What happens when a Swedish guy gets inspired by a trip to Spain and records an English-language EP? You get Suncoast Harmonies Vol. 1 from Malmo’s one-man band Solo El Malo.
This EP is four uptempo tracks of Latin-inspired acoustic rock (or, as El Malo says, “Flamumba rock to the initiated”). The first few seconds of the opening track “Fall On My Knees” set it up well. El Malo starts with some dextrous, on-genre acoustic guitar runs, and brings in an energetic percussion track as things get moving. There’s a hooky chorus with sing-along backing vocals. The second set “When I Close My Eyes” is much the same with El Malo employing the same minor-key feel and percussion technique (sixteenth-note hand claps) as “Fall On My Knees.” “She Just Wants To Dance” starts with a less-busy backing track as El Malo explores a triplet feel. The song fills out nicely into the chorus with the handclaps featuring prominently again. The post-chorus guitar solo worked quite well. It’s nice to hear a snare sound (even if it’s a drum machine) on the final cut “You’ll Be Alright.” El Malo ends the four-song journey on an upbeat note. The backing tracks on Suncoast Harmonies Vol. 1 are well-executed, but the album missed a bit with its lyrics. The words are a bit trite: “When the road looks dark / Put your faith in yourself / You know you'll be alright”; “How will I go on without you / When the world has turned to grey / Show me how to live tomorrow / When I’m down on my knees today.” These are well, drab, and don’t seem to match the emotion and energy in the music. Vocally, it seems that El Malo reaches pretty hard to hit some of the higher notes on the choruses, and sometimes seems to struggle. Would these songs work better for him if he tuned down two steps? That aside, Suncoast Harmonies Vol. 1 is a fun set. Mix up some sangria, face the sunset and enjoy a spin.
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