Mercedes Peón With a piercing shriek and a wail of the gaita, Mercedes Peón launches her first solo effort into the stratosphere. While her deep rooted understanding of the folk traditions of Galicia and its neighbors is crystal clear, and her powerful commanding voice is always at the center of the music, it is her passionate forward looking energy that will capture you and keep you spellbound throughout all eleven tracks of this remarkable recording.
Peón is equally comfortable with a minimalist approach. "Marabilla (Wonder)," recorded in a church and full of open space and wide-eyed wonder, is simply the singer and an accordion. It's an exercise in total restraint and is absolutely successful. Later, Peon roars through bagpipe, bass and drum romps in the best folk rock tradition, always in her unique and determined way, and with a sensitive sense of production that never cuts into the energy to be trendy or cute. Peon's music is often rough-hewn and raw, never clever or contrived, and always distinctive. - Cliff Furnald
This CD is available from cdRoots
Song in Real Audio: "Non Me Mires"
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