Mabe Fratti, cellist from Guatemala, now based in Mexico City, likes to confuse people and genres. This prolific young woman offers us her third solo offering in two years. Not to mention her participation in numerous experimental Mexican groups such as Amor Muere, Belafonte Sensacional, and Titanic, with fellow musician and spouse Hector Tosta.
Sentir que no Sabes may seem, at first glance, to be a more accessible, pop album. Kravitz, the first track, starts with a rock rhythm, perhaps in homage to Lenny Kravitz, until dissonant trumpets with strange intervals remind us that we’re still in the “Frattian” universe. Patalla Azul sounds even more pop, with lovely guitar arpeggios. Then we return to the Avant-garde with Elastica II, with an electronically processed cello sound reminiscent of Laurie Anderson’s violin or John Cale’s viola. Sometimes she taps her cello, sometimes she caresses it; her relationship with her favorite instrument is intense.
With her high-pitched voice, she creates a very special universe, with surrealistic lyrics in Spanish. Her music contains no traditional Latin American roots. Instead, she works to create an experimental Latin pop sound.
At 35, Mabe Fratti is just beginning her career. What kind of music will the Guatemalan-Mexican artist be making in five years’ time?
