Alfredo Flores, award-winning D.C.-based freelance event photographer

Manu Chao
La Radiolina
http://manuchao.net/
On Tap Magazine September 2007

Manu Chao has always let his displeasure of U.S. foreign policy known, especially during his June DC-area show at Merriweather in front of 16,000. In "Tristeza Maleza" he speaks of infinite sadness due to the privacy-invading "Sr. Bush" and in "Rainin in Paradize" he thinks of Baghdad as non-democratic "because it's a U.S. country." These are songs of anti-globalization, peace and war, freedom and love, in English, Spanish, French and now Italian, using his trademark wondrous mix of global rhythms, with a new emphasis on rock. "Rainin" calls for calm and intelligence in a chaotic world with a fist-pumping, peppy upbeat catchy tune. In "Me llaman Calle" he hopes for love for streetwalkers in a beautifully melodic flamenco strum rhythm. "El Hoyo" is just plain fun, filled with sirens, screams, pulsating snare drums, rolling R's, chants of "hey, hey, hey," and "hoyoyo… oyoyo." CD release date is Sept. 4. — Alfredo Flores