Review: Eljuri’s “Fuerte”

By Joe Ross
Eljuri is Cecilia Villar Eljuri, an Ecuadorian singer-songwriter and guitarist who now makes her home in New York. Her world-beat music conveys great strength on her sophomore album Fuerte. It’s been several years since she released En Paz (In Peace) to both U.S. and Mexican audiences. The force of her universal truths and global rhythms brought her much acclaim, and she spent three years touring Mexico as a power trio with Alex Alexander (drums) and Keith Golden (bass).

Beside her intensity and many tones on the broad aural palette, we hear the electrifying pop appeal of her melodies and lyrics. She continues to call for an optimistic future for all, united by peace and enlightenment. While bilingual, Eljuri sings primarily in her native Spanish, but we also hear some English in “Victima,” a rocking song about coming to grips with one’s troubles and reality. Like her debut album in 2008, I hope that her future albums will also provide English translations or at least a few liner notes about the meaning of each song.

Eljuri is the daughter of radio/TV/theater pioneer Paco Villar and composer/pianist Olga Eljuri de Villar. Both were inspirational to her during her formative years, but now Eljuri’s signature sound is driven by strong rhythms and crisp guitar work that keep your attention on a visceral level without detracting from her tender vocalizing.

Produced by Gustavo Borner, “Fuerte” emphasizes the need for human freedom. Besides her touring partners of Alexander and Golden, other instrumental and vocal support comes from Mario Muñoz (two tracks), Sergio Acosta Leon (two tracks), both from Colombia’s famed rock group Doctor Krápula. A cast of others are featured on the highly-arranged opener entitled “Empuja (Push)” (with Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Dougie Bryan, Ansel Collins, Robbie Lyn, Sticky Thompson and Skully Simms). Following that song is Eljuri’s first single “Un Fosfóro,” and there’s a rocking video of that song on You Tube, produced and animated by Z Collective.

Eljuri’s music continues to build bridges between both genres and cultures. She embraces rock music, but she also presents a softer silky side with a song like “Amame.” I’d like to hear even more of her more mellow, acoustic side in the future. “Fuerte” closes with a bonus track of “Paloma,” a remix of her song by Mexico’s celebrated electronica group called Kinky.

A few tracks earlier, we heard her present the same song in a different musical setting emphasizing her solid guitar riffs, danceable melody and expressive lyrics. Like her 2008 album, “Fuerte” accentuates up-tempo grooves, highlights her band’s expert musicality, and underscores her important socially-conscious messages of moral urgency and conviction.