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Podcasts Take Two
New Latin American music from Madame Récamier and Arthur Hanlon
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May 24, 2016
Listen 6:41
New Latin American music from Madame Récamier and Arthur Hanlon
A poppy Mexico City transplant who's on par with the likes of Natalia Lafourcade and an American pianist who's translating Latin American classics.
Arthur Hanlon performs "Somos Novios," a song off of his new album.
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A poppy Mexico City transplant who's on par with the likes of Natalia Lafourcade and an American pianist who's translating Latin American classics.

If you love music, but don't have the time to keep up with what's new, you should listen to Tuesday Reviewsday. Every week our critics join our hosts in the studio to talk about what you should be listening to in one short segment. This week, music journalist 

joins A Martinez with his top picks.

Artist: Arthur Hanlon
Album: "Viajero"
Songs: "Somos Novios," "Manhã de Carnaval"

Pianist Arthur Hanlon returns with "Viajero," a new album featuring Latin music from around the world in re-arrangements of some very well known classics.

Hanlon's signature touch takes command as he gives new life to classic compositions such as "Somos Novios," the romantic ballad, which was written by Mexico’s beloved singer/songwriter Armando Manzanero.

As part of an album – that literally took Hanlon around the world to discover the countries tied to his musical inspirations – the pianist takes us on journey to places such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Manzanero’s classic "Somos Novios" was written in the late 1960s and has been performed from by everyone from Elvis Presley to Andrea Bocelli. Here, Hanlon’s version keeps to the spirit of the original and also takes it to a another place with an instrumental arrangement that’s masterful and vibrant in this reimagined version.

Hanlon, who has also recorded with everyone from Marc Anthony to Juanes, also gives new life to the classic Manhã Carnaval (Carnaval Morning), which emerged in the late ’50s and went on to become one of the first Bossa Nova compositions heard outside of Brazil.

Hanlon's travels for this project will soon be part of a documentary; segments can be seen on his VEVO channel

Artist: Madame Récamier
Songs: "Mi Corazón," "Te Regalo"

Madame Récamier returns with two new songs via her label Cosmica Records and she brings it with her signature alternative pop style of music that’s become more sophisticated through the years.

Récamier, who is currently working on a new album slated for release in the fall of 2017, this time introduces us to the romantic pop ballads "Mi Corazón" and "Te Regalo."

The new songs are endearing, cheerful and tender pop ballads that have a ‘60s throwback vibe. "Mi Corazón" is playful and the kind of song that makes perfect summer music.

"Te Regalo" is also a romantic pop ballad about love and missing someone; here Récamier's strong vocals are very much at equal levels to her counterparts in Latin music such as Julieta Venegas and Natalia Lafourcade, two of Mexico’s biggest names in the Latin alternative pop scene.

Récamier has a poetic style that shines within her compositions, making her music universally appealing.