Soema Montenegro - "Cuando Pasa" MP3 (PopMatters Premiere)

Argentina’s Soema Montenegro has a haunting and virtuosic voice, one that can utter shivering hushed tones before effortlessly letting loose a plaintive wail. It’s an exceptionally powerful instrument and Montenegro is wise to fully showcase it on her recordings, matching that voice with spare and atmospheric instrumentation that allows her singing all the room it needs. La Blogoteque called her “the best singer on the whole planet” and while that might be a bit premature given that Montenegro is only now on the verge of releasing her second record, we can certainly understand and appreciate the enthusiasm. Montenegro does possess the chops to be one of the latter day vocal greats and her expansive sound seems bound for the stages of Carnegie Hall and the world’s fine concert venues. Montenegro’s second LP and first US album, Passionaria, will be releasing this May via Western Vinyl and we are pleased to present the online premiere of “Cuando Pasa” today. For an even more extensive look at this intriguing young artist, check out the mini-film from Vincent Moon’s “Take Away Show”.