Search - Antonio Caban Vale Y El Topo :: En Que Mi Pueblo Atesora

While others try to cram a world of music styles into a single song, Antonio Caban Vale (a.k.a. El Topo) finds worlds of meaning in the cosmology of his native Puerto Rico. A poet troubadour in the classic sense, El Topo's national and personal identities are intricately entangled, with the result that decades' worth of soulful odes to his native island's folklore, traditions, and people have made him Puerto Rico's most beloved music figure. Initially a literary poet, he added music to his words in the '70s, in order to reach a greater audience. Obviously, fluency in Spanish is necessary to fully appreciate the grace and surrealistic imagery of his verse, but El Topo's sonic vocabulary is rich enough to create a climate of intimacy and love any listener can feel. Singing here with a cast of musicians drawn from the younger generation--including his son, singer Adean Caban--El Topo covers a range of Latin music genres, including bolero, bomba, plena, guaracha, seis, and aguinaldo. No matter the style, this almost meditative singer-songwriter is not one to explode over the top with overwrought passion. All the more impressive for the subdued radiance of each, track after track draws the listener farther into the dream. El Topo isn't about sun 'n' surf 'n' samba tourist images, but an authentic, heartfelt experience of Puerto Rican culture. --Elena Oumano