Bill Frisell has had a busy year. As well as releasing a new solo CD (Beautiful Dreamers), working on a number of film projects and maintaining a monthly download series available at his Web site, he found time to complete this duet album with Brazil’s Vinicius Cantuaria. And I must say that all that work must be like play for him, because every project he’s worked on has proven that he is no dull boy. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
Cantuaria is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and percussionist who, as well as working with his own band, has collaborated with such diverse artists as Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Brian Eno and Arto Lindsey. He and Frisell worked together on The Intercontinentals (in 2003) and here they have created a hypnotically beautiful album. Gentle but deep sounds wind their way out of the speakers to capture your heart and soul.
The guitars blend in melody and rhythm supported by Cantuaria’s own percussion (and Frisell’s loops) and create a magical world as Cantuaria sings in Portuguese and Spanish about Hispanic life in New York. The title translates as Mexican Tears, and some of the tunes are melancholy, but the whole album is not sad. “Cafezinho” perks things up, and then leads into “El Camino” (which echoes some of Frisell’s riffing from his live Beatles tribute).
Some reviews have pointed to a sameness to the songs, but the album is mellow, and relaxing. And there’s no denying the virtuosity of the players.
(E1 Music/Naïve, 2011)
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