Desatados

One of the beauties of Duranguense music, the regional Mexican subgenre that mixes traditional banda with electronic instruments (a kind of techno banda, if you will), is its capacity to take practically any song in any style, and make it work to a Duranguense beat.

Indeed, most successful Duranguense groups are known for their cover versions, particularly danceable covers of older, romantic Latin fare. This is standard for the genre. Less common are Spanish language cover versions of English pop songs, but that does pop up to from time to time.

In Desatados, the new album by Hor￳scopos de Durango, there are all kinds of covers to be found alongside new tracks, both romantic and socially inclined. It is an intriguing mix and finally, a satisfying one.

Hor￳scopos stand out among Duranguense groups by the mere fact that they are one of the few groups fronted by female vocalists. This allows them to perform fun fare, like the opening track, "S￳lo Quiero Bailar," a Spanish cover version of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Here, the "wanna have fun" line has been replaced by "S￳lo quiero bailar" (Just want to dance), with vocal harmonies set over a rapid two-beat that quickly makes you forget the original (what did it sound like again?).

"S￳lo Quiero Bailar" is one of three covers of English tracks here, the other two being "S￳lo Piensa En Mi" ("Take a Chance on Me") and "T Ser￡s Mi Baby" ("Be My Baby"). These two are far more subdued than "Solo Quiero Bailar," set to less aggressive dance beats and lighter percussion. My pick between them is "T Ser￡s Mi Baby," where lovely vocals play over delicate, multiple instrument lines.

There is, of course, more traditional Mexican fare here. "Mi Amor Por T￭" is a romantic ranchera with alternating male/female vocals. While most of the material here deals with love and romance, "Amor Deportado" (Deported Love) takes things a step further by telling the story of a couple separated by deportation. The tale manages to be compelling (there are thousands of these stories out there, after all) without descending into cheesiness, the melancholy, yet upbeat chorus, made plaintive with tight harmonies. A similar melancholy cheerfulness is heard in the final track, "Cuando Se Fue," about a lover's dying moments and parting words.

While the subject matter is not festive, the execution is impeccable, and makes this group more than noteworthy in the Duranguense realm.

By Leila Cobo