Ozomatli: Street Signs Concord Records, 2004
California’s Ozomatli, whose rap-tinged Latin dance music has provided the soundtrack to the struggles for immigrant rights, global justice and youth revolt since their founding in 1995, has brought us another instant-classic album in their newly released Street Signs.
Street Signs is the third full-length album from the L.A.-based group and is perhaps the most developed expression of their urban/latin/world/funk music revolutionary vision. The album debuted at #2 on both the Billboard New Artist and the Billboard Latin charts. Street Signs follows the Grammy Award-winning Embrace the Chaos and their explosive and unforgettable self-titled premier.
Like their previous albums, Street Signs delivers with a dynamic and organic approach to world music. The album mixes perfectly executed takes on Salsa, Bachata, Norteño, Latin Jazz, Puro Rock and other Latin music forms, all with a hip-hop sensibility and deeply political lyrics. This album also features guest performances by old friend Cali 2na of Jurassic 5, legendary Latin pianist Eddie Palmieri, and even the Orchestra of Prague, Czech Republic!
But more than the band’s undeniable ability to move asses on the dance floor and please crowds is their Hip-hop journalist and activist Jeff Chang asked in a recent article “Is Ozomatli the most dangerous band in America or just a bunch of beat-crazy dreamers?�
Ozomatli exploded onto the national scene after their arrest in Los Angeles in 2000 while performing with Rage Against the Machine at the demonstrations during the Democratic National Convention. Police fired teargas into the crowds and beating several people. Ozomatli also performed to dancing crowds in Miami during the protests against the World Trade Organization fall 2003.
Unlike many “political artists� Ozomatli seems to easily meld funky beats and danceable tunes with political lyrics and cutting edge commentaries without compromising either. The songs on Street Signs are no exception.
A first for Ozomatli, Street Signs features the distinctive sound of Arab music, most notably on the album opener “Believe,� which features Hassan Hakmoun master of the Moroccan instrument the sintir and samples the music of the late Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
The musical innovation is a response to world developments. “Music is the key to every culture, the beginning of an understanding,� says the band’s trumpet player and co-vocalist Asdru Sierra on their website. “September 11 really pushed us to delve into North African and Arab music. For us, music is a language far more universal than politics.�
“Cuando canto� is a moving ballad that pleads in Spanish that “cuando canto mi canción quedo inspirar mi gente con una solución,� or “when I sing my song, I want to inspire my people with a solution.�
Eddie Palmieri’s lilting one-minute solo “Doña Isabelle� leads into “Nadie Te Tira� which features Eddie and the whole band proving that Ozomatli can hold their own as a top-notch Salsa band and well as mix things up with rap and sampling.
My favorite track on the album is “Saturday Night,� the single that features driving horns and baseline and a catchy chorus: “Dip, dive, socialize/Get ready for Saturday night.� This song more than any other sums up Ozomatli’s “dangerous� vision of music, that having fun while you fight the power is no contradiction. Perhaps it’s even necessary. “If the time of day is right/the revolution will begin Saturday night!�
Check out Ozomatli’s web page to sample tracks from the album, buy merchandise or follow links to movement related web resources and great activist and fan discussion boards. More importantly run out and grab Street Signs, the soundtrack to this year’s struggles.
For more information:
Ozomatli www.ozomatli.com
Concord Records www.concordrecords.com
Image: www.ozomatli.com
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