Only In America Solo En America
BMG, 2021
9/10
Listen to Only In America Solo En America
The singer-songwriter and harpist Verónica Valerio joins forces with the legendary Van Dyke Parks for this superb EP the brings Valerio’s Mexican heritage into an orchestra navigated by VDP.
“Veracruz” starts the listen with cascading beauty as a playful tempo, sweeping strings and soaring, expressive singing guides the cultured melodies, and “Cielito Lindo” follows with both singing and talking, as a stylish beat enters a very frisky display of glowing pop ideas where the harp work is key.
The back half of the EP includes “The Flight Of The Guacamaya”, where an intimacy enters the poetic climate that weaves in and out of orchestral moments of sublime musicianship, and “Camino a Casa” exits the listen with the harp and violin interacting with incredible fluidity amid plenty of pop appeal that takes significant nods towards Hispanic influences.
A project that VDP initially was a little hesitant about, this ended up being an extremely fetching collaboration that, despite their very different backgrounds, meshes together amid a genre defying formula where Valerio’s voice and harp are complemented with 7 strings, 5 woodwinds and more. Certainly both free spirits, and with VDP’s interest in Hispanic sounds, at just 4 tracks we could all benefit from more music from the pair. Thankfully, it looks like that will happen.
Travels well with: Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks- Orange Crate Art; Laura Nyro- Tree Of Ages