Wed 21
With five years between *Wed 21* and Juana Molina’s last album, *Un Dia*, one might expect a jarring stylistic shift or new direction. Fans of the Argentinian alt-rock musician will find not just a thread of continuity here, but an even more robust expression of the artist’s craft. Songs thrum and hum; loops of acoustic guitar notes and braided vocal parts envelope listeners in an intimate cocoon of artisanal nü-folk. Molina’s delicate whispered coos make great bedfellows to the subtle washes of woozy synths and percussion inflected with a Brazilian spice. What keeps Molina’s music from being sweet, predictable, or pure folk is her kind of wild-card aesthetic: it\'s not too far from that of Wildbirds & Peacedrums or the punky folker Micachu. There’s a jazzy element, a playful mix of ideas, and a boldness to Molina\'s work. But every part is there for a reason; every tonal twist or dash of sour or bittersweet is carefully planned. *Wed 21* is smart and a bit addictive, and it may send some non–Spanish speakers to nearby classrooms to learn how to sing along.
The first album in five years from Argentinian musician Juana Molina isn't a reinvention. There are subtle differences between this and 2006's Son, but mostly it feels like visiting with an old friend who's back in town with a clutch of new stories to tell.
The first album in five years from Argentinian musician Juana Molina isn't a reinvention. There are subtle differences between this and 2006's Son, but mostly it feels like visiting with an old friend who's back in town with a clutch of new stories to tell.
Listening to Juana Molina, you would never know she had a strong run as a comedian in her native Argentina. Molina is classed under the singer/songwriter tab.
Listening to Juana Molina, you would never know she had a strong run as a comedian in her native Argentina. Molina is classed under the singer/songwriter tab.