Alternative singer/songwriter
Bebe went into seclusion for a few years after she broke into the Latin pop mainstream with the album
Pafuera Telarañas (2004), which spawned the smash hit "Malo," earned her five Latin Grammy nominations (including a win for Best New Artist), and spent over two years on the Spanish charts. She went on sabbatical in 2006 as a musical performer and tried her hand at acting, appearing in several films and releasing the one-off soundtrack inclusion "Tiempo Pequeño." Not until three years later did
Bebe return with Y., the eagerly awaited follow-up album to
Pafuera Telarañas. While both albums were produced by
Carlos Jean, they're remarkably different in approach. Whereas
Pafuera Telarañas is brash in attitude and uptempo in style, incorporating not only alternative rock but also downtempo electronica beats, Y. is relatively downcast in attitude and stripped-down in style, emphasizing acoustic rather than electric instrumentation. Rest assured that it's not an entirely acoustic album. The type of downtempo beats that
Jean programmed for
Pafuera Telarañas can also be found on Y., but they're far more subtle (as on the album-opening highlight "No Más Llorá" and the laid-back grooves of "Busco Me," for instance). What stands out above all are the rough-hewn vocals of
Bebe and the hypnotic flamenco guitar of Diego Pozo of
Los Delinqüentes, particularly on the second song, the impressive lead single "Me Fui." Pozo is one of several musicians who lend a hand to Y., an alternative singer/songwriter album that rightfully emphasizes the lyrical and vocal talents of
Bebe yet is also interesting from a musical standpoint. Given the widespread appeal of
Pafuera Telarañas, there are sure to be some fans of that album who will be disappointed by the more downcast and stripped-down approach of Y., whose charms are less immediate and highlights less clear-cut. Y. is a great album nonetheless, a boldly creative effort by
Bebe that showcases not only her talent as an alternative singer/songwriter but also her originality and defiance of Latin pop mainstream expectations. ~ Jason Birchmeier