By José Gandue @spinning zone
Each music commentator, in the midst of what we might call their "journalistic commitment", He has (and sometimes demonstrates) a weakness for certain names, for certain artists, who, every time these artists release new material, wants the rest of the world to listen closely and agree with them when they claim that there are definitely some sonic gems there that deserve wider recognition. It's not a sin, not at all, but some readers might judge these tendencies and are bothered by so much praise in these reviews, describing the critic's clear lack of objectivity as, in fact, deceitful or manipulative. Bah., Those of us who dedicate ourselves to this profession approach music looking for something that moves us, that takes us out of the dullness of everyday life., And we avoid being like machines when we talk about the tunes that sweep us off our feet and happily break our restlessness. There's no need to apologize.
Having said that, I can state the following: Upon hearing Ancentros Bogotá (Live)), from the Colombian group Mad Tree, On several occasions during the weekend, I can express two contradictory feelings: The first is joy and the next is rage. Joy? Yes, because this band, which confirms its high artistic level and the beautiful construction of its works, has released a five-song concert that it recorded in 2020, while preparing This is how birds talk, their third album, and the result is overwhelming. Rage? Yes, because for A, B, C reasons, marketing idiocies, personal and music industry circumstances, damn luck, limited budgets or whatever excuse I can invent, Mad Tree has enough going for him in his productions to attract the attention of audiences on this side of the world, and yet he is not as recognized as this unknown music commentator would like..
Mad Tree creates remarkable compositions and artistic performances. It has remarkable lyrics («"Four times it will touch/each cardinal point/in the east is the sun/and in the south my heart"») and an instrumentation that knows how to be direct amidst its complexity. What this group does is not simple; it has many layers that together weave an elaborate tapestry that, while avoiding pomposity, is moving for anyone. It's rock music that's deeply crafted but never exclusive. It's a matter of listening and repeating the hearing as many times as you want, and each time you discover a detail that makes it easier to understand what reaches our ears. The guitar work is impeccable. It doesn't overwhelm with its virtuosity; rather, it moves you in a natural way. It's a recording that knows how to contain all the good noise it aims for and demonstrates, as it should, the strength and honesty it proclaims.
Yes, joy and anger, but still It is a pleasure to introduce this band to those who may not know it on the continent. Let me share with you this possible bias, but if you listen carefully, perhaps you will share my belief that Mad Tree is one of the best reasons to believe that rock is not dead in Latin America and, on the contrary, There are still reasons to celebrate that survival.
