Happy Land is Tierra Feliz
Hamlet Meneses, 2018
8/10
Listen to Happy Land Is Tierra Feliz
A debut album from the bilingual, Guatemalan artist Mi Amigo Hamlet, his brand of self-described ‘Bilingual Latin Alternative’ comes with plenty of cultured rhythm and influences from merengue, salsa, rumba and many other timeless ideas.
“Happy Land” starts the album and indeed can make any day brighter with its bright percussion and melodic vocals amid a festive rhythm of ska and merengue, and “Dias De La Semana” follows with spirited guitar work alongside plenty of cultured fun.
Elsewhere, “Go Go Go” brings a shuffling pace with an electronic feel, while the acoustic “Pajarito” flows with a folk appeal that’s flute friendly. “Hola” then takes a sparse route with soulful vocals as hypnotic guitar work builds into hand clapping fun.
Back half highlights include the warm, tropical feelings of the glorious “How Much I Love You”, as well as the beat heavy and dance friendly “Months Of The Year”. Close to the end, “Thankful” shows appreciation with darker spirited music as a pair of male vocals dominate the mood, and “Little Fish” finishes out the listen with the sounds of the ocean as agile keys and smooth instrumentation complements the rich singing.
A listen that is both in English and Spanish, Hamlet’s well versed in many genres as both folk and reggae are in attendance across these 16 tracks that also bring an educational angle that’s aimed for the young ears.
Travels well with: Evan And Vanessa- In Our World There Are No Strangers; Parker & Alexander- All Of Us: Bible Songs For Everyone