The Best of Inti-Illimani

The Best of Inti-Illimani

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Early in their formation, the engineering students that were Inti-Illimani (pronounced "intee-E-gee-manee") explored not only the music of their homeland of Chile, but also the native culture of Argentina, Peru, and surrounding countries. This research led to a 30-year career that's produced a bounty of diverse music from Latin America and is why one hears everything from son folk to Andean pan flutes in the ensemble's repertoire. Listeners unfamiliar with the eight-member group whose instrumentation includes such familiar tools as guitar and clarinet and such exotic ones as the quena (a reed flute) and rondador (reed pan flute) have an opportunity to taste the varied flavors of its breezy, romantic music. Over the years Inti have consistently penned sociopolitical lyrics addressing human rights with an undying optimism, an outgrowth in part of their exile from Chile in 1973. Whatever the history, this album provides a spirited and comprehensive introduction to a group of musicians who've created some of the most moving Latin music of the last 30 years. --Karen K. Hugg

From Rhythm Magazine
Founded in 1967 by students in Santiago, Chile, Inti-Illimani is an enduring presence among Latin American nueva cancisn, folk and Andean music fans. Unable to return home after a right-wing coup toppled President Salvador Allende in 1973, Inti-Illimani endured a 15-year exile in Italy, carrying the diverse musical traditions of its native region to a dedicated global audience. Renowned for their vocal and instrumental virtuosity (collectively they play over 30 instruments), the musicians present a finely textured contemporary musical profile, full of longing, sadness and joy, on this collection, culled from their four most recent recordings on Xenophile. --Michael Stone

Tracks:

Angelo
Negra Presuntuosa
Recuerdos De Kalahuayo
Yamor
Kalimba
Mulata
La Fiesta Eres Tu
El Negro Bembon
Kulliacas
Arpa Peruana
Entre Amor
Yendo Y Viniendo
Fina Estampa
Antes De Amar De Nuevo
Salake

Amazon.com

Early in their formation, the engineering students that were Inti-Illimani (pronounced "intee-E-gee-manee") explored not only the music of their homeland of Chile, but also the native culture of Argentina, Peru, and surrounding countries. This research led to a 30-year career that's produced a bounty of diverse music from Latin America and is why one hears everything from son folk to Andean pan flutes in the ensemble's repertoire. Listeners unfamiliar with the eight-member group whose instrumentation includes such familiar tools as guitar and clarinet and such exotic ones as the quena (a reed flute) and rondador (reed pan flute) have an opportunity to taste the varied flavors of its breezy, romantic music. Over the years Inti have consistently penned sociopolitical lyrics addressing human rights with an undying optimism, an outgrowth in part of their exile from Chile in 1973. Whatever the history, this album provides a spirited and comprehensive introduction to a group of musicians who've created some of the most moving Latin music of the last 30 years. --Karen K. Hugg

Customer Reviews:

Let us learn to appreciate their great music without..........2005-12-30

I've listened to Inti Illimani for the past 20 years. Definitely great musicians and magnificent recordings, to say the least. However the use of this review section as a political venue to praise Allende and call his deplorable and failed communist period in power exciting, and Pinochet's years "the frightening Pinochet years", can only come from the twisted mind of someone who still believes in 20th Century myths: the myth of Fidel Castro, the myth of Che Guevara, etc. Having survived 11 years in a communist country I know better, much better. All us should by now.

Frightening years for whom? For the communists and all members of the red tribe of course. Today, to still call Pinochet a dictator and Fidel Castro "president" is beyond comprehension.

I give Inti Illimani a 5 rating for their music. Let us learn to appreciate their great music without praising their disastrous and failed political views. For that, they get a -5.

a well-chosen and diverse cd.......2005-09-12

How exciting to hear such a talented group of musicians with such diverse songs! I understand this isn't their best cd, but I'm not into the political message, just the music and boy is it good.

