Shantelle
Shantelle
SCORE: 8
Sixteen years after their inception, and after having lit the flame of local indie-rock sound, Shantelle is finally releasing their first official album.
Shantelle is an important band for the Tijuana music scene. They were active during key moments of its evolution, taking an active role in its development. They undoubtedly paved the way for successful upcoming bands like Parque de Cometas and Vaya Futuro (to name a few) and their position as one of the original indie darlings will forever go undisputed. With a track record like that, it is surprising, at least to me (someone that has not followed their career so rigorously), to know that their legacy extends to many areas, except studio material. However, 16 years after their inception - and when some of the bands they inspired already have more than one album under their belt - Shantelle are finally releasing their first official album.
The band manages to transport the listener back to the early 2000s without feeling like an attempt to cash-in on pure nostalgia; it is simply something inherent to the time when most of the tracks were written, with some having been ready since 2003, so it is inevitable that they sound like a product of their time. For those of us who are over 30, the nostalgic feeling will be an inevitable added value that will only be increased by the lyrics’ depiction of simpler times. They may be the author’s personal experiences, but the feeling is universal.
Shantelle have their musical references very clear, but they handle them in such a way that they do not sound like a mere copy of their influences, which revolve around styles such as brit-pop, indie rock and shoegaze. With its aggressive - yet sophisticated - attack on guitars and meticulous arrangements and backing, the album sits somewhere between The Bends and OK Computer. Each song moves on top of a solid foundation, as twangy arpeggios, synths and other textures frolic around, adding volume and an ethereal quality to their indie rock punch.
"Leo Es Pardo" shows us the quartet at their best. This is where they manage to combine the most distinctive elements of their influences to use them strategically. The track is multifaceted, beginning with the indie-rock dynamics that the band handles very well (but rarely strays from), ending with a second half that extends over a bed of quasi-psychedelic nuances. "El Doble" creates a heart-wrenching change in mood with a narrative that deals with the tragic loss of a loved one, over a very lethargic pace, that reflects the sadness and anger so inherent in the grieving process very well. Likewise, the lyrics in "Austeridad" are presented with slight blunted affect; although here, the music is more lively.
Since “Un Millón de Veces’” sudden start, until the unexpected aquatic ending of “Punto y Aparte”, this LP has no weak moments; however, it does lose inertia after "En Busca del Tiempo Perdido". This is not due to a decrease in quality, it is more a question of personality: what gives Shantelle their sound is diluted a bit, making the last tracks feel alien.
Shantelle's sound is friendly, but not toothless. The love they have for the indie aesthetics is contagious and far from being a simple tool to be accepted; in other words, it is sincere. That, more than their chronological position within the scene, is what separates them from the blandness of similar, newer projects, which seem content on giving their audience nothing but a bunch of colorful, but unsubstantial, songs. After this long wait, Shantelle prove that sincerity trumps over a lengthy catalog anytime, but their patience also shows that is not a competition.
