Mad Juana - Bruja On The Corner

By Chris Rockson  

Available in the US from 5th August, Europe & Rest of the World from 8th August, 2008

Mad Juana are :

Sami Yaffa (acoustic guitar)
Karmen Guy (vox, melodica and other shakers & finger bells)
Danny Ray (tenor saxophone)
Nico Camargo (trumpet,tambourine)
Paul Garisto (drums,congas & percussion)
Marni Rice (accordion,vocals)
Fernando Apodaca (violin)
Steve Rodriquez (bass)

 

If there is one record you MUST buy this year, it's THIS ONE!!!!!

It's hard to put your finger on exactly what it is that makes Mad Juana so appealing...it's also Damned hard to review an album that moves in sooo many different directions too. But make no mistake, that is a GOOD thing!!! It is, you see, not a loss of, or a lack of direction, it's just that their unique sound takes you off into a whole new world of gypsy-flamenco-jazz-punk-fusion, that you really don't know what to expect next!

That, also isn't a bad thing, 'cos that's what music is all about anyway...that's what makes this record so 'stand-out- from the-crowd'...it's natural ability to take you places you've never been before, or want to visit again. If you ain't dancin' around the room when this record is playing, then you need to see a doctor!

Fronted by ex-Hanoi Rocks Bass player, now with the NY Dolls, Sami Yaffa, who holds down the rhythm section with his acoustic, and the elegantly-dramatic Karmen Guy, a chanteuese-gypsy-flamenco-queen, they have created a sound that would be a suitable backing track for any Tarantino movie....Like I said earlier, you gotta get your hands on a copy of this, open a bottle of vin rouge, sit back and explore the wonderful, eclectic world of Mad Juana.

'Domingo' is the opener, with its mexicana style trumpets,horns and accordians, all helped along with a great swinging rhythm it really sets the tone for the disc....'there's no other day like today, throw all your troubles and dance away' indeed!! You gettin' it yet?

There's a slightly Psychedelic twist to Mad Juana, but its well mixed within the Jambalaya of sound, that you don't even notice it....you just know it's there!

This is music for life, or is it life for music? I can't tell...all I know is that this collection of people make some of the most interesting 'life-music' I've ever heard....ever!

Image courtesy of Erez Sabag

'There's a place called Valhalla, everybody wants to go...all the women shake their skirts and dance until they're blue' - fast-paced spanish-rambling guitar, blended with lovely Sax and trumpet parts...this one is destined for the big time...let's go to Valhalla!!

'Come on take your tickets, and dance your way 'til the morning'...err, Ok, sign me right up!!!!

'Keep On Walking', reminiscent of a trip to New Orleans/Paris/San Juan and the lovely 'Is That Enough' slow down the frenetic pace just enough to set you up for what is easily my favourite song on the release, the amazing 'La Bruja en la Esquina'...soft guitar over a sea of percussion, overlayed with some beautiful wind.....jeez! Karmen's voice whisks you off to a faraway land, filled with sun and long hazy days, .....Ahhhh, I need to sit down!!

No chance of that, as the military paced 'Heloise' kicks in and brings you back down to earth. The rest of the record is as wild and packed with energy, like a great bottle of wine, you open it slowly and let it develop and show you what it can do...This is party music, this is campfire music, this is wedding party music, its celebration music...it's MUSIC!!

It's a mad world, it's a Mad Juana world!! Just who is that Bruja on the corner? Go find out for yourselves!!

Check out Mad Juana right here....and tell 'em we sent ya!

http://www.myspace.com/madjuana