Mariachi Beat

Mexico City's Los De Abajo first made an impression when David Byrne signed them to his Luaka Bop label. The band's high-energy blend of ska, salsa, punk, cumbia and reggae marked them out as the bastard children of Manu Chao's hugely influential first band Mano Negra. Yet they lacked a truly singular sound and failed to achieve a breakthrough beyond the Latin market. Mariachi Beat sees them returning with, as the albums’ title implies, a nod to Mexico's signature sound, mariachi. Yet it features little that could really be considered mariachi music. It does, however, bubble with their trademark energy and enthusiasm. The Latin ska romp ‘Me Dejo’ is extremely catchy while the atmospheric ‘Mexicano’ has an almost Balkan flavour to its melancholy melody – perhaps this reflects the huge impression mariachi music made in Yugoslavia. ‘Mexican Underdogs’ has a seductive rhythm while the acoustic ‘Cicatrices’ and ‘Mujer Guerrera’ are the closest the band get to traditional mariachi, with sobbing violin. The album improves as it progresses and the band opt for less frantic, more acoustic-based songs. Not perfect then, but a strong effort from a band who are maturing well.