Music is very often a response or reaction to the world around it and it is quite telling to note that more and more music that appears in my review pile has something to say about the world around it. It is nothing new, rock’n’roll, hip-hop, punk, rave and grunge where all in their way a response of dissatisfaction to the world in which they found themselves, a message for change or at least non-co-operation. And in a way Ignacio Pena comes from a similar place, and as the name of his forthcoming album Songs For The Fall of an Empire suggests, he may not be so much rebelling against it but he is at least documenting our times and creating its soundtrack.
The song builds through the albums intro piece, With Usura, an evocative choral piece that wouldn’t seem out of place on a Karl Jenkins album before bursting forth into full, widescreen song mode. Music embracing such ideals, dealing with such narratives and story arcs is often found in the hands of metallers or progressive rockers, resulting all too often in something unlistenable or too full of its own importance. The Same Replies is neither of those things, instead, it is articulate and intelligent alt-rock music and there is a succinctness and accessibility which implies that the album it comes from is probably less a concept album in the old-school sense but rather an album of concepts. A subtle but telling difference.
And if you are going to build a musical record of these ever darkening, ever more chaotic and increasingly politically entrenched times, then this is exactly how it should sound, a mix of accessibility and mystique, energy and intrigue, a slight dystopian air and a sonic density which reflects the world around it.
As a first dipping of my toes into Pena’s music, I find it easy to imagine that he will be an artist I will be spending more and more time getting to know. Great music is reason enough to love what he does, but that coupled with a depth and poignancy really is the icing on the cake.
[…] once more. And whilst the likes of Idles do it with and iron fist, The Judex rabble-rouse and Ignacio Pena uses articulate rock, Nine Beats Collective have subtler but no less poignant musical weapons to […]
[…] The Same Replies was my first venture into the musical world of Ignacio Peña, a song which opened his latest album, Songs For The Fall of an Empire, via swathes of neo-classical vocals and ancient grandeur before getting down to alt-rock business. It introduced me to his wonderful brand of music, music which blends the keen lyrical poignancy and musical deftness that you normally associate with the more progressive wing of the rock fraternity with a musical directness which swerves the usual bombast and flamboyancy which comes as part of that package. Sound The Alarm takes an even more direct line, this time looking at the sources of world power and delivering its findings in a punchy, dynamic and deft rock statement. […]
[…] secretive powers behind the throne. But what is so refreshing about Fall Apart in particular and Ignacio Pena’s work in general is that he isn’t trying to tell us about hidden figures who have been pulling […]
[…] The Same Replies was my first venture into the musical world of Ignacio Peña, a song which opened his latest album, Songs For The Fall of an Empire, via swathes of neo-classical vocals and ancient grandeur before getting down to alt-rock business. It introduced me to his wonderful brand of music, music which blends the keen lyrical poignancy and musical deftness that you normally associate with the more progressive wing of the rock fraternity with a musical directness which swerves the usual bombast and flamboyancy which comes as part of that package. Sound The Alarm takes an even more direct line, this time looking at the sources of world power and delivering its findings in a punchy, dynamic and deft rock statement. […]