By José Gandue @spinning zone
Archive photos La Vida Bohème
🌋 The dream and the eruption
A man dreams for several weeks that El Ávila, the iconic mountain overlooking Caracas, erupts. From this dream emerges an album that unfolds as a sensory and political journey, a distorted mirror of our region. Inspired by contemporary Venezuela, the album No Man's Land, From La Vida Bohème, imagines a land without borders where oppression, exile, resistance and fraternity coexist in the same Latin American pulse.
However, this isn't your typical protest album, full of catchy slogans perfect for any street demonstration. Instead, it embraces a captivating, complex, contemporary poetry, crafted more for listening and reflection than for serving as a traditional tool for mass agitation. Look, damn it, it's an eclectic album containing rock, electronica, a touch of hip hop, hints of pop, and yet—with that description—the reader might not fully grasp the level of variation and risk-taking this brilliant record possesses.
🎧 A gesture of renewal
This is La Vida Bohème's fifth album, and instead of declining—as is often the case with other bands that reach this point—it feels like a constant renewal compared to their previous work and a clear evolution of their sound. One thing remains constant: the ethical and aesthetic rigor of a project that avoids falling into the obvious. This isn't about preserving the established style or characteristics. This is a collection of eleven tracks that fearlessly incorporate the necessary elements, dismantling the original mold and playing with melodies that evoke surprise and celebration.
One striking detail: Henry D'Arthenay's voice is always clear, rising above the overall mix, without any embellishments to obscure his message. There's a clear intention that what he says must be heard by the audience, inevitably. Instrumental chaos may be happening behind him, reverberations may be exploding at his back, but his speech must be clear and direct.
This is a collection of great recordings, and the high point is undoubtedly its sixth track., Street in the sky. It's a poignant, new-wave-tinged "ballad," brimming with orchestral electronic keyboards that create an ironic yet liberating, celestial atmosphere. It speaks of executions and other catastrophes, and of the ever-present hope of love, here or in the hereafter. This song is a must-have on any self-respecting list of the year's best singles.
From an abrupt dream emerges a moving, reflective album, exquisite in its form and powerful in its lyrics. La Vida Bohème, after almost twenty years of history, remains a band that deserves attention and, especially, to be listened to (very attentively).
