– THE PEACEFUL PROTEST –

In the 11 years since Luz Elena Mendoza has been recording and releasing music as Y La Bamba much has changed… in the wider world, in Mendoza’s own personal world and in the sound of the group.

And while her February-released full length, Mujeres explored some of the wider socio-political themes, her latest EP Entre Los Dos is a far more introspective affair.

Written across several trips to her native Mexico, the album feels very much more personal, if not quite ‘at home’.

If the album’s opening track, Gabriel comes across as breezy and light, beware. This is an album that digs deep into the human psyche’s vainglorious motivations and wrests them out in all their most visceral ugliness.

Elsewhere on the record Mendoza threatens “Y me saltaré de mi ventana” (“And I will jump out of my window”) and the precariousness of the whole endeavour is what makes it so fucking enthralling.

Mendoza’s famously acrobatic voice is on fine form here, as are her legendary harmonies. However, the highlight for me comes in the surf guitar tone over the afrobeat drums; even with Mendoza’s mournful vocals over the top, they serve as a moment of Mexican sunshine before the descent into the inner depths.

Entre Los Dos is available now through Tender Loving Empire.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX

J.LAMOTTA: BACK IN TOWN
TONI SAUNA: TRIPPIN’
STEAM DOWN: FREE MY SKIN
MICHAEL KIWANUKA: LIGHT

P.S. You can find all of the tracks reviewed above in the 45 Revolutions per Minute playlist below or click to access the 45 RPM Playlist on Spotify itself.

If you like what you hear (or even if you don’t), please engage in dialogue with me @45rpm_Reviews on Twitter. And, if you’d like to receive updates weekly, please subscribe to the email list to get these recommendations sent to your inbox weekly.

– SV –