Pink Martini's latest release, Hey Eugene!, is truly an international musical cocktail. A celebration of differing musical cultures, Eugene features songs in such disparate languages as Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
"Tempo Perdido" is a hip-swaying, shoulder-shimmying song -- à la Rio de Janeiro -- with an unexpectedly tragic story. The track is a good example of the group's ability to juxtapose disparate elements with a result that is both mildly (and appropriately) jarring and finessed.
"Mar Desconocido," a melancholy but sparkling waltz, pays homage to both Latin and Classical genres with its Spanish lyrics and quotation of Chopin's "Waltz in C# Minor."
Breezy Latin rhythms meet dreamy French poetry in "Ojala." The group's penchant for layering is evident once again in this number. It is light and easygoing musically, but upon inspecting the lyrics, one discovers its underlying wistful sadness.
Lead vocalist China Forbes displays her innate comprehension of culture and musical styling in the Arabic-language "Bukra Wba'do." While her accent is a cross between Egyptian and American, it is charming, and she does hit some of the more difficult Arabic vowels and consonants with great accuracy. Further, her vocals indicate an understanding of Middle Eastern vocal production, ornamentation, and attitude.
One of Pink Martini's most sophisticated and all-embracing CDs, Hey Eugene! is as urbane as a Cosmopolitan and as warm as a bear-hug.
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