LAS ESCARLATINAS: “A todo color” (siesta 200)

The show must go on. Definitely. It was elementary, my dear Watson, Siesta
bring cutsiness and cartoon bubblegum now and a new act: Las Escarlatinas.
Well, this quartet is a veritable pop super-group. They have been wisely
described as “a fresh good morning to pop”. These girls aren't so naïve
though, they cover psychologically deep topics paired with sincere
rebelliousness and overwhelming beauty. They represent the missing link
between Alizee and Gentle Waves, Jeannette and Girlfrendo, Bananarama and
Isobel Campbell, Chantal Goya and The Would-be-goods or The Marine Girls and
April March. Their affinity with The Smiths or St Etienne and their nods to
eighties pop, all shine through this record. Belén (Aka Bel Divioleta y
Ondina), Lúa, Almudena and Maria exhibit plenty of punchy sounds, youthful
and cute appearances, plenty of girliness in well-crafted indie pop. Just
what we longed to hear for so many years. Alberto Matesanz (Mate, Plastic
D'amour), Fernando Márquez El Zurdo (La Mode), Sergio López de Haro (Kiki
D'aki), Laura & Álvaro de Cárdenas, Antonio y Carmela (Navajos) were the
commissioned songwriters for their debut album. There are also terrific
Spanish cover versions of Belle and Sebastian (“Storytelling”), Hideki Kaji-
Pop-in bags and Neil & Iraza-Chocolat. “A todo color” is incredibly
inspired, fiercely original and catchy. These girls have developed their own
unique artistry. Like a summer breeze in June, Las Escarlatinas came and
conquered, totally out of the blue. Go pop!

This entire cd exemplifies that Spain is ready to offer the best pop now.
It's no secret. Infectious, melodic pop music is on a supreme new
beginning. Take your energetic pill and enjoy these chockfull of heavenly
vocal harmonies and unforgettable instant melodies.

You could imagine that this full length was thoroughly recorded in a Shibuya
beehive, or inside a gigantic soap bubble in Bristol, or maybe in the garden
of Eden. But not… it was wisely recorded in Madrid under the auspices and
production finesse of our inhouse producers Ramón Leal and Mateo Guiscafré,
who was inspired by an old seaside postcard of a quartet of mermaids to
create this project.

The lyrics are not completely what you might expect. Many of the songs
revolve around love in all it's forms (“Lloraré”), language of colours (“A
todo color”), true inconformism (”Sólo por ti”), The Beatles (“A beatle
song”), chronicles of swinging eighties in Madrid (“Red bar”, “Adiós al
pop”), romantic escapes and evasions (“Relax”, “Submarinos en 3D”, “Reloj
Violín”, “El diván”), Real Madrid “galactic team” (“Sueño merengue”)
messages of hope and cotidianity (“Tú y yo”, “La sombra del rosal”). The
lyrics are lovely and poetic in general, occasionally funny. This is
crafted pop, my friends, carefully wrapped in a delightful sugary coating.

The band favours pretty straightforward and simple melodies. The sound is
clear and pristine, a virtue that most bands could learn from. The playing
is somehow amateurish, but makes no effort to hide this and that is
absolutely most charming. True to their independent nature, “A todo color”
is full of atmosphere and fairly accessible music that should turn on the
radio. Fifteen tracks in total that may satisfy your appetite of
Eurogirlpop.

Listen for youself and you'll understand how this album is impossible to
define through words. Get into the coloured world of Las Escarlatinas, you
won't be disappointed.