Mercedes Sosa - Cantata Sudamericana (1972)

Well, long before political correctness and the plethora of female artists there was Mercedes Sosa. She is the perennial female artist who sings of Latin America as one. This album is a nice showcase of her extensive vocal talents. Mercedes Sosa laments and sings songs of joy and hope. Her music is filled with a vision of common causes throughout Latin America.

Listening carefully to this album you can hear the echoes and roots of such diverse contemporary female artists as Lila Downs and Alejandra Guzman. Sosa projects the voice of the indigeneous population of America without borders. Her universal appeal has made her legendary to indigenous populations throughout Latin America.

This is a beautiful conceptual album, a classic piece of music that celebrates the common ethnic and spiritual characteristics of South America. The Argentine composers of the music Ariel Ramirez (who also plays piano and clavecin on the album) and Felix Luna studied extensively to create these authentic manifestations of ancient cultures. On "Oracion al Sol" ("Prayer to the Sun") Luna is studiing the remnants of Quichua literature and their religious beliefs to create his compositon. This coupled with the use of authentic instruments, such as the Quena (Indian flute), Cuatro (four stringed guitar), the Requinto (small guitar), Charango (small guitar made the hide of an armadillo), maracas and various percussion intruments, create a magnificent piece of timeless music.

Although the instruments used are beautiful it is Sosa 's voice that solidifies and projects the music deep into your soul. Her voice is full of emotion, gentle but firm, demanding your attention soaring from high and low notes with her feet firmly on the ground. She has a range that can rest on the deep end but the feeling you get from listening to her is the strength of women and in particular the indigeous woman. All eight tracks are beautiful and different. "Canta tu Cancion" is a bossa nova type number that swings in a manner unlike the other songs because the others are more "indigenous sounding" because of the instruments used. More typical fare represenative of the album is "Alcen La Bandera" where Sosa sings to a beat that carries a tune similar to "Guantamera". Mercedes Sosa's wonderful vibe is projected as the earth mother crying out for peace, justice and respect between men and women. She sings of the common roots of South Americans, the Spanish and Indigenous past and the bridge to the future. She is a visionary who uses her voice to reach out to the multitudes. Her utopian vision of Latin America is heartfelt as her soulful vocals testify. Recommended for those that like music that has a message of unity, peace and justice for all.


Tracklist:

A1		Es Sudamerica Mi Voz
A2		Canta Tu Cancion
A3		Antiguos Duenos De Flechas
A4		Pampas Del Sur
B1		Acercate Cholito
B2		Oracion Al Sol
B3		Sudamericano En Nueva York
B4		Alcen La Bandera

Mercedes Sosa - Cantata Sudamericana (1972)
(256 kbps, cover art included)