Rauw Alejandro Finds His Own Place In The Pop Cosmos On ‘Saturno
Rao Alejandro is known for taking off in unexpected directions. Known for his fast-paced, gravity-defying choreography, the Puerto Rican star works his way through an incredible mix of musical genres. Risk, the wild rapper on his two-part EP Trap Cake , sings old-school reggaeton about Aphrodisiac . Last year's Vice Versa album was their biggest breakthrough, with the second year swinging between pop, drums and bass and Brazilian funk for mega-hit Todo De Ti, which was nominated for record and song of the year. of the Year at this year's Latin Grammy Awards. Such a success made his avid fans think about one thing.
It turns out the answer is another planet. His third album, Saturn , is a version of a difficult new world of space, built on silver lights, glamorous dance floors and the glitter of '80s and' 90s techno. This is not a completely unexplored area . The album fits into the bright post-pandemic pop euphoria and navigates the same universe as The Weeknd's Dawn FM and Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia . But Rao has found a place in space that is clearly his place, turning Saturn into an electric night haven that also plays reggaeton. Influenced by everything Puerto Rican, Rao added pop star dust to the rest of "Todo De Ti," transporting listeners into the realm of his imagination.
Saturn 's main strength is that it demonstrates Rao's ability to build the world. Small scenes and interludes such as "Roulette", composed of voice messages from Rau's friends who wonder where he has gone, form an elegant plot in which the artist gets lost in an unknown galaxy. The aesthetic identity of the album is filled with blue aliens, cyberpunk suits and beaded spaceships. Skilled in chromatic moods and colors in sequential concepts, she uses stunning imagery, intricate choreography and deep references to bring the stories to life. One of the best examples of this is "Punto 40", a revival of the Puerto Rican duo Baby Rasta Y Gringo from the 90s. Rauw has already brought in Baby Rasta for the segment, and has also brought in the track's original producer, legendary DJ Playero, who makes a guest appearance on Elsewhere on Saturn . The future of reggae is something that honors the history of music. It also shows how reggae and electronic genres spoke to each other decades ago. On the sinister and iconic Cazadores, Rau pays homage to rapper Archangel and his perreo galactic style, the Space Rageton of the 2000s.
The appeal of electronic sounds has only grown in recent years, with artists from Bad Bunny to Farruko expanding the possibilities of inspirational electronic dance music. Rao himself has used this tactic in the past, feeding 2020 debut track "Química" with a stunning house DJ set by the Martinez brothers and drum 'n' bass fireworks on the loud "Cuándo Fue?" I tried it last year. The Saturn is more elegant, it feels like a more refined version of what it's been pushing for for a while. Songs like "Dime Quien ???" And "No Me Sueltes" is kinetic, focused and confident in its pop direction. If one is worried about being too flashy for the scene he is in, Rao doesn't seem to care. Either way, Playero reported "Dejau," which is a brief reminder that such experiences often add to, rather than soften, what we hear in the genre.
Rao, who co-produced the album alongside regular collaborators such as Mr. Contains explosive techno breaks in "Mint Green". His penchant for self-identification is playful rather than repetitive and reflects previous versions and the sounds that surrounded him (the memorable "Corazon Despeinado" begins with the phrase "Chica, que dices?" He heard from his girlfriend, Rosalia, taken in. loan: "Saiko"). But if there is one part of the album that seems airless, it's the lyrics. Rauw has been playing the lottery coming here for a long time, it may be limited, as in "Que Rico Ch ** ngamos" the song works if you consider it sexually suggestive "2 / Catorce"; it seems like an extension of itself. For those who are full of concepts and ideas in the field of audiovisual media, there are many arguments to try.
"De Carolina", another Playero special, is much more dynamic, with lyrics that deviate from the usual and honor his homeland. It would be a good introduction to any alien creature ready to celebrate on Saturn. At home, the combination of emotional beats and heavy bass makes it interesting to wonder where Rao's vocal path might go in the future.