Las Palabras / Anand Wilder

Las Palabras is a fitting name for the latest project of multi-instrumentalist & songwriter Rafael Cohen – nine joyful snapshots about simple pleasures, sung entirely in his first language, Spanish. A child of Guatemalan Jews, Cohen lived in Mexico City until he was ten, when his family moved to Washington, D.C., and he got involved in the city’s hardcore and punk scenes. Over the years, his bands toured intensively and released records on classic independent labels like Dischord and Touch and Go, with Cohen eventually settling into his current role as songwriter and touring bassist with !!! (aka Chk Chk Chk), a group whose popularity as a global touring act recalls his naturally post-nationalistic outlook.

Taking its name from the Spanish phrase for “The Words,” the project arose out of Cohen’s desire to write songs in his native language, despite having only a fourth-grade level of proficiency – perfectly effective for talking to family, but a hurdle in taking on more adult topics. This creative limitation proves itself to an asset on Las Palabras debut, allowing Cohen to write simply and whimsically, in a way he’d feel too self-conscious to write in English. The charm and effectiveness of these songs lie in their ease and unfussiness -- tunes about afternoon cups of coffee (“Mi Café”) and basketball phenom John Wall (“Juan Pared”), a trip back to Mexico City ("Condesa") and a long line of messy bedrooms ("Cuartos").

Musically, Las Palabras evokes the records Cohen’s parents listened to while he was growing up: classic Caetano Veloso and Jorge Ben in their post-Tropicalia years, Mexican guitar standards, and the acoustic soul of Bill Withers. Filled out with lush basslines, resonant vocals, and intertwining guitars and keyboards, the songs are filled with texture and idiosyncrasy. A Philip Glass-like synth line (“Tarde”) feel just as organic as sonorous biblical recitations emanating from a psychedelic soundscapse (“Noche Buena”). While Cohen plays most of the instruments on the album, a handful of collaborators, including Harris Klahr (Q and not U, President), Gabriel Andruzzi (The Rapture), Molly Schnick (Outhud, Jean on Jean), and Nic Offer (!!!), provide backing on several tracks

Though the music is more stripped down and DIY than its Brazilian and soul influences, the overall feel is an evocative combination of reminisce and anachronism. In a way, Las Palabras could be taken as a Spanish-language version of the timeless yet contemporary songwriting of Will Oldham, Bill Callahan or Elliott Smith. Imagine if the golden age of South American signer-songwriters emerged in the era of the four-track…

Anand Wilder

(Of Yeasayer)

"Tonight, he’s debuting tracks from his upcoming album, *Psychic Lessons*, set for release in August 2025 on Last Gang Records. The new material explores themes of totalitarianism and societal control, wrapped in whimsical melodies. He’ll be joined by co-producers Jachary on acoustic guitar and Walter Fancourt on flute and synthesizers, with plenty of playful banter throughout the performance."

-ChatGPT

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