Originally a duo consisting of
Estrella del Sol Sanchez
and
Amor Amezcua
, Mexico City-based dream pop group
Mint Field
made their full-length debut with 2018's
Pasar de las Luces
, a remarkable record that artfully expressed the tumultuous emotions of one's young adult years. After making the album,
toured throughout North America and Europe, released an EP (
Mientras Esperas
), and shifted their lineup, losing
Amezcua
and gaining bassist
Sebastian Neyra
and drummer
Callum Brown
(
Ulrika Spacek
). Second album
Sentimiento Mundial
was recorded in London with producer
Syd Kemp
(also of
), and it finds the band stretching their sound in a few different directions, dialing down the shoegaze elements a bit and trying out new textures and ideas. From the wayward drift-folk of opener "Cuida Tus Pasos" and the ragged guitar crunch of "Natural," the album immediately seems rougher and rawer, perhaps transferring a bit more of their live energy to the studio. "Delicadeza" is a gentle, surf-tinged swirl, and "Contingencia" picks up on the Motorik thread of the first album's
Neu!
homage "Quiero Otono de Nuevo," but spiked with a greater sense of punk urgency. A few songs like "Aterrizar" and "Sentimiento Mundial" seem to meander at first, but they'll gradually reveal a sly hook, or a scorching guitar lead will forcefully take charge. The greater sense of contrast makes the album feel a bit more uneven than its predecessor, but it lands on some inspired moments, such as the gorgeous "Nadie Te Esta Persiguiendo," and the group's commitment to exploring new territory keeps their music fresh and vivid. ~ Paul Simpson