ESQUIVEL
See It In Sound (7N/BMG)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Employing real world sounds was deemed far too radical in 1960, and as a result a vital album by exotica maestro Esquivel was rejected outright by RCA. Now, some four decades on, the long lost Esquivel album is finally unleashed on the unsuspecting public. Are we ready? Probably not. Esquivel's dizzying arrangements and orchestra manipulations may never find the right audience, cuz most folks just don't know what to make of it all. While most lounge music is simple, kitschy fun, Esquivel's concoctions are bizarre, sensational and utterly complex as well. See It In Sound brings Esquivel's aural magic to full bloom, as sound bites accentuate his dynamic stereo action grooves. Instead of inserting the samples as cheesy hooks, Esquivel uses them as starting points, working them into the tunes like any other instrument. 1960 or 2000, this is still way ahead of any time.

© 2000 - John Sekerka