Music Review: Aterciopelados - Oye

You might have heard of Aterciopelados and their great single "Complemento", a rocky mix of cultures and genres that's been captivating Colombia (and far beyond) for over a decade. That specific Aterciopelados sound, a solid fusion of traditional bolero with flower power rock, is about the only constant throughout their latest album Oye. Weird instruments (from sitar to didgeridoo), different styles (ballad to funk-rock), and the incredible voice of lead singer Andrea Echeverri make each song a different experience.

After "Complemento" we're treated to an acoustic intermezzo with birds tweeting in the background. "Que los días te besen", Andrea sings, one of many odes to nature on this album. "Don Dinero" and "Cancion Protesta" are cheerful protest songs, against today's money culture and against restriction of free speech: we're back in the '60s all over again! Check the mariachi trumpets and shouting cowboys on "Don Dinero", one of my favorite songs on the album.

"Oye Mujer" on the other hand, is quite bitter, stating most modern women are too concerned about their looks:

Objeto sexual
Pedacito de carne con complejo de Barbie
Mujer, cerra los ojos y veras

A powerful quote, but not the best song on Oye. The sour tone is continued in "Insoportable", a song filled with desperation and anger but brought with sentiment and soul.

"Paces" is a delightfully silly, ethnically-influenced dance song. Too bad the party gets interrupted by the cheesy ballad "Panal".. but it continues in funky "Al Parque". More ethnicism on "Fan #1": is that a sitar in the background?

Andrea Echeverri then effortlessly changes her wonderful, eerie singing voice to a hypnotizing hum on "Majestad", an ode to Pachamama, the Inca god of earth.

Oye closes on the happy notes of "Cruz de Sal", a song that manages to recapture the entire album: it's a cheerful ethnically influenced flower power, funk-rock ode to nature! If you need a last-minute Christmas present for the alternative minded, Latino or not, Aterciopelados will certainly be appreciated!

Article Author: Chapin

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