by Kevin Vaughn
The trans-Andean invasion is in full force here at WUBA. Beginning along the coast with our first edition of Extranjeros with Valparaíso natives Estefanía and Paz it has advanced further inland to the capital city with the release of Astro´s first LP yesterday. When we first got wind of this Santiago-based dreamy electro-pop quartet´s video for “Ciervos”, we were head over heels, and to be honest a little bummed that we couldn´t write about it. After listening to the self-titled album yesterday, which is available for free download until November 10th, we felt inspired to bend the rules a bit. So a second addition to NEWS this week, Border Hopping, an exploration of artists from all over the southern continent.
Let´s start at the root of our obsession. The video for “Ciervos”, which features the entire foursome made up of Andrés, Octavio, Lego and Zeta, and close friend Coco of the Buenos Aires based band Los Animales Superforros, was filmed on a small island paradise in Southern Chile. It is the perfect illustration for the magical world that this lush and playful song paints. An island in which animals, humans and deities co-exist as equals, frolicking through the meadows, playing music with tree trunks and water splashes, tribal dancing with paint and powder.
“Ciervos” also happens to be the first song on the album, a twelve-song disc full of synthesized pop melodies, percussions that beg to be clapped along to and the lyricism of front man Andrés Nusser that transports you to fantastical neverlands. Flying on an interstellar journey and back with spacey songs like the mellow “Mui-Mui” or the joyous synth heavy jam “Mira, está nevando en las Pirámides” and the dance inducing exhilaration of “Coco” and “Colombo”.
The complexity of the album promises an exciting live act, which the band says to be preparing for in hopes of touring internationally in 2012. For now, you can download the album for free until November 10th.
