Calle 13- Multi Viral (2014)

Calle 13- Multi Viral (2014)

 

Although linked to the despicable world of reggaeton, Calle 13 have proved to be a musical act respectable enough to earn a place in the world of music, a musical concept with something to say, really, and particularly its incendiary lyrics have always struck a big chord with me, and this time, with Multi viral, the band sounds decided to reinforce their strength as a musical act, one that at this moment shows it has little to do with the big and cheap beats of reggaeton, sounding closer this time to the “anything goes” sound of a band like the legendary French outfit Mano Negra, of course, the band leader Rene Perez Jolgar is no Manu Chao when it comes to revolutionary spirit, but his heavy literate lyrics are sharp and wise enough to make us think twice and consider really what he is saying, and as if this wants enough, his brother Eduardo Cabra Martìnez has decided this time to brake from the reggaeton sound in order to included a more varied musical background, one that will helps Calle 13`s music to become more robust, it will obviously cost them lots of popularity within his older base of fans, but an ambitious record like this will earn them big respect from true musical fans.

 

Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano, responsible for writing one of the most amazing books on Latino America, Las Venas Abiertas de America, is in charge of the spoken word introduction to this record, setting the Latino revolution, and general revolution of the oppressed tone of this recording, beautiful clean guitars and the deep voice of Galeano result in a great way of launching a powerful recording, which stars with Respira el Momento, donning the somber tone of the former song, hip hop lyrics start to flow in a powerful way, as Perez Jolgar keeps growing up at an impressive rate as a writer, one who cites enormous sources of information, words that immediately put our brains to work hard, among an almost cosmic native musical accompaniment the powerful start of a really powerful piece of music.

 

The American native motif is again taken for the beginning of Un Buen Dìa para Morir, just to be amazingly traduced into a sort of European bard music for El Aguante, with strong electronic beats and one of the best themes in the record, with earth shaking lyrics and infectious chorus about the celebration of the enduring spirit of the oppressed, Perez Jolger voice is a sharp instrument, much in the spirit of the great Zack De La Rocha, sending everyone a big clue that if RATM is ready to comeback one day, the inclusion of Perez Jolger might be more recommendable that the incursion of Chris Cornell, and precisely in a way the combative spirit of bands like The Clash, Mano Negra and RATM is alive and strong running this time thru Calle 13 veins.

 

It’s important to remark the desire of Calle 13 not only to focus its combative spirit, but also of expanding its horizons, as Ojos Color Sol shows the band in a more contemplative mood, with beauty running thru its lyrics and music, much in the way of great Argentinean psychedelic band Serù Giràn, a small and gentle touch of pretty music before the colossal impact of Multi Viral, perhaps one of the most devastating piece of music you area about to hear this year, just imagine the buzz saw guitar of RATM`s Tom Morello along a chorus sung by the great Kamilya Jubran, turning this piece of volatile music into something close to a really fireball, Morello guitars shines all the way, just like in the old RATM times and the amazing voice of Jubran on the chorus makes this song a powerful and combative artifact, much in a way a Molotov cocktail may work, add even more provocation in the spoken participation of WikiLeaks head Julian Assange and you are in for a trip on very subversive and dangerous music, yes, the oppressed sound very angry this time.

 

Cuando Los Pies Besan El Piso is a big beat piece, with strong earth shattering basses inviting everyone to dance for freedom, and evoking a certain Middle East flavor on the vocals, and then the band takes a big chance against obsolete “gangsta rap” evocating social conscience in the place of the clichéd superficial violence of the US genre.

 

Los Idiotas is another remarkable piece of lyrical provocation, while Fuera De La Atmòsfera Del Craneo uses again an idiosyncratic combination of loud guitars and hip hop, all this laced with subtle doses of psychedelia, then returning to America in the reggae heavy Perseguidos another strong showing by the band both lyrical and musical, while Gato Que Avanza Perro Que Ladra falls somewhere between hip hop, RHCP`s guitar funk and a heavy brass section.

 

Multi Viral is a strong artistic showing, a band reinventing themselves and getting deep on their Latin America roots, evoking what we used to know as “Third World” and that today rises as the so called Emerging Economies, a story of struggle against capitalism, communism, socialism and whatever you want to call, but one that in the end will rise as the ultimate cosmic race described by the great José Vasconcelos.