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Tuesday, Oct 23, 2012 3:31 PM UTC

Review: Cafe Tacvba hits new mark with ‘El Objeto’

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Topics: From the Wires,

Cafe Tacvba, “El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco” (Universal Music Latino)

Cafe Tacvba may be one of the most important rock bands alive. But unless you follow Spanish-language music, you’ve probably never heard of them. And unless you’re connected to a source for Latin alt-rock, you may never hear them at all.

But none of that matters. The new album from Mexico’s fantastic quartet proves they don’t really care what you might think or whether or not they get air play. Cafe Tacvba have spent the five years since its last album creating a body of work that is ambitious, groundbreaking and quite simply, superb.

The album, whose title means “The Object Formerly Called an Album,” has the depth, breadth and exploration of the later works of The Beatles, with touches of progressive rock and the band’s own unique recipe of electronica combined with Mexican folkloric sounds and pre-Colombian rhythms.

“El Objeto” expands the poetic and philosophical talents of the band, with lyrics that explore mysticism, eternity and the common roads of existence.

“Show me those sketches, the blueprint of creation, everything is connected, it is rumored that we are not two/Only one, are you and I,” sings vocalist Ruben Albarran on the album’s second track “Andamios.”

Some 20 years have passed since Albarran, a former art student, and his buddies released Cafe Tacvba’s first album. For those who have followed their career, it has been a fortunate time to be a fan. For everyone else, this may be the best moment to discover one of the most remarkable artistic collectives of our time.

CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: The combination of pre-Colombian percussion, funk guitar and folk instrumentation on “Espuma” is joyous, and a wonderful lead in to the next track, “Olita del Altamar,” with its driving, indigenous beat.

More Michelle Morgante.

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