Review: Los Amigos Invisibles keep it freshly fun
Los Amigos Invisibles, "Repeat After Me" (Nacional Records)
Dreamy, funky, sophisticated and groovy. This combination is most uncommon in the world of Latin alternative music — and that's why the new offering from Venezuelan groovemasters Los Amigos Invisibles is so delicious. It's rare aural candy.
"Repeat After Me" is a 12-song dance party (plus one funny intro) mixing fresh disco rhythms, smooth funk, pop lyrics and eclectic flourishes. The first song, "La Que Me Gusta," is a '70s-flavored groove with a contagious whistled hook. On "Mostro," the band conjures the essence of a 1930s Parisian jazz stage with a nod to Cab Calloway style.
Los Amigos hop merrily between Spanish and English, maintaining the fun across languages. On "Sex Appeal," vocalist Julio Briceno confesses, "You drive me nuts when you wear your jeans." On "Corazon Tatu," he begs to see his lover's heart tattoo, singing: "You know I want to reach the deepest level of your skin."
The lyrics largely stay fun and playfully sexy, which is the right fit for this collection of the band's acclaimed "gozadera" style — a colloquialism embracing the word "gozar" or "enjoy." Indeed, "Repeat After Me" is a reminder to do just that.
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