Ayer, Hoy y Siempre

It isn't hard to understand why, in the 2000s, los Horóscopos de Durango earned a reputation for being one of duranguense's most risk-taking groups. Anyone who can successfully combine duranguense with Dominican bachata (which is what they did on their hit remake of Monchy & Alexandra's "Dos Locos") obviously isn't afraid to take some risks. And the Chicago residents' risk-taking spirit remains on Ayer, Hoy y Siempre (Yesterday, Today and Forever), which isn't quite as far-reaching as some of their previous efforts but is still unpredictable and fairly diverse. The disc gets off to a memorable start with a remake of Flans' 1980s hit "Bazar," which is edgier and less bubblegum than the original version but nonetheless manages to maintain some of the tune's ABBA-ish appeal. Las Hermanas Terrazas and their colleagues bring plenty of Latin pop infectiousness to "Corazón Romantico," "Te Amo" (a Marco Antonio Solís song), "Juntos" and "Ya No Voy a Llorar," but things are more traditionally ranchera on "Que Bello Error," "La Virgen de las Novias" and "Vámonos" — and los Horóscopos' proficiency with corridos is demonstrated on "Julio Castro" and "Catarino y los Rurales" (thankfully, corridos never go out of style in regional Mexican music). It should be noted that "Catarino y los Rurales" strays a bit from the usual keyboards/sax/percussion instrumentation that modern duranguense is known for. Tuba (an important element of banda) and accordion (norteño's main instrument) are the most prominent instruments on that corrido. Nonetheless, Ayer, Hoy y Siempre is a duranguense album first and foremost. This 2008 release isn't los Horóscopos' most essential disc, but it's definitely respectable — and any group that tackles both Flans and corridos on the same album certainly cannot be accused of being one-dimensional.