By José Gandue @Gandour
Many of the most interesting albums of this era exude a clear break from established norms in their construction. These are albums that defy easy categorization, as their creation and production have drawn on a wide range of influences. These are mixed-race, mulatto, and zambo works in the best sense of the words, Since they have ingredients from very different origins, confusing and, at the same time, delighting the curious fan, the one who appreciates being surprised, the one who says with a fresh smile «"I didn't expect this"». In Omens, the second album by the Colombian band A thousand sonorous ones, The listener can sit back and listen, trying to identify the origin of a particular rhythm, sound, or resonant intention, and jot down a wealth of information in their imaginary notebook. Throughout the eleven songs, over the course of forty-five minutes, the listener can close their eyes and imagine... a journey that traverses Amazonian cumbia, Caribbean boleros from the fifties, and some echoes of New York salsa from the seventies, the psychedelic rock of four decades ago, and the Caribbean dub adding a final touch to the overall aroma of this party, that never detaches itself from popular culture nor falls into incomprehensible, heavy pretensions of intellectuals disconnected from reality. The idea presented throughout this album is one of constant movement, permanent seduction, and general nonchalance. Omens It is an exquisite album, made by brilliant people, worthy of being listened to, without discrimination, in any corner of the planet.
To understand more about this fine production, we interviewed Felipe Gómez, leader of this project, who is currently in Bogotá promoting it:
Tell me, what does Sonoras Mil sound like right now?
Sonoras Mil has always been a rich musical blend of many elements. This new album is no exception: tropical music, dub, psychedelia, experimental rock, electronica, tribal, and pop.
What's different about this new album?
Well, I'd say it's a more mature sound, a bit more experimental, more «"darks"» and more nostalgic at the same time. Of the 11 songs, 2 are ballads. .
It feels more experimental, too…
Yes, definitely. We didn't want any kind of aesthetic or sonic limitations on this new album.
I notice in the mix results a kind of homage to sound results of yesteryear, as if the album had been recorded in different decades, was that part of the concept?
Not really. Although we really like music from past decades like the 60s, 70s and 80s, there wasn't a conscious concept in that sense, perhaps unconsciously there was.
I say this because at times there are songs that seem to be a mix of the Fania era of the seventies, or the Caribbean boleros of the fifties.
Yes, definitely all that Fania stuff and the fifties tickets are there, but as I said before, the entire creative process for Sonoras Mil is intuitive and spontaneous. We never start from a specific sonic concept; we simply build the songs without knowing what the final result will be.
How do you feel about the current state of the Colombian music scene?
Well, although we've always felt like we're on an island apart from everything, like we don't belong to any specific movement or musical style. I don't know if that's good or bad, maybe both at the same time, but that's precisely why we want to be part of a musical movement, because that way it's easier to grow and learn from each other.
Six years passed between the first album and this one, what happened that took so long to release new material?
Actually, we're always writing new music. Back in 2017, we already had enough material for a new album. This time, we decided to release singles; the first one came out in 2019, two more in 2020, and the last one in 2021. I think we much prefer releasing full albums; it's more satisfying. Between 2016 and 2019, we focused a lot on building a solid live band, which might be why.
What is the Sonoras Mil live experience like?
It's an outpouring of psychedelia, a wild party, dancing without aesthetics, although the music also invites introspection, simply traveling to other imaginary places that we don't know but that sound familiar in some way.
What are the band's upcoming plans?
Well, now we have promotional tours coming up. We have two tours planned in Colombia, one in Antioquia in February and another in the Coffee Region and northern Valle del Cauca in May. In June and July, we'll have the European tour that we had scheduled since 2020, and we'll start pre-production on the material for what will be Sonoras Mil's third album.
