What a difference a few years makes! Mexico's most important electronic pop band sounds more Depeche Mode than Depeche Mode! Moenia has created a harmonious, modern album on Le Modular while Depeche More has taken a step back with the unremarkable Exciter.
Le Modular picks up where their last album, Adición started off and takes it one step further. It's a very harmonious album, where the electronica, Alfonso's voice, and lyrics complement each other well.
The moody "Miro al sol" ("I look at the sun") sets a seductive tone. "Tranquilidad" ("Tranquility") follows suit and "En ti" ("In you") is that perfect dark love song. Synth driven pop songs can be found with "Molde perfecto" ("Perfect mold") and "Cómo ves tú?" ("How do you see it?"). Moenia goes decidedly more techno on "Llegaste a mi" and sounds very Ibiza. On the final track, "Hay que caer", you have the distinct feeling that if New Order recorded in Spanish it would sound like this.
Make no mistakes however. Moenia sounds like Moenia. While I must admit that I find they have greater strength in their slower, more seductive tracks over the pop songs, Moenia remains a group to follow, especially now that there's a vacuum in the genre.
Like Madonna's Music, Moenia has created a great electronic album. Collaboration between Moenia and some of their English counterparts on a remix album would be a very good thing indeed.
Moenia Le Modular
