Full disclosure: I don’t speak Spanish. I don’t speak Portuguese. And I don’t speak any of the other four foreign languages that Manu Chao brings to the table on La Radiolina. That said, my lyrical understanding of Chao’s third international release is limited. So thank goodness the language of music is universal, amirite?!
To Chao’s credit, words aren’t necessary to convey his musical climate. The dark, undulating, Urge Overkill-esque energies of “Politik Kills” and “Panik Panik” are overtly anarchistic, while the slow, hypnotic synth of “Mundoreves” and “Otro Mundo” would seduce any woman into cama (I just sold out to an English-to-Spanish dictionary).
Meanwhile, “Me Llaman Calle” and “Mama Cuchara” boast solid Latin flamenco underlay, and “13 Días” and “Besoin de la Lune” offer surprising slices of Americana. Lead single “Rainin in Paradize” is an unexpectedly rockin’ affair that treats listeners to funky Floyd-ian riffs never-before-heard on a Chaolbum.
Yet despite the polyglotism and sonic mélange, La Radiolina stalls about halfway through. Chao, who is known for recycling riffs, seems to get caught in a cycle of self, allowing too many songs to bleed into each other. Unfortunately, even the best mishmash of music begins to taste stale on a 21-song album stretched too thin.
MANU CHAO
La Radiolina
*** 1/2