SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LOS RETROS – ODISEA

LOS RETROS
ODISEA
STONES THROW RECORDS

Summer waits for no one. People out and about on the beach soaking up the sun, playing volleyball, or having a picnic. Summer also means the city comes alive. For 26-year-old Oxnard, CA-based artist Mauricio Tapia, the brain child of Los Retros, has released his debut album Odisea. Los Retros was 18 when he recorded “Someone To Spend Time With” using a hand-me-down guitar. The record draws inspiration from 1980s Japanese City Pop and charts new growth and purpose as an artist.

Leading up is the funky titular track “Odisea.” Oozing in seductive charm and swag as the track transports you back to a nostalgic time of racing arcade games as you feel the groovy bass lines accompanied by the tickling piano keys for a winning good time.

From winning arcade games to a night in the city vibe is “The World.” This fittingly, contemplative apt track is backed by Los Retros’ karaoke vocals with retro pianos, drum and bass production hammers home on one’s place in a fast-paced world.

Segueing from an identity crisis to a romantic ballad is the seven-minute track “Doves (Feat. Hikari).” It features minimal instrumentation of bass and drums putting Los Retros and Hikari’s soft vocals at the forefront.

Transitioning from a slow dance to an upbeat track is “Sobre Las Ruinas,” which translates to ‘Over the ruins’ in Spanish. The two-minute track will make you cheery and happy-go-lucky with a healthy balance of fast-paced bass lines and percussive instrumentation to keep the vibe alive.

Vibes are all right in “Joven Pobre y Sabio,” which translates to ‘Poor but wise young man’ in Spanish. The jazzy interludes carry the vibes with a wonderful cacophony of retro jazz fusion and city pop. It echoes the score of a ‘90s animated show Hey Arnold.

“爆ぜるもの (Feat. HITOMITOI)” is the final track. It translates to ‘Something that explodes’ in Japanese. It features a mixture of city pop and jazz interludes backed by Los Retros’ and HITOMITOI’s vocals that sets the romantic vibes to an 11 in a neon-soaked backdrop.

Los Retros’ Odisea is an incredible debut record using Japanese City Pop as an inspiration with an amalgamation of Jazz and R&B fusion that hits you from front to back depending on the mood you’re going for.

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