Juana Molina Issue #37

Un Dia (Domino)

By Katy Henriksen
Published: September 1st, 2008 | 4:49pm

Type in “No Llama,” the seventh track on Juana Molina’s fourth Domino release Un Dia, into an online translator and the phrase “does not call” appears. Literally meaning either “no flame” or “no call,” the multifarious and playful nature of Molina’s sonic looping bricolage aptly apply to her deceptively simple song titles. After all, she first came to fame in her native Argentina as a comedic actress. Un Dia continues her trajectory into international pop stardom.

Musically, “No Llama” is one of the more subdued tracks on the album, starting out minimally with layered chamber pop guitar and echo-y vocals. Then, just before the two-minute mark, she begins a lulling rhythmic and sonic build that ebbs and flows to the finish, closing with dense vocal overlays, cymbal beats, and a mellow whistle.

Not to say that Un Dia is a complete departure from the abstract tranquility of Son; it’s just that here, the tranquility is on fast-forward. Textured syncopated beats take center stage, even over the vocals — which sometime play rhythm section alongside the electronic bleeps, bops, and claps. From the festive jungle-laden title track opener to the dark and clanky closer “Dar (Que Dificil),” rhythm rules.

From what could easily unravel into hyper-muddled chaos, Molina makes a dexterous sound experiment where every layer is tightly woven and not a note seems extraneous. Un Dia is not only her best record yet, it’s also an example of electro-folk at its finest. Endearing, intelligent, and brimming with an understated passion, Un Dia will not disappoint.

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