Alynda Segarra’s last two albums looked outwards: The Navigator towards their Puerto Rico heritage, telling the story of immigrants living in a city, trying to find a place in a new world, while follow up Life on Earth sang of places and people under siege in a hostile world. Musically these albums ranged from innovative Latino inspired folk, to indie rock, to lo-fi electronica and spoken word. Here was an artist asking questions, searching, making exciting and original music that grew with every listen (like those rhododendron they sang about).

New album The Past is Still Alive is less conceptual, more inward looking, a narrative where the personal becomes political. Musically this harks back towards the simpler acoustic beginnings of this artist’s career.

Continue reading “Album Review: Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Past is Still Alive” →