Árbol

Famed Latin rock producer Gustavo Santaolalla plucked Arbol from the underground scene of west Buenos Aires, pairing their raw edge with the refinement that a major-label deal supplies. Having previously helmed projects for Cafe Tacuba and Puya, Santaolalla enlisted sound engineer Joe Chiccarelli to shape the band’s self-titled debut, issued on his Surco record label through Universal Music distribution. That studio sheen tempered the wildly varied lineup—two vocalists, a horn section, percussion, harmonica, charango, erque, flute, and violin. Incorporating rock, rap, reggae, and American country, the resulting sound extended the group’s reach past the South American Latin audience.