SXSW Indie Spotlight: The Blancos
Neither inclined to cozy up to any single genre nor in a rush to describe their own style, New York City duo the Blancos would much rather let their music do the talking. But behind their bushy beards and bashful posture, the Blancos’ songs offer a rich palette of contrasting sounds that are simultaneously lush and gritty. Having honed their chops in private for over a decade before debuting their music, the willfully enigmatic duo (they are, thus far, reluctant to disclose their names) practice a repertoire that pairs a swaggering urban edge with a dreamily Spartan accompaniment, all punctuated by Blanco 1’s deeply soulful vocals. Reminiscent of Portishead’s alchemized fusion of troubled torch songs and hip-hop beats, the Blancos similarly fuse disparate musical elements into their mix, but cap it off with a contemporary Brooklyn sensibility that’s both organically hip and haunting. After a clutch of critically received teasers like “She Calls It Love” and “Lemon Garden,” the Blancos hint – in characteristically mysterious fashion – that a full-length debut album is imminent.
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