The Chicas Project Soundtrack

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:02:36 -0600

The soundtrack to the Chicas Project kicks off with Venezuela’s Cuarto Poder (”the fourth estate”), who get the party started with strong, reggaetón vocals in the beautifully arranged “Arenita Playita.” On the same reggaelicious vibe, Monareta, Brooklyn-based cut-up tropicalistas, head for the Mexican caribbean with their echoey “Llama” while Colombia’s Bomba Estereo manage to take the cumbia to outer space and back with “Tamobora.”

The tempo goes up a notch with Mexico’s solo producer, the Mexican Institute of Sound, and the big sounds of his house-inspired “Hey Tía,” a track well-complemented by old hands the Nortec Collective and their speedy, dreamy norteño “Revu Rockers.” But it’s Karma Hunters, the show’s theme song, by Spain’s The Pinker Tones which, like Beck on Ritalin, is the most upbeat offering in the mix.

Like all good summer party mixes, the soundtrack knows when to take a breather. New York City’s buzzworthy girl-boy duo Pacha Massive offer a breathy, almost trippy take on a perfect sunset with Don’t Let Go while Chile’s Bitman & Roban turn to a smoothly distorted synthesizer to drive “Answer 2 The Beat” into an ocean filled with cyborg dolphins and water skiing robots.

The beach bonfire lights up with a surprising collection of up-to-date and heartfelt ballads by two Guadalajara, Mexico-based acts: Porter’s pensive Daphne and Sara Valenzuela’s “Dejar Entrar” – a luscious track that makes us wonder why the ex-La Dosis singer has not yet blown up. Proving good things come in twos, Aterciopelados members Andrea Echeverri and Hector Buitrago bring the duo’s sophisticated take on perfect pop with the bittersweet “Frases” and the almost angular rock of “Altisimo.”

For those who like to party into the morning hours, the soundtrack closes with a pair of bangers: Monareta’s crisp, barely acidy remix of Aterciopelados’ “Improvisa” and Sussie 4’s gasping, grotty “afterparty” take on Sara Valenzuela’s Para Continuar.

New Music From The Chicas Project on Calabash Music

The Chicas Project Soundtrack