Los Amigos Invisibles Speaks a Language We All Understand
Despite the language barrier, Los Amigos Invisibles’ 70s disco still resounds
Los Amigos Invisibles
Commercial
Released on Jun 09, 2009
Like the way of the dinosaur, disco has died. This is probably for the better, since the culture it spawned is probably mocked more than the bad hair and outlandish make-up of the 80s. However the genre itself still creeps through in the dance bands of our day. From MGMT’s “Electric Feel” to Afrika Bambataa’s “Planet Rock,” that four-on-the-floor beat lives on in our modern day. Los Amigos Invisibles, who have pumping their Latin-infused jazz since the early 90s, are part of this movement. The band was a Venezuelan staple until David Byrne’s label Luaka Bop brought the band stateside in 1998. Now in 2009 the band is back with Commercial, ready to tempt audiences again with their spicy beats.
Though the album is mostly
in Spanish, but I wouldn’t venture to place this under the world music
category. With a heavy bass and percussive back drop, the album
is more 70s disco than anything else. On “Sueno Erotico,”
which apparently translates to “Wet Dream,” Los Amigos Invisibles
sound something out of the dance clubs of my father’s heyday rather
than something that came out this year. Since disco was originally
influenced by Latin music, it makes sense that this band from Venezuela
picked their unique style to operate in. The bongo hits, the keyboards,
everything about these songs bridges the two worlds together.
Commercial is more about the feeling than about understanding the words. In music like this words are almost another instrument. “Plastic Woman” features lead singer Julio Briceño’s voice heavily distorted to the point where it sounds like a synth beat in the back of the track. I never took Spanish in my scholastic career, so I don’t even have the slightest clue was Briceño could be saying on this track. But it doesn’t matter. From the start when that smart guitar riff opens the track up into that funky bass line, I feel my hips moving and feet itching to dance. Even on the ballad “In Luv With U” the fact that Briceño is now singing in English seems irrelevant. But like most straight disco music, there’s nothing to really back the entertainment it gives. This is not an album I would ever find myself listening to outside a party or club. Los Amigos Invisibles are a fun and talented band but it’s hard to offer much else in the style that you’re operating in. Not every album has to be a poetic masterpiece but sometimes it’s nice to think when you listen to music. With Commercial, you’re offered a fun time but no stimulation. But by George, you will be dancing.
High Point
The more traditional “Oyeme Nena” has this fantastic cadence that makes you wish you knew how to salsa dance. A certain crowd pleaser.
Low Point
Just like 70s disco, there’s little else offered but entertainment value on Commercial.
Posted by Amy Dittmeier on Oct 01, 2009 @ 6:00 am
