★★★★☆
When in 2015 Miss Universe’s host Steve Harvey mistakenly read Miss Colombia’s name as the winner — rather than the real winner, Miss Philippines — the civil war-ravaged country was united for a brief moment in hatred of Harvey. This forms the theme of Lido Pimienta’s album, a strange, dreamlike blend of traditional Latin American music, electronic pop and something else entirely.
Pimienta’s bright vibrato runs through it all, and although us non-Spanish speakers have no idea what she is on about, there’s a lot of emotion conveyed through the haunting, flute-laden Nada and the ancient chants of Pelo Cucu. This is an exciting new take on Latin music. (Anti-)