Las Formas del Agua

Blanca Altable, a Burgos-born violinist and composer, unveils her talent for conjuring vivid imagery on her second solo album, Las Formas del Agua, drawing inspiration from water’s transformative essence, which she describes as an ‘infinite muse.’ Rooted in her homeland tradition and classically trained, Altable deconstructs Castilian music and encapsulates other fiddle techniques, seamlessly transitioning between rhythmic and emotive styles to post-minimalism and the avant-garde.

With producer Samuel Peñas, Altable explores sonic possibilities by incorporating effects pedals, a loop station and vocals, alongside guest contributions on bass, percussion and keyboards. The outcome is a sort of electro-acoustic post-folk marked by improvisational development and an intuitive approach.

The opening track, ‘My Lion, Mamma Lion’, blends voice and percussion loops, infusing a danceable African flair. On ‘Drops’ she collaborates with rapper and poet Alex Hache, whose lyrics, describing a painting of the impressive Burgos Cathedral, assert art’s soul-elevating power. Elsewhere, ‘Under the Sea’ highlights coalescing melodic lines, whereas the first single, ‘Inbocacción’, resonates with Menhir’s ambient electronics. She ventures into neoclassical realms on ‘Dew’, while her outstanding second single, ‘Niño del Invierno’, a reflection on motherhood, incorporates layered melodies and vocals, which contribute to the remarkable, diverse texture of the album.