By José Gandue @Gandour
This year, experts say, It was written by Stephen King. This drama featured some deplorable protagonists: from Trump to Macri, including the Chapecoense tragedy and the cold smile of Alvaro Uribe Velez. and the departure of Bowie, Ali, Prince and many others. It was a dark year, or, as Queen Elizabeth II would say at the time, in precise Latin, a "«year horribilis«. Not only did absurd things happen all over the planet: We had to endure the outrage of many idiots on social media, Complaints from people who still believe their mobile phone is their new brain. Stupidity, foolishness, and idiocy have been highly present in the landscape during these last few months and, it seems, promise to extend their reach even further next year. But… fortunately there is a but.
Fortunately, 2016 was a year with good music in Latin America. We were lucky to hear fantastic records from all over the hemisphere, Music that happily filled our ears while the world exploded. At Zonagirante.com, we have always believed in artistic independence., And we're grateful that this year brought amazing self-produced recordings, Brilliant tracks that made us feel excited and jump without limits, sonic moments that shook many days in which these incredible pieces exploded in our stereos. We feel happy to have been able to listen to good albums that saved us from losing faith in humanity. In the midst of all the disaster, at least we had the opportunity to hear a better soundtrack while these days passed.
We have selected 5 productions to better remember 2016. They are very different jobs from each other. Our list includes examples of punk, jazz, electronic, blues, and alternative rock. The recordings come from Chile, Argentina, and Colombia. We're sure we've left out many, many wonderful albums from this list. We focused on these 5 albums because we are capricious and we want many people to know about them. We listened to each of their songs for many days; they lifted our spirits and helped us to continue on our path. They're not the most popular examples, and we don't care. We have no obligations to anyone, no commercial commitments, and that's why we can assure you that these are the albums we liked the most this year. Spot. In no particular order, here is the list:
The Ex – Season One:
4 girls from Mendoza revive the classic punk style And they break it with humor, cheekiness, and intelligence. This is an album to mock its generation, to celebrate its foolishness, to grow the girl power and to overcome the obvious masculine bias of the gender. These women have more courage in their ovaries than the vast majority of similar-sounding groups of the moment.
A must-hear song: Vitamin.
Ohlaville – A parade of skeletons
It's only three songs. It's a continuation of an album, from which, supposedly, this trio of recordings was left out, for some reason we never found out. It doesn't matter. A parade of skeletons It's a beautiful example of the evolution of a band that never stops growing. The sound of this production is delicate yet simultaneously unleashes fury, and this blend thrives amazingly in our ears. This Bogota-based group knows how to mold rawness and make it into a beautiful piece. This has been their breakout year, but what's coming promises to be even better.
A must-hear song: The Roads.
Three weirdos pretend to be mute and pick up their instruments (a stick, a guitar, and a drum kit). to navigate turbulent waters filled with jazz, funk, pop and rock For the delight of those seeking something entirely different from the everyday. Anyone might be hesitant about this description, but what Buceador Voltio presents in this compilation of 10 songs flows naturally, easily stirs emotions, and amazes both fans and newcomers. If we were asked for a definition, We can say that this album is an admirable collection of sound postcards.
A must-hear song: Octopus.
The voice. As soon as Delfina Dib sings, it's almost obligatory to be quiet, listen, shudder, and keep listening. But the voice alone is not enough to say that Elementary It's one of this year's best albums. Zyderal, through Camilo Zúniga, has created an impeccable instrumental work, where house, techno, hip hop, and even certain cumbia textures are evident. There is magic in each of the 9 songs featured on this album. These are powerful, impactful, and compelling songs with which the Colombian/Argentine duo demonstrates why many music experts refer to their work as one of the best productions of 2016.
When we think life is too complicated to accept with grace; when we believe that horror prevents us from seeing beyond our misfortunes; when we believe all is lost, It's good to remember that good blues rescues us from our miseries. In this case, all it takes is two brothers, Alejandro and Álvaro Gómez, a guitar, and a drum kit for the light to shift before our eyes. This is a brilliant, powerful, and hopeful album. If you haven't heard it, prepare yourself for a masterpiece. We're not exaggerating. If there is a higher power, we ask that it continue to bless these boys.
A must-hear song: Ali.