Blanca Altable – Las Formas del Agua (Microscopi, 2023)
Blanca Altable’s Las Formas del Agua (the shapes of water) unfolds with a profound dedication to water, an infinite muse that seamlessly transforms into diverse shapes within the ever-changing present. This statement of purpose sets the stage for the second solo work by the highly talented Spanish composer and violinist.
In this musical ode to the essential fluid, Blanca Altable skillfully weaves a set of post-folk, progressive folk and post-minimalist sounds. Within the intricate layers of her violin, voice, and percussion, folk roots beauty converges with progressive music innovation, creating a timelessly crafted soundscape.
The nine tracks comprising Las Formas del Agua represent a genuine immersion and mature reflection on the new compositional path undertaken by the Burgos-born musician. Altable’s solo journey began with the release of Somos Polvo in 2021, where she not only explored the possibilities of her elegant violin but also delved into the concept of looping. Indeed, this is a cornerstone of her compositional system, along with incorporating her voice.
Las Formas del Agua emerges as a tangible evolution of this exploration. The album opens with “My lion, mamma lion,” a captivating and danceable track constructed using mesmerizing vocal and percussion loops. This piece is inspired by the necessity of water for a heart of fire.
Drawing influence from traditional folk music and accessible minimalism, her musical expression of the aqueous element seamlessly merges with the vision of producer Samuel Peñas.
The collaborative nature of this work is evident in the featured artists, including Coco Moya, and Iván Cebrián contributing vocals and keyboards, respectively. On the downside, the song “Drops” features displeasing rapping by Alex Hache that breaks the flow of the album.
Musicians: Blanca Altable on violin, vocals, and keyboards; Iván Cebrián on violin and keyboards; Diana Samprón on percussion; Coco Moya on vocals; Alex Hache on vocals; and Samuel Peñas on bass.
Buy Las Formas del Agua.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.