Club Furies Review | Under the sun and the beach and electric keyboards: Leon XIV presents La Paz on drecords

Published by

Erick Gasca

on

19 marzo, 2024

Leon XIV is the project of Ricardo Acosta, head of Fairmount Foxes, an exceptionally talented and unique creator. He skillfully incorporates a wide range of genres into his work, where each piece resonate with its own unique charm. The driving force behind his art is the power of euphoria, an intense feeling of happiness and excitement. His work is deeply influenced by memories from happier times, transporting viewers back to moments of pure joy. Every brushstroke tells a story, each canvas a testament to his ability to capture emotion and nostalgia in its rawest form.

His new release is labeled by drecords, the label for good new music, fresh beats, and curated events with good vibes. Based in Mexico, it seeks creativity and hidden talents within the Latin American scene to create a community that brings a new sense of integrity to our music. It is titled La Paz, and is made up of three original tracks – the homonymous, Vermella and Balandra.

In the words of the Mexican artist, who is currently living in Spain: “This particular release was born out of a unique, transformative period in my life. I was on a journey, not just physically but also spiritually, traveling through the stunning, awe-inspiring landscapes of the Baja Peninsula. This was no ordinary journey; it was a pilgrimage of sorts, a voyage of self-discovery and artistic exploration. As I traversed this rugged paradise, I was equipped with nothing more than my trusty computer and a MIDI keyboard, the tools of my trade”.

The first track, La Paz – which alludes to the famous beach of the Baja California peninsula -, is a combination of freshness, sea breeze, and electricity. These elements combine to shape a sonic structure that goes perfectly with the environmental correlates in which it was designed. And when everything progresses smoothly, the track veers to other sides, slightly darker and denser, as if wanting to assume itself in the night of that paradisiacal place. After all, why not go clubbing under the sun and the stars of the Mexican beach? An electric track, subtle and full of cables and machines in constant interaction.

In Leo XIV‘s words: “In this tranquil solitude, I found myself in a state of pure bliss and euphoria, a state of being that transcended the everyday and mundane. The majestic ocean, stretching out endlessly before me, served as an ever-present muse, a constant source of inspiration that pushed me to new creative peaks. The rhythm of the waves crashing against the shore, the salty tang of the ocean air, and the endless blues of the sea and sky, all seeped into my work, infusing it with a sense of place and time.

This is noted to perfection in the second track, Vermella. A candy of freshness, full of rhythmic drops, enviable sophistication, and subtlety, with a phenomenal handling of the machines at the artist’s disposal. He not only plays with them – one of the watchwords of the historicity of electronic music -, he experiments with them, combines them, masters them. The transitions run from the beach and the ocean touching it, amid bright suns, to the arrival of the night. With deep blues that are expressed in the sound with sparkling breaks the sound revitalizes the atmosphere and tinge it with infinite possibilities.

Ricardo Acosta continues: “The opportunity to make music in such an environment was not just an advantage; it was a genuine blessing, a gift that I cherished and made the most of. Each day was an invitation to create, to pour my soul into the music, to capture the essence of this extraordinary journey in sound. Thus, the music I composed during this time became a direct reflection of these sublime feelings. It mirrored the profound impact that this journey, this communing with nature, had on my creative process. It became a testament to this unique period in my life, an audible diary etched into the fabric of my music”.

This is evidenced by the nostalgic and dreamy character of the third track, Balandra, which rests in the present time, looking back on the past. With longing and delicacy, with security and sonorous mastery, it is a perfect closure, not only to a work but to a whole journey, both physical and spiritual. It also takes us to sensations, emotions, and feelings that move us throughout our existence. That is the strength, not only of this closing track but of the whole work.