Hi, everyone. Fathony Asstano here, the internet's busiest music nerd. It's time for a review of the new Meridian Brothers album, Mi Latinoam​é​rica Sufre.

Here we have the latest full-length LP from the leftfield Columbia kumbia project, which is spearheaded by producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Eblis Álvarez, who for years as Meridian Brothers has been at the cutting edge of the experimental Bogotá music scene, artistically erasing these stylistic borders that sit between genres like kumbia and salsa and champetta, as well as other things, too. Electronic music, psychedelic music, industrial and art pop. What mix of that you're getting on any given Meridian Brothers album really depends on which one you're listening to.

The band's last record, which is actually one of my favorites of theirs so far, involves a conceptual collaboration with a totally made-up band. I'm not sure if the lore on this new one runs quite as deep, but stylistically speaking, it's still an interesting switch up, as apparently, Alvarez on this one is cooking up an even crazier genre blend. Of course, once more, we have the brothers usual combination of Latin and tropical influences.

But this time around, we're also getting elements of African highlights life music, Congolese music. If you go into this record, expect lots and lots and lots of fast, chirpy, nimble, active, and detailed rhythm guitars and lead guitars, to the point where I would say that those are pretty much the main selling point of this record as the rhythmic backbone of many of these tracks hasn't changed too much wildly from previous efforts. Not to mention the cartoonish and performatively weary and strange vocal parts from Meridian Brothers are pretty much part of the course for the project at this point.

Generally, on this album, I think all of these elements marry pretty well, but still may not be the easiest pill to swallow, especially for a newcomer, because of the very chaotic performance style that Alvarez embraces on these recordings. As I think in the process of creating and writing this album, some pretty raw high life records were being used as creative inspiration and reference points.The results show in just how wild and unruly some of the guitar work on this record is. Clearly, there's a lot of skill going into it, especially during the passages where the rhythm bits or the solos very much tighten up.

A lot of the time, the guitars are very much playing it and loose, which contributes to an overall surreal experience, especially when you take into account that some of the melodies worked into these tracks are a little creepy, a little eerie, some subtle psychedelic touches here and there, too, as far as effects. Of course, lots of tense chord changes, as well as, again, those weary and gargley and raspy lead vocals from Meridian Brothers, too, or some of the weirder and goofier harmonies and chorus bits that you'll hear on the opener, as well as, "Mandala", both of which also move at a dizzying pace tempo-wise. As strange as some of these tracks may sound on the surface, I will admit, sometimes they are jamming. The groups and the speed at which a lot of the playing is happening is really impressive, which is also the case for "En el Caribe estoy triste".

The entire experience of this record is not just a need for speed. There are some decent ballads and cuts that ease up a bit on the intensity in favor of bringing more hypnotic groups, sticky hooks, and of course, sweeter more memorable guitar lines like the track "Mi Pregunta". Let's not also forget "Mi acompañante", which features these sliding, ascending vocal harmonies and spiraling guitar leads, too. So, yeah, there are a lot of good moments throughout this LP.

To my ears, though, when this album falters is when the already off-kilter vibes on these tracks embrace some very deep disharmony. Tracks where the guitar leads feel almost detuned or like they couldn't be concerned at all with operating within a certain key. This is done to a slight degree on "Esmi Nueva Era", which is more or less fine as is, but it's really pushed to its limits on "Todo Se Me Desvanece y Debo Mejorar". The guitars are not only sour, but the grooves get a bit tedious as well on "Los Latinos Sufrimos". And the final track in the grander scheme of the album, I didn't find it to be that standout given everything that had musically been happening up until that point. Not exactly a grand finale or anything like that.

Overall, I think this record stylistically for Meridian Brothers, it presents an interesting angle and some great and fiery and exciting musical genre combinations and crossovers happen as a result of that, some good solid performances, too. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that previous concepts and instrumental inclusions on past records, I think, resulted in more gold being dug out of the mine, more interesting results. This particular genre combo, I don't think led to a very versatile or novel album for the project. And once again, the especially discordant tracks didn't really help the overall vibe that much.

So it's good, but it most definitely could have been better in my eyes, which is why I'm feeling a light 7 on this one.

Anthony Fantano, Meridian Brothers. Forever.