It’s been almost two years since Dávila 666’s breakthrough Tan Bajo graced us with absolute freshness in its own unadulterated rock revivalism spirit. Ever since, the Puerto Rican ensemble has maintained a pretty active rhythm, gaining success after success. Following last year’s split with The Coathangers and the explosive 7” Pa Qué Vives, 2013 is the year that finds rebel singer-bassist AJ Dávila taking a shot at his own new solo project.
This news comes as extremely exciting for our staff. Considering the list of collaborators that will take part in the boricua’s upcoming debut album, we’re in for a real treat. So far we can confirm contributions of many of CF’s favorites, like Chilean pop prince Alex Anwandter, country prophet Juan Cirerol, Las Robertas’ badass Mercedes Oller, synth punk femme fatale Selma Oxor (who AJ has confirmed as a band member), amongst other thrilling names, including Black Lips’ Cole Alexander and Juanita y los Feos’ singer Juanita Calamidad.
First appetizer “Animal” is a ferociously wild pop banger. From the murky voice effect that takes place in the initial seconds, to the Menudo-esque melodious skeleton, this breezy tune grabs you by the neck while injecting a feeling of savage royal autonomy (“Yo soy un animal/Y yo soy el rey”). Although it preserves the Dávila 666 essence all the way (San Pablo Dávila is on the drums), AJ unleashes such unique confidence in this first cut that we just can’t help but recognize it as a single-mind idea. In its classic punk rocking fashion and fleeting duration, it principally resembles the work of recent contemporary darlings Ave Negra and Los Blenders. An irresistible immediacy is revealed in the first listen. Further plays mark “Animal” as an anthemic enduring candidate, up there with Hypnomango's "El mundo no es real" or even Dávila 666's "Esa nena nunca regresó."