Senzu-Rah

Personnel: Lencho Fraire (bajo sexto); Fausto Juárez (ukulele); Pablo Molina (tuba).
Recording information: Lamat Recording Studios; Melody Recordings.
On his fourth album in as many years, the young Sinaloan singer and songwriter Régulo Caro pulls out all the stops and delivers what is easily his most ambitious album. Senzu-Rah contains 15 tracks that range across modern banda, norteño, cumbia, and even metal -- the latter is only in the sizzling intro and title number. It's followed by the far more traditional corrido "El Aracon Trabado," with its swirling accordion and chunky guitarron and bajo sexto. "El Convoy Pelochino," a narco banda, layers vocals and harmonies amid a furious tuba bassline, clattering keyboards, and a bracing dance tempo. On "Ya Coronamos" Caro is backed by the great Culiacan quartet Enigma Norteno. "Mi Musica Es Mi Via" is a love song to music with a striking female backing chorus, set to slow cumbia with wah-wah electric guitars, while "Me Gustas, Me Gustas" is a gorgeous norteño ballad. "Los Chanates" is a fat polka which balances the simmering romance in the single "Perdidamente Enamorado" -- one of the finest love songs he's ever recorded. Throughout, Caro is as inspired as he is ambitious. Nothing on Senzu-Rah is taken for granted. The song selection, warm production, and passionate performances are all delivered with aplomb. [The Deluxe Edition contains a bonus disc with six acoustic versions of album cuts including, a stellar "Los Chanates" with Canelo de Sinaloa.] ~ Thom Jurek