A strong purveyor of the world meets pop sound is the hard to categorize
Roberto Perera, whose instrument of choice is the unusual yet captivating electro-acoustic Paraguayan harp. Continuing the rhythmic and romantic themes of his breakthrough Passions, Illusions & Fantasies, while at the same time creating new stylistic challenges, is the eclectic
Dreams & Desires, a collection which gives the Uruguayan native more than enough opportunity to show a balance of sweet tenderness and percussive madness.
Perera's charm lies in the effortless way he makes the sound of his strings so familiar. He uses them as if part of a guitar for melody, but for color he plays them as a percussion instrument. Latin and Brazilian bases lie beneath most melodies, but "On My Way to New Orleans," which features a layer by layer approach to Dixieland, gracefully departs from the expected route. ~ Jonathan Widran