With 2002's
Himnos al Amor,
Dyango provides another dose of the thing he does best: lush, romantic, unapologetically sentimental Latin pop along the lines of
Julio Iglesias and
José José. This ballad-oriented CD breaks no new ground for the veteran Spanish vocalist, who has specialized in this type of music since the '70s. But even though
Himnos al Amor (whose title means Hymns of Love) is predictable -- even formulaic --
Dyango is such a master of what he does that anyone who has a romantic streak cannot help but applaud. In fact, some lovers of romantic Latin pop may even argue that the album's predictable nature is a plus; in other words,
Himnos al Amor is a good example of finding comfort in something that is warm and familiar. And while nothing groundbreaking occurs on emotional, heart-on-his-sleeve offerings like "Dios Como Te Amo" and "Venecia Sin Ti,"
Dyango still commands attention. The CD's strongest track is "Himno al Amor (Valse del Amor)," which is a Spanish-language translation of French icon
Edith Piaf's "L'Hymne à l'Amour." Though this standard has been recorded countless times over the years -- especially in France and French Canada --
Piaf's recording remains the definitive version. But that doesn't mean that the song (which has also received English-language translations) is off limits to other vocalists, and
Dyango's emotional version demonstrates that it can work impressively well in Spanish. For those who already own a lot of
Dyango CDs,
Himnos al Amor doesn't offer many surprises. Even so, it is an excellent addition to the singer's sizable catalog. ~ Alex Henderson