Senor Coconut: Gran Baile Con...Se?or Coconut : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Although El Gran Baile is technically the debut from Señor Coconut (a.k.a. Uwe Schmidt), listeners were introduced to the German-born, Latin American-based producer from last year's El Baile Alemán. On that release, Schmidt put a Latin spin on Kraftwerk's catalogue. On El Gran Baile -- originally released on Schmidt's Rather Interesting label in 1997 -- the cultural mixmaster presents a batch of original compositions that combine Latin and electronic rhythms to intriguing ends. At first, the Latin aspect of Schmidt's songs seems to take center stage, but step back and you'll notice it's the electronic foundation that's most striking: The rhythmic flourishes are executed with a cold precision utterly at odds with the warmth so inherent in Latin music. By extracting the emotion from the genre he has plundered, Schmidt has crafted a fitting soundtrack for an era that's dominated by soulless machines. (NINA PEARLMAN - May 14, 2001)