Absolutamente

Though Fangoria's tenth album, Absolutamente, isn't a significant departure from their previous work, it's unique in a couple ways and another strong effort by the duo. No strangers to success, Alaska (vocals) and Nacho Canut (programming) made their album debut back in 1990 with Salto Mortal and released a new album every couple years, plus some compilations and numerous deluxe edition re-releases of their albums accompanied by bonus material. Fangoria's productivity helped build a devoted fan base not only in Spain but also overseas in Mexico and Argentina. Perhaps most impressively, the duo improved with age, whereas many of their contemporaries from the 1990s faded away. For example, the previous Fangoria album, El Extraño Viaje (2006), spawned three straight chart-topping smash hits with "Criticar por Criticar," "Ni Contigo ni Sin Tí," and "El Cementerio de Mis Sueños." Absolutamente more or less follows course with the duo's recent work, drawing from dance-pop, glam rock, and a bit of goth punk and cutting-edge techno to create a wide-ranging electro-pop style that is commercially viable yet at the same time creative and unique. Much of the album is dance-oriented, though there are some slower songs such as the melodic lead single, "Más Es Más," which is the equivalent of a ballad by Fangoria. The follow-up single, "La Pequeña Edad de Hielo," an uptempo song with disco strings and backup vocals, is more typical of the album. Absolutamente is inspired by Andy Warhol, and while this might not be evident if not for the cover art, which makes it explicit, this conceptual frame helps differentiate the album from its predecessors in theme if not style. In terms of sound, Absolutamente was recorded in London with the production team of Tony and Neal X, both of whom are formerly of the British post-punk band Sigue Sigue Sputnik, which had some success in the mid-'80s. There are traces of Sigue Sigue Sputnik in Absolutamente, enough to give the album a slightly different sound than previous albums. Nevertheless, Fangoria stick with what's worked well for them in the past. Absolutamente doesn't find the duo reinventing itself, which should please fans and frustrate critics. Fangoria try a fresh approach by recording the album in London and employing the Warhol theme, yet in the end, Absolutamente really isn't that much different from its predecessors.