THE NATURAL by SWEET OBLIVION

Combining male and female voices has always had infallible results. There are June Carter and Johnny Cash, Nico and Reed, Sharon Robinson and Leonard Cohen ... Sweet Oblivion know it and play well this trick, among many others. So their third album, "The Natural", is indeed a true starting point in the path of the band from Getxo (Vizcaya). Led by Alfonso Arana (formerly of the legendary indie band Cancer Moon and front man of Cujo) and Ce (vocals and keyboards), both are also responsible for the song writing. The band takes its name from the sixth album by Screaming Trees, but goes beyond the country-rock label, from which they obviously also feed. Their new album contains perfect singles to welcome the spring, as the catchy 'You will miss me when I’m gone', combined with cutting and more fragile classicist arrangements, as the dialogue between piano and guitar on 'Holes'.

There are new elements in their sound than those on their previous two albums, "Wasted Lovesongs" (2007) and "Black Sheep Serenade" (2009). More noticeable, a brief departure from the melancholy shown before to focus on a more diverse pop-meets-rock that, while not completely avoiding the folk and American roots, feeds primarily on bright and pure melodies that underpin each tune. The band has already confessed on interviews his affection for timeless songs, those which really can be heard in ten years time without losing steam. And theirs are as such for sure. Classic, timeless structures and varied arrangements that still provide great results in music: guitar, vocals and keyboards backbone the songs that have an excellent magic wand: the production of JM Rosillo. "The Natural" is the perfect card for those who have not yet noticed the virtues of Sweet Oblivion. And this album confirms that, if their previous releases were good insights, with this one they have already attained certainty.

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