Senor Coconut
El Baile Aleman
Emperor Norton
Willkommen, amigos. Kraftwerk fans – heads up! Latin musicians, German compositions, sung mainly in English. Congas, marimbas, vibes, percussion, and brass sections perfectly re-interpret the genius of Kraftwerk’s well-driven cold beeping and clicking through synths and drum machines, though they are without doubt the grandfathers of techno-anything music.
Open-minded Kraftwerk fans will lap this up like a dozen kitties in a big bowl of milk. For their hard line fans, however, run for your lives! Senor Coconut’s interpretations are flawless, with Argenis Brito’s soft and playful vocals the perfect opposite to Ralf und Florian’s edgy and sterile robotic deliveries. None of the rhythmic energy is lost in the translation as the precise and calculated programmed techno-masterpieces roll like a wave of feathers into fun and playful songs.
I’ve been waiting years and years for something new by Kraftwerk. Now I can’t wait to see what else Senor Coconut has gotten into. Salsa-vergnugen!
Emperor Norton Records, 102 Robinson St., Los Angeles, CA 90026; http://www.emperornorton.com
