Norisley Valladares Gómez better known as "El Noro", was the singer for three top Cuban bands: Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor and Pupy y Los Que Son Son. That in itself is impressive, but to deliver his first solo CD that overshadows everything he recorded with those bands, is amazing.
There are no complicated subjects, nothing artsy-craftsy and no Timba lite. What we do get are grooves that remind us of how this music was played in its heyday. "La preferencia" has one of the most irresistible hooks and full of Noro`s guapería as he challenges others to come up with a better musical proposition. Songs like "La Miki", "Así de fácil" and "Y tú fugitivos" can light up any salsa club. Alexander Abreu, the hardest working man in Cuba, shows up on the outstanding timbified rumba "La bomba yo lo sé".
But one of the highlights is a Bachata. Yes, you read that correctly. By adding touches of a Bolero Son, he found the perfect balance of how to infuse Bachata into Cubanía. What a tune.
Norisley doesn`t posses the vocal chops of an Aramís Galindo or a Pepito Gómez but just like Paulo FG, he has a unique style that many will emulate in the near future. Great debut.
5. Tú no tienes cambio pa` mí