«NEA II» The Chamanas (English Version)

NEA II
Artist: The Chamanas
Year: 2018
Cosmica
Score: 6.0

The Chamanas is a Mexican band that meets with a powerful aesthetic and, of course, musical movement that has found a place on the world stage to contribute to the appreciation of latin culture. With their latest material, the band lets us know their strength through intimate rhythms and lyrics without losing their powerful sound.

I think there’s no point in discussing the influence of The Marias in the sound of the band. Personaly, I like the decision to create bilingual material as a form of standing up for your roots and «La verdad», the track which starts the record makes a statement of this.

It seems to me a little soft for an opening track, nonetheless the voice of Paulina Reza is always delicate and smooth but with the presence of any of the ladies that tag along to the James Bond character in the 007 films; she really channels a femme fatale vibe.

«Wedding cake» does the job bringing the initial excitement and «Un tulipán» comes after with a more ambient sound, almost experimental, as in an atemp to reinvent the unmistakable musical essence of the 70’s latin balada, which makes this song in particular a pretty interesting generational mix.

Up to this point it becomes easy to pick on how the album, in an attemp to maintain its thread, turns out a little monotone and, «Primera vez» goes unnoticed as another break up song.

Ironically, the record takes a break on the track «Descansar» (which literally means to rest in spanish); an honest, personal and minimalistic song similar to the sound of Cigarettes After Sex.

«Feel it still» revives the energy being a cover of Potugal The Man in Spanish, where The Chamanas doesn’t separates a lot from the original version but, they take the initiative and stamp their seal on the synths and drums.

Without doubt, «El farol» offers one of the more interesting approaches on the record. It strides away form the luxurious, unreachable and seductive vibe from the first half of the album; in this song I notice a more dynamic use of instruments and rhythms and above all, I enjoyed the use of falsetto which I believe adds a lot of colour to it.

Keeping on with the good energy, «Saltar» puts you in some homecoming highschool dance mood but, it appears the struggle for consistency continues with «Alma ciega» where synchrony becomes loose to me again.

Boy I tell you! it really has been a rollercoaster whit this one, but there’s nothing I like most than a band than knows how to finish strong and The Chamanas achieve this with «Desprender»

Here is trully where I hear the band have full self control of themselves even though NEA II intends to get out of its comfort zone (which its of course valid). I think this record reaffirms that re-imagining the sound of the Mexican balada with the stylistic mix of vintage an new influences is really the way to go for The Chamanas. I firmly believe that while the band flirts with the well known formula of latin pop, they’re building their own style at the same time.