Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I ordered this CD more or less on a whim, after reading several online reviews and having listened to a few 30 second outtakes. This gamble has paid off royally, i like to think. Since i received my copy some ten days later i have not regretted my purchase for as long as a split second. Until recently i mistakenly believed that Coda and Tercer Acto were the best Mexican rock music has to offer, but this choice band (heretofore unknown to me) set me straight on this score.
Mana's greatest asset as far as i can tell is singer and principal lyricist/composer Fher, who has a mesmerizing voice reminiscent of Sting. But contrary to what a track like "Clavado en un bar" may deceptively suggest, they are far from just a heavier, Spanish language carbon copy of The Police. Their compelling sound incorporates a variety of influences, both modern and traditional, forging them together into a novel, trademark style with universal appeal. Co-composer Alex Gonzalez performs excellently on percussion as well as keyboards. (I wonder how he's gonna pull this off on stage.)
Opening on an oriental note, "Hechicera" quickly turns into a groovy rock song with a bewitching reggaelike rhythm on a layer of subtle keys. "Un lobo por tu amor" (nice harmonica intro) would not have been out of place on a Peter Gabriel album (apart from the Spanish lyrics of course). The slightly repetitive "Como dueles en los labios" is a slower, acoustical track with a deft keyboard passage toward the end. Reigning supreme on this album is "Chaman", an atmospheric song that gets under my skin like no other. Its guitar theme is too beautiful for words (as are Fher's lead vocals) and contrasts wonderfully with the hard rocking refrain. I could listen to this all day ! Along with La Fase's "Alguien" and some of the best Ella Baila Sola tracks this ranks among the finest Latin songs i've ever heard.
As the album progresses, inevitably some songs come up that are not quite as convincing, but none of them truly disappoint. ("Robame el alma" kinda goes in one ear and out the other, while "La sirena" is a little too laidback and soothing for my taste.) "Tu tienes lo que quiero" on the other hand is another great tune with catchy hooks, as is "Clavado en un bar" which i've already touched upon. (I never heard a guitar solo like that on any album by The Police, i can tell ya !). Besides being an eminent song from a musical point of view, "Me voy a convertir en un ave" is an indictment against those Latin American regimes who have people incarcerated and murdered for expressing their political or religious beliefs. (Hence the outcry "Where is my wife ?" in the song's chorus.) Powerful stuff. The closing pairing of "Como te extrano corazon" and "Amame hasta que me muera" are dominated by acoustic and rhythm guitars, the flamenco related music i would imagine one might hear any number of musical ensembles play out on the streets in downtown Mexico City (as soon as they have recovered from their siesta).
With Mana i have been able to add yet another name to my growing list of "Latin" favorites (Ella Baila Sola, Alejandro Sanz, La Fase, Coda, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Rafa Martin, Tercer Acto, Rosco Martinez). But even for those less in tune with the Spanish (speaking) scene this is a commendable album. They're a band i would like to get to know a lot better.
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