A lot has happened in the world since the last Erazer write I up I did of a Los Bitchos record. A lot. Too much to clog up a word count on a review. One thing that did happen however was that I went to see Los Bitchos live in Brighton and it really cemented my feelings of a five star band absolutely shredding their pan-continentalism rock power energy for anyone who can get close enough. What would their latest offering Los Bitchos & Friends Vol 1 released via GREAT! Records in association with !K7 Music do to this particular groovy train speeding down the tracks?
As hinted by the album title, collaboration runs true on this offering. Vol 1 features a series of guest vocals to bring some fresh energy to their sound. But I have to admit on first listen, I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
Where lyrics have become the mainstay in modern music even in more traditional genres like dance and electronica, I have been capitavated by Los Bitchos’ predominantly instrumental offerings on their first two albums. Along with that now signature Anatolian/Cumbia psychedelic flair, the absence of words and letting the music ride freely felt very fresh – see also my day one’ers Khruangbin, Warbaby and Yin Yin.
It does however take a few spins to begin to appreciate this evolution in Los Bitchos, and there certainly are some powerful friends joining in the trio’s sound (the recent departure of their keytarist Agustina Ruiz marks another shift in their journey). Serra Petale on guitar, Josefine Jonsson on bass and Nic Crawshaw on drums keep the coal fires burning hot on opener Hang Up (Pt2) alongside Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada and Sinkane’s Ahmed Gallab both of whom I adore. Fair play girls, this is a strong start. This motive is going get loco.
Other friends feature on the album, the likes of Holding Cell (Ambrose Kenny Smith of King Glizzard and The Lizard Wizard) and the gorgeous El Pençe with the patter of Kit Sebastian’s Turkish cadence keeping pace.
The global wandering of Petale’s endless guitar is still as technical and precise as it is breathtaking and wonderful. It’s hard to imagine what the band would be without it. Nor Jonson and Crawshaw’s mind melding rhythm section, not stopping for passengers at passing stations. You’re in or you’re out and you’d better have a valid ticket for the duration of your journey.
But fear not Los Bitchos purists (am I a purist? Can you be a purist after only 3 releases?), half the album is still dedicated to the signature instrumental sound (with some well timed and well meaning chanting). In particular, see the first class, window seat, table with a plug and free wifi Cross – it melts your mind, it fires you up, it cools you down, it reassures you the Los Bitchos network hasn’t been fully privastied. This is my stand out track and confirms that in no way do the instrumentals get overshadowed by the band’s new lyrical directions.
The album also reaffirms the filmic nature of Los Bitchos records, as seen in Festivities and Talkie Talkie. You’re on a long journey. You ride the sonic action, the tension, the character arcs, the twists and denouement before the epic finale. The short snappy closer (another instrumental) Next Selection (Prelude) implies in name, sound and length an exciting teaser of what might be coming next (& Friends Vol 2?) and frankly, I’m on board this train; my heads out the window, I’m giving you my seat, I’ll buying the season ticket.
