FOR CORNERS, DIEGO BERNAL
Exponential, USA ***1/2
Rating: 76
By Carlos Reyes
Cloudy groves and electronics are hard to get away with, a predestinated musical tragedy, unless someone finds the asserted tissue to underline both, in this case the outcome turns to be a raw and bleak manifestation, and quite a exciting. It’s truly grateful to find a project bold as that of Antiguo Automata Mexicano (Angel Sanchez Borges), who is probably one of the most underrated geniuses in Mexico’s contemporary music. Located in San Antonio Texas, Diego Bernal takes a stance on diverse range of roots, from the natural scales of work songs and spiritual songs, the dreamy urban sound, to the complexity of latin jazz. The collision of all these sounds is approached with a minimalistic sensitivity, something hard to even ambition for a first album. Amazingly, with such a delicate care, For Corners sounds colossal, like the extended intros in epic hip hop. Leading single “Bring it on Home” journeys an event, celebrates it, and concludes it firmly, a simplistic and fascinating structure that is carried all around. Also, check out for the official remix by Mexicans With Guns. “Dusty Sanchez” feels generational, but not to this generation at all, it’s like a lost soul of the Chicano movement. Personally, the most captivating moment arrives with “May Day”, a violent and heart-wrenching depiction of the abuse by L.A. police to a group of pro-immigration marchers at MacArthur Park two years ago. A total of 19 tracks might get you overdosed; this is to be appreciated at its own phase, it does wonders on a solitary afternoon. Exponential Records will release the album physically by the end of this month, but it’s open for free download at this very moment.