February 18–25, 1999
disc quicks|roots
Luna Nueva
(Universal Latino)
Singer-songwriter Rosana Arbelo rocketed to fame in her native Spain within weeks of her 1996 debut album, Lunas Rotas. Two songs from the album ended up on the soundtrack of the Quentin Tarantino-produced film Curdled. But when that movie went straight to video, a great soundtrack was lost to obscurity. Rosana may still find her U.S. audience with the release of Luna Nueva. A worthy successor, the somewhat jazzier Luna Nueva shows Rosana willing to stretch musically, both in her songwriting and in the album's arrangements. Using backing singers on several tracks, Rosana's gorgeous, fluid voice remains front and center throughout, and while there's a lush sensuousness to many of the slower songs, the record's production retains a sheen. From the opening track, "Contigo," Rosana's vocals are brimming with warmth and confidence—and just the right touch of edginess. There's a heavy dose of musica latina on "Domingos En El Cielo," but most songs are straightforward pop, with a heavy emphasis on Rosana's stellar acoustic guitar playing and passionate singing. Even though they're sung in Spanish, you can tell why songs like "Amainara," and "El Dia Que Se Hizo Tarde" play like they have "hit single" written all over them: They're as well written and performed as they are musically structured.