Somewhere in the land of childhood dreams, raw points of view and artistic passion you will find Baby Scream and the mastermind behind the vision, Juan Pablo Mazzola. The band consists of Juan Pablo Mazzola (guitar, vocals), Raúl Marcos (bass), Claudio Salas (drums) and Hernán Pascual (lead guitar).
In their newest of eight albums. Secret Place, released in August of 2011, Baby Scream was given the opportunity to record in Estudio Urbano after being accepted for an 80 hour recording session by the Opción Música of the City of Buenos Aires. The band had two weeks to head to the studio and create an album. And what an album it is.
Ever the multi-instrumentalist, Mazzola concocts his songs from dreams and the ravages of stone cold reality. As lead musician and composer, he is well versed and his songs range anywhere from a John Lennon sound in “Hit and Run” to a completely strange punkish nightmarish “Eating My Face” in which the artist describes his face being served to him in a restaurant. After listening to the album nonstop for days, I find that while some of the songs grab you right away, others become more of a gradual experience that you never want to end.
“Hit and Run” is very Lennon like and the appreciation Mazzola has for the artist blooms from every note of this song. It is very 60’s and has a flowing melodic quality that engages the listener at the first shot. Drums cascade into a collage of sharp guitar sounds that made me close my eyes and smile. The finest thing about Baby Scream is their ability to weave passion into every one of their songs. This one is a ballad with Mazzola singing “love is you and you’re my world”. This is one of my favorite songs on the album.
“Secret Place” is a glimpse into the desperation of today’s reality. Feeling lost in the day to day and endlessly searching for the right person to share your life with can feel pretty lonely. Mazzola captures the feeling as the song erupts into an upbeat guitar and keyboard rock out, spiraling into a steady drum beat that paces the piece well. The rhythm guitar and lead are completely cohesive and create a strange utopic vision of butterflies and rainy thoughtful moods. The vocals are very mild and almost country and acoustic when you compare them to some of the other songs on the album. Interspersed within the piece are jewels of guitar riffs and glowing chords that bring this song to life. A quirky blend of frustration with the everyday, the hopeful upbeat lyrics and superb musical composition make this a worthy title track to the album and a joy to the ears.
“The Atmosphere” is moody and reflective. With a paced guitar beginning that leads you into sweetly pensive lyrics, this song is one you will not forget. The violin arrangements add another level to this thoughtful piece. Cinematic sounds of wind accompany unique riffs and rubbing sounds on the guitar that blend with delicate percussion skittering across drums like little mice feet.
Baby Scream is a unique band that captures elements of punk, country, alternative rock and even Lennon’s brand of 60’s splendor and is able to spin it into instantly classic sound. This international band is one of those rare breeds of musical talent that can make even the weirdest song like “Eating My Face” into something you would want to listen to. The track “20th Century Baby” was written by the legendary Marc Bolan and was released as a demo after his passing. Baby Scream was able to record their version of the tune on this album. Juan Pablo Mazzola is the force behind the band and the wizard behind the masterful lyrics and composition. Secret Place is an articulate blend of childhood dreams, love, fear, reality and a uniquely classic sound that make this a sometimes unpredictable album, but one of uncompromising musical artistry.
Key Tracks-Hit and Run, Secret Place, Atmosphere
Dana Wright-Muzikreviews.com Staff
September 17, 2011
