In July 2002,
Manu Chao performed a live show in Japan, ending a worldwide tour carried out with his band,
Radio Bemba New System, a multicultural group consisting of ten talented musicians from different countries. From
Jamaican reggae to
Latin alternative pop/rock, including
rock en espanol,
hip-hop,
flamenco, and
French rock,
The Live Album delivers a collection of hits from 1998's
Clandestino, 2001's
Ultima Estacion Esperanza, and
Mano Negra's legacy, the
Parisian rock outfit named in honor of an Andalusian anarchist group that served as
Manu Chao's breakthrough in the music industry. In addition, the 29-track record features the previously unreleased
"Bienvenido a Tijuana," "Rumba de Barcelona," and a version of the classic
Afro-Caribbean-inflected hit
"Blood and Fire." Recorded at Paris'
Grande Halle de La Villette in September 2001,
The Live Album is a multilingual and
experimental live experience featuring the best of
Manu Chao. ~ Drago Bonacich