Fresh off a pile of Latin Grammys, onto a pile of [7]s…
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[7.00]
Alfred Soto: Ah, the comfort of dating a man who knows what you like. Natalia Lafourcade puts over lubricious domesticity without raising a fuss, and the guitars and harmonies of Los Macorinos circle ever closer with each strum and passing minutes.
[7]
Peter Ryan: If you were hoping for a shake-up this isn’t it — having foregrounded her folkloric influences going on five years now, this finds Lafourcade stylistically planted. But on Hasta la Raíz she didn’t allow herself this kind of meandering resplendence, all the better to burn off the fog of a torturous breakup. I’d like more accordion, though.
[7]
Iain Mew: Spacious but intimate, it’s the kind of song you can relax into even as it develops at surprising pace; journey and destination are given equal weight and are equally enjoyable.
[7]
Tim de Reuse: A pleasant, unremarkable groove for Lafourcade to sing dizzying, gorgeous circles around. There’s an appealing unpretentiousness to her performance (if you discount the expensive-sounding production, at least); her voice is light, nimble, and constantly feels three steps ahead of your ears. It glows with enthusiasm rather than showing off.
[7]
David Sheffieck: I was won over before Lafourcade even started singing: whoever engineered this song captured a perfect sound from Los Macorinos, clean and bright but with plenty of reverb and atmosphere. You could be in the room with them, and with Lafourcade once she comes in. She takes charge but plays off the production perfectly — at some points, the song becomes a conversation between her voice and the guitars. The backing vocals are maybe one flourish too many, but the crowd applauding at the end is perfectly on the nose.
[7]
Ramzi Awn: The guitars are expertly placed in the mix on “Tú Sí Sabes Quererme,” as are Natalia’s vocals. Her subtle delivery on the chorus makes for a quiet anthem and an entrancing story.
[7]
Ryo Miyauchi: It’s inspiring to see what time could do to a broken heart. Having previously retreated from the world in Hasta la Raíz, Natalia Lafourcade now actively searches for love, with Los Macorinos further opening up her world for others to join. She still wears her wounds, but through such expression of gratitude, she proves she’s no longer beholden to them.
[6]
Micha Cavaseno: A life without shame, even in the wake of knowing that one is put in positions most haphazard and confusing. The idea that you can entrust yourself to someone or something, knowing full well the damage that can be done in friction, knowing none of us truly find the perfect positions of comfort and that we eventually always get roughed up by wherever we nest ourselves. It’s rare you get to hear songs that truly convince you that maybe it’s worth it in the end.
[8]