Mint Field – Natural

The opening track to the new one from Mexico City-based pysch duo Mint Field, ‘Cuida Tus Pasos’ sets the standard for the album; lush, scuzzy, guitar-based soundscapes played through with emotive vocals.   Composed with hints of the ‘intelligent pop’ created by Eno (particularly his work with Roxy Music and Bowie) Natural unfortunately takes us to more experimental worlds of intelligence than it does to the pop locations.  Standouts ‘Contingencia’ and ‘Sentimiento Mundial’ break from the norm by pushing dreamy-guitar laden, post punk, hooks in a technique which is more immediate than the rest of the album.  For all of the interesting layers of sound, and superb musicianship, there’s perhaps too few pop earworms to make this a classic.