This single-disc compilation gathers re-recordings of classic Mexican songs by an array of Latin alternative artists, in celebration of the country's bicentennial. Almost all the artists are Mexican themselves, with three exceptions:
Enrique Bunbury is from Spain (though he's probably more famous in Mexico than his homeland),
Aterciopelados are Colombian, and
Sr. Flavio is a member of Argentina's
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.
Bunbury's treatment of "Vámonos" is great, an acoustic guitar-led, country-ish ballad.
Natalia Lafourcade's "La Cigarra" is similarly moody; one can picture clouds of smoke drifting toward the ceiling of a darkened bar as she croons the lyrics, the little-girl quality of her early vocals now almost entirely gone.
Ely Guerra gives "La Llorona" a suitably dark vibe, with percussion and synths that almost take the song into
Portishead territory. Not everything is downtempo, of course; indie pop act
Hello Seahorse turn "Cielo Rojo" into a post-punk throb, driven by prominent bass and minimal,
Cure-ish keyboards, while
Kinky's version of "Sombras Nada Más" is a dancefloor anthem built on a foundation of synthesized handclaps and one-finger synth.
Sr. Flavio ends the disc with a rave-up version of "El Son de la Negra" that's equal parts ska and "Woolly Bully"-esque garage rock, much like the sound of his band,
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. This is a fun compilation with very few real duds, and a lot of unexpected treats.