By José Gandue @Gandour Mel Muñiz archive photos
In times of pandemic, social distancing and total prevention towards others, What most humans miss is human contact, the rubbing of bodies, the intimacy of touch. Many, surely, long for partner dancing, having their loved one just inches away, their skin trembling, while nostalgic music plays suggestively on the dance floor. Any of you, I can bet I'm right in this easy process of speculation, have listened, enraptured, to your grandparents' stories recounting details of the time when they would gather at a party or in a downtown hall, dressed in their finest clothes, ready to enjoy romantic melodies in the dim light. Special occasions when they listened to boleros, ballads, guaguancós, and other pieces performed by the local orchestra, where perhaps the tremendous voice of a beautiful woman shone above the winds and percussion, captivating the audience. Perhaps you have seen these scenes in films that felt distant, but that one day (you can't deny it) you wanted to experience at least once in your life.
In the midst of this unfortunate year that has distanced us from those around us, comes Mel Muñiz, Argentine singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer, practitioner of old arts that evoke the sounds of past decades, with its catalog of charmingly poisoned tunes of waltz, swing and Caribbean son. His new album, Fierce, It's a collection of 10 songs that recapture the value and beauty of bygone tones, leading any unsuspecting listener to believe that this material was recorded more than half a century ago, perhaps in a studio in Havana or Miami during the Art Deco era. But Muñiz, all from Buenos Aires, It does more than just provide an exercise for melancholics: It immediately connects with new generations, those who live in less prejudiced times than then, and instills in them, banishing shame, romantic airs with updated language.
Fierce, in its journey of just thirty-four minutes, It's a beautiful album, without cracks, It invites a kiss, seduction, and a kinder perspective on the world, even if only for a moment. If we were (obligated) to highlight the best moments of this production, we would particularly recommend moments like If you're not there for me (solid bolero of heartbreak), When you sigh (a piece that sounds like it was taken from the soundtrack of a film set in Hawaii), and Fed up (It's an impressive sound that immediately brings to mind legends like Olga Guillot or Toña la Negra). Likewise, as always happens with good albums, Listen to this production from beginning to end and choose your favorite cut. And, hopefully, if you feel lonely, you will soon have the time to rejoice with your loved one, sharing these joyful moments.