Manu Chao: Viva Tu (2024)

Although he could comfortably slip onto our world music break-out, Manu Chao is popular in the Western world of folk and rock for his assemblages of sounds and styles as diverse as Algerian rai, the Clash, samba, Cuban music, reggae and more. He’s also multilingual: a few here are in English including Heaven’s Bad Day. Be prepared to be as confused as you are seduced by an album which dials down from some of his more explosive songs into Latin passions, ballads and handclap songs around a late night open fire. Different, and different is good.

Next: Manu Negra, Puta’s Fever; Benjamin Escoriza, Alevanta!; kate can wait, Veraniegas; Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, Isabela

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