Nano Stern - Voy y Vuelvo

Price in Australian dollars (postage will be added when you complete your order and check out). $30.00: / Unit

Chilean singer songwriter Nano Stern seems to have left his country of birth quite young, to explore other musical paths in Europe. Yet, Voy y Vuelvo, released in 2007, is a celebration of what is pure South American folk. Being a Chilean expat myself, I was so pleased to identify a range of rhythms in this all original album (except for one song), from pure folk derived from Chile, Argentina and other countries, to the more upbeat Latin experience, who most people have embraced throughout the world. The first two songs are inspiring insights of lost and recovered faith and hope, maybe in a country, in friendship, in life, or maybe a lost love; “Dos cantores” talks of two icons of our national folk, Violeta Parra and Victor Jara, and even though he never mentions their names, all South Americans know who he speaks of, also speaking truths of our cultural derails and the pop culture that has replaced our real identity. He also sings of journeys, our land, our cities and wine, denoting in a passionate manner the nostalgia and romance that lays in the life changing decision of residing in another country. Nano’s clear voice brought tears to my eyes, recognising in his lyrics all the crucial things we mustn’t forget about our land and roots, little less love and music. This is a record sung in Spanish, but don’t be deterred by the language barrier; my own fears of being perhaps biased due to my understanding of it rapidly went away. In addition to his earthy strumming and clear South American rhythms, Nano indeed shows those influences from around the world, resulting in a colourful, powerful and ultimately beautiful album to listen to. Even the look of this album is different, with great designs, and an obvious personal touch to it. For those who won't understand the lyrics, this CD might be even more interesting, as the beauty of the sound of the language on its own will give yet another dimension to the songs, and Nano’s unmistakable passion is in the end the main ingredient in this album. review by Joana Cubillos, 2009