Laru Beya

Description

Product Description One of the most extraordinary and passionate Central American artists of his generation, Aurelio Martinez is a major tradition-bearer of the threatened Garifuna culture that fuses African and Caribbean-Indian roots. Hailing from a small community in Honduras, he is recognised for his preservation and modernization of this musical tradition with his distinctive, powerfully evocative vocals and his talent as a composer, guitarist and percussionist. Thanks to a mentorship with Youssou N'Dour, as part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, Martinez found himself in Senegal, learning from the singer, rethinking his arrangements and exploring the musical links between the Garifuna sound and West Africa. Youssou N'Dour and Orchestra Baobab guest on the new album, which is produced by Ivan Duran of Stonetree Records (Andy Palacio, Umalali and the man behind the international rise of Central American Garifuna music). Laru Beya is a lush journey marked with thoughtful reflections on the Garifuna past, the sometimes difficult present, and the promising glimmers of the future for artists like Martinez. Review "A potentially major figure to watch." -- The Daily Telegraph **** "A wonderful collection, it confirms Aurelio's distinctive, personal style." -- Songlines (Top of the World album)***** "By turns swaggering with a carefree carnivalesque joie de vivre, and seemingly channelling a Cape Verde spirit of melancholy that so evokes the disenfranchised human spirit, Lara Beya is a texturally and emotionally involving treasure." -- The Independent on Sunday ***** "Part of the joy of this marvellous record lies in trying to pin down the different traditions floating in the air ... The first essential world music disc of the year." -- The Sunday Times **** "This promises to be one of the albums of the year." -- The Guardian **** Review: Another slice of Garifuna genius - Slots neatly into the same space as Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective ... if you like that, you'll also love this one. Brilliant, slow, lilting, cross rhythms, harmonies, African lady's style backing vocals, not to mention ace laid-back guitar work ... just wonderful. A must-buy for the discerning (like me!! LOL). Review: sheer pleasure - Can't remember what lead me to this one, but it is very joyful and relaxing, but at the same time it does have bite and content.