De Donde Eres

Album Review

For their fifth album, Cordero have chosen to give their already prominent Latin influences a greater role in their musical formula, and not just because Ani Cordero sings all the songs on this disc in Spanish. On De Donde Eres ("Of Where You Are" in English), the indie rock underpinnings of their earlier work is still clearly visible on tunes like "La Musica Es la Medicina" and "Ruleta Rusa," but Ani Cordero's songs more explicitly draw upon both the sounds and the moods of Latin American music, embracing the palpable joy and sorrow of the melodies as well as the sensuous grooves of the rhythms. Trumpeter Omar Akil Little gets a bit more room to show off his talents on this disc than on their previous long-player, En Este Momento, and while many of these performances deal with nuance more than hip-shaking rhythm, bassist Eric Eble and drummer Chris Verene offer invaluable support, knowing when to nudge the melodies along and when to step on the gas. Fans not fluent in Spanish (much like this reviewer) will be at a loss to say just what these songs are about, but the feeling is clear throughout, and the nervy sass of "La Yegua," the potent dance pulse of "Abre La Ventana," and the whispery dynamics of "Guardasecretos" demonstrate just how strong and intuitive a band Cordero have become. At a mere 33 minutes, De Donde Eres doesn't give itself enough time to wear out its welcome, and though it's good enough to leave one wishing for more, the album's brevity works in its favor — Cordero show they can spread out without wasting their time on this album, and that's a key ingredient in their take on Latin sounds.