The road traveled to
Obie Bermúdez's 2003 release of
Confesiones is almost as interesting as the music therein.
Bermúdez took five years away from music entirely after his debut performance for RCA,
Locales. Having worked a menial job in the Bronx during his hiatus, much of the subject matter was born of the relationships and personal stories that came out of his time in that community. The result is an integrity and presence that has won
Bermúdez a much deserved place all over the Latin music charts. With a sonic palette rich with acoustic flavor and a tasteful mix of his Latino and alt-rock influences,
Bermúdez has much to offer in addition to his intimate lyricism. Incorporating rhumba, cha cha, and salsa into the otherwise very homogenized Latin pop genre,
Bermúdez sets himself apart as an artist not only willing to take risks, but delighting in them. The warm, vibrant timbre captured in this recording is inviting and seductive. Inventive arrangements, instrumentation, and daringly open production will win the affection of even the most discriminating listener. It is difficult to put a finger on the qualities that make
Confesiones the charming gem that it is. This is not because those qualities are elusive, but because they are so numerous. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez