Andadas

Andadas

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Chilean folk group Inti-Illimani spent the years of 1973 to 1988 in Europe (exiled by the Pinochet military dictatorship, which apparently feared their celebration of indigenous culture as much as their populist lyrics). During those expatriate years, Inti-Illimani often found themselves playing for non-Spanish-speaking audiences and came to emphasize their exquisite chamber-folk instrumental work over their vocals. The band returned in triumph to its native country in 1988, however, and Andadas (recorded in '92 and finally released here) is the first Inti-Illimani album made at home in 20 years. As a result, the album places a renewed emphasis on lyrics and vocals. Eight of the 11 selections are songs, and the words come from such Latin American poets as Nicolas Guillen, Eugenio Ilona, and Patricio Manns. The same seamless harmonies that characterize the group's instrumental work are present in its singing, which is dominated by joined voices rather than solos. Inti-Illimani explicitly address the issue of their exile in the slow, ghostly "El Equipage del Destierro" ("The Luggage of the Banished"). In the CD booklet's English translation, Manns's words are, "I will let you assume that I abandoned my people, that I fled, breaking the cruel threshold as a terrified puma.... Yet I must confess I did not misplace one single grain of pollen, since they will not be able to separate me from this land." By contrast, other songs translated as "Loving You Dark Woman Till Death," "Elegant Look," and "Mulatto Woman" are lively, percussion-driven celebrations of romance and sensuality. --Geoffrey Himes

Tracks:

Angelo
El Equipaje Del Destierro
Quererte Morena A Muerte
Fina Estampa
Ella
Cinque Terre
Tata San Juan
Cueca De La Ausencia
Mulata
Araucarias
Canna Austina

Amazon.com

The Chilean folk group Inti-Illimani spent the years of 1973 to 1988 in Europe (exiled by the Pinochet military dictatorship, which apparently feared their celebration of indigenous culture as much as their populist lyrics). During those expatriate years, Inti-Illimani often found themselves playing for non-Spanish-speaking audiences and came to emphasize their exquisite chamber-folk instrumental work over their vocals. The band returned in triumph to its native country in 1988, however, and Andadas (recorded in '92 and finally released here) is the first Inti-Illimani album made at home in 20 years. As a result, the album places a renewed emphasis on lyrics and vocals. Eight of the 11 selections are songs, and the words come from such Latin American poets as Nicolas Guillen, Eugenio Ilona, and Patricio Manns. The same seamless harmonies that characterize the group's instrumental work are present in its singing, which is dominated by joined voices rather than solos. Inti-Illimani explicitly address the issue of their exile in the slow, ghostly "El Equipage del Destierro" ("The Luggage of the Banished"). In the CD booklet's English translation, Manns's words are, "I will let you assume that I abandoned my people, that I fled, breaking the cruel threshold as a terrified puma.... Yet I must confess I did not misplace one single grain of pollen, since they will not be able to separate me from this land." By contrast, other songs translated as "Loving You Dark Woman Till Death," "Elegant Look," and "Mulatto Woman" are lively, percussion-driven celebrations of romance and sensuality. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

Not Their Best.......2000-08-01

I have long been a fan of Inti-Illimani but mostly of their evocative instrumentals. I don't understand those who downgrade an album just because it is not anti-establishment enough. Any[one] can sing "down with the government", and many do. What one should look at is the quality of the music, and on Andadas, that quality is not quite up to standard although the album is good enough to rate 3 stars. One can enjoy the quality of a group's music without sharingits politics. I enjoy the music of a long line of Latin leftists such as Atahualpa Yupanqui, Astor Piazzolla and Inti-Illimani at the same time feeling that on balance Pinochet was good for Chile. Andadas' best song, El Equipaje del Destierro, is a case in point. Leftist, yes, but undeniably beautiful. When I play this album, I'm usually at the office as it is suitably relaxing for my work and my customers seem to enjoy it. If you are expecting a blockbuster, forget it.But if you like Inti-Illimani's style of music, you will probably like this despite the lack of bombthrowing.

Siempre los Inti descubriendo América........2000-05-08

Un disco difícil de hacer, pues representa el termino del exilio y el recomenzar en Chile su vida artística, consagrando lo que siempre hacían en reuniones familiares, cantar rancheras y valses. Dándonos un hermoso conjunto de canciones e instrumentales, simplemente andando sobre América Latina, la tan humilde, la tan sabia.

Inti-Illimani alive and kicking.......1999-10-16

Groups such as Inti-Illimani and Quilapayun have been criticised by some of their early fans for regressing into an easier, less political style of music. Somebody wrote a critique above comparing their recent work and this cd to Julio Iglesias... I wonder whether these fans would have preferred the dictatorship in Chile to have continued, so that Inti Illimani could sing more tunes of Victor Jara or songs such as "pueblo unido"...

Andadas is a unique CD. The lyrics and the music are comparable to the best the group has composed and performed so far -- I recommend it fully!

Good South American Music.......1999-07-25

Not a bad album, but in my opinion it is lacking the power, the anger and the political statement of the older Inti Illimani albums.

un maravilloso viaje al mundo del recuerdo.......1999-05-07

Clearly the guy who wrote the review above has no clue whatsoever of the story and message behind this CD. Songs like Equipaje del Destierro estremecen a cualquera que, mas cerca o mas lejos ha vivido el drama de Chile. La cancion de la pasa colorá es para mi gusto lo mas fresco que se ha cantado en español en los ultimos diez años. Compralo, tio, no te arrepentiras.