MULA

Although the second album from Bogota-based band Mula came out originally in 2017, it was reissued in 2021 by French label Dur et Doux which is why it has now come to my attention. This is a wonderfully distorted chaotic mess of RIO and free jazz, all coming together in a mess of sound which is wonderfully dynamic and full of contrast. That they have been thrown into a studio and been told to go mad is never in doubt, that they have been thrown into the same studio is more up for debate. They are killing their instruments (electric bass, tenor sax, alto and baritone the clarinet, guitar, drums and keyboards), doing far more than just sitting sedately and providing wonderful harmonies but instead are turning them against each other to create discord and "music" which can be used as a weapon.

There is a freedom of expression here which is a million miles removed from the plasticity of so much artificially created "muzak", as here we have people who are putting their very souls into this, placing their emotions out for all to hear and leaving nothing hidden. This is not a thing of beauty, but an expression of harsh environments and realities, showing the world as a place of hatred and struggle and not what we all wish it was. This is music which has lost all hope, and is a stand against the establishment, as underground as it can possibly be, like a resistance movement.

For those of us who are happy to work at our music and to get inside artists' heads to gain some sort of understanding then this is an absolute pleasure, as there is a dark thread within this which needs to be pulled and enlightenment gained. This is RIO, and it is not meant to be pretty, but instead it reflects the darkness inside us all and in that manner, this is a real success. Harsh and uncompromising, this is the real deal.

Look at the sleeve pic, that notifies us of their violent soundscape like this strangled cat. A Colombian act MULA have signed an official contract with a French label Dur et Doux with their second full-length album entitled "Resiliente" which has quite a resilient sound impression like the title. They are characterized by incredibly noisy avantgarde jazz filled with deep heavy tone, and upon this album "Resiliente" we can feel their vital creativity and productivity. Yes, as if they had expected such a tough current situation, they declare that all of us should live our lives full of vivacity in this creation. Their creation is flooded with fuzzy, dissonant guitar allegation, complex but tight rhythmic establishment, and quirky saxophone fireworks, and massive electronic disconcertment, from the beginning until the end ...

The first shot "Hija" has such excessive violent elements. Heavy guitar fuzz, exaggerated rhythmic bases, irregular melodic shower, and improvisational saxophone explosion, all are eccentric but comfortable for the audience. Their crazy plays drive us mad obviously. In the latter part such a chaos is discharged via the mixed combination of all self- assertive instruments. What a sound dinosaur. The following "Siete" is drastic but slightly dramatic based upon simple poisonous phrases. This texture would lean towards experimental / post metal I imagine. Just like a beautiful death after the last dinner. Supra-complicated melodic dissection can be heard through "Sonambulo", followed by "Ataraxia" featuring catastrophic instrumental blows overall. In "Petricor" flamenco-ish guitar repetitions are tasty, and the last noisy biohazard should be terrific. "Mondo Bardian" sounds like blending with an ambience from another dimension and fantastic echoic departure to the inferno named "Vagido" such a powerful distortion.

Generally this opus is drenched in energetic resilience and vitality. Slightly too brutal for some avantgarde fans to digest out, but worth getting absorbed at least once.