A definitive biography of Manu Chao, the Che Guevara of world music.
Peter Culshaw was described by his friend Malcolm McLaren as 'the Indiana Jones of world music'. His assignments have included hanging out with Central African pygmies and reports from the Amazon and Siberia. He has profiled many leading classical, world and jazz musicians for the Observer and Telegraph, as well as BBC radio. As a musician, he was signed in the 1980s to Brian Eno's label and later recorded with the Buena Vista Social Club. He is currently music editor for theartsdesk.com.
Manu Chao? He was a pain in the arse when he was four. And he still
is!
*Gabriel Garcia Marquez*
To distil the nature of Chao's elusive genius requires a bold
author and a special kind of book - and Peter Culshaw has risen to
the task...a compelling story, brilliantly told... By the journey's
end, one is left with the satisfying conclusion that the fabulous
experiences and curious explorations along the way have been more
important than any imagined or real destination - for author,
subject and reader alike.
*Songlines*
Manu Chao is a nomadic non-conformist, bard of the dispossessed and
pied piper of the poor ... An engaging new biography ... Culshaw
does a fine job keeping track of the musician's helter-skelter
movements ... he's also strong when analysing Chao's winning
musical formula.
*Daily Telegraph*
It's bloody brilliant. Really. The whole structure works really
well, the storytelling is really vivid. I loved the digressions and
learned plenty.
*Guardian*
A carnival of photojournalism and trans-continental reportage ...
Culshaw is a disciplined and talented biographer ... a fine
story.
*The List*
Any story which features a band playing shows on trains around
Colombia or on cargo ships sailing up and down South America is
always going to be colourful ... Clandestino is a great read ... As
tales of unlikely global stars go, this is well worth your
time.
*Irish Times*
Excellent ... Clandestino is part travelogue, part-history, and a
thumpingly good book.
*New Internationalist*
Thoroughly researched ... has plenty to say to the committed
fan
*The Wire*
One of the many fine qualities of Culshaw's book - part biography,
part personal chronicle of his time with Chao - is that he doesn't
attempt to tidy the music or push the man into pigeonholes. His is
a well-paced, balanced and warm account of the extraordinary life
of an extraordinary artist ... Clandestino will make you dig out
the albums and listen to them again with a richer understanding of
the music.
*Record Collector*
Chao's led - and still leads - an extraordinary life ... A
fascinating story and Culshaw tells it well
*Metro*
The definitive biography of Latin music star and activist Manu Chao
- an epic, at times perilous journey that took him from the wilds
of Mexico to Buenos Aires to a refugee camp in the Sahara.
*Big Issue*
Prepare for controversy: a lot of music books are boring - really,
really, stark bollock boring. This one isn't: Eschewing
discographies, chart-fact drivel and technical jargon Culshaw
embarks on a world tour with one of its most interesting musicians
and - next to Gabriel Garcia Marquez -combining travel writing and
biography in a way that's more hot coffee enema than the usual
pissing in a tepid bath.
*Dazed Digital*
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
