The bewitching Ely Guerra has finally released an album on American shores. Lotofire, her first US release, is gorgeous and captivating both lyrically and musically. If you have the soundtrack to Amores Perros she may sound familiar to you as she appears both on her Brazilian flavored "Díme cuando" as well as the ethereal female presence on Control Machete's rap "De perros amores". Cool and breezy, Guerra's voice evokes a range of emotions with her poetic lyrics with music that alternates between acoustic and electric rock, electronica and pop.
"De la calle" simmers with intensity until it explodes with guitars and poetry and shows off her rock goddess pedigree. She wails: "Es el amor lo que se escapa, es el dolor lo que me abraza". The funky, subdued "Tengo frio" brings its own surprises, with Guerra singing "lonely nights, lonely nights", as if these English words were the only ones that could fit—and it works beautifully with the twangy guitars.
The passionate "Abusar" is somewhere between a Brazilian Portishead and P.J. Harvey. "Silencio" is sneaky in its simplicity; it's much more sophisticated than it appears, while "Prometo ser" continues along a Brazilian sixties pop vein. "El mar" is the perfect love song: offering without giving it all away.
With talented musicians like Chris Whitley and Mark Ribot on the album, the musicianship is impeccable and Lotofire demonstrates a fruitful marriage between rock and electronica without sacrificing the qualities of either.
Unlike Shakira's overproduced U.S. debut, Lotofire simmers and smolders with something even better: music.
Ely Guerra Lotofire
