The Mexican-American singer / songwriter Lila Downs loves boundlessness culturally and musically. With her band La Misteriosa she mixes Mexican folklore with Afro-Cuban elements, reggae, pop and rock to her heart's content into an eclectic style: often with a pounding rhythm, lots of wind instruments and Down's impressive singing voice that she uses from high to low. With her husband Paul Cohen -
… who is also a saxophonist and producer - she lives in Oaxaca, a southern Mexican state with a great cultural wealth. The inspiration for her seventh studio album Pecados y Milagros (Sins and miracles) were votive offerings, traditionally dedicated to certain saints, to thank them or God for favors obtained. In the CD booklet, a contemporary votive-like work of art is depicted for each track. In a Mexico where there is much sin and violence, Downs found she needed songs that strengthened her and gave her faith. She also wants to impart that power to the listener with her emotional rendition of intimate songs about crying, forgetting, loss, revolution and love. (SvdP)more
