Valebol - Valebol (2024) Hi-Res

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Vivian MConnell is known for the luminous, vulnerable songs that she releases under the name V.V. Lightbody. Panamanian percussionist Daniel Villarreal, on the other hand, keeps himself busy as a member of Latin rock band Dos Santos and folk outfit Ida y Vuelta, not to mention his own solo work. Together, the pair has been writing and recording sophisticated art-pop as Valebol since 2016. This lovingly crafted debut—it's a few years in the making—operates on the principles of complete artistic freedom and unrushed inspiration. It takes only a few seconds for opening cut "Multivitaminas" to distill the duo's aesthetic: McConnell's languid vocals sigh and glide on honeyed synth lines, the beats nourished by a spectacular fusion of digital loops and live percussion. The melodies are flirty and relaxed, but the nine songs on this collection march forward with a sense of propulsion and self-assuredness that reflects the artists' status as darlings of the Chicago indie scene. Lead single "Netuchepa!" is an eccentric and hyperkinetic slice of glam with quirky bits of distortion and staccato cowbell grooves. With its dancefloor beat and an exotic melody that sounds like a flute solo, "Row Row Row" could very well be a forgotten ‘90s gem by British retro band Saint Etienne. On the dreamy "La Pulpa," the band explores minimalism with a persistent melodic spiral while McConnell sings the impressionist lyrics in delightfully broken Spanish. Valebol's soundscapes evokes a cosmopolitan chill, but there's nothing superficial about this remarkable first album—the songs' deep emotional connection lingers on.