Mariana Montalvo left her native Chile in exile after Augusto Pinochet's coup. She now lives in Paris. She is currently on a 28 American city tour with "Putumayo Presents Latinas: Women of Latin America."

"Piel de Aceituna is based on a tradition of mixing indigenous song forms with new poetry and contemporary styles and instrumentation. The lyrics address Latin American life and dreams. The title song refers to an olive-skinned dancer in the moonlight on a feast day. The tie between Chile and Paris is shown by Montalvo's adaptation of Jacques Brel's "La Cancion de los Amantes (The Lover's Song)."

This music is clearly South American. Montalvo mixes its traditional foundation with modern sound, carrying it into the future by spreading it to the rest of the world.

Key Track: "Sud Americano"

Reviewed by: Keith Quillen