Valsian
I may have mentioned that Dom La Nena's "Soyo" had rekindled a desire to rediscover 'mùsica latina' and dulcet Latin tones... This is most certainly the case when I stumble across something as bewitching as that created by the duo of Eunice Guerrero (vocals) and Oscar Domínguez (guitar) who - hailing from Cuernavaca, the capital of the state of Morelos, Mexico - together comprise Valsian.
Valsian - a play in Spanish on the words 'waltz' and the colour 'cyan' - have released their eponymous debut EP and created a quartet of achingly melancholic indie-pop songs, which - when they sound as good as this - it isn't strictly necessary 'entender español' to appreciate (although this is one of those times I wish my Spanish wasn't quite so rusty...)
There is something quite compelling in the way that the duo manage to make both Eunice's vocals and Oscar's guitar simultaneously complement and contrast. The former, haunting - tinged with a hint of sadness - the latter, soothing in the way that the acoustic guitar so often is. It's as if dark and light have been mixed on an artist's palette, but rather than the result being a nondescript hue, every possible shade has been created.
There's a beautiful air of melancholy that permeates throughout the four tracks showcased here. On "Ausente" the combination of Oscar's gentle guitar playing and Eunice's ethereal vocals heightening the sense of absence of the song; There's the strangely unnerving "Botas de tierra"; the assertion by the totally enchanting "Sin mentir" that "...there will never be a tomorrow without lies ..." .And then there's "Vals", the 'Waltz' of the band's name. Vocals and guitar seemingly skirt with one another. The song - drawing on the conflicting themes of love, that feeling of elation tempered by the fear of rejection - is a masterpiece.
Valsian - a play in Spanish on the words 'waltz' and the colour 'cyan' - have released their eponymous debut EP and created a quartet of achingly melancholic indie-pop songs, which - when they sound as good as this - it isn't strictly necessary 'entender español' to appreciate (although this is one of those times I wish my Spanish wasn't quite so rusty...)
There is something quite compelling in the way that the duo manage to make both Eunice's vocals and Oscar's guitar simultaneously complement and contrast. The former, haunting - tinged with a hint of sadness - the latter, soothing in the way that the acoustic guitar so often is. It's as if dark and light have been mixed on an artist's palette, but rather than the result being a nondescript hue, every possible shade has been created.
There's a beautiful air of melancholy that permeates throughout the four tracks showcased here. On "Ausente" the combination of Oscar's gentle guitar playing and Eunice's ethereal vocals heightening the sense of absence of the song; There's the strangely unnerving "Botas de tierra"; the assertion by the totally enchanting "Sin mentir" that "...there will never be a tomorrow without lies ..." .And then there's "Vals", the 'Waltz' of the band's name. Vocals and guitar seemingly skirt with one another. The song - drawing on the conflicting themes of love, that feeling of elation tempered by the fear of rejection - is a masterpiece.
There is a natural calm that surrounds this EP, the songs are beautifully stunning in their simplicity - I'm at times drawn to comparison with the gentle air of calm melancholy that describes Tracey Thorn's seminal classic "A Distant Shore." Listening to this EP leaves an incredible yearning to hear more...
Valsian EP (Bandcamp)
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