Allá's debut album is an amazing mix of sounds and influences from 60's pop ala Brian Wilson/Phil Spector/Beatles to Brazilian Tropicalia of Os Mutantes, Motown R&B/Soul, Krautrock via Can/Kraftwek/Faust/Neu, some Brian Eno-like ambiant pices, post-rock and retro-futuristic references like Tortoise/Stereolab/High Llamas...
Pulling all those sounds together into a cohesive mix within an album (and often within a single track) might seem like an impossible task, but Allá make it seem natural. While it's obvious the members of Allá must have vast and interesting record collections, and clearly relish jumping from various influences, they never merely ape their predacessors. Allá bring their own style and charm to the mix, creating something that is new, entirely their own, and a pleasure to listen to. Es Tiempo is a really great record that rewards multiple listens (especially with head phones).
The first track "Una Dia Otra Noche", is pure pop perfection. It starts with a simple nylon string guitar plucking jazzy chords over a bossa nova backbeat, and then the strings kick in. The strings provide an upbeat and adventurous arrangement that seems to call and response with vocalist Lupe Martinez (almost like a new orleans horn arrangement, but in a 60's style chamber pop vein). I can see this track kicking off a number of summer mixtapes... or popping up in a car commercial or television/movie soundtrack. The tune is beyond catchy and instantly likeable.
"Un Pedazo", which also features a prominent string and horn arrangement, is probably my favorite on the album. The overall vibe recalls 70's era motown more than anything else (think Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On"). The drums and bass playing (which would make James Jamerson proud) really propel the track. Everything is in it's place on this track. The production and obvious thought and care that went into the arrangement from the strings, percussion, tympani flourishes, to background vocal oohs that mimic the strings is just mind blowing. You don't often hear such a great song on any album, nevertheless a debut album. My hats off to the band's songwriter/producer/guitarist/keyboardist Jorge Ledezma (who seems to be channeling the production skills of Quincy Jones on this one).
Other highlights include "No Duermes Mas", which again is immaculately produced and reminds me of something from Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall". Lupe Martinez's vocals are particularly sexy on this track.
The instrumental "La Montana Sagrada" is a lovely sort of ambiant track reminiscient of Another Green World era Brian Eno).
"El Movimiento" is probably the most obviously Kratrock influenced track. It starts with some nice vintage synth keyboards and vocal harmonies and driving drums... the song then takes a wild turn in the middle 8 with some slide whistles and wild vocal arrangements before bringing it home with the addition of some driving guitar playing and what sounds like a Korg synthesizer approximating pedal steel guitar.
I could probably go on and on about every track on the album, but the bottom line is that it is a great record. The songs, production, playing and singing throughout are excellent.
One important aspect of the album I have failed to mention that the vocals sung are entirely in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish (fluently anyway), but the language barrier is really a non-issue (similar to Stereolab and not speaking French). For a non-Spanish speaking person the vocals really tend to blend in as another instrument (especially as the vocal arrangements and harmonies throughout are so well arranged -- there are also lots of wordless "oohs" and "ba ba" type harmonies). Given that the three core band members are Mexican-American, I do think the decision to record all in Spanish is important and part of what makes this album such a personal labor of love for the band.
Best record of 2008 so far.
Brilliant Debut Album
What a joke!