How’d I miss this?
I’ve written about four albums from Guatemalan cellist and vocalist Mabbi Fratti including Sentir que no sabes, Se Ve Desde Aquí, Vidrio with Jarrett Gilgore (saxophone) and Gibran Andrade (drums), and Estática an album with sound artist Concepción Huerta. They are all, each their own way, compelling genre bending journeys.
A time to love, a time to die, released on London’s Scrawl (formerly known as SA Recordings) in 2023, features the Mexico-city based quarter of Mabbi Fratti, Concepción Huerta, Gibrana Cervantes, and Camille Mandoki.
From the liner notes:
Amor Muere represents a unique collaboration between four established artists, each with their own distinguished artistic endeavours. Mabe Fratti, a skilled avant-garde cellist, masterfully weaves together contemporary art pop and avant-garde influences, seamlessly blending improvisation, organisation, and melody in her music. Camille Mandoki’s compositions defy categorization, ranging from stumbling, decaying fairground music to menacing percussive flurries. Her vocals transcend conventional boundaries, bending and shaping sound into hauntingly beautiful and unconventional forms. Concepción Huerta expertly explores everyday sonic landscapes, blending field recordings, objects, and instruments using magnetic tape manipulation and synthesisers. Her artistry crafts immersive atmospheres, seamlessly merging ambient and noise elements while bridging analog and digital sound manipulation. Gibrana Cervantes, a Mexican musician, stands out as a violinist, composer, and improviser, combining classical and metal influences into a truly unique and innovative musical style.
An experimental supergroup, Amor Muere combines their individual talents and core instruments—vocals, violin, cello, synths, and tape manipulation—to create a debut album that pushes the boundaries of sonic exploration.
This music twists, turns, churns, and delights with a surprise around every edge whether bowed, plucked, stretched, or sung. If you like experimental supergroups, you’re going to love A time to love, a time to die.