By Santiago Rivas @rivas_santiago
Speakers Parlantes is a band that isn't as famous in Bogotá as it is in Medellín. But it's the only Colombian rock band that, at this moment, could match the relevance of 1280 Almas a few years ago. I'm not saying that Almas isn't important now, nor am I saying that Parlantes is as famous a band (at least not as famous as it should be, really), but that's why I'd like to emphasize once again what I consider to be... A key word in this article: relevance.
The members of Parlantes They understand that rock is never just rock, Something that rockers in this country seem to have forgotten. They borrow sounds, riffs, genres, styles, and phrases from here and there. Their music sounds like everything, but it's perfectly rock. They're from Medellín, and it shows., But they could be the darling band of any city. The words, however, come only from them. It doesn't matter if it's a cover, or a compilation of popular sayings, only they could own those words., which remind us that the brain is just another gut.
A new album from Parlantes has arrived, which is an eloquent continuation of this spirit that I am trying to describe. It's a complete piece, the album listened to straight through. It has songs that are like bridges, and songs that are like singles, but together, it's an independent entity, called All of this was manga.. They leave nothing to chance, like serious artists; when there should be winds, there are. When they need to sound louder, they do. They are not ashamed of being intelligent, or poets, or paisas. They're not ashamed of what they do. They don't pose. They simply write and compose. It seems like the easiest thing in the world, but nobody else does it in this country. Not in rock, at least, not even the good bands.
Since they don't pose, they play as they need to, not as they think makes them look better. They make fun of themselves and tell jokes, which is a form of rhetorical play., Because words are important to Speakers. They are not afraid of Spanish, and they mold it to their liking; they simply use English when it serves a purpose. (something different from "entering the Anglo market", at least). Their music is not a whim. On the contrary, it sometimes feels as if they are simply interpreting a design from above.
The album All of this was manga., Specifically, it's perfect. They only needed nine songs. to draw a map and design a trip, One of those things you can only do with friends. The album demands your attention. I played it as much as its Bandcamp.com link allowed, and even then I was still extracting descriptions, adjectives, verbs, sounds. A recommendation for all of us who forget that Rock always comes back to life when we think it's dead.
