America doesn't have a lock on all the off-kilter singer/songwriters. Take a listen to the very individual Argentine
Juana Molina
. On her second album, she explores
electronic
and acoustic textures, treading through them like rooms in an empty house while inspecting details and corners. She's equally comfortable with detuned synths (as on
"Medlong"
) or acoustic guitar (
"El Zorzal"
), but whatever she uses, her music keeps taking the path less traveled. Her unusual, minimal touches transport lovely melodies into different dimensions.
Molina
is like a
Latin
Lisa Germano
: both make small, intimate albums and think outside the box. But originality should be treasured, especially when it's wrapped in glistening little melodies.
can have an almost childlike simplicity at times in the way her voice glides between the blips and bloops, although her sensuality comes to the surface in other moments. She utilizes minimal arrangements and the production might sound more like work from home than the big recording studio, but this naivete suits the songs. There's an irresistible charm about both this disc and
's approach. Even if you don't speak Spanish, you'll still be smiling. ~ Chris Nickson