With an atmosphere of mixed melancholy and happiness, as in 60's rock and roll, Black Hondo (a san diegan band born in 2008), presents its first EP, a material with six songs loaded with folk, country and a rock and roll inspired by some bands of this pioneer genre at that time.
Its first track is exquisite musically speaking, since it is such a pleasure to listen it with eyes closed. Brilliant piece of folk with ethereal sound, loaded with a small amount of psychedelic rock at its end.
In the full record we can find influences from folk, country and a little bit of soul and psychedelic rock, and clearly tons of rock and roll, which is not denied by the band itself but embraced and taken seriously. It was also pleasing to relate its sound with that of the also Californian, Robert Francis.
In "Pick Up Your Shit", and without abandoning its rhythmic style with the guitar and those nostalgic percussions, they offered a second track more energetic in lyrics and sound.
With "Walk For You", Black Hondo develops a slight melody using a calmed but cheerful guitar with drums as its accomplice. This is a good track without a doubt.
On the other hand, a pleasant contrast is heard in "Movin On", which is perhaps the folkiest of all the songs in this EP: it is melodic and cheerfully country! Listening to this song and with little effort and imagination it is easy to invoke countryside images, people dancing at the beat of a funny harmonica or drinking around a good bonfire surrounded by friends in a cool night.
In "Downpour" we listen a more purified sound, a guitar with appropriate interventions and some sort of indie sound accompanied with vanished psychedelic sounds that suits the track itself and the entire EP. Even though this is not the brightest or even the more representative track of this record, I consider that this is the best song stylistically speaking, and without a doubt, this can synthesize the musical proposal of Black Hondo. In my opinion, later works should deeply explore this already traced route.
"Mexican Rock'n Roll", without abandoning its folkie sound is especially, the more colorful song which appropriately unifies more agile notes than that of the remaining tracks of the EP, using slights pauses this track invites your feet to move.
This last song is particularly interesting for analysis within the context of the EP itself, without forgetting to enjoy it obviously!, before deconstructing the song.
All this comes because it is the only song that begins using keyboards; this invokes suspense and an anticipated musical pleasure: we can listen a keyboard simulating an organ with its low keys that seems eternal, at least for 24 marvelous seconds that after all this burst into the cheerfulness previously referred. Then the song bursts into funny notes that vanish in an equally unusual final for this EP because it ends with the same energy and joy of the beginning.
It is a shame this track only lasts a couple of minutes because it is truly insufficient to infect us all with all its vitality.
Unquestionable this band promises good things.
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mfranco@cantaloopmedia.com
Cantaloop Media, based in Tijuana (México), is an independent organization that promotes local music from Tijuana/San Diego through podcasts, social media and live shows.
