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Album: Landini by Aurelio

Glorious Auerlio owes his mum a lot, writes MICHAL BONCZA

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

THIS “like mother, like son” opus owes its musical glory as much to Aurelio as to his remarkable mother Maria. 

They are Garifuna, descendants of African slaves who live on the Atlantic coast of Honduras, and on this album they distil a captivating, indigenous sound and gently didactic narratives into a potent elixir of life. 

Plaplaya, where they hail from, is the source of Aurelio’s inspiration in Landini (“Landing”) and the album, produced by Ivan Duran, is a homage to his native land, though there is darkness mixed in with the light. These gently pulsating rhythms and melodies massage the heart as much as the soul. 

This is music with integrity, a paean to the community that inspires it in the midst of poverty and racial prejudice. 

The compactness of the musicianship of Aurelio’s long-standing band is, as ever, a sheer joy. But the way Guayo Cedeno embroiders this canvas with exquisite “dreamy” guitar work is simply out of this world. 

Milaguru, Durugubei Mani, Funa Tugudirugu and Landini stand out too in this highly recommended album. 

“I consider this album to be the sound of my Garifuna people. On the previous album — Laru Beya — we experimented and collaborated with other artists to reconnect what was lost between Africa and America,” Aurelio has said.

“This album is purely Garifuna and the entire spirit of the music reflects the Garifuna experience.”

How true and, as well as this album, Aurelio’s not to be missed when he’s next in town.

 

Stonetree Records

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