Si no tienes nada que decirentonces calla, Fother Muckers
Cazador, Chile
Rating: 77
By Carlos Reyes
Fother Muckers is one of those bands you learn to recognize through the years but get lost in the bunch. They don’t show much personality beyond their cool band name, nor is their music immediately arousing, but I always find myself interested. With four releases under their belt, the band is earning respect and a well base of followers, their latest installment is sure to conquer more hearts. Si no tienes nada que decir entonces calla is their most inspiring moment yet. While the album’s title doesn’t do much for me, it does find its place throughout the album. Not to say this is an album framed by positivism, it rather avoids choice while still holds its pieces together by means of experience and yes, some tricks.
The band assimilates new behaviors; while in the past they fell a bit short from emotional input, this time they arrive by any means necessary. What seemed like a jagged path towards success is now merely a consequence of their thriving disposition. The bumps and obtrusiveness of its instruments now found ground for discovery, and for a change, this time the vocals feel like they’re actually attached to the music. Let’s not consume this band on its abstract (there’s just too much of it), Fother Muckers aren’t very aggressive; in fact, they go beyond laidback and kind of stand on disinterested ground more often than not. This lazy distress is another side of the performing arts, and this band really likes it (and practices it). Such behavior is best shown in songs like “Nunca se apaga” or “Decirlo y no decirlo”, both constructed on short phrasing and although strong on the surface, they follow a conduct and restrain themselves to serve a purpose.
While these characteristics would usually sum up to a bad album, this is far from it. See, this is so well adjusted one learns to recognize the method and at the same time, embrace it. Slow-paced perhaps, but there is variation among its promptness, or else “Gente Tan Diferente” would seem mindless. “Jessica” sounds like some hybrid from Domingo En Llamas and Teleradio Donoso, the vague surprising moment in the album. “Ola de Terror” is my favorite track, it’s big and within the context of the album, the one moment that escapes reclusion. Vocally, it resembles Enjambre, Los Bunkers and Juan Gabriel! Si no tienes nada que decir… is missing a couple of volume bars, but it’s an admirable and bold achiever.