Pedro Depestre: Son Charangas y Pasiones

This recording, even so, features well-worn standards associated with Cuban popular music and it is the only album of its type in the label’s catalogue where the mix almost worked. For some unknown reasons, the label favors a type of high pitched mix that sounds “trebly” and betrays the proper sound for these types of musical works. Such a sound requires a darker and fatter sound than the one you will find here, although Depestre’s work requires less tinkering than others in the said catalogue would. It is obvious that this venture was meant to be a contemporary radio-friendly Cuban record. That, however, did not lend itself as a showcase of Depestre’s true mastery: traditional Cuban charanga music. The composer’s credit of “Mujer divina” is mysteriously missing.

If you like Cuban music, Son Charangas y Pasiones will not disappoint anyone although it remains to be seen whether it would actually elate you.

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