Though we’ve had some quality releases from acts like Young Miko, Jay Wheeler, Residente, Álvaro Díaz, Nathy Peluso, and RaiNao, I haven’t been able to get Reflexa, Venezuelan Singer Danny Ocean’s new album, out of my mind. I question whether it’s the vibes or the infectious melodies and production that are ever-changing beneath the sun while retaining a consistent edge to have its listeners grooving to the music nonstop that kept the hook in. Reflexa feels like an album for a hot spring and summer but without trying to replicate trending sounds without clutching at topicality. It’s an album, as he puts it on the final track “Involucrarnos,” was made as a thank you to fans, which in essence, is him creating a reflection of what made us gravitate towards his music more. It’s more pop and less focused on current Latin music genre trends, like reggaeton and dembow, making it more freshly inviting. From the moment it starts, I couldn’t help but feel the energy, whether from quality pop songs or delving into more club and house beats, showcasing variety; that is worth the price of 34 minutes of your time, even through the weak spots.
Reflexa opens on an assertive note with the club banger, “La Noche,” infusing you with elevating melodies and synths. The production doesn’t dip its toes too far into obscurity, keeping it smooth and consistent, without being overbearing. It may play it safe here and can deter some, but he redeems it with multiple pop bangers, like “Medio Friends” and “La Idea De Amarte.” After “La Noche, though, the knob gets dialed forward, and the lavish sounds start to emerge. From the island-like “Ley universal,” to the dancehall-infused “Cero condiciones,” and the piano ballad “Ferrari,” Danny Ocean doesn’t surprise, and that consistency then becomes heightened. It’s why we can hear a track like “Cero condiciones,” with its Dancehall-like drums but poppy synths, shift into this momentous house banger in “Si no no,” with its hypnotic percussion. Most of the production gets done by Ocean and past collaborators, like Dagold and Diego Raposa, with some highlights from Zulia, who produced “Otro Atardecer” by Bad Bunny. The concoction they bring keeps the energy flowing. “Tauro y Piscis” was a significant standout, with its delicate synth textures and direct drum groove–produced by GultyBeatz, a co-producer on “Move” by Beyonce.
Danny Ocean’s writing isn’t all that visionary when it comes to central subject, but that’s par for the course for many who have a centralized direction in this music-sphere, i.e., focus on love and relationships; however, what separates Ocean from the apropos reggaeton artist, is his bilingual singing, and looking the relationship angle through unique lenses. Ocean’s writing showcases clarity within its complex emotional connectivity; it’s more transparent when the feeling is more hurt or lost or expressing love and sadness. It adds dimensions, especially as he infuses many of these songs with a different pathos. He weaves different backdrops to display its themes, like how “Lo mejor en tu vida” is focused on trust, whereas “Cero Condiciones” focuses on the double standards in his relationships, creating depth that some artists would be more inclined to keep it more hollow over the beat. His music is fluid even when you hear a step back in quality with “Amor,” the vibes remain immaculate, even when it asks you to wind down with “Ferrari” and “Involuncarios,” with the former being a more stripped-down ballad, where Ocean’s voice shines.
Reflexa isn’t without its faults. As much as I can gush about what’s great, it has its lesser moments, like a mild opener that could have used a touch more or the stopgap that is “Ferrari.” Though “Ferrari” is fantastic, the way it comes into the fray doesn’t feel as natural, particularly when the elements of previous songs get elevated to a louder level. It humbles you, despite the energy that made you want to keep going. It feels more apt that “Involuncarios” is softer; it is the closing track, and it rewards you with a beautiful vocal performance and then a spoken word letter to the fans who have been there since 2016. It’s a testament to the kind of 1:1, non-parasocial relationship artists can have with their fans, where it’s his music speaking to them instead of some arbitrary reason. It makes the journey more of a worthwhile experience, even if it has some tepid moments or what I deem a slightly fast-paced album; however, when you don’t let it affect you mightily, cohesion brings you closer, as you feel his voice and the vibes immensely. I highly recommend this album, even if it isn’t all perfect.
Give it a spin. Trust me on this one.
Leave a comment