Heaven and Earth
Like the wind that sweeps away the singer in "Teotihuacan," the first song on Perla Batalla'sHeaven and Earth, the Los Angelina world-folk singer's deeply soulful voice lifts and carries us through her Mestiza song-cycle. Batalla's Latin ancestry is at the center ofHeavenand is an ongoing theme in a superb body of work that includes her critically laudedMestiza(1999). From the gospel-flavored vocals of the title track to the redemptive, sweeping "Salvation" to her mesmerizing meditation on racism, "Making Up for Lost Time,"Heavenis a sublime statement from an artist whose voice and poetry are in union with her rich cultural roots. As well as being Batalla's songwriting and producing partner, guitarist David Batteau's notes shimmer and glide in poetic response to every emotional nuance of the singer's voice--one moment picking out razor-sharp melodic lines and the next moment strumming with passionate abandon. With a generous and wide-open heart, Perla Batalla and her musical caravan--which includes percussionist Claud Mann and the extraordinarily versatile drummer-percussionist Debra Dobkin--invite us to join them on their Mestiza voyage.--Michael Wells