Quetzal unveils Worksongs, exploring new sounds in a familiar space of fusion.

July marks ten years that the inventive pan American group from Los Angeles, Quetzal, has been playing together. The result is their own brand of Latin folk and roots-rock. July also marks the release of the six-member group's newest album, Worksongs, a collection of 11 songs brimming with fresh cross-cultural interplay and humble lyrics about personal struggle and the importance of community. Worksongs will be Quetzal's second release on Vanguard records, following up the critically acclaimed, Sing the Real.

Quetzal has become well known for their role in LA's burgeoning scene of Chicano groove; Worksongs further explores new sounds in this familiar space of fusion. Produced by Steve Berlin of the well-known LA-based group, Los Lobos, Worksongs confirms Quetzal as one of the premiere acts in the contemporary Hispano-American music scene within the United States. The album has a more produced sound that combines elements of modern electronic music with traditional Hispano-Caribbean sounds. The new music most definitely has a cross-genre appeal and the overall production of the album looks like a push to crack the mainstream market.

The album kicks off with This is My Home, a swaying hip hop lament that combines jazzy bass lines with the crescendo of sampled textures. While maintaining a clean, simple quality, the song moves through a subtle buildup of Spanish guitar and full-bodied percussion, alongside the soulful voice of Martha Gonzales, openly addressing issues of belonging. The opening track appropriately sets the tone for the rest of the album, marking the attitude of the band, as all six of Quetzal's members are active members of the LA community through teaching and building cultural awareness. The lyrical messages of each song, both in English and Spanish (with translations in the CD booklet), are very clear and direct. Throughout the album, Quetzal tinkers with an epic tone that compliments such forthright lyrics very well.

In terms of production, Worksongs has a more serious quality than the group's previous works. Quetzal's sound is dignified for songs like Planta de los Pies and the title track, Worksongs. Unabashed studio effects in the background dazzle the listener while fitting well into the mix. Learning Solitude is just one of the songs that features programmed drums mixed with live drums, deepening the group's sound. Stepping back to look at the bigger picture, Worksongs is simply the perfect example of a well-balanced album, mastered perfectly to provide each of its many featured sounds and textures with their own place. So as not to downplay the traditional content of the album, I needn't forget to mention the strength of tracks like Alimentate, Luna Sol, and Limones Agrios that feature beautiful Spanish guitar and refreshingly different song structures. Overall, Quetzal stays true to their Mexican/Afro-Caribbean roots all the way through while pushing their own unique take on the fusion of rock, folk, and jazz from both sides of the Rio Grande.

Don't let Quetzal pass you by this summer as they take their act across the country, touring with Ziggy Marley, Taj Mahal and Little Feat; and later headlining major concerts in Los Angeles (Ford Amphitheater), Cleveland (Night Town), and other major cities. Quetzal is: Quetzal Flores, Martha Gonzalez, Edson Gianesi, Gabriel Gonzalez, Dante Pascuzzo, and Kiko Cornejo.

-Review by Patrick Rolandelli