Guillo Espel Cuarteto – Souvenir (Guillo Espel Cuarteto, 2022)
Souvenir is the fifth album by the Guillo Espel Quartet, marking a pivotal milestone in Espel’s 19-year journey as a composer and performer.
Their preceding album, Teatro Colón, captured the essence of a live performance at the theater in 2016, providing a precursor to the current recording. While Argentine musician Guillo Espel consistently seeks alternative avenues of exploration, he is driven by a relentless desire to create distinctive twists that stand apart from his previous work. This relentless pursuit involves tapping into unexpected listening and construction while expanding his artistic horizons.
Each composition in Souvenir is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship. Espel delved deep into the timbre, morphology, and design, approaching each piece with a ‘quasi-molecular’ sensibility. As a result, every composition within the album maintains a unique aesthetic unity and independent objectives, born from a continuous process of exploration where each subsequent piece remains an intriguing enigma.
In the grand design of the quartet’s work, the concept of the ‘song’ occupies a central role. Whether in the form of traditional songs with lyrics or instrumental pieces, the song remains the core of their musical motifs and thematic development. Their compositions intentionally steer clear of rigid categorizations, styles, or genres, underscoring a commitment to crafting songs that transcend boundaries. The unifying thread is a profound expression of love and the boundless potential to create a musical piece from the ground up, a sonic space where none existed before. Nevertheless, the world music quartet performs an exquisite mix of compositions grounded in Argentine folk music, contemporary jazz and chamber music.
“En el bosque” emerges as one of Espel’s latest compositions, a testament to his creative evolution. This complex, yet accessible piece was born from a commission in the Canary Islands titled “Descanso en el bosque.”
“Hiedra al Sol,” a non-original composition thoughtfully selected for the album, originated from a previous commission. Though initially created for another project released by Sony Music, Espel has since made substantial modifications to the arrangement and structure. This work is a heartfelt tribute to Luis A. Spinetta, a highly respected Argentine musician and songwriter.
“Siempre un nuevo atardecer” is a delightful, vintage composition revisited by Espel, echoing the forms and gestures of coastal regions in his homeland.
“Impersonation II” was originally composed to accompany a film, conjuring vivid images and content from a Korean-origin movie. The recording, however, elicited associations with soundtracks from classic French films, leading to an immersive and evocative experience.
“Piedras sagradas” emerges as a collaborative composition co-authored with Eduardo Guerschberg, a medical practitioner and artist, and a longstanding friend of Espel. The piece reflects a spontaneous and liberated approach in the studio, notably with Nicolás Guerschberg’s piano, and serves as an artistic testament to the musician’s unique creative process. Special acknowledgment is reserved for Germán Gómez for his versatile vocal contributions.
“Cada día de Julia” is a composition penned for Espel’s daughter a few months after she celebrated her second birthday. It is a heartwarming tribute to the radiant presence of Julia in his life.
“La viga del cielo” highlights a text written by Espel’s brother, Santiago, a cherished poet. This collaboration underscores the deep connection the two share and a history of working together on multiple projects. Espel composed the music for Guada Farías Gómez, allowing her unique interpretation to shine through. The piece underwent multiple stages of development, revealing a rare working method that brought immense joy.
“Impersonation I” represents an alternative approach to “Impersonation II,” exploring a different palette of colors and instrumental resources. Espel’s willingness to revisit and reimagine a previous work highlights his commitment to artistic evolution.
“Siluetas Blancas” is a composition originally created for a charango and orchestra concert several years ago, thoughtfully reimagined as a chamber piece for the Quartet + 2. This performance as a sextet reflects Espel’s profound appreciation for the musicians and friends who breathe life and dimension into their music.
The final track, “Tarde de invierno” is a solo guitar performance that creates a beautiful, intimate and introspective musical space.
Musicians:
Guillo Espel Cuarteto: Oscar Albrieu Roca on vibraphone, marimba, drums, crótalos, gran cassa, gongs, tam tam, bells; Damián Foretic on bandoneón; Pedro Carabajal on cello; and Guillo Espel on guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, and piano.
Plus 2 (quasi sextet): Coti Moroni on clarinet, bass clarinet; Ignacio Svachka on xylophone, glockenspiel, vibraphone.
Guests: Nicolás Guerschberg on piano; Silvia Hopenhayn on spoken word; Guadalupe Farías Gómez on vocals; Marcelo Predacino, guitar solo; Fernando Ciancio on flügelhorn; Agus Voltta on vocals; Alejandro Guerschberg on bandoneón; Germán Gómez on vocals and bombo legüero.
String quintet: Elías Gurevich (violin I ); Humberto Ridolfi (violín II ); Elízabeth Ridolfi (viola); Pedro Carabajal (cello); Horacio “Mono” Hurtado (double bass).
Buy Souvenir.
Author: Iliana Cabrera
