IRE

These four Colombians who met, and started making music together, in New York, have crafted their own slightly-rock, slightly-psych and more than slightly-spiritual form of Afro-Caribbean music-making since their first release in 2016. Carolina Oliveros’ vocals are central as she transposes bullerengue into new shapes, finding bliss on an ocean of lolloping bass, cymbal splashes and lazy guitar on ‘Oya’, but then revved up to fervour on ‘Babalawo’ as she duels with a Peruvian cumbia guitar lick and sinister synths before the rhythm takes off for a double-time Afro-punk finish. ‘Mujer Jaguar’ is another vocal masterclass, a killer groove that shakes you into existence, Oliveros barely uttering a distinguishable word as her screams and yelps build to a cacophonous finale. Other sonic territory is explored on ‘Indiferencia’, the rhythm section showing off with a groove that’s almost Philly soul in its sophisticated swing, while ‘Memoria’ spirals off into cumbia sonidera, an indication that the band’s Prince of Queens is also a mean DJ. The songs may lack a strong vocal melody, but this is also part of their charm, leaving you unsure what Oliveros will do next.