Matias Aguayo ‎– Ay Ay Ay

Matias Aguayo offers up another slab of his unique vision of house and techno with AY AY AY. Aguayo doesn’t fall into any easy categorizations: “Menta Latte” is all a cappella beatbox, and yet with a deepness and a fullness that you wouldn’t expect. An actual bass provides the deepness of "Ritmo Tres," though Aguayo's vocals percussion remains in full-effect. The "Rollerskate" manages to be funky and bizarre at the same time -- no mean feat. The vocals border on the meaninglss, but deep lyrical content isn't the focus here. As well, Aguayo isn’t the most accomplished vocalist -- his preferred mode seems to be bilingual talk-sing -- but his attention to the groove is undeniable. The wooden xylophone of "Desde Rusia" also shows his embrace of different textures and sounds (even if "Ritmo Juarez" sounds a bit more chaotic than necessary). "Koro Koro," for instance moves into Africa with a Ladysmith Black Mambazo feel, while "Ay Shit" goes into a dirty funk. The final track, "Juanita," has the suggestion of a melodeum floating into it, but it's the thump that really gets you going. A wonderfully off-kilter album.