Titanic Hagen Concert Review: Mabe Fratti & Hector Tosta Stun Audiences!

Within a short span of five years, Mabe Fratti, a Guatemalan cellist, has carved a significant niche for herself in the realm of experimental music. Beyond her captivating solo projects, she has shown a keen interest in collaborations, teaming up with artists such as Efterklang and the improvisational quartet Amor Muere, which she helped establish in Mexico City, her new base. She also collaborates with her partner, guitarist Hector Tosta, in their duo Titanic. Their groundbreaking 2023 debut album, Vidrio, showcases a bold disregard for genre boundaries, blending elements like raucous free-jazz saxophone, intense drum rhythms, and heavily altered cello sounds, all anchored by Fratti’s ethereal falsetto. This album signified the emergence of a group that not only experiments with sound but also seamlessly integrates catchy melodies.

On their latest track, Hagen, the duo intensifies their unique musical blend with a pop-like sheen. The opening track, Lágrima del Sol, starts with minimalist hand claps and fragmented guitar sounds setting the rhythm, followed by Fratti’s hauntingly simple melody. Just as the song teeters on the edge of disarray, it shifts into an 80s synth-pop vibe, with Fratti’s gentle voice floating over drum fills reminiscent of Phil Collins and sparkling keyboard notes. This element of delightful unpredictability permeates the album. Escarbo Dimensiones evolves from a basic setup of drums, bass, and dissonant vocals into a mellow funk groove that hints at Sade’s style. La Dueña transitions from a gritty cello and cymbal ambiance into a dramatic synth-powered ballad that echoes the emotive power of Kate Bush; La Trampa Sale explodes from a heavy beat into a vast, echo-filled chorus.

Their exploration of darker themes provides a cathartic balance to their pop sensibilities: Gotera combines thunderous metal blastbeats with Fratti’s extended vocal lines; Gallina Degollada features relentless, ominous drums and growling bass. This striking juxtaposition highlights Hagen’s innovative approach: redefining pop music with an enduring sense of disquiet and infectious challenge.

New Releases This Month

This month, Colombian artist Lucrecia Dalt unveils A Danger to Ourselves (RVNG Intl), an introspective album with sparse drum loops and layered harmonies that create an immersive, downtempo experience. Moroccan producer Guedra Guedra continues to delve into North African rhythms on his latest album, Mutant (Smugglers Way), blending traditional dabke and gnawa percussion with electronic beats and synths for an electrifying dance experience. The debut collaboration between West African percussion group Balimaya Project and Colombian ensemble Discos Pacífico All Stars, Calima (Jazz Re:freshed), merges African and Latin musical traditions, from highlife to rumba and everything in between, all driven by an unstoppable rhythmic pulse.