Sarazino's life reads like an adventure novel: born Lamine Fellah and the child of Algerian diplomats, he grew up in countries like Spain, Switzerland, Burundi and Burkina Faso and went on to study in Montreal. These days Sarazino lives in the Ecuadorian capital Quito and all influences he picked up along the way are reflected in his music. Sarazino means mestizo music in the line of greats like Manu Chao and, perhaps even more, Sergent Garcia. His previous album ('Ya Foy!', Cumbancha, 2009) didn't reach us, but reggae inspired successor 'Everyday Salama' we enjoyed to the fullest. For this album Sarazino invited a host of guests ranging from Amparo Sanchez over Jamaican band Rootz Underground to Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. For the hip-hop vibes on 'Everyday Salama' Sarazino invited the illustrious Niyo Pumpin, a Nigerian residing in Ecuador.
More mestizo vibes are provided by Madrid based band Canteca De Macao, who for the release of their fourth long player appealed to their fans, financing 'Nunca Es Tarde' through the system of so-called micro-credits. The album title roughly translates as "it's never too late" and, in a Spain hit by an economic recession, almost sounds like a slogan of hope. Canteca De Macao's fans have spent their euros well (as a way of saying thanks, all donors were immortalized with a tiny picture on the album cover), because 'Nunca Es Tarde' is not only a visual gem, musically their flamenco and rock infused mestizo also works.