Sounds of the ocean and the voice of Niña Pastori reciting: “There
are people who think you’re crazy if you don’t dance to their
rhythm, that you’re just a piece of furniture without a heart”.
It’s “Principio”, the beginning of the album titled
“No hay quinto malo” the latest work from Niña Pastori
and a definitive work that marks a before and after in her music, the
coming of age.
The words griten by Juan Antonio Jiménez “Jeros” (singer
and composer for the Chichos who passed away in 1995) and by Niña
Pastori open a album which is surprising from the very first moment. The
impact of the original percussion that introduces “Espinas”,
the second song of the record, reminds us we have before us something
different. Niña Pastori and her husband and producer Julio Jiménez
“Chaboli”, the son of Jeros, weren’t content to settle
into the same familiar things, and placed their bets on something different.
“We turned everything upside-down and people are really going to
be surprised” says Niña Pastori. “It’s a very
well-planned and rehearsed recording, more serious, more mature, made
with tender loving care and a lot of heart”. Adds Chaboli: “we
spent hours and hours on the lyrics, the arrangements, everything is carefully
crafted…the songs are about more serious things because there’s
lots to tell. The maturity shows in many ways”.
The first thing you notice on “No hay quinto malo” is the
personal perspective of the verses, the high poetic level. Niña
Pastori has shown she can write lyrics. “You gave them you heart
and they tossed it in the river. “To forget is better, it is only
lost time” she recites in Principio; “I never had anything
and now that I have something, you look askance at me as if I were a stranger”
she sings in Espinas; “Look at the sunset, follow the path fearlessly
because we are travellers” is from “Imposible”; “I
come from where the sun rises but my heart is cold” is the theme
of “En tres minutes”; “Dressed in black, she was severe,
the mourning of old age, you know how it is” corresponds to “La
Tata”. These are verses that offer an intimate and private world,
richer, more poetic.
The music follows a parallel path, seeking essence and simplicity rather
than complexity and sophistication. “I prefer naturalness to perfection”
says Chaboli before speaking passionately about the magnificent string
arrangements of Joan Albert Amargós for “La Tata”,
the daring spirit of “Espinas”, the “Loco del Barrio”
which recalls Los Chichos, a disco ambience of the seventies, songs that
grab you and others that just flow, such as “Tres Minutos”.
“It was the night before our wedding, at 5 in the morning, I couldn’t
sleep and the song just came together in about three minutes. We practically
recorded it with the same arrangement” recalls Chaboli.
Alongside Niña Pastori and Chaboli are the guitars of José
Miguel Carmona and Juan Carmona, from Ketama, Diego del Morao and Paquete,
the bass of Carles Benavent, Víctor Merlo and Maka, the drums of
Tino Di Geraldo and Angie Bao and the percussion of Luis Dulzaides. Quality
and sensibility to search for simplicity and back up this girl who came
from San Fernando (Cádiz) at just 16 and set the world on fire
with “Tú me camelas” in 1995. She has known how to
stay on top with dignity in records such as Eres luz (1998), Cañaílla
(2000) and María (2002). On this fifth recording she comes on strong,
opening new doors and windows to let in the fresh air.
Sony – BMG
'No hay quinto malo' – Economy presentation in transparent box without
booklet, at a very special price.
'No hay quinto malo' – Digipack, booklet, photograph, lyrics.