I don't need to listen it.......2002-09-19

I don't need to listen it. I'm a chilean fan of this group and I can't understand why somebody choose this songs. Where is alturas, chiloe, vuelvo, la exiliada del sur, sambalando, mercado testaccio, señora chichera? Any single disc is better than this selection.

The Best of Inti-Illimani.......2001-09-11

Formed in the late 1960's by university students and performing primarily in Chile through the exciting Allende years and then performing in exile through the frightening Pinochet years, Inti-Illimani became the leader of the Chilean "new song" movement. Using native instruments like the charango and quena, folk rhythms and harmonies, and varied themes, Inti-Illimani became the leading proponent of native music of Chile and the Andean highlands and, in a logical progression, then the leading proponent of folk-based music of social content and social statement. With Inti's varied and high-quality output, it is not possible to pick a "best" CD or even best song from this period.

Unfortunately, someone (probably in the distribution company) misnamed this CD. It cannot be called the "best" of Inti-Illimani because it is not a selection made from Inti's earlier folk-inspired or social content music. Sadly, it is not the "best" in the musical sense as well.

This CD appears to be an attempt to perform the complex sounds and rhythms of the music of Cuba and the Caribbean -- a difficult undertaking at best -- and it falls short in the endeavor. Rhythms, harmonies, and counterpoints are not maintained. They certainly do not come through well when played on the instruments of the highlands, which are not suited to this music. Melodic lines are hard to follow and, in several instances, actually cease to exist.

To call this CD the "best" of Inti-Illimani is a disservice to its earlier, and far finer, recordings. It is a substantial disappointment in almost all respects.

Un disco de grandes exitos para un gran grupo........2000-06-08

Esta recopilación de exitos viene de la serie de discos realizados tras terminar su exilio en Italia y volver a Chile. Tras años de destierro desde 1973 a 1988, hacen de 1989 el año del regreso. Es un Chile distinto del que ellos partieron. Un mercado o industria complicado, el cual aún hoy, solo les deja un pequeño espacio de difusión. Los Inti se replantearon su linea de trabajo y paso a paso, encontrando su camino, llegando a sus ANDADAS(1993), a presentaciones extensas en el mundo y pocas en Chile, pues aquí, les cuesta aceptar masivamente su propuesta musical. Recién en 1997 reeditaron en Chile algunos de sus discos del exilio en Italia, en forma ordenada, aunque sin letras y pocos datos. Llega 1996 y dejan su ARRIESGARE LA PIEL como una identidad con las buenas letras, y un afirmar el sonido acústico desenchufado como base de su estilo. Expresan su firmeza en la difusión de la música latinoamericana, de la manera más amplia, boleros, rancheras, cuecas, etc., tal como se los dejó en herencia Víctor Jara. Expuesto claramente en los albumes multifacéticos de LEJANIA(1998) y AMAR DE NUEVO(1998). En 1999 editan la cantata LA ROSA DE LOS VIENTOS, con orquesta y coros y el album SINFONICO, todo este disco acompañado con orquesta. El 11 de junio de 2000 se presentaron en el teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile con estas dos obras en vivo. Un nuevo Inti que recuerda a Víctor Jara con dos grabaciones, y un exponente de creación e interpretación soberbios. Aunque quedó en el camino de la transición o este periodo a Eugenio Llona, Renato Freyggand, José Seves y Max Berrú. Y llegaron los nuevos integrantes Daniel Cantillana, Efren Viera y el regreso del venezolano Jorge Ball. Un nuevo Inti y unos nuevos grandes exitos. THE BEST OF INTI ILLIMANI, una nueva época, un nuevo mundo. Sorprendete con las letras de Patricio Manns, la música de Horacio Salinas y la fuerza de INTI. Ojalá en algún pais del mundo coloquen toda su discografía los Inti illimani, y nos haga hacerlas tanta busqueda al planeta para encontrar sus obras. En Chile esperamos la reedición de sus discos preexilio en forma ordenada, con sus letras correspondientes y datos fidedignos.