Staggering out of the silence with a firmly toned melodicism, the piano that guides us through Luis Mojica’s “Shaman Food,” one of my favorite songs from his new record How a Stranger Is Made, is undeniably the most attractive element within the instrumentation, but make no mistake about it – it’s far from the only reason why the track stings like a bee in springtime. A cornerstone of almost every stunning moment on the LP, the keys that Mojica directs almost flawlessly are as powerful an outlet for his artistry as his own words are, and if you’re in the mood for piano-driven songcraft this March, How a Stranger Is Made is the album for you.
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There are a lot of working parts that contribute to making this record as listenable and relatable as it is, and in my view, songs like “The Ranger” and “Witch Love” show us the most vulnerable look we’ve collectively seen from Luis Mojica to date. He’s got his heart on his sleeve throughout How a Stranger Is Made, and though there are some instances – like “Queen Song,” for example – where this could be regarded by harsher critics as being a virtue of self-indulgence, I found it to be anything but.
I love the complexities of “Invoked,” “Moon Men” and “Cowboys” as they stand in juxtaposition with the simplistic style of attack that Mojica employs with “City Friends” and “De La Saint,” and try as you might, I don’t think you’re going to find another example of versatility among his contemporaries quite as intriguing as this one is. How a Stranger Is Made is so much more than just a breakthrough album for this artist; in many ways, it’s a culmination of raw components first introduced to us in Wholesome coming together in a new and exciting stream of musicality.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5wrrxnWPDZdkNbbReBukOl?autoplay=true&v=L
This master mix is meticulously designed and helps to give every detail in the construction of “Moon Men,” “Stranger Song” and “Insane” a starring role in the grander scheme of things, which by and large is what made me fall in love with this record right out of the gate. It seems as though Mojica won’t tolerate anything less than a surgically precise production hand in How a Stranger Is Made, but considering the elaborate nature of his compositional technique, I think it’s a justifiable demand without question.
If you’re looking for smart and eclectic indie rock this March, this is an ace a listen as you’re going to come across on the American side of the Atlantic, and it would surprise me a great deal if I were the only critic saying as much at the moment. Luis Mojica isn’t a household name, nor does he have the attitude of a major label singer/songwriter with aspirations as big as David Geffen’s bank account, but with the humble wit and wisdom that he brings to songs like “De La Saint” and “The Ranger,” he defines himself as one of the premier musicians in his genre, and more prominently, an incredibly reliable melody maker.
Jodi Marxbury