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Wind your hips and let you hair fall where it may – prolific alt-dance maestro Quantic teams with an eclectic group of musicians to give us “Un Canto a Mi Tierra.” The uplifiting sound fusion mixes jazzy horns; Columbia-rooted rhytms; and the rich, raw vocals of Nidai Gongora.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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Savvy listeners can learn a lot about rappers just by studying their vocal delivery. In the case of Aíd, whose well-metered flows unfurl in lisp-tinged Castilian and Galician, it’s clear this Spanish female emcee is the real deal — not the result of a get-rich-quick marketing scheme. On swinging “Boogie Vigo,” the former graffiti writer rides a funk-tinged, minimal beat and lets you know all about her boundless passion. If you like the track, check out the album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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Last week we showed our appreciation for the efforts of Natalie LaFourcade when we spotlighted her new work with Los Amigos Invisbles. This week, we take our new love a little bit further and spotlight a track from her new album, Hu Hu Hu. “Ella Es Bonita” is a bright slice of sunshine pop where Ms. LaFourcade comes across like a nouveau folk-singer with a penchant for horns and organic disco-pop. In a perfect world, we would spend our weekends in the forest frolicking to music like this.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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Robert Avellanet spent his youth as a member of Menudo in the late ’80s, and honed his rock skills throughout the ’90s as a part of bands like Euphoria, El Reencuentro, and Los Ultimos Heroes. Now he’s back as RoBA and with a new album, Jet Privado. “Laberinto” is a smooth pop track on the surface, but it rocks with gusto – a blazing guitar kicks the tune off which helps bring RoBA into a new level of rock ‘n’ roll sincerity. If you like the track, check out the album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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This Colombian group released its first album in 2007, mixing the electronic sounds boom out of the clubs with more traditional cumbia rhythms. Its newest album, Blow-Up, expands on that idea by integrating champeta and bullerengue sounds into the mix and adding more live percussionists to bring the rhythms to the forefront. This new electofolklorico sound is taken to a high point on “Fuego,” where vocalist Liliana Saumet lures in the listener with her charismatic energy.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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With her former band, Los Abandoned, Pilar Diaz was the center of tracks that dipped into new wave party rock and riff-driven power pop. On her own, she’s freer to create something more dizzying. With her ukulele never too far behind her, Diaz makes quirky, mournful pop songs with an ethereal air – and on “Tu y Yo” she adds a solid, uptempo hip-hop beat.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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Polbo’s self-titled debut was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY in 2006. The album was a refreshingly hard-rocking effort that alternated between 60′s rock riffs and good-time jangling roots-rock. Now Polbo’s back with Liminada, and the hooks are pushed even farther out in front. “Te Quiero Much” is a riotous singalong that keeps the British Invasion influences on the band’s sleeves, but also shows a quirky angularity that gives Polbo a sound that’s hard to define yet easy to remember.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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Puerto Rican reggaeton producer Naldo came to the attention of many a club-goer after his contributons to the Mas Flow compilations. His slick, syth-heavy style is all over this new track from his forthcoming album while the mic gets passed over to De La Ghetto for the sweet vocal work. If you like the track, check out the album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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Domino Saints bring many of the street sounds of Puerto Rico to the surface and combine them into one groove-heavy whole. “Buenos Dias San Juan” is a monster of a track with solid, no-nonsense horns matching a dub-friendly guitar riff and some elegant vocals from Giselle Ojeda. If any tune demands the return of the boombox, it’s this one.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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This trio hails from Santa Barbara have hit pop-punk gold in the form of their new single, “No Te Aguites”. The song has a formidable rhythm section in members Gustavo and Marcos (first names only, please!), who pound out a sky’s-the-limit mixture of power chords and fierce drumming. Vocalist Heidy brings it all home, mixing lascivious Spanish/English vocals in her Stefani-esque quaver. If you like the track, check out the album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.