Contracorriente

Contracorriente, the third album from El Balcón, is alive with the unique vibrancy and musical playfulness of son jarocho, traditional music from Veracruz in Mexico, as well as influences from the Balkans and Greece. Bringing in unique rearrangements and reinterpretations from the roots of these traditional sounds, the record is at once both familiar and fresh.

Based out of Montréal, El Balcón came together in 2018 through their shared passion to represent cultural diversity and the beauty of community. And they have succeeded. In Contracorriente, the vocals of Valeria de Marre and Charles Cantin – who also plays the jarana(jarocha guitar) – passionately play off each other but always give one another space. Also featuring guitar, violin, cajón and double bass, the musicians seem to relax into the communal spotlight throughout. The result is a sound that blends all their influences into asymmetrical rhythms and piquant melodies. The album's standout track ‘Candela’ is a teleporter to a mythical time when the townsfolk got together and shared story through song. And this spirit of community and easy flair for good musical storytelling comes across throughout the record. Uncompromising and unique, Contracorriente will appeal to both progressive and traditional world music ears.