JUANA MOLINA - No Es Tan Cierto

Switching tracks from a predominantly Japanese month, I have decided to look at one of the most haunting voices I have ever heard. A voice I heard for the first time today courtesy of CBC 2's best radio program, by which I mean Brave New Waves. This program which runs every weekday from midnight until 3 am features the most interesting, engaging and potentially life-changing music you ever liable to hear off our waves of air. Luckily, when on evening shift, I finish work just in time to enjoy our country's finest program. I only hope I don't crash my car trying to write down all the musical leads I get as I listen.

Today's entry is Argentina's Juana Molina. Once a well established sketch comedian Molina decided to change career paths after the birth of her first child. At concerts after the release of her first album people were more interested in seeing her do characters from her television programs than hear her sing. By the end of a concert only a handful of people were left. Fortunetly, she didn't five up her dream and ten years later people who come to her shows will often tell her that their parents were fans of her comedic work. It just goes to show that is really is possible to switch gears in the middle of a successful career. She credits Uruguay as a major influence in her music and is even tauted as modern voice for their music. She has toured with the likes of David Byrne all over the world.

I hate to use the lame cliches like tapestry of sound but that most appropriately describes her approach to the musical riddle. It's not so much about a guitar or a drum but the way the instruments are woven together in such a way that it's all one grand measure of sound. Reviews tell me that the lyrics are deeply personal and add another layer of depth to the mix, so it's a shame I can't understand them. Today's track is from her latest album released in 2004 entitled 'Tres Cosas'. The whole album is light and breezy, often embellished with ambient electronic sounds that make this a truly acoustic electronic album. What's more, she does all this herself. You can get the mp3 here or visit her website for this and many other songs.