Las Ilusiones
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
The French artist Bruno Karnel makes music that is not easy to classify but sure is easy to enjoy, as mandolin, charangos, domra and various sorts of percussion populate these eclectic and exciting rock textures.
“Osijek” opens the listen with graceful keys and much atmosphere as crisp drumming highlights the reflective mood, and “Vlak!” follows with a hypnotic blend of strings and percussion alongside the expressive vocals.
Halfway through, “Medialuna” brings backing vocals and more forceful guitar to an artistic and buzzing climate that flirts with funk, while “Fernweh” takes that lead into even more charged areas of rugged and scrappy garage rock. “Nuevo Eden”, the best track here, then offers an initially bare, ambient quality that even gets a bit mysterious in a prog-rock sort of way.
The final two tracks are both acoustic, and include “Calopsittes”, where a poetic intimacy is appreciate, and “Icnocuicatl”, which is a Lila Downs cover that resides in haunting territory and is delivered with much care and exploration.
Entirely unclassifiable and powerful in unconventional ways, Karnel makes an indelible impression here, and the 14 tracks included are all superbly written.
Travels well with: Delwood- Delwood; Daydream Three- The Lazy Revolution