By José Gandue @Gandour
We're back to it. We're receiving new material again from Fran Straube and his project Blond, And although, in this case, we already knew many of the songs, hearing them together is even more impressive. It premieres Black Mango, The new album, a record that was expected to be released from Mexico, where Straube hopes to reside soon, but due to the pandemic, It has been launched from Chile, her native country.
We return to Rubio, reviewed on multiple occasions on Zonagirante.com, and every time we encounter the debut of his albums, We are presented with the possibility (and the obligation) to review the artist's evolution in greater detail, trying to understand where his intentions lie and whether we maintain, or even increase, our profound admiration for his work. Let's start with the basics: Straube still has the magic on his side, continuing to release exquisitely crafted songs with captivating melodies and a well-rounded result. That said, Black Mango It is more experimental, more meticulous, more mature. Let me explain: Fish, their previous album, is overwhelming, and we define it as an impeccable avant-garde work. Black Mango It is not simply a continuation of what was published in 2018, It is the reflection of previous learning plus the sum of confidence in the deeper search for textures, nuances, and risks., finding more certainty in the use of reverberations, with vocal play, with the digital editing of the songs.
In his recordings, Straube freely explores new sonic trends, some of which are remarkably vibrant today., But he does it his way, without falling into the traps of fashion. She is incredibly intelligent in noticing what is happening today, but she sits in her laboratory and internalizes what she sees. She approaches percussion and strings from distant lands, but does not fall into the murky mix of the exotic element., rather it integrates it in such a way that what is heard belongs to it by right. As the fifty-five minutes of the album unfold, we hear sudden bursts of Arabic violins intertwine, followed a second later by moments reminiscent of the explosive energy found in trap recordings circulating on streaming platforms. Then, we feel that festive yet intimate atmosphere characteristic of contemporary electropop. This pattern continues throughout the entire album., There's always a surprise around the corner. Straube knows exactly what he's doing, and that's why he allows himself to examine everything within reach. He wants to understand the mechanism of the toys he has, and once he's mastered it, he puts his own spin on them. From then on, he doesn't simply repeat what the manual says.
Black Mango It is a beautiful work that, perhaps, the most unsuspecting, those who have not heard anything similar, will take a little while to understand. It's not an easy album, it's not a compilation of hits where Straube repeats the formula of his tunes played millions of times on digital platforms, And that makes this production even greater. This is a valuable collection of recordings that feel even more personal, avoiding the saccharine pandering to their devoted audience. Tracks like Iceberg Child, Go, Companion or (our favorite) I just want you to save me, They are profound models that bear witness to arduous hours spent seeking to perfect every detail, every passing second. It's pop, yes, anyone who appreciates good music on this planet can enjoy it, but we get the impression that it's most pleasing to those who make the effort, almost like detectives, to uncover all the elements that make up this grand monument to the inner revolution embodied by this Chilean artist. We must say it: Black Mango Fran Straube reaffirms her status as the leading figure in Latin American music today.
