Nacional Records is proud to announce that Colombian music icons Aterciopelados are set to release their highly-anticipate...

Nacional Records is proud to announce that Colombian music icons Aterciopelados are set to release their highly-anticipated new studio album 'Rio' ('River') on October 21st. The follow-up to Latin Grammy-winning "Oye" (2006) was recorded in the band's hometown of Bogotá and mixed by Héctor Castillo (Brazilian Girls, Gustavo Cerati, David Bowie) in New York City. It is an impassioned socially conscious record with the group's signature organic rock sound.

"'Río' is our creative inspiration of the moment, it is helping us to confront many issues in the world," explains bassist and producer Hector Buitrago. "On a personal level and on the political level, I think it's taking us one step further with our rivers and the rivers of Latin America. While on previous albums, we may have simply declared many of the world's problems, we now strive to work in a more active way. In this case, it is with the recovery of Bogota's river, as it is one of the most polluted rivers in the world."

The album's opener and first single is "Rio", a straight call to action. It coincides with a proposed Colombian constitutional referendum which declares that the country's bodies of water deserve simple rights. "When I was growing up, the Bogota river was considered a mythic and iconic place, now it's a tiny stream," says lead singer Andrea Echeverri. "Musically and lyrically, the track 'Rio' is unlike any previous Aterciopelados song. I'm even singing in a different way than in the past. With this one, we reached an entirely new place."

On "Bandera" (Flag), Aterciopelados provide their perspective on the immigration debate. The song's chorus is "Que quien es usted/Que donde nació/Entonces no puede entrar a esta nación" (Who are you?/Where were you born?/Therefore you can't enter this country). "We have toured across the world many times, yet every time, certain countries give us so much trouble when entering," Echeverri explains. "My problems with traveling are so small compared to others across the world but I thought I could give all these people a voice."

The album's guests range from the Colombian rapper, Gloria "Goyo" Martínez (of hip hop group ChocQuibTown), on "28" to the Andean group Kahari Hualca on "Madre" and "Aguita". Echeverri's daughter, Milagros, makes an appearance on "Ataque de Risa." The birth of Milagros, now 6, was the primary inspiration for her critically-acclaimed solo album 'Amortiguador'. "This track was originally going to be on a children's album I've been recording with Manolo, my husband, and Milagros in our home studio. With the first couple tracks, Milagros was nervous at the mic but now she approaches the mic with such confidence and happiness."

Aterciopelados plan to tour the U.S. in support of 'Rio' in early 2009, following the birth of Andrea Echeverri's second child. They recently completed a European tour with her pregnant belly proudly displayed.

'Oye', the band's first studio release in five years, was one of the most praised Latin albums of 2006. It was awarded the Latin Grammy for "Best Alternative Album" and Premio Lo Nuestro for "Best Rock Album". The record climbed to #1 on iTunes' top Latin albums charts by its first day of release (ahead of Mana, Shakira, and Juanes) and remained at the top of the chart. Aterciopelados also hit #1 on eMusic overall Top Albums chart, beating out new releases from acts like Barenaked Ladies, Tom Waits and Aimee Mann.  

The longtime creative relationship between Echeverri and Buitrago proves to be the source for the band's musical genius. "We have had quite a musical career, which has evolved over the years through our own identity search and experimentation, finding our own sound," Echeverri says. "I do some things, like writing the songs and Hector does the other things, such as producing and imagining the musical vision for the song. We really complement each other musically in a way that works. And more important than anything, we have love and respect for each other."