Cordero
En Este Momento

(Bloodshot)

First Appeared in The Music Box, March 2006, Volume 13, #3

Written by John Metzger

Teaming with European supermodel Nico, The Velvet Underground helped Andy Warhol to transform New York City’s burgeoning avant-garde art scene into a multimedia extravaganza, and although the collective’s self-titled debut may have taken years to achieve any semblance of commercial success, its influence upon rock ’n‘ roll was indisputably massive. The bilingual, Big Apple-by-way-of-Georgia outfit Cordero utilized The Velvet Underground & Nico’s still vibrant eclecticism as its blueprint for crafting its third outing En Este Momento, and essentially, it replaced Nico’s thick, German accent with Spanish lyrics and South of the Border flavorings. At first glance, its concoction is an odd juxtaposition of divergent styles, especially considering that the ensemble miraculously manages to retain the basic characteristics of each of its influences, but as the sultry, Latin-tinged grooves collide with the ominously swirling darkness of the group’s proto-punk roots, the music mutates into something that is highly intoxicating. On Come On Dear, front woman Ani Cordero does her best impression of Blondie’s Debbie Harry, and her band kicks up some serious dust à la Edie Brickell & New Bohemians’ Keep Coming Back. Elsewhere, La Piedra is a haunting ballad that pairs ghostly backing vocals with drums that echo like distant explosions, and the tempest-ravaged refrains of Close Your House Down builds to a frenzied climax before somberly settling into the aftermath’s chilling calm. Although En Este Momento isn’t on par with The Velvet Underground’s monumental endeavors, it still is a smartly conceived collection that not only is full of promise but also indicates, without a doubt, that it will be a lot of fun to witness Cordero’s inevitable development into something bigger.

En Este Momento is available from Barnes & Noble.
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Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2006 The Music Box