The mastery and vision of the enduring
Marc Ribot shine through on this release. Although there have been many attempts to produce authentic indigenous music of various cultures, most have fallen short; this album succeeds in the wake of failure.
Ribot delves deep into Cuban rhythms, and indeed the album is a tribute to the Cuban master
Arsenio Rodriguez. Here
Ribot finds an authentic Cuban sound employing traditional instrumentation: upright bass, wood blocks, cherke, and other percussion sounds. The performance is inspired, and the band consistently tears through
Rodriguez's material, as well as some of their own.
Ribot's guitar work nears perfection, and he proves himself to be the most soulful white alive. Songs like "Aqui Como Alla" and "Postizo" confirm these assertions. Although this album does not present the iconoclastic
Ribot of The Book of Heads fame, it is an excellent album. ~ Marc Gilman