Meridian Brothers: Donde Estas Maria
Vinyl LP pressing. 2017 release. Meridian Brothers is a tropical/psychedelic group from Colombia, formed in 1998. Led by composer Eblis Alvarez, a pioneer of the alternative music scene in Bogotá, the band continuously explores and experiments with alternative ways of playing instruments and electronic media. Meridian Brothers’ sound a is huge palette of influences and inspirations. Drawing from traditional Latin rock (including Colombian, Argentinian and Mexican) as well as Brazilian tropical, for this album Alvarez incorporates string instruments – in particular the cello, both bowed and plucked – a timbre rarely used in his previous works. Lead track “Dónde Estás María?” is a proclamation of love for a spiritual guardian – and a taste of the dreamy psych-folk journey on which the album embarks. Mellow vocals and delicate cello riffs put a light spring in the step, while fuzzy bass and the gentle thump of the percussion and bells drive the song at an excitable pace.
