Salvavidas de Hielo

Is it possible that Drexler has found the perfect way of describing his music with the title of his latest album? Meaning ‘Ice Life Vests’, the idea of life-saving devices that must inevitably melt lends itself perfectly to his songs, with each track offering a burst of optimism and light before fading into the distance, like temporary harbours for the mind. It's a fanciful elaboration but it certainly serves as a neat metaphor, as well as an indication of the romanticism that's always been a big part of Drexler's music, and which continues here on a set of songs led principally by his voice and rhythmic guitar playing. A deep thinker, Drexler addresses migration on ‘Movimiento’, the environment on ‘Despedir a Los Glaciares’ and the great unknown on ‘Quimera’. Yet at its heart this is an album filled with bonhomie, with songs nostalgic for silence and the simple joy of the telephone, as well as sophisticated love songs like ‘Estalactitas’ or the title-track. Like his occasional collaborator Caetano Veloso, Drexler has an assuredness and a level of songwriting nous that allows him to make music that is both rich and universal, while continually experimenting with the musical tools at his disposal.