feel like she pushes all my buttons
tell me about her
― dayo, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 11:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
that synth looks pretty heavy... you might get back problems later on in life!!
― dayo, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 11:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
this is like all i've listened to for the past 48 hours, so great
― salem witch bile (Tape Store), Wednesday, 13 October 2010 17:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
how did this album appear, fully formed, out of nowhere
it is a mystery
― dayo, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 23:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
Maybe you missed her first one. The new one's not really a surprise.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 00:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
This is a track from the first one. I love the video almost as much as I love the song itself.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 00:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
yes I did johnny fever. tell me more about her
― dayo, Thursday, 14 October 2010 00:54 (2 years ago) Permalink
also her last album came out in 2006
― dayo, Thursday, 14 October 2010 00:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't really know too much biography-wise, but I do know she embraces the '80s in a slightly different way than a lot of other aesthetically similar acts (Glass Candy, La Roux, etc). She fearlessly tackles the side of the '80s that's not really cool now. There's some stuff on the first album which could pass for not-quite-top-40 schmaltz from 1987, but the detail in the production and arrangements make it clear that it's absolutely no mistake what she was going for. "Al Siguiente Nivel" is definitely the most earwormy song on the first album (released in 2006 in Chile, then re-released in other regions in 2007, which is when I caught wind of it).
The new album lacks a real whopper single like "ASN," but I think overall it's a better execution of her ideas. The production, structure and whatever else just sounds fuller. Both are worth hearing, though. Also, a song called "Ausencia" that came out in between the albums. It's a slow-burn, synth thumper ballad with an edge.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 01:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
wow @ that video, it's gorgeous
I guess what strikes me right now about her songs is the admirable sense of restraint, every synth effect and patch seems specifically tailored to where it appears in the song, it's really quite remarkable how everything just...fits
― dayo, Thursday, 14 October 2010 01:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
awesome
― dayo, Thursday, 14 October 2010 01:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sorry for getting all James Murphy "I was there" earlier. I honestly thought she was more of a known commodity than she apparently is.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 01:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
hah np. this is the first ilm thread on her I think
― dayo, Thursday, 14 October 2010 01:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
The cover for the new album does weird things to my eyes:
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 01:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
I love the really prog synth sound in "Acá Entera". I think it's the same as "Touch and Go" by Emerson Lake & Powell.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 01:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
:( i can only find one of her songs from some random compilation. (i mean to purchase digitally. i don't use itunes.) guess i will have to go buy her albums irl!
― teledyldonix, Thursday, 14 October 2010 16:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sorry, I don't know where everyone on ILM lives, but if you're in the US or UK both albums are available for download on Amazon.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 16:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
this stuff is fantastic.
― adam, Saturday, 16 October 2010 19:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
crushin hard on the pic in the OP
― samosa gibreel, Saturday, 16 October 2010 20:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
The album will likely make my top ten.
TSJ loved it. My favorite song, which I did not expect, is the ballad "No Te Cuesta Nada," which has the same synth vibe as Will to Power's cover of "I'm Not in Love" (which should tell you something about her affinities).
― raging hetero lifechill (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 16 October 2010 20:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
"Sufrir" is perfect. Obsessing over this even more than I did "Al Siguiente Nivel."
― fffv, Tuesday, 19 October 2010 02:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
hah np. this is the first ilm thread on her I think― dayo, Wednesday, October 13, 2010 6:33 PM (5 days ago)
― dayo, Wednesday, October 13, 2010 6:33 PM (5 days ago)
there was a thread on her maybe on the sandbox? she's definitely well-loved on ILM iirc.
― i love you but i have chosen snarkness (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 19 October 2010 02:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
well I think she is good enough to warrant two threads!
xp yes, the little chopped up bit at the end of sufrir gets me every time
― dayo, Tuesday, 19 October 2010 02:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
man esquemas juveniles may be even better than mena!!
― dayo, Tuesday, 19 October 2010 13:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
so beautiful I want to melt
― dayo, Tuesday, 19 October 2010 13:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
love how batshit this gets in the final minute
― dayo, Tuesday, 19 October 2010 13:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
loving this
― just sayin, Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
Newer ilx thread:
latin american hipster shit
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 December 2010 16:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
she just got announced for Primavera. this pleases me.
― reallysmoothmusic (Jamie_ATP), Thursday, 3 March 2011 15:44 (2 years ago) Permalink
God, what I wouldn't give for a Javiera Mena U.S. tour.
― sockless in moccasins (jaymc), Sunday, 22 April 2012 08:46 (1 year ago) Permalink
yes! been on a Mena kick lately and found actual hard copies of her records and am loving them more the more i hear 'em
― epigram addict (outdoor_miner), Sunday, 22 April 2012 14:52 (1 year ago) Permalink