Sometimes the most interesting musical collaborations are the ones that sound less like a carefully assembled project and more like a group of friends discovering what happens when they throw their collective musical histories into the same room. Los Tres Mortales certainly seem to belong in the latter category.
Bringing together Caroline Blind and CWHK of Sunshine Blind with Troy Payne of The Wake, the transatlantic trio deal in a particularly dark strain of goth-rock, one where weight, swagger and a slightly disreputable sense of fun sit comfortably alongside the shadows.
“Bourbon”, their debut single, wastes little time establishing the territory. Built around CWHK’s muscular guitars and hard-hitting rhythms, it has a suitably smoky, late-night feel, while the contrasting voices of Blind and Payne turn the song into something resembling a musical duel. Rather than simply sharing vocal duties, they inhabit opposing sides of the same story, trading perspectives with a tension that gives the track its bite. A lead guitar break from Rich W. of The Wake adds another layer of gothic drama.
The accompanying video follows suit, taking its cues from the song’s boozy premise and heading into dimly lit bars, motel rooms, mysterious characters and flickering flames. It all feels appropriately cinematic without losing the rawness at the heart of the music.
There is already more material in the pipeline, much of it built around that male/female vocal interplay, although Los Tres Mortales appear content to let the project evolve naturally.
“Bourbon” is therefore less a statement of intent than an invitation into their world – dark, dangerous, melodic and just the right side of trouble.
