Biography
Since releasing their first album on JDub Records to critical acclaim, DeLeon has toured the US extensively and made their European debut. On the road with other like-minded New Whirled bands such as Gogol Bordello, Os Mutantes, Ozomatli and Balkan Beat Box, DeLeon drew inspiration from the crowds each night, whose electric energy surged from floor to stage and back again. Upon their return home, DeLeon (who is front-man Daniel Saks along with bandmates Kevin Snider, Justin Riddle, Amy Crawford and Andrew Oom) decided to channel that energy into their second album, Casata. To be released this June 14th, 2011 on JDub Records, Casata features stomping, whooping, soaring trumpet and sensual slow jams.
On Casata, elements of African guitar funk and doo-wop come together in one song, while Ladino-English lyrics preside over another-- one song even manages to find the unlikely common ground between El Guincho's tropical grooves and Tom Waits' clangs. Stories of wedding celebrations, forsaken lovers, and the births of biblical prophets are all told through upbeat, roaring, rocking melodies that even at their quietest banjo-picking moments, still make you move.
For Saks, the music on Casata feels more like home than anything else he's produced or performed thus far. Each song on the album is a reflection of Saks's own Sephardic-Italian heritage: most are recreations of old Jewish folk songs. Because Casata "belongs" to Saks in this way, like a home, it is his to redecorate according to his own modern musical sensibilities. What results is a natural and satisfying fusion of completely disparate styles.
Casata is DeLeon's re-imagining of ancient melodies into contemporary indie-rock pieces. The band's groundbreaking global pop sound successfully marries ancient Sephardic melodies with the celebratory symphony of modern life.
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