NAUYAKA

This is the debut album of Nauyaka, a project of a veteran Mexican talented composer named Tizok Briseño, who has been quite active not only creating music with different projects, but also making a constant anthropological research of some ancestral cultures from Mexico and Mesoamerica. I thank him for introducing me to this musical journey whose first child saw the light a couple of years ago in 2023, with the self-title of Nauyaka.

Here we can appreciate a one-man-band, because Tizok is who composes and plays everything, something quite plausible. By the way, the nauyaca is a species of serpents that comes from Mexico, it is said it is quite poisonous, so here in a figurative sense, we are ready to receive its bites. The names, titles, etcetera, are written in spanish, however, he changed some letters, so consider that in his writing predominates the letter z over the s.

The album features nine compositions and kicks-off with 'Despertar dela zerpiente', which means "the awakening of the snake", so yeah, it all begins and Nauyaka is ready to make an impact. He delivers instrumental music in the vein of symphonic prog, but there is also an evident experimental sound that puts it a bit closer to avant-garde. Guitars and keyboards at unison, nice electronic drumming and addictive bass lines here and there, the song is easy to dig and enjoy, it sounds quite adventurous and I like the intercalation between keyboard and guitar solos.

With 'Zekreto Zentimiento dela Pirámide' and its odd-time-signatures I remembered the music of fellow Mexican master Greco Bastian, I mean, I am sure both artists explore their creativity and have fun while composing, maybe Bastian uses much more the humor, however, Briseño with his music let us know he has no boundaries and is free to play whatever he wants to. 'Ezpirituz Turkeza Zakrifikadoz' brings piano, bass and drums, a slice of zeuhl musik is shared here, with episodes where keyboards create eerie sounds. Electric guitar appears here and there, while a repetitive or addictive bass and drums base prevails. Some tension is shared here in dark passages, however there are moments where the piano takes over and produces a kind of jazzy sound.

'Kreazion del infinito' starts softer, like an epic coming, and then at second 40 the explosion begins to be orchestrated. Some guitar solos here and there while the cool bass lines take over, accompanied by the drums and keyboards as background. Some changes in mood and tempo, countless nuances and textures spread everywhere during these 7 minutes in which Nauyaka shows his quality and freedom as a composer in what seems to be a constant dialogue between all the instruments, all played by him, so I figure it is an internal dialogue with his diferent selves. 'Koronazion de mi íntimo guerrero' is a nice track that explores with other sounds and rhythms, with bass lines that remind me a bit of cumbia-style, and with a piano that oscillates from zeuhl to salsa, somehow.

The music created here is quite good, however, there are moments where I think it sounds a bit repetitive, it happens with 'Evanezenzias Zhamánikaz', where the formula might be repeated, and we are listening like an extension of the previous tracks. This is not necessarily negative, though. 'Alegre Zonriza de Eternidad' has an uncertain start, different elements are being introduced while the seconds pass, like in a stealthy way, until at 1:30 the rhythm explodes and that mixture of rock, electronic, zeuhl, takes over. A 4/4 base, but there are some odd time changes that last for a blink of an eye. Instruments at unison, then some solos. Nice.

'Reptilikum_Felinux_Ketzaltzin' which sounds a bit more experimental, the sound is not so explosive, it also provides elements from nature, such as animals or winds, while guitars, bass, drums and keys place the pieces in a puzzle that has different faces. And finally, the album ends with its longest composition entitled 'Invizible Luz', whose over seven minutes provide a calm sound that embraces you and takes you by the hand; soft piano notes and suddenly strong keyboard drops, while guitar and bass wander here and there. The song becomes a bit emotional while the minutes pass, and I believe it is thanks to the sound of keyboards as background. Nice.

Congratulations to Nauyaka on this debut, which is very nice and creative.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to memowakeman
• Report this review (#3161293)
• Buy NAUYAKA music online with PA partners
• Show all NAUYAKA MP3/Stream
• Go to NAUYAKA page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Nauyaka page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for NAUYAKA related discussions