Review Summary: a stronger breeze.
Following the success of her 2008 released debut album
I Love Your Glasses, Lourdes Hernandez has further accentuated her brand of folk pop with subtle strains of complexity and eloquence. It has become an overused description now, but her songwriting has inarguably 'matured' to the point of confidence -
Fuerteventura does not display the imbalance that Russian Red's debut did.
I Love Your Glasses was a collection of songs that did meld together to some extent, but it's clear from her new record that Hernandez has streamlined her ability to write a whole album rather than a handful of songs. There is
cohesion, and it's certainly a pleasure to hear.
What is perhaps most satisfying about this album is the way that Hernandez's chirpy pop aesthetic melds with her occasional bouts of wistfulness and nostalgia. These songs have a somewhat simple foundation, but the record maintains its mood throughout. From the upbeat 'The Sun the Trees' to the contemplative 'Tarantino',
Fuerteventura flows through its songs with utmost ease. The several duds that were on the first album are nonexistent here, solidifying the album as a purely natural and authentic progression from its predecessor. It's safe to say that Russian Red has now cemented itself into its genre -
Fuerteventura plays like a charm, and not just because a gorgeous Spanish girl sings it.
