MANO NEGRA
Best Of (Ark 21)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The tracks on this CD are drawn from five albums released by Mano Negra between 1988 and 1994, albums that helped kick off the "Rock en Espanol" scene and revolutionized the European music scene. Mano Negra incorporated European, African and Arab music, gave it all a punk sensibility and stirred in a measure of hip hop and reggae to boot. The result was something genuinely original which sounds as fresh today as when these tracks were first released.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Manu Chao's recent Ark 21 solo release echoed some of the style found on this collection, and his continued activity is encouraging because this is a sound too good to be lost. While you're waiting for the next one from Chao, though, this is a good time to catch up with his work with this landmark band. Mano Negra crossed so many musical borders that there's bound to be something here to appeal to anyone with the slightest sense of musical adventure.

Track List: Mano Negra * King Kong Five * Mala Vida * Sidi H Bibi * Rock Island Line * Peligro * Sueno De Solentiname * Indios De Barcelona * Senor Ma Tanza * Out Of Time Man * King Of The Bongo * La Vida * Santa Maradona

(C) 1998 - Shaun Dale