Buscabulla – ‘Se Amaba Así’ album review: An intimate record that struggles to engage
THE SKINNY: It has been over a decade since Luis Del Valle and Raquel Berrios began their musical journey together as Buscabulla in New York City. During that time, the pair has explored a seemingly unending and diverse range of musical influences, relocating from NYC back to their homeland of Puerto Rico in the process. It was back in 2020 that the pair alerted the world to the extent of their emotional indie pop mastery, with the visceral debut album Regresa, inspired by the devastation of Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria. That debut certainly leaves the band’s newly unveiled album, Se Amaba Así, with big shoes to fill.
Exploring the relationship between Del Valle and Berrios themselves, Se Amaba Así adopts a completely separate atmosphere and style from the pair’s debut. Dominated by the pop-centric vocals of Berrios, but with a constant atmosphere of vulnerability and intimacy, the record offers a deeply emotional, personal look into the lives of the pair. Of course, the influences of their roots in Puerto Rico are present throughout the track listing, most notably on efforts like ‘Mi Marido’ and ‘Miraverahi’, which draw from the worlds of salsa, Afrocuban rhythms, and the rich musical history of the Caribbean. Rather disappointingly, though, these compelling influences are often pushed to the background on Se Amaba Así.
More often than not, the pair strip back their sound, mixing the vocals much higher than anything else. While this succeeds in creating the kind of intimate atmosphere that the album is clearly striving for, it does leave you yearning for a bit more focus on the expansive orchestral moments and old-school Nuyorican salsa, which are hinted at during various points on the record. After a while, the songs seem to blend into one melancholic indie-pop which, were it not for the background instrumentation, offers very little in the way of originality or innovation.
It should go without saying, at this point, that Luis Del Valle and Raquel Berrios are wonderfully talented vocalists and performers, whose combined work has made Buscabulla one of the most renowned Puerto Rican groups in the world at present. However, at multiple points throughout this record, their voices simply fail to command much attention. There is not enough variation in the mood and themes explored throughout the album to create any moments of tension or build-up; it often feels somewhat flat or one-note. If you like that note of romantic, slow, indie pop songs, then you will probably enjoy this record. For the rest of us, though, there is a frustrating lack of variety in the sounds and ideas explored on this album, which means it struggles to grab attention.
For fans of: The emotional moments in Love Island, where they play a slow, melancholic indie song while sunburnt influencers look tired in different Hawaiian shirts.
A concluding comment from Ben’s housemate: “I came into this record hoping for more Puerto Rican-infused indie pop mastery, and instead I have come away knowing far too much about this couple’s relationship…”
Se Amaba Así track by track:
Release Date: June 13th | Producer: Buscabulla | Label: Domino
‘El Camino’: Blending indie pop influenced vocals with extensive instrumentals, the duo create a bold opening to Se Amaba Así. Although not quite as impactful as some of their earlier efforts, the song does offer a diverse repertoire of sounds, which makes it fit for many repeated listens. [3/5]
‘Divino Tesoro’: Moving into a much more suspenseful, stripped-back atmosphere, ‘Divino Tesoro’ (‘Divine Treasure’) offers an intimate look at the duo’s relationship, which forms a consistent theme throughout the many moods of this record. [3/5]
‘Miraverahí’: Taking cues from the rich musical history of Puerto Rico, the pair craft an infectious groove complete with the typically captivating vocal performance of Raquel Berrios. Perhaps the most upbeat effort on the album thus far, the song reaffirms their commitment to celebrating the cultural history of their homeland. [3.5/5]
‘El Empuje’: Seeing Luis Del Valle take over vocal duties, this effort loses any of the groovy momentum built by the previous effort. While it does offer a few interesting moments of experimentation and the vulnerable vocals of the performer certainly have their charm, the song itself doesn’t offer much of note, and feels a lot longer in length than its two-and-a-half-minute runtime. [2/5]
‘Te Fuiste’: Orchestral overtones and the constant influence of Puerto Rican rhythms punctuate this pop-centric effort, although it doesn’t offer much in the way of development over the course of its runtime, leading it to feel perhaps a little flat. [2.5/5]
‘Se Amaba Así’: Adopting a similarly sombre atmosphere to the previous track, the album’s title track is much more well-rounded and captivating in its offering. The duo’s voices are contrasted at points, and instrumentation is kept to a minimum, reflecting the intimate, personal nature of this project. [3.5/5]
‘Incrédula’: Leaning more into their extensive arsenal, the duo creates a much more diverse and compelling sound. Following a more optimistic, pop-focused approach than some of the more melancholic moments on the album, the song certainly stands out within the track listing. [3/5]
‘Mi Marido’: Flowing from a salsa opening soundbite into the lush, flowing soundscapes that Buscabulla have become known for, ‘Mi Marido’ (‘My Husband’) features much more overt Puerto Rican and Nuyorican influences than the rest of the record, reaffirming the duo’s deep roots in the Caribbean island. [3.5/5]
‘Mortal’: I do not have a vendetta against Del Valle’s vocals; in fact, his performance on this track is one of the strongest from across the album. However, like ‘El Empuje’, ‘Mortal’ failed to grab my attention at all. It doesn’t offer much to really sink your teeth into, and is an easy forgettable moment on the track listing when viewed as a whole. [2/5]
‘De Lejito’: Closing out the album with the same kind of Puerto Rico-infused indie pop intimacy that has been constant throughout the track listing, the duo offer a fitting conclusion to the album’s narrative, without opting for anything that could be considered a grand finale. [3/5]
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