The dance of the dead

Elevator Beat:
Well, the illustration is the work of Guadalupe Posada, he was born and raised in Aguascalientes (for those who didn't know this is also the standing ground for "motel de moka") and a giant reproduction of his "Catrina" stands at the southern entrance to this city (it's really nice having a skeleton lady as a welcome message to the city, I think). His satirical work full of calaveras (skeletons) has influenced countless designers and artists over the world, the most recent and popular one being "the corpse bride" from Tim Burton.
I just don't know why I'm telling you all this useless information...let's proceed to the music:

Chavela Vargas is...whats the word? miserable? passionate? drunk? emblematic? Ok, let's say she's always been (and always will), a timeless "sad drunken diva". I love her. She's our third world Billie Holiday, sadder and equipped with an infinite thirst. Colorful tears is the pretentious description I often use to explain her music to other people.

About lhasa; it should be a shame to most traditional mexican singers and composers nowadays the existence of the canadian born, Lhasa de Sela. On her first record "La llorona" (the weeping woman,the title being an homage to Chavela Vargas), he made use of a well-applied vast mexican influence and a very intense performance to create some songs that still leave all of the music made in Mexico for the past 7 years or so, sounding quite grounded and bored. This record inspires, it's deep and artsy and all those things that make me happy. To be honest, most of my friends just don't get it, but none of these people will read this anyway, so I'll just leave this songs here and see if any of our three readers likes it...

Chavela Vargas - la llorona
Chavela Vargas - la zandunga
Chavela Vargas - paloma negra
Lhasa - de cara a la pared link 2*
Lhasa - la frontera

* The 2nd link to the "de cara a la pared song" isn't a direct link but it's faster than the direct one provided here.