Don't know this band? Get to know them. Tight live show, infectious songs and strong lyrics make them as potent as any indie act. Their grooves are reminiscent of LA's Ozomatli and Chicano funk-rock greats like WAR or Malo.
Check out "El Consejo" from the new album.
From the band's bio page:
The progressive genius of Grupo Fantasma, now in the tenth year of its long and intriguing musical journey, comes to life on El Existential set for a May 11th, 2010 release on Nat Geo Music. Known as the funkiest, finest, and hardest working Latin orchestra to come out of the United States in the last decade, the band has garnered critical acclaim worldwide for their adventurous albums, prudent songwriting and unprecedented live shows. “Grupo Fantasma is as tight as one would expect from a band that routinely backs up Prince” exclaimed LA Weekly and the Washington Post affirmed that “the ten members represent a new generation of latin music.” Their last effort, the Grammy nominated Sonidos Gold (2008), further trademarked the ensemble’s innovative sound and scored a cover feature in Pollstar Magazine, radio spots on NPR’s “Day to Day” and PRI’s “The World”, top ten status for several months on the CMJ radio charts and extensive press coverage throughout North America and Europe.
“We’ve been around through two so-called ‘cumbia revivals’ and a renewed DJ interest in the music of Fania Records” notes guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada. “On El Existential we feel like we have moved past any retro or novelty tags to explore even more timeless musical and lyrical themes, and multiple members of the band stepped up to contribute to the writing process. It’s clearly our strongest lyrical effort to date with concepts based around the album’s title in addition to tales of betrayal and deceit, surreal dreams, growing older and wiser, and of course women and relationships.” Without sounding too pretentious Quesada states: “There was a lot of pressure to deliver after the success, critical acclaim and Grammy nomination of our last album, but I feel as if we have overcome any expectations and made our best record yet.”
El Existential Track Listing
1. Realizando
2. La Conozco
3. Sacatelo Bailando
4. El Consejo (Feel free to offer to your readers)
5. Hijo
6. Juan Tenorio (feat. Larry Harlow)
7. Montañozo
8. Calor
9. Reconciliar
10. 25
11. Telaraña (feat. Curt Kirkwood from The Meat Puppets)
12. Cumbianchera
13. Araña Cuña
1. Realizando
2. La Conozco
3. Sacatelo Bailando
4. El Consejo (Feel free to offer to your readers)
5. Hijo
6. Juan Tenorio (feat. Larry Harlow)
7. Montañozo
8. Calor
9. Reconciliar
10. 25
11. Telaraña (feat. Curt Kirkwood from The Meat Puppets)
12. Cumbianchera
13. Araña Cuña
