And in this there is no shame. As a whole, the region had a good run.
The victims may be European but the perpetrators are...actually also the European people. But such is the general history of this continent: a land mass full of different cultures, languages, and ethnicities working against each other, time and time again. What began as good natured agreement between kingdoms has since fallen into a steady decline. Nationalists enclaves still fail to flame out. Case in point, Scotland may have launched a failed independence gambit; Catalans, however, maintain hope. Operation Iraqi Freedom has formally come to end. Still, Spain gloriously continues its own honorable battle for a rock. Eastern European threats, on the other hand are more credible. Fearing actual conquest, Lithuania has begun offering free counseling in the form of a printed guide on how best survive a foreign invasion
It was the European Central bank chief, Mario Draghi, who said, "Hope is not strategy." But how harmful can a leap of faith really be at this point?
After all, hope has functioned rather well for fans of Famifox and Nunex. With the close of 2014, it seemed the end of the road at been reached. An artist's work speaks for itself, and in this regard the title for "Final da Estrada 2014 (Original Edit)," left little room for ambiguity. A message was sent. At best no more A.N releases would be heard until 2015. The alternative, a worst case scenario, the pair would cease producing any new music. Neither prophecy, however, has fulfilled itself. In addition to a Christmas track credited to both Nunex and Famifox two new songs have already surfaced before February has even been given a chance to commence.
The first song, titled "Sentimento do Coração," was the first to appear. Credited as solo Nunex effort, what follows is standard fare in manner. Adhering to A.N's afro-house style, the tempo is maintained and a middling pace. The track has many moving parts - synth melody, drum/percussion polyrhythm, electric guitar/piano harmony - and longer beat phrasing. Clocking in at three-minutes, this song is primed to be a single. In addition to the radio-friendly length, "Sentimento do Coração," beares a typical pop structure, Introduction-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Bridge-Chorus. While the rhythm is held down by the kick/snare, neither the bass nor the percussion, however, is static. But, of course, it is the run - well layered and democratic - that is of most importance. Decidedly sterile, but admittedly very good.
Hope may not be a strategy, but it is certainly the title of the song below. Released as a collaborative Famifox and Nunex effort "Esperança," is mid-tempo afro-house number as well. Similar to "Sentimento do Coração," the rhythm is delineated by a hi-hat/kick. Still, the what follows is of a more batida, if not batuco, quality. The beat more percussive - woodblocks and shaker both provide syncopation - and while the structure is decidedly less conventional. Both tracks are equally as polished and "busy," but instead of taking a pop route, "Esperança," is organized Introduction-A-B-C-A with the head fading out as the outro. In addition to retaining the longer beat phrasing that is one of the duo's signature's a swathe of different sounds make a melodic appearance; even if the trumpet, flute, guitar do not play together until the final section. While opining in a better/worst scenario is largely unproductive, it is the author's view that the second of these song is superior.
Here's to retaining hope the pair continues releasing new music together.
- John Noggle
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