Borderline Latin is an exploration of the influence of Latin music in styles, places and rhythms beyond its traditional borders, and of different types of cross-pollination between Latin music and other musical creatures. Each week, we will feature a song or musical style whose rhythm, themes, melodic inflections or influences have earned it the name of Borderline Latin.
I was hanging out, minding my own business, eating turkey recalentado when a friend of mine told me about Anselmo Crew. It was a couple of days after Thanksgiving. I was relaxed, rested, open to new ideas, so I decided to give it a try. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. These guys have their stuff together: clean sound, a tight rhythm and a lot of flavor. And that flavor comes from a special blend of Latin American, gypsy and African sounds, mixed with the exotic sounds of Hungary and Asia.
Anselmo Crew was formed in New Zealand in 2002. Almost all of the band members have adopted the surname Anselmo: you have front man Sub Anselmo on vocals, accordion and guitar; Jakab Anselmo on keboards, Csuto Anselmo on drums, Köd Anselmo on guitar and Tommaso Anselmo on bass. MC Guacho from Uruguay completes the crew, doing vocals and hitting some wild percussion. Their music has been featured in several world music compilations by big names like Putumayo and Anselmo Crew – Parlament. They were also included in Radio Mandinga’s compilation “Radio Mandinga” and now, for the first time, they are here for Remezcla’s readers to enjoy.
Anselmo Crew are working on new tracks and a new video, which will be released next year –they told me so themselves. They’re also preparing a new single, which will probably be released before 2012 is over and the world ends in a nasty Mayan Apocalypse. In the mean time, check out the video for their song “Parlament,” which features a badass accordion that brings me memories of good old musica colombiana from Monterrey, Mexico. And don’t forget to download their latest EP, Mud Not Gold, for FREE! Enjoy.
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Click HERE to read more “Borderline Latin” profiles. For comments and tips, please contact me at: Salvador@remezcla.com, and for more info on my “Borderline” works, visit Borderline Projects.