By José Gandue @spinning zone

I apologize, and I do so for several reasons. The first is that I frequently use words in my texts «"tenderness". I use this word on several occasions because I believe it's the quality I most enjoy feeling in the music I listen to. But don't get me wrong: Tenderness is not softening, rather I relate it to understanding, to empathy, to the ability to calm the depressive beast that we all have inside our bodies. It doesn't matter if the resonant environment of a song seems like an unstoppable whirlwind, capable of destroying any structures established in its path; if, suddenly, that element appears that shakes us, calms us, makes us feel more at peace, that little bit of heartfelt affection. 

Another apology to the audience: I regret expressing my deep love for him so openly. shoegaze (a subgenre of alternative rock that combines distorted guitars, ethereal melodies, and soft vocals). I apologize for using epithets that might seem exaggerated when, faced with new albums in the genre, I try to place them among the best of the season and, therefore, insist that you all listen to the material. And one more thing, I find it fascinating that, in most cases, he shoegaze It's made by ordinary, shy people, everyday people, who don't dress up as anything., because they execute enough layers of sound in their performances that they don't need to hide behind any strange clothing.

Now then, after all that rambling, let's get down to business: The Argentinian band Fin del Mundo, The one who, without so much fanfare, is touring the world captivating more and more fans, has just released her new album, We grew a forest, and undeniably it immediately enters the top of the best plates of 2024. Why? Answer: Because throughout the half hour that this compilation of 8 tunes lasts, it gives the perfect amalgam of intense and corrosive stridency and soothing and calming gentleness, which contain classic albums such as Loveless, from My Bloody Valentine, Ferment, from The Catherine Wheel, and Psychocandy, made by The Jesus and Mary Chain, without ever losing the unique identity that deserves to be recognized in this quartet. Details? The album, whose artwork is the work of Candela Pérez (photography) and Francisco Picone (design), fIt was recorded in May 2024 by Estanislao López at Unísono Cerati (Buenos Aires) and subsequently mixed by Nicolás Aimo at Estudio Albatros and mastered by Sr. Warrior.

Are we going to use too many labels to describe this album? For those who like to get bogged down in definitions from journalists and pretentious music lovers, The songs range from indie-rock to shoegaze (yes, our favorite word from time to time), passing through styles such as post-rock, dream pop, kraut-rock and even Midwest-emo. Lucia Masnatta, the band's guitarist and vocalist, explains it best:

«[…] we decided to be completely free when composing and incorporating our different musical influences, and not leave anything undone […] there are songs closer to indie rock, dream pop, post rock or emo […] without any fear of trying different ideas and combining them.».

Despite the prevailing noise (or, rather, thanks to it) The female voices that navigate in that maelstrom are unexpected, reverberating seductions of sirens that express a sign of rejoicing. On the other hand, this is a guitar-driven delight that serves as a chemical tranquilizer for constant anxiety. It comes alive in captivating tracks like the second cut, We live far away: 

Everyone is looking for their place.
Under the storm
I don't want to drag you down anymore.
To my tide
Our friends know it
We miss you
Our friends know it
We miss each other

A season in the winter, The opening track of the album appears to be one of the "softer" recordings, but from the very first second it reveals the direction it's taking., and infects in us the way in which production will take place, the way in which the explosion will be dispensed and the short but direct aesthetic of its lyrics:

Maybe they'll go up
Difficult memories
Because of following you, I'm getting lost today
My desires are becoming dark.

Maybe they'll go up
Difficult memories
But only like this, only here
I know who I really am.

 

Then it sounds When it's all over, a kind of playful ballad where every moment is a fascinating emotional experiment: «"After waiting so long, we finally learned something. Pack your things and let's go, far away from this absurd noise. And returning with the forest inside, everything looks easier now.". Another magical moment is the final tune, Calm will come, an intense three-minute and forty-second journey, where the voices seem like conciliatory spirits born amidst the distorted waves. In short, this is a splendid album (and it's not an exaggeration to describe it this way).

Here we leave you We grew a forest, in the format it presents Bandcamp, So that everyone, without any restrictions, can listen to it (and perhaps buy it). After this initial introduction, they can then head to their favorite digital platform to continue exploring this album. You won't regret it.