Black Pumas founder and master collaborator Adrian Quesada has released a new album featuring a host of stellar artists including Angelica Garcia, College Of Knowledge, Gaby Moreno, Girl Ultra, Jaron Marshall, Marc Ribot, Mireya Ramos, Money Mark, Natalia Clavier and Rudy De Anda.
The new record, Boleros Psicodélicos, is out today on ATO Records and has so far attracted rave reviews.
Rolling Stone called it, “Brilliant… One of 2022's most gorgeous releases.” NPR Music says, “Quesada's production feels timeless and cinematic.” While Mojo promises, “a glorious time guaranteed for all.”
Take a listen to the final album taster released earlier this week, where Quesada teams up with singer Tita for a spellbinding cover version of Spanish singer Jeanette's classic, "El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes."
"'El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes' was a song my daughter showed me early in the pandemic when I was working on this album,” reveals Quesada.
“I couldn't believe I had never heard it, there was just so much effortless mystique to it. It's so perfect that I knew it was pointless to cover it unless I was going to try something different with it, and had fun reimagining the feel."
Comprising 12 tracks – a mix of original songs (mainly) and covers like "El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes" – Boleros Psicodélicos is a far reaching yet deeply personal tribute to Latin American balada music.
While the seeds of the album were first planted 20 years ago it was during the lockdown period when Quesada’s project really gathered momentum.
Self-produced, -engineered and -mixed, the guitarist's latest LP is an art-pop bonanza of tasteful instrumentation that gives a fresh spin on balada's achingly beautiful melancholy.
Full track listing (including featured artists) is as follows:
- 1. Mentiras Con Cariño (Feat. iLe)
- 2. El Paraguas (Feat. Gabriel Garzón-Montano)
- 3. Ídolo (Feat. Angelica Garcia)
- 4. Hielo Seco (Feat. Marc Ribot and Money Mark)
- 5. El Payaso (Feat. Girl Ultra)
- 6. Tus Tormentas (Feat. Mireya Ramos)
- 7. Puedes Decir De Mi (Feat. Gaby Moreno)
- 8. Eso No Lo He Dicho Yo (Feat. College Of Knowledge)
- 9. Esclavo Y Amo (Feat. Natalia Clavier)
- 10. Ya No Me Quieres (Feat. Jaron Marshall)
- 11. El León (Feat. Rudy De Anda)
- 12. El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes (Feat. Tita)
Order Adrian Quesada's Boleros Psicodélicos here.
“The structural integrity is pretty amazing for cardboard. You can totally rock it.” Robby Krieger plays slide guitar on the world’s first cardboard Telecaster
“I’ll just do a little bit of it and show you what got me in the Beatles.” Paul McCartney reveals the song he played for John Lennon that earned him a spot in the band
