QUETZAL
Sing The Real (Vanguard Records)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

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Eclectic and socially challenging, the music of Quetzal is an example of a band hard at work pushing the envelope for their listeners. Likening their creative process to the documentation of an intersecting place in history where borders are dissolved is appropriate for the band who, although predominantly Spanish speaking, have entitled the first song on their album "The Social Relevance of Public Art." Named for a bird whose song is lush and subtle, Quetzal delights in the complex textures that comprise their music and the world in which it's played.

The spoken language of Quetzal's music is definitely the secondary message. With an emphasis on where they communicate beyond words, it's difficult to categorize them as a Spanish band. The harmonies are so intoxicating and the rhythms luxurious that the lines arbitrarily drawn by languages melt. Although "The Social Relevance of Public Art" conveys a clearly spoken plea, the necessity of that element ceases there. Everywhere else on Sing The Real, one can close their eyes and trust the rapture of tight, swaying sounds to provide the thrust of expression.

© 2002 - Erick Mertz