Marlov Barrios - Manjar Profano (2023)

Venturing into new creative territory, Guatemalan artist Marlov Barrios, renowned for his achievements in contemporary painting, installation, and sculpture, unveils a captivating sonic landscape in "Manjar Profano." This third release is a culmination of the artist's collaboration with a diverse array of talents. Alongside Identidata label founder Casta (a.k.a. Andres Castaño), who played a pivotal role throughout the process, Ishto Juevez and Dj Fla.KO lend their artistic prowess to co-produce this captivating album.

"Manjar Profano'' defies genre conventions and boldly paints a vivid portrait of Guatemalan modern contemporary culture, weaving together elements of radio broadcasts, boleros, hip-hop, poetry, field recordings, and sounds from both urban and rural contexts. Marlov Barrios evocative vocals take center stage, showcasing his poetic brilliance through the lyrical side of the LP.

The album's development spanned over two years, with creative sessions held between studios in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala City, and Antigua. To further enhance Marlov Barrios visual artistry, Jimena Pons Gandinni, the artist behind Identidata's previous references, skillfully crafts an aesthetic mesh that intertwines with the visuals present throughout the vinyl. Rounding up the material and artistic collaborations is Clara de Tezanos, one of Guatemala’s main photographer, who did his portrait for the poetry booklet.

To finalize the album final touches were worked with the expert mixing of Francisco Wild at La Finca Studios in Lake Atitlán and mastering by Pina from Lapsus Records in Barcelona. Overall, "Manjar Profano" is a masterful amalgamation of artistic expressions, presenting a unique sonic journey that resonates deeply through a cinematic feeling.