Satisfying rock experiments making one want to flip a
cartwheel are captured on this new album by Pega Monstro. ‘Alfarroba’ is comprised of ten dizzying
songs displaying stellar reaches of what a core set up made up with drums,
guitar and keyboard can truly achieve.
Sisters Julia Reis and Maria Reis are the pair behind Pega Monstro. The name translates to ‘catch the monster’
but is also linked to a jelly shaped toy hand attached to a string that kids
throw at each other in the band’s home of Lisbon, Portugal. The sisters began playing music together when
they were 15 and 17 respectively although they started out in other bands
before making the move to write and perform together. In 2010 Julia and Maria launched Cafetra
Records, their own label with a focus on celebrating Portugal’s garage punk
scene. Pega Monstro’s momentum grew
after self-releasing their first EP ‘O Juno-60 Nunca Teve Fita’, which was
followed by their debut album in 2012 - and as if the band needed any further assurance
things were going in the right direction B Fachada, a prominent figure in
Portuguese music produced their work.
And here we are, with the latest offering and second full
length release from Pega Monstro ‘Alfarroba’ (Upset The Rhythm). ‘Alfarroba’ references a sugary flavoured
bean called ‘carob’ which can be found growing on wild trees that sprout up
randomly along the Mediterranean coast.
The songs deal with love, growing up as well as reflecting on the
process of writing songs and describing things from a woman’s viewpoint. Maria’s guitar eddies and chugs through my
song of the summer ‘Branca’, I don’t speak a word of Portuguese but now am
singing “shoe, sha, shee” compulsively and some might argue incessantly – it’s
so bloody catchy. Bursting in fun with its
dreamy melody and overdriven approach, ‘Branca’ aptly shows how unswerving and
sensational this album is. The
interesting thing about Pega Monstro is it seems as though they draw from a
frame of mind as opposed to sifting through their record collections for
ideas. What we’re given is something
that purely represents them in the process, ‘Alfarroba’ isn’t trying to fit in
anywhere rather it embraces sounds that come naturally, and for that reason it
stands boldly amongst many bands using guitar, drums and keyboards. ‘Estrada’ blasts bright hooks, angelic
vocals, Julia's hyper drums and curiously plummets into metal groves which further
unravel into psych inspired breakdowns; revealing the diverse elements
incorporated into the album. ‘Alfarroba’
has a softer side too ‘Fado d’A’gua Fria’ has a soothing sort of lullaby
quality that envelops folk into a mesmeric moment on Side B. Have you had enough of the gushing yet? I really tried to rein it in here, but it all
just came pouring out. Pega Monstro does
something vivid and exuberant in their song-writing and this just spills over
to those who encounter it. Truly an
exciting new band worthy of your time – you have a chance to see them this
Saturday too (15th August) at The Vicotria in Dalston BUY TICKETS HERE!
