Aayayayyy!! Cumbia anyone?

[JKL]

What do you think? Am I close? Comments/ Critiques greatly appreciated.

Jon

[JKL]

Nada? Aye caramba!! Que Paso? (that's about all the spanish I know)

Juanito

[JKL]

Wow. Hmmmm...

[NeoVXR]

very funny for the summer!
I like the mix and sound.
but these computer cymbals and hihats can become nuisance, ok its a habit in the music style..
the composition is .. .. good routine
sure the singer can entertain his happy live audience for many more thousand nights..

[JKL]

Alright. Real live feedback!

It's definately not a serious type song. And it's indeed supposed to be fun. (I think that's what you mean?) I asked the singer what the song's about, and I remember him saying something about a coconut.(!)
Cymbals/hi-hat get on your nerves though, huh? Maybe I should trim them back.... that's actually real cymbals/drums on there, so I guess maybe I should investigate further if they sound like canned percussion. I played the drums on the track, and maybe I over-did the keep it simple/straight ahead approach.
Your comments are helpful. Thanks for taking the time Neo.

Jon

[NeoVXR]

well, I'm not a latino, but I like the music. near my place there is some open air merengue going (live and DJ).
to me it is a big secret how they keep the balance between playing extremely precise (and in recordings) and with a very bright, state-of-the-art sound, and sounding not too sterile and automated.
trimming back could make it dull, but maybe more "live" sound will help.
these guys sound like it is all so simple, but... sophisticated, and complex feeling and dynamics!

(I know a sri lankan drummer, and he can program a drum machine in a way that it is almost impossible to distinguish in the mix.)

[Ruphus]

Hey Juanito,

Don´t you mind these gentlemen. Some gringos can´t appriciate the art of this piece. ( ) You must know that a singer with balls like a boar and such swinging and vital playing can be a bit stunning and people can get sort of j .... , dam there was a word starting with "j", what was it, I forgot. ( am getting old )
You did a f***** terrific job. Got an idea of what I mean?

LOVED it!! Gimme more!

Ruphus

PS: Normally I don´t like accordeons, but this one is just played great!

[JKL]

Thanks for the support there Ruphus. I know it's not everyone's cup 'o tea. I come from a pretty eclectic background and tend to like just about any kind of music if it's done well (not saying this particular tune is neccessarily done well, mind you). I've even heard polka bands that kick some serious ass!
I had already written off this post, so thanks for reviving it long enough to lift me up a bit at the end of a long day. Much appreciated. I should have the whole cd mixed by next week. Maybe I'll post another for grins when it's finished.

Thanks Amigo!

Jon

[NeoVXR]

Originally posted by Ruphus
Hey Juanito,
..
LOVED it!! Gimme more!

Ruphus

PS: Normally I don´t like accordeons, but this one is just played great!

that really counts!
go on!

[Ruphus]

and tend to like just about any kind of music if it's done well (not saying this particular tune is neccessarily done well, mind you). I've even heard polka bands that kick some serious ass!

That´s wordly how it is for me too. I come mainly from listening to rockers, you know from Beatles over Zep to Black Crowes, but when something is simply beautiful I don´t care about genre and sometimes can even forget about originality ( AIR ). From there you can also find quite different music in my shelf shelf. From softies like Cat Stevens / Simon & Garfunkel / Randy Newman - like stuff, over nostalgics like Brenda Lee / Andrew Sisters and curiousities like an LP with Portuguese revolutionary songs ( almost sounding like marshs, but very special ) up to folkmusic from Joan Baez over Indian music / African choirs to flamenco ( nice flamenco pieces kill. No guitar playing like that anywhere!).

The piece you showed although heading towards kitsch contained the fact that the Iberian style is the most vivid ethnic stuff on the globe ( next followed by the Irish and their derived styles [ -> American folk ] who can be pretty melodic too ).

I listened 5 or 6 times in a raw to it yesterday and have been very impressed by the performance, recording and mix. And that singer has some guts, boy, he could make Willy Deville fear for his job.

This is some serious production, no matter what taste listeners might have they would have to admit the fact. And those who appreciate the whole thing have something to really enjoy.
I did for very sure.

Looking forward to hear some more from you.

Ruphus

PS: Yeah, even polka. When I was in New York there used to gather a big group in the Central Park ( maybe they are still doing it ... ) and dance to some polka. Hey, that sounded good and looked like true fun. It was such a joy to watch them.