Titanic is the project of cellist/vocalist/composer Mabe Fratti with multi-instrumentalist Héctor Tosta (aka I. la Católica), based in Mexico City. HAGEN is their second album, released a few weeks ago. Great album to check out on this fine Saturday morning!

On Hagen, the duo double down on their convictions, complementing their unusual arrangements with a newfound pop shimmer. Opener Lágrima del Sol sets the tone: sparse hand claps and shards of distorted guitar mark the rhythm for Fratti’s lilting nursery rhyme melody, then clattering drums burst through. When the song feels on the verge of falling apart, it suddenly takes on shades of 80s synth-pop, with Fratti singing softly over Phil Collins-worthy toms and twinkling keys. This kind of joyous surprise recurs throughout the record. Escarbo Dimensiones develops from a minimal arrangement of drums, bass and atonal vocals into soft funk that nods to Sade. La Dueña slips from distorted cello and cymbal washes into a dramatic synth ballad that channels Kate Bush’s yearning vocals; La Trampa Sale erupts from a trudging beat into an arena-sized, reverb-laden chorus.

Heard Gotera last week and never looked back

This is insane.

nice

shades of bjork...