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COP THIS: BACHATA ROJA
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Orlando Weekly Blog, COP THIS: BACHATA ROJA >>
Bachata Roja
Acoustic Bachata From The Cabaret Era
(iASO)
In the decades before Bachata plugged in and dressed up for its international stepping out, it was a stigmatized, acoustic, guitar-based form shunned by the Dominican Republic’s upper echelon. This first-ever compilation of the defining moments of the genre’s pre-electric, ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s underground is a testament to its humble origins, infamous nightlife shenanigans and rich artistry. Much of contemporary Bachata’s monotonous rhythmic gallop is discernible in these pioneering classics. But today’s ultra polished studio productions lack the mesmerizing poetic quality of songs like “Estoy aquí pero no soy yo” (I’m Here But It’s Not Me). Such sentimental forays did more than just tug at the heart strings -- they consumed the soul, entangling every contour and crevice with dizzying guitar phrasings and plaintive, lilting spells spun into songs that ignited the collective imagination of love-hungry, working-class Dominicans. Much of today’s Bachata is a diluted by-product of its predecessor’s more potent brew. Virtuoso players, such as Augusto Santos, Marino Perez, and Edilio Paredes offer a glimpse into the rough ‘n’ tumble era of back alley cabarets and rural dances, spanning three decades of debauchery, bitterness and romanticism served up raw.
-by Lissette Corsa 12/27/07 >> go there
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