Addys D' Mercedes

nomad
© Media Luna
text: Guido Fischer, translation Gordon Barrey


Addys D' Mercedes’ debutalbum "Mundo Nuevo" was one of last years most successful worldmusic-releases at all. Now, the Cuban vocal sensation, the delicate and highly attractive bundle of energy comes back with her second album "Nomad". And - big surprise: Never before the Latino-sounds presented themselves to be as Pop-like as on "Nomad" :

Addys manages to fuse a Cuban atmosphere with Pop like her latin colleague Gloria Estefan in the days with Miami Sound Machine. Son and HipHop, Ballads and R'n'B, Salsa and House, Rumba and Rock - with sexappeal, with the sense for pure emotion and above all with the most recent club-beats. Addys' voice moves in a confident way between the traditional rhythms of Cuba and the western pop-world.

After all Addys D' Mercedes can rely on her own glamour-factor; she is all herself when she makes use of her unique voice. In the laid-back-ballad "Esa Voz" she reaches the highest hights, in the fat dancetrack "Gitana Loca" she presents herself highly energetic. A song which is said to become a chartbreaker as a single and a video. Especially since Addys presents her full range of musical and narrative qualities and also tells something from her own biography, having a little bit of an untameable gypsy who fascinates her audience with her songs and stories and with the wild beauty of a wise mother. And, besides, she never allows anybody to manipulate her. Live and let live, that's the tenor of this "Gitana Loca". And Addys’ own one.

"Esa Voz" and "Gitana Loca" , these two songs are already full of musical attractions you can't and won't wish to withdraw from. What is also true for the ten remaining tracks, all produced or recorded in Barcelona, Duesseldorf and New York - with simply the best musician-friends from all parts of the world: The Legend of a engeneer Tony Brown came from New York, Xaver Fischer took his place at the grand piano, the Cuban Amik Guerra at the trumpet and on the flamenco-guitar the Japanese (!) Michio Woygard. A band which truly shows honour to the album title "Nomad".

"Nomad" - for Addys D' Mercedes that word means more than just moving from one place to another. Like she did about twelve years ago when she left her native country Cuba in order to conquer the rest of the world by means of her voice. For Addys, "Nomad" is a perfect example for the joy of discovery and the fascination of the unknown. "In Cuban the world only changes very slowly", Addys looks back. "I am changing continously" . It is just natural for her not to deny her roots but to give them new exciting shades. They are deep inside of her.

This is especially notable when she meets those country-men with a Cuban cult status. Candido Fabre invited her to record a duet. Musicians from the band of Celia Cruz acompanied her in some songs on Nomad. For "Mundo Nuevo" nobody less than Raul Planas, the idol of the Afro Cuban All Stars, came to the studio. But, however, tradition is just one side of Addys D' Mercedes.

"Cubas new S-Class", as Addys was honoured by a leading European music-magazine, is familiar with pulsating beats and highly accelerated grooves as well as screwing her unique, uncomparable voice up into rock-regions with an unbelievable coolness. There are no stylistic cliffs she couldn't take. Having that many musical preferences it would be easy to play out of time. Not does Addys. Far away from the dull fashionable word "crossover" she moves with somnambulistic security on the various style-coordinates.

The tracks on "Nomad" were all written by Addys in cooperation with her producer and percussionist Cae Davis. This already resembles a creative wonder. Although “Nomad” luckily comes again with this typical Addys-Sound set between Latin-American related origin and urban city flair. Pop, Poetry and World are going hand in hand in refreshing harmony.

This is already confirmed by the intro-track "Cry It Out". Although being a pure dance-track Addys' roots are unmistakably recognisable. And as she encourages to " ...be yourself, no matter where you go. It ain't worth it to pretend..." the lyrics again become an individual commitment, where one advice feels very important to her: "Vive la vida con pasion" - Live life with passion.

With her ballads Addys proofs that one need not play exclusively with hot-blooded rhythms and brass sections to be passionate. With her individual and brilliant band she as well plays with well tempered moods and decent funky digressions in a soul-like atmosphere. Here, like in all other songs, of which she sings two in English, she is all herself. And who is said to be that nowadays at all?

After releasing "Mundo Nuevo" and just starting her European festival- and clubtour with more than a hundred livegigs, Addys D' Mercedes was invited by John Taylor (Ex - Queen - Drummer) to a London Benefiz Open-Air, where she performed with Eric Clapton, Bob Geldof, Mike Rutherford, Gary Brooker und Ringo Starr. We shall be curious to hear who knocks at her door after "Nomad".