Las Cafeteras - Tastes Like LA

The Guardian 60

(Las Cafeteras)

While Donald Trump continues his campaign to build a wall along the Mexican border, some of the best new music in the US is being produced by Mexican Americans. Following on from Arizona’s rousing Orkesta Mendoza come Las Cafeteras from east Los Angeles, who will make their European debut at Womad this summer. A defiantly political but cheerful folk-influenced acoustic band, they are influenced by the son jarocho styles of Mexico’s Veracruz state. They play the guitar-like jaranta and requinto jarocho, but add a dash of hip-hop to the mix. The songs here are in both Spanish and English, and range from the summery Vamos to the Beach to a reworking of Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land, which ends as a rousing celebration, and the upbeat but thoughtful If I Was President – apparently their policies would prioritise education, wealth redistribution and a party in the White House.