I’d like to think I’ve been reasonably diligent in covering music from non-English-speaking parts of the world, but my attention has been mainly focused on Asia and Europe. I think I’ve gone as far south in the Americas as Mexico so let’s remedy that a bit with a look at Encarta 98. The band, not the encyclopedia.
They hail from Bogotá, Colombia but were put on my radar by way of former drummer Sergio Londoño who relocated to Toronto and joined local shoegazers Otsyuda. Encarta 98 released their debut album Lo Que Extrañas Ya No Existe in 2021 and had their deus ex machina moment when they were selected by Robert Smith to open for The Cure and Slowdive in Bogotá in 2023.
Buoyed by that experience, they released their second album 𖥔 ݁ ˖lucero˖ ݁ 𖥔 earlier this month. It’s an impressive album that combines a airy delicacy with sludge-free sonic weight. Ivanna Palacio’s vocals convey the rich emotions of the music even if you don’t understand Spanish, though the sound of the language works wonderfully in the thick, languid, and romantic atmosphere that they conjure.
Tape Wounds, who does an excellent job of keeping an ear on shoegaze worldwide, recently posted a comprehensive interview with the band covering their origins, the new record, and of course how that Cure gig came about:
What was happening around you while you were making this album? Were there particular places, experiences, relationships or events that found their way into the music?
All of us were entering our thirties—or at least moving away from our twenties—and that transition was a real game-changer in our lives. We were experiencing losses among family and friends, which made us nostalgic for the times we had in our twenties. That’s why we often talk about saying goodbye to things with a nostalgic tone. But at the same time, finding each other makes us think in a more optimistic way; thanks to everything we’ve been through, we’ve learned to receive the present with gratitude. We think that’s why even lucero feels nostalgic—there’s power in it, but also something bright that brings hope.
Shoegaze from Colombia: Encarta 98 Are Coming of Age on Their New LP .𖥔 ݁ ˖lucero˖ ݁ 𖥔. @ Tape Wounds
A lyric video may or may not be helpful if your Spanish is not up to snuff, but everyone can enjoy visuals of ducks and tadpoles.
