Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Driving through the desert has many rules, chiefly amongst them is making sure that the petrol never runs dry, that the music is always on, and that hitchhikers are never stopped for; and yet sometimes we will break those rules for the sheer thrill of adventure, for the appreciation of silence in a natural world, and for the company of stories that might come from that one soul to who the desert was more than a walk in the sun, it was torment of expression to which you find inspiration a willing benefactor.
The vibe of the desert is such that it can offer salvation and dangerous occupation in equal measure, its diversity is much more than wind torn landscapes and creatures of dark deception; for there is a truth of reveal that comes as we are confronted with our own understanding of existence…it’s not the journey from cultural A to B but the time spent in your own mind that makes it worthwhile.
Susan Santos’ sixth studio album captures the expression of the desert and narrates its pull on the human psyche, be wary of the hitchhiker, but don’t tar them all with the brush of fear, for even a desert can hold wonderous beauty.
It is in that thought that Sonora is to be seen as a countenance and stringent quality of song writing and performance, one that encompasses a range of styles from the Western to even Psychedelia, and with exceptional execution of the ideal from Juli El Lento on drums an David Salvador on bass, what is revealed is the depth self-reflection of the journey undertaken by us all when we search for meaning as the prospect of being alone for hundreds of hours and thousands of miles.
The creativity and imagery are boundless, gorgeously operated upon, and as tracks such as the openers Hot Rod Lady and Snakebite fill the air with anticipation, as Have Mercy and Call Me Tonight expand on loneliness across the forgotten depths of time, and the thrilling Voodoo Wheels soars and burns the rubber of the tires of experience, the Madrid based musician paints a picture of the hardships, and ultimately glory of traversing the world of barren filled hearts and coming out the other side, witnessing the sea at journey’s end, and knowing your soul is intact and fulfilled.
Sonora is a tremendous album, one of skill, blessed imagery, and a sound that carries you onwards to your goal.
Ian D. Hall