I’ll admit – I have heard pretty much anything by now. There’s not a lot of music out there that’s capable of surprising me positively. Yet, ‘Asteartea’ manages to open new artistic horizons, a space that’s inherently spiritual and cathartic, while being instrumentally bold and eclectic. Rooted in modern jazz and Basque and Iberic folk, the album emerges from the enlightened mind of London-based songstress Bea Asurmendi.
Originally from the Basque Country, in Spain, Asurmendi has reached a point of no return; fluent in a multitude of sonic languages, she’s able to guide her ensemble towards unfiltered territories, be it percussion-driven folk material (the likes of opener ‘OTSEMEAK’) or more conventional fusion pieces, such as ‘OIZYS’. From there on, ‘Asteartea’ offers a wealth of luscious piano melodies and quirky grooves, perfectly balanced by Asurmendi’s malleable, precise tone, a joy to listen to.
Let’s take a step back from the record’s aural livery, as it should be noted that there’s a rather powerful ethos behind its lyricism too. Inspired by a transformative experience in a women’s circle, ‘Asteartea’ explores “grief, self-forgiveness, self-love, women’s empowerment, and mental health awareness”, all delivered with charming multi-lingual flair. A clearly boundary-pushing effort, the album deserves to be enjoyed on its own time, slowly absorbing every bit of cathartic energy exhuded by the Spanish songstress. Of course, it might also not be for everyone. Listeners should strive for boldness and introspection, all qualities present in ‘Asteartea’.
Recommended! Discover ‘Asteartea’ (meaning ‘Tuesday’ in Basque) on Spotify:
