The 90s brought us mestizo, a tidy Spanish / French mix of latin, salsa, reggae, punk and hip hop. This music was practically invented by the French group , led by their charismatic frontman Manu Chao. After the breakup of Mano Negra, Chao recorded his solo album Clandestino on a world tour, freely sampling from local radio stations and on the streets. It is precisely those lo-fi sound bites that
… make songs like Clandestino and his big hit Bongo Bong so special. In addition, Chao sings and raps as if he were reflecting on his social criticism in the sun with a joint on the side, like a slacker with a message. The influential album, released in 1998, was re-released in 2019, supplemented with the new song Bloody Bloody Border, among others. As the son of parents who once fled Spain before Franco's rule, Chao denounces current European refugee policy. With a lazy swinging ska rhythm it fits effortlessly between the 21 year old album. (MR)more
