| Mano Negra
"Patchenka!" scream the reckless Parisian garcons known as Mano Negra. Translated as "vulgar street music," their
one-word battle cry aptly captures their sound: a boisterous potpourri
of Spanish flamenco, French cabaret and North African rhythms, solidly
supported with sassy horn blasts, go-go percussion and punkabilly
bass and guitar. Puta's Fever, their Virgin Records debut, should
captivate world beat minds with its up-tempo multicultural irreverence.
"There's a new movement coming up now in France," explains
lead vocalist Mano Chao. "We're the only band that said, 'O.K.,
we're going to mix anything," The octet's members are similarly
diverse. Although they all grew up in France, two are Moroccan,
four are of Spanish heritage and the rest Chao found in the Pairs
Metro, playing for their daily croissants. "I was looking for
people that I could have strong relations [with], like my cousin
and my brother," explains Chao. (Both are band members.) "I
could find a lot of musicians, no problem, but I was looking for
friends."
Photography by Basia Kenton
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