The spellbinding and terrifying Lhasa de Sela has received no reviews on metacritic, and one mention in a thread on French pop. Is she not familiar to American music fans? Or uncared for?
On both 1998's La Llorona and 2003's The Living Road, she makes sweet love to the listener, while simultaneously convincing him/her she's most likely got a knife hidden under the bed. This music is erotic, passionate, and definitely not what you'd want going through your trash at 4 in the morning. If the song Anywhere On This Road doesn't make you want to take a trip into a North African desert just to see what's going on, your pulse is in a worse state than m.leland's...

I read a lot of music mags and sites, and this is the first I've heard of Lhasa de Sela. So, I guess the answer to your question is YES. She is unfamiliar to Americans, at least those who read the same stuff I do (Magnet, UNder the Radar, Rolling Stone, Harp, Paste, etc). But she sounds interesting...

Lhasa was born in New York I think, of Mexican parents, but lives in Canada. Her first album is all in Spanish, but the second is in Spanish, French, and English, and would be of interest to any serious music fan of diverse tastes, in my opinion. You won't need to speak those languages to really dig the moods she conjures, but it is of course a bonus if you do. Go to the site I linked to if you're curious, the official one has nothing really on it...

I guess it's just you and me Lhasa 'round here. Don't worry, I still love you...

I know Lhasa too. The Living Road is a great album and it had success in Canada. The living road had been one of the most popular CD in Québec for many weeks.

That's cool man. Have you seen her play or anything? I would love to, but I haven't yet had the pleasure...

Hey! I know Lhasa too... As eggTweedyegg said, she's well know in Canada, particulary in the province of Québec. I must say she sounds more world music than indie(and she's signed with a major).
I want to suggest you another talented artist, maybe you heard of: Jorane. She plays cello and sings, you can feel some moods like Lhasa, and sometimes she rocks! I saw her live with her full band, it was one of the best shows I saw.

Are there any other recordings available by Lhasa other than the 2 albums I mentioned? EPs, B Sides, live stuff that you know of or could provide a friendly link to?
I personally think 'world music' is a silly label myself, because everything is world music. It almost seems like if it's not recognisably US / European, it's somehow 'out there'. I put the topic in Alternative cause I think that's what she is. Indie is another section on the board for more clearly small label stuff in general.
But thanks for your input..., and I'll check out this Jorane for sure

I've now officially been exposed to Lhasa de Sela, who duets with Stuart Staples on his new record. Me likey.

Cool man, I didn't know that. That's the Tindersticks dude..?

Viva Lhasa...

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Valeron Esq.:
Cool man, I didn't know that. That's the Tindersticks dude..?

Viva Lhasa...

Yeah, he's the singer from the Tindersticks. It's his second solo disc, but if you buy the US version, you get it packaged with his first solo record as a bonus.