Search - Manu Chao :: Radio Bemba Sound System

A Gigantic Latino Party

D. Mitchell Hughes | Memphis, TN USA | 08/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw Radio Bemba Sound System perform with Manu Chao at Bonnaroo 2007, and was absolutely blown away by the quality of the music and the amount of fun I had at that show. Naturally, I was ecstatic to learn that they had put out a live recording. I bought this album at the same time I bought Manu Chao's solo album, "Clandestino." The differences between these two albums are the pace of the music, the energy of the band, and the undisputed fact that tequila magically becomes "better" with this album.



While listening to the recording and catching the live show are certainly different, this will get your blood flowing. It is a fast-paced, non-stop party with trumpets, bongos, reggae styled guitar riffs that have been perfectly merged with salsa tempos, love songs to Tijuana, and an overwhelming feeling of just cutting loose and having fun. If you like Manu Chao, you may or may not enjoy Radio Bemba Sound System. The songs are the same, only far more energetic in a much faster time signature.



All in all, any fan of Manu Chao's "Clandestino" will find this a delightful treat. This album is the next best thing to seeing this band live, and will probably make you want to do just that."

Manu Chao - Radio Bemba

Frank Matheis | New York | 12/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The iconoclastic French Spaniard Manu Chao delivers a wild live performance, an amalgam of Carribean Ska and Reggae, Latin Salsa, Afro-Cuban polyrhythms & horns,

and frantic UK punk al la the Clash.

The result is fiery, potent and infectuous.

It was as if Manu Chao had chosen the genres specifically to keep the audience dancing non-stop. He never lets down for a secod, resulting in a frenzied wild time.

Cross-cultural both musically iand linguistically,his politics and heart are in the right place. Lberation music, they way Bob Marley used to deliver it. You gotta love it."