Search - Tranzas :: Por Siempre

The best CD nobody's listening to!

E. Valdes | Dallas, TX USA | 10/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What happens when you have a group that does not fit any genre? They are not just Folk Music. They are not just Latin Rock. They are not just Pop. They are not just Alternative. They are not just Retro. What they ARE is actually ALL of those, and then some more. And what happens when you have this kind of crazy fusion in your sound? You become the best CD nobody's listening to!I must tell you the truth, I bought this CD just for the ballad Un nuevo amor. I thought it would be one of those CD's you buy just for one song and then you won't listen to the rest of it because it isn't worth it. Boy, was I wrong. I haven't been able to take this one out of my CD player! ALL the songs are exceptional!It all begins with Si volvieras, a fusion of Folk Andean flute sounds with Spanish Flamenco guitars and rythms (really!). Then we have the wonderful ballad Un nuevo amor, which starts with just voice and guitar, then one by one, the other instruments join in unintrusively, only to go full circle and end again with just the voice and guitar. This song has some of the best lyrics I've heard in a long, long time. Metalica, starts with a heavy Brazilian beat. But just a few bars into it, they add a Tropical/Caribbean beat that keeps you dancing all through it. Por siempre starts as a quiet, cozy Bachata. They go through the first verse and whole chorus, then it surprisingly turns into a heavy rock song, which then adds strings for a Beatle-esque musical bridge! Then they finish it again as a Bachata. How they pulled it out? I don't know, but it works!The only "straight-through" rock songs are Otra vez and Por las noches. But don't be mistaken, the sound may be Rock, but the wonderful lyrics to them are all good ol' fashioned love song.No te llamaré, starts as a ballad, then it turns into DISCO. Yes, I said disco. Awesome! In Brujería, they again explore an Afro-Antillean/Tropical/Caribbean fusion. Then they tone it down a notch for Mientras me quieras.Then we have Intento comprender, where they decide not to just settle with being inspired by The Beatles. The actually CHANNEL them. You have to listen to it to believe it. You would swear the Fab Four have learned Spanish and wrote the most beautiful lyrics for this song.The next song is Me voy, a great torch song with a haunting melody and lyrics. The last song is a tongue-in-cheek Raggae-ish/Rock story about a musician trying to explain to the US consulate officer why he "wants to go to the USA". Hillariously outrageous!All the songs were written by lead singer, Douglas Bastidas. This CD is A TRIUMPH. The best CD this year! I'm running out of exclamation points!!! I have to go now, I have to press the PLAY button on my CD player and listen to it again..."

Latin music with a rich, magical touch

Michael J. Mazza | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 10/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've listened to a lot of Latin CDs over the past few years, and I can say that "Por Siempre," by Tranzas, is definitely something different -- and something special. The CD successfully brings together a number of different elements: pop, rock, ethnic/tribal, and even a touch of disco. There is an effective balance of energetic, fast-tempo songs and slow, mellow songs. The lyrics are in Spanish.The whole musical effect is held together by the remarkable talents of the group's lead vocalist. His voice has a sweetness and childlike innocence, joined with an almost shamanic depth; he can be both playful and wistful within the same song. He is ably supported by the background vocals; there is some particularly memorable "ethnic" sounding chanting on track #8, "Brujeria." The instrumental performances on the CD are also excellent; a number of songs make good use of ethnic sounding percussion. Overall, an inventive and enjoyable CD."

Something Different

Alejandro | 10/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tranzas is one of the best pop band from Ecuador. I like their Music because is originall, maning they havent copied from nobody. Tranzas has everything, they have all the qualities of a succesful pop- band. The most inportant thing about then is that they have a message in every song. My favorite songs are "Nacional", "Plastica"
I recommend anybody that want to explore a new kind of music to buy the cd Por Siempre, It will be a Experience you will never forget"