Ya Dime Adiós / Ya Dime Adios

On their eighth studio album, the norteño quintet deliver exactly what attracted a multitude of fans in the first place: a cross-regional platform of saxophone-centered dance music with ingenious asides. It's important to remember that this band has roots in both Chihuahua and Zacatecas, and therefore delivers a sound that not only reflects their dual heritage, but covers the miles and musics between. This is heard in the rocking first single "Para Qué Amarte," and helped to push it up into the high reaches of the airplay Top Ten. Sergio Soto's voice is at its very best here: crystalline, passionate, and full of heartache. He registers deep emotion even in the most stomping numbers like "Corazon Herido," "Por Que Te Vas," "No Vuelvo a Creer," and "No Voy a Detenerte." La Maquinaria Norteña's particular strength is locked and loaded polyrhythmic invention. And that exists in spades here. Check "Vámonos Pa'l Rancho," where elements of cumbia cross paths with polka. The bajo sexto, tom-tom, and bassline build one side of the rhythm and slide in a serpentine manner around the saxophone and accordion from the other side. "Te Lloré" is a glorious midtempo ballad. The strong pulse of the bass and drums plays a son abajeño rhythm, and is answered by gorgeous saxophone fills, lilting guitar counter-melodies, and a languid accordion in cancion ranchera form. Together they frame Soto's voice delivering a pirekuas tale. At under 26 minutes, these 13 songs go by in a flash. There is a reason that Ya Dime Adiós hit the top spot on the Mexican regional charts immediately and stayed there for weeks — it is La Maquinaria Norteña's finest album to date.