By José Gandue @Gandour
«"in a liminal space.".
We are on the threshold.
There's not much left to do.
But listen
wait and change»
Close – Ela Minus
The article begins with a definition taken from Wikipedia: «"Liminality is when one is neither in one place nor another. It is being on a threshold, between something that has gone and something that is yet to come. Illness, adolescence, the state of semi-consciousness, or temporary madness are liminal states, as are journeys, whether for pleasure or necessity."». I must confess that I was unfamiliar with the term and that, when translating the short lyrical text of the Colombian song Ela Minus, I felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, finding the meaning of "liminality" helped me a bit more to understand the phenomenon of this Brooklyn-based artist., responsible for one of the best albums of last year, not only in this hemisphere, but definitely across the entire planet. Acts of rebellion It's an album of immeasurable power, thanks to its effective combination of dance and intimacy, perfect for solitary dancing in any room the listener occupies and, at the same time, for the massive explosion of audiences at festivals and stadiums. And we're drawn to the theme of the threshold between past and future, because Ela Minus, born in Bogotá as Gabriela Jimeno, He has a successful musical career, but it's somewhat difficult to describe. Internationally, the recognition of his career is remarkable, and among many colleagues from all over the world, the reference to his work is almost immediate when talking about Colombian talent, but in his own country, he only resonates in alternative circles, on the state radio station, and among the privileged attendees of elite festivals held outside the capital.
Ela Minus is a unique artist, What it does, as it has written on the edges of the boxes that protect all its machinery, is music, brilliant music in dark times. All the resonance she expresses has been designed by her from the very first note, and she is directly responsible for creating her noise tools. She has sought out everything that emanates from her sound system from the very first piece, and it is with this accumulation of booms and chimes that she fills every performance space where she offers her songs. In this case, located in Mexico City, In the courtyard of a building almost about to collapse, he recorded his song in a single take. Closand, in his «liminal spaces» live version. This is a longer interpretation than the original, since the one recorded on his album lasts just over three and a half minutes., And this one goes beyond seven minutes. This allows the cameras time to explore the site and, through the building's deterioration, help create the right atmosphere for the performance. The audiovisual product's aesthetic is perfectly complemented by the color palette chosen for the final edit, ranging from expressive black and white to photographic moments that transport us back five decades in cinematic terms. This is a sensitive material, exquisite in its elaboration and splendid in its result. It serves to confirm the high quality of their project and, at the same time, to dispel the notion of those who are confused and don't understand what's going on around here. In short, perhaps it's part of the threshold we're discussing.
