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Album Details

• Artist: Mano Negra
• Album: Casa Babylon
• Label: EMI International
• Year of Release: 1994
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: jpenso on 2005-06-30

Mano Negra was one of the biggest bands of the Latin American alternative rock scene of late 80's and mid 90's. The band was also a mouthpiece of the militant left, playing free shows in Latin America with help of clandestine armies. This album was released in 1994 and was probably the most accessible and commercially successful album that they released, elevated to new heights with the mega hit Señor matanza that popped up on what seemed to be every Television show and movie over the next several years. The songs are filled with communist rhetoric and political messages as would be expected from a band with their type of history. The punk sound of the earlier work is less prevalent here looking towards Latin influences instead, but it is found sparingly popping out its head on a few songs like on "Bala Perdida", which is reminiscent of the Californian punk scene of the 80's. The lyrics throughout the album are a multilingual affair because the singer of the band is none other than Manu Chao who can sing in at least 4 or 5 different languages. The album demonstrates many things that would pop up in Manu Chao's later work, such as the use of fake radio clips and the Caribbean sounds that would form an integral part of his sound in the late 90's. Pick up this album if you are a fan of Manu Chao or if you lean way left and are looking for something to listen to while re-reading the communist manifesto.

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