Arts & Crafts
A Mexican Broken Social Scene. That’s what it boils down to with an emphasis on the latter. If not told you’d never know that Chikita Violenta is a foursome from Mexico City. They’re on Canadian indie label Arts & Crafts produced by Canadian indie producer Dave Newfeld. Heck the record even features Canadian indie guests from Wintersleep The Most Republic and BSS itself. The resulting sound is — unsurprisingly — entirely familiar shamelessly wearing the influences of a genre that is slowly settling into cliché. If anything Chikita Violenta’s just a bit messier which is a good thing.
From start to finish every cymbal crash on Tre3s sounds like a shattered window. The melodies are instantly accessible and toe-tappingly cool. The cheers chants and handclaps are celebratory and the wall of thunderous drums and thick fuzzy guitars keeps it all ticking along like clockwork. As per usual the production is crisp and the band is impossibly tight. It may just as well be a sequel to Forgiveness Rock Record. Essentially more of the same even Luis Arce’s breathy whisper perfectly echoes Kevin Drew particularly on “ATPG” “Supercycle” and “All I Need’s a Little More.” It’s the rare occasion of knowing exactly what to expect from a band you’ve never heard. The only surprise is how competently and comfortably it sits with its peers.