LA NOVELA - AKWID
This sibling duo of brothers Sergio and Francisco Gmez broke ground nearly a decade ago by blending traditional banda beats with rap and hip-hop. Here, the brothers expand their sound by incorporating a broad variety of regional Mexican rhythms — from norteno to cumbias adorned with rippling accordions — as the basis for tales of growing up poor in the hood. This mix of grittiness and sophistication strikes just the right note, achieving cohesiveness despite a changing cast of guest acts that includes Fidel Rueda, Voces del Rancho, Los Tucanes de Tijuana and Jenni Rivera (on a clever English-language track). With its perpetual change of pace in music and lyrics, “La Novela” is riveting, and it works as a vehicle for singles and as a stand-alone piece of music. Equally important, it’s an example of on-target evolution within a niche genre.
