I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: BOMBA ESTERO-Tiny Desk Concert #652 (September 22, 2017).

Band leaders Simon Mejia (bass/keys) and Liliana (Li) Saumet (lead vocals) have been consistent in their devotion and homage to Afro-Colombian music throughout their five albums, and steadfast in their fantastic mash-up of electronic music, creating a sonic signature that has become popular around the globe.

But you won’t hear that on this video.

What you’ll hear is the power of their songwriting and arranging with this stripped-down presentation— which helps remind us of why we fell for this band in the first place.

“So Yo” opens with some flute and cool synths.  I like the almost menacing quality those two notes have, Li raps in what seems a very fast delivery and then the chorus comes in and she sings with a beautiful voice.  The song is groovy with some cool guitar from Jose Castillo.  I like the way it reverts back and forth between rapping and singing and the constant presence of the flute from Efrain Cuadrado.  There’s a cool mix of defiance and dance in this song.

Before the second song “Somo Dos” she pushes a button on a device that says “come on people.”

During their performance, Bomba Estereo’s Simon Mejia (bass and keyboards) observed that it was the quietist the band has ever played; they rose to the occasion with an intense performance that reflects their earliest days working smaller venues in Colombia.

He says, “we’re like always boom boom boom.”

“Somos Dos” is an even groovier song with some nice low bass and gentle singing with some echoed guitars.  I really like the main riff and the picked riff in the verses.  Through both songs, the live drums from Andres Zea really bring an exciting element to these songs.

They only play the two songs and then it’s over far too quickly.

[READ: June 24, 2016] Amulet: The Cloud Searchers

As book three opens, we see the two Elves, Luger and Trellis.  But Trellis seems to have changed.  He is now angry with Luger who was once powerful and has been brought low.  And he is willing to stand up to his father–whether that makes him good now or not is something to be seen.

Meanwhile the father has called Gabilan, the assassin, and has sent him to kill his son, Prince Trellis.  And it seems that he has his sights set higher.

On to our heroes.  They are heading to a small town called Nautilus, the capital of Alledia.  For they are in search of an Airship.  Their ultimate goal is the (possible fictional) city of Cielis.    When they get to the bar where the pilots hang out (much to Emily’s mother’s dismay), they talk to a cat creature, Enzo, who has been looking for Cielis all of his life but has recently given up–he lost everything.  But they show him Emily’s stone and the journal of Silas Charnon who got very close to finding the city.  And Enzo’s search continues.

But before they can finalize plans, some guards burst in.  But they are not looking for Emily and family, they are looking for Trellis and Luger who are hiding in the back of the bar .  Trellis says that the king is not his father–his father is dead and that man is an imposter.

As they watch this and Emily hears what Trellis is saying, she realizes she must help him.  And she jumps into the fray.

Having rescued the doomed Elves, they all–elves, Emily’s family, robots and cats head out in the ship to find Cielis.

But the journey is fraught.  They are attacked by wyverns (fearsome creature). They fly with Sky Eels (fearsome but docile) and even encounter funnel clouds, (Niven proves himself in this scene).  Despite the distrust between Emily and Trellis, they do manage to help each other in this flight.

After a lot the troubles, they make their way to a floating island.  It might be Cielis, but it looks abandoned.   While Emily and the scouting party go investigate, the assassin (who has been following them all this time) boards the ship.  And when he climbs aboard the island, a huge battle ensues.

When it ends, new people appear and they have news about where they are.