Jorge Drexler Breaks Down 5 Essential Tracks From ‘Taracá’: ‘An Album of Mourning With a Clear Celebratory Nature’

After three decades living outside of Uruguay, Jorge Drexler felt the urge to strengthen his connection with his homeland. The moment coincided with several significant events in his life: the death of his father, as well as the discovery of a new generation of Uruguayan musicians that fascinated him and the notable evolution of candombe, a traditional Uruguayan music and dance declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009.

Organically, candombe ended up being the thread that ties his new album, Taracá , together. The 11-track set, released on Friday (March 13) under Sony Music Spain, offers listeners a complete sonic experience, with lyrics and drums as protagonists in almost all the songs. The title comes from an onomatopoeia for the sound of the small drum or tambor chico .

The other possible translation is more symbolic and means “estar acá,” “to be here.” Or, as they would abbreviate colloquially in the Río de la Plata region, “tar acá.” “This is an album of mourning, but for some strange reason, it has a clear celebratory nature,” Drexler...