For Fonovisa, assembling a best-of collection by
Conjunto Primavera was a no-brainer. In the '90s and 2000s,
Primavera has been a big seller in the regional Mexican market -- and the arrival of a best-of like
Dejando Huella was inevitable. This 64-minute collection, which Fonovisa assembled in 2004, contains 20 of
Primavera's better-known recordings. Of course, a best-of that focuses on
Primavera's Fonovisa output exclusively isn't going to tell the whole story; formed in 1978, the Mexican band had built a sizable catalog on Joey Records before arriving at Fonovisa in the '90s. Nonetheless, Fonovisa is where
Primavera has had the most commercial success, and their Fonovisa work has generally been enjoyable and solid -- not necessarily challenging or risk-taking, but enjoyable and solid. In contrast to the biting, edgy contributions of a group like
los Tigres del Norte (who could be considered a Mexican equivalent of
the Clash,
Ruben Blades or
Bob Marley),
Primavera has come to represent the smoother, more romantically comforting side of Norteño/Tex-Mex and cumbia mexicana (the Mexican interpretation of Colombian cumbia). The songs on
Dejando Huella are far from the work of Mexican purists; "Una Vez Más," "Perdóname Mi Amor" and other major hits cater to those who like their regional Mexican music laced with big doses of sleek Latin pop (just as salsa romantica puts a pop-minded spin on Afro-Cuban music).
Dejando Huella doesn't offer a lot of surprises for
Primavera's hardcore fans, who will already be familiar with most or all of this previously released material. But for novices and casual listeners,
Dejando Huella accomplishes exactly what it's meant to accomplish: it cuts out the filler and offers a pleasing overview of
Primavera at Fonovisa in the '90s and early 2000s. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide