounds", sampling and phasing on the disk. The music ranges across the Mexican spectrum from Amer-Indian rhythms and instrumentation, through mariachi street bands, to cheesy latino pop standards and onto the art music of such as Revueltas and Golijov himself. It hangs together very well as a concept album, the only track that is maybe too close to being trendy for the sake of being trendy is the closing "dance mix" by something called Plankton Man that will eventually sound horribly dated. Other use of electronics from additional musicians and to alter the sound and texture of the quartet themselves are much more successful.