Haz

Buenos Aires native Mariana Yegros absorbed from her parents a love of traditional cumbia and chamamé, a folk music distinctive to north-east Argentina. She studied opera singing before venturing into what has been termed nu cumbia, adding elements from African and Indian traditions as well as a healthy dose of electronica to her sound. If that sounds intriguing, I can tell you that Haz, the singer’s first album in four years, fully lives up to its promise.

Opener ‘Bailarin’ combines handclaps with shuffling percussion, flowing guitar, soft strings, accordion and pipes, simultaneously bringing to mind West Africa, tango, Latin and European folk. Later tracks add touches of brass, dub and electronic textures. A mezze platter of dishes you wouldn’t automatically put together, but which complement each other beautifully. Yegros’ strong and supple vocals adapt to each setting. Long-time collaborator Gaby Kerpel has worked wonders with production, while Daniel Martín’s compositions effortlessly entice the ear. You never know what’s coming next, but every track is unfailingly impressive.