The first two albums of the Spanish quartet Melenas exude pure joy. In 2017 Melena and 2020 Dias Raros, bright hooks and bright beats abound in infectiously catchy melodies. Her brand of energetic indie pop topped by wicked vocal harmonies is broad enough to include moments of reflection and even darkness. But it's hard to walk away from any album without feeling uplifted.
It would be wrong to say that Melena's new album, Go away, is also not refreshing. The first single from the record, “Bang”, is as energetic as it gets, fueled by a motorcycle beat, pounding keys and cross-voices. the accompaniment video shows the four band members literally belting out the tune. But Go away they are more nuanced and more textured. Melenas have added complexity to their music without abandoning their hooks or their lively spirit. In essence, they are doing what they have always done, but on a deeper level than before.
Part of this new depth comes down to settings and production. Synthesizers are more prominent Go away, sometimes layered with guitars and drums, sometimes taking the lead. On the plaintive “Two Passengers,” a soaring keyboard provides both backbone and rhythm until the band's unison vocals melt into the shimmering notes. These mixed voices are another reason Go away is denser than Melenas' previous efforts. Almost every track features more than one singer, and often all four members sing. These harmonies are so frequent that the music feels collective and multi-dimensional, folding in many angles and many nuances.
Go awayHis lyrical themes are equally profound. The title means “now,” and most of the songs deal with the idea of time—especially appreciating the present and processing the past. The band confronts the issue head-on: On the second track, “K2,” they admit, “Cuando miro atrás no sé medir la distancia/El tiempo que pasó ¿a quién se lo dí?” (“When I look back I can't measure the distance/Time has passed, to whom did I give it?”). In “Mal,” time is a bandit in the form of wasted effort: “Cuánta vida/Se quedó atrás/Cuántos planes/Por trabajar” (“How much life/Left behind/How many plans/Because of work”).
As direct as their lyrics can be, Melenas can also be subtle. On Go awayHis most haunting tune, the escalating “1986,” the dangerous pull of a flame becomes a metaphor for allure and repulsion. The luscious “Flor de la frontera” looks at the miraculous way a plant dies and comes back every year, while the elegiac “Promesas” measures time by how often designs are pushed down the road.
