PERSONA

This is my first approach to Alejandro Matos, a talented siger-songwriter one-man band. First of all he makes songs. This means that lyrics are important. My Spanish is quite poor, so I will write about the few that I have uderstood. The music has an electronic 80s dark flavour, mailny due to the use of electronic drumming. The use of flanger on the guitar makes it darker.

"Dos Mil Anos De Tierra" (2000 years of Earth) has a compulsive rhythm. The voice is dramatic. I didn't understand what the lyrics are about exactly. It stars with "Waiting is not possible" then he speaks of death and pain...from a musical point of view he tries to communicate a sense of drama, pain and a desire of rebellion or revenge. The short guitar riff is very appropriate in this sense.

"La Plaza equivocada" (The wrong place) is less dark than the first track (just a little bit) with a quasi-ska tempo. It makes me think to a new-wave group of the 80s, the Metro. One of their less known albums had athmospheres and sounds of this kind.

"El Camino De La Mala Suerte" (The bad fortune's walking) starts with keyboards followed by the bass. The sound is close to Joy Division, specially the bass. This song seems to be about tiredeness of living "Porque te ha tocado existir - Because you had to exist" is one of the sentences that I think I have catched.

"La Justificacion De Los Nuevos Dientes" (The reason of the new Theets) is a natural following to the previous track. More rhythm. I'm not able to understand what it's about. It transmits to me a sense of madness. The instrumental part until the final fading-out is excellent.

"Pecado de Pecar" (Sin of sinning)...a major chord here. At least one, but it doesn't last long. it's about religion and superstition. This is the less dark song even if not a relaxing one.

"Guerra De Silencios" (War of silences) is theatrical. It could be part of a concept or a rock- opera. There's a feel of Canterbury. The singing reminds me Robert Wyatt. Thinking to what this album reminds to me, I think Nick Mason's fictitious sports contains some slow tracks with the same feeling. "To discriminate it's better not seeing, not knowing" Alejandro says.

"Fracasos Bajos Fianza" Is hard to translate. Fianza is "bond" , so it could mean Bonds' failures. Voices in the background and keyboards. Should I classify this track, it's Psychedelic/Space rock.

"Estatuas De Agua" (Statues of Water) Bass, guitar and voice, then drums. A rock interlude, bass and the guitar solo. this is one of the heavier tracks. I think to "From Monument to Masses" as reference.

"Telefonos De Negro" (Black Telephones) I think is about desaparecidos, but I can't be sure. "They took my blood only for fun".

"Gritos de Manana" (Morning Cries) has an interesting jazzy instrumental part in the middle. "Dormir" (To sleep) Is again dark. "better not knowing, Better to sleep".

"Las Bienas Razones Del Error" (The good reasons of the mistake) This track makes me think to Joy Division, but the bass on "Maldita Persona" (Damned Person) sounds exactly as them.

The last track, "Dos Mil Anos Menos" (2000 years less),is an excellent closing track, with the best guitar solo of the whole album.

This is not ready for 4-stars rating, but 3 are too few. I'm confident that his last work, Freak will have 4. I'm about to start listening.to it.