photo by Jim Bennett
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole, is La Esquina
by Federico Aubele from the 2007 album Panamericana on Eighteenth Street Lounge.
This Argentina-born artist spent the last few years in Europe before returning to his hometown of Buenos Aires to record this album. Inspired by the Pan-American Highway, Panamericana takes cues from many points along that route. There is a focus on tango, dub, and hip-hop with several other components thrown in the mix. Fans of everyone from Caetano Veloso to Gotan Project to Thievery Corporation will find something to love. Being on Thievery Corporation’s label and having his album produced by TC’s Eric Hilton may have something to do with that. Aubele’s previous album gave way to an entire cast of female vocalists, but this time around his own voice creeps to the foreground, owning or sharing vocal duties on over half the album. The other major difference is the tone of the album; Aubele focuses here on song-oriented guitar-driven tracks instead of the beat and overall sound. He is currently touring with Natalia Clavier (vocals/keyboards) and El John (percussion), and with them played two nights ago at Chop Suey. Federico Aubele will finish the North American leg of his tour 11/15 in Washington D.C. Check out Aubele’s MySpace page and you can go back and listen to Aubele’s recent set live on KEXP on our 14-day Streaming Archive (listen now). Video? Sure; here’s one for La Esquina
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