Reviews

"This is a captivating album that transports the listener to another time and place. Indeed, there is an old-world charm to this homage to the legendary Cuban singer Maria Teresa Vera. Trio Palabaras... brings sentimentality and a gentle passion to these lilting songs, sung sweetly in Spanish and performed in the 19th-century troubadour tradition of the Cuban trova... Muxia Music’s commitment to audiophile sound is evident in this project, which was two years in the making. The record was produced by Muxia founder Jim Laurel with a team that included Juno-nominated engineer Andrew Spindor and production manager Abey Fonn of Impex Records, and the vinyl was pressed at RTI in Camarillon, CA; sonics are simply stunning."

As I am no expert on Cuban music, I can only discuss this in sonic terms… and it is breathtakingly beautiful, delicate and natural-sounding. The Trio Palabras consists of two vocalists and a classical guitarist abetted by a host of other guitarists, plus acoustic bass, and bongos, performed by some of Cuba’s finest players. The genre they’re honouring here is “Trova”, a century-old native music form of itinerant troubadours, and it was recorded in single takes, uncompromisingly, to the standards of audiophile LPs of the past. And even if you don’t know a single word of any Hispanic-based languages, this will transport you. Enthralling.

"That the album’s sound quality is first-rate will definitely appeal to readers of Enjoy the Music! Since Muxia Music is dedicated to producing culturally significant acoustic music in high definition, not only does this album feature some fantastic interpretations of the Trova founders, but as I mentioned, will appeal to audiophiles in a big way... the sound is simply stunningly realistic (as you’d expect from Impex Records). This is not typical yawner tourist music, this is authentic Cuban music that has either never been recorded, or only on ancient / historic offerings. Do yourself a favor and buy it. The music, and sound quality, is truly inspiring!"

“Bitte anschallen! Sonst könnte einen die dralle Energie und Lebensfreude des kubanischen Damentrios glatt aus dem Sessel hauen. Dieses interpretiert mit einer Reihe erstklassiger Musiker den Trova - die volkstümliche, vor allem mit Gitarren und Stimmen vorgetragene Musik de Insel. Und da sind Feuer und Temperament der Karibik drin. Beeindruckend auch, wie natüralich der Instrumente eingefangen wurden, die dreidimensional vor dem verblüfften Hörer zu stehen scheinen. Eine Kombination aus modernster Studiotechnik und klassischen Mikrofonen sorgte für analoges Flair und schuf dieses kleine Klangwunder.”

“Muxia’s production process has all the bonafides: audiophile recording, mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, pressed at RTI on 180-gram vinyl. But Jim pays as much attention to the recording process as he does to his brilliant photography. Muxia’s principal recording engineer, Andrew Spindor, uses Merging’s Hapi and Horus interfaces and quality microphones from Neumann, Royer, AEA, Gefell and Josephson. PCM is done at 24/192 and the songs you hear on this album are pure. No editing. No overdubs. No Autotune. Three takes were done and Jim and team chose the best one, imperfections and all.

It’s far too rare that I write about music but I plan on changing that. I just had to tell you about this remarkable Cuban recording that several of us discovered in Munich. This music has made it into our hands and dazzled our ears. I’m going to keep an eye on this label. I hope you do as well."

"Though we have only just passed the halfway point for the year 2019, these new vinyl releases entitled Another Time, Another Place from Jennifer Warnes and Lo Que Nice Mi Cantar from Trio Palabras are already strong contenders for my favorite albums of the year. And boy do these recordings really deliver the goods! Dead quiet record surfaces and dynamics to die for, my bet is that these records will probably sound outstanding on any system. These are unquestionably demo quality recordings but they both have much much more to offer! Of course, none of this extraordinary sound matters if the performance and music cannot reach deep down into your soul and make an emotional connection. IMHO, these recordings easily deliver on this too and will provide a very satisfying if not extremely rewarding experience. IMPEX has clearly added two more triumphs to their extensive music portfolio and legacy.

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“We were treated to music from a new label, Muxia Music, started by someone who owns one of Vinnie’s amps. The record sounded profoundly beautiful in Vinnie’s room.”

“One of my highlights of the RMAF2018 was meeting a long-time customer, Jim Laurel, who a few years ago began a journey to start a record company (Muxía Music) with a couple of friends. I personally was taken back how alive, energetic and intimate their new recording of “Lo Que Dice Mi Cantar” by Trio Palabras sounds! You’ll have a chance to pick up the LP Spring 2019, distributed by Elusive Disc, or via high-res download at Blue Coast Music and I know you’ll be glad that you did.”