Alynda Segarra, the creative force behind the band Hurray For The Riff Riff, traveled across United States with a banjo in her hands like a vagabond from the 30s. She was only seventeen. This means that she was jumping on the wagons of cargo trains, which is still a popular mode of transportation for many street musicians in America. Life of a modern troubadour, experience of hanging out with street musicians whose roots are grounded in American folk, and time spent in playing on the street, it all contributed to creation of her signature music sound. More than a decade after this period, Segarra released sixth album with her band. First two records, It Don't Mean I Don't Love You (2008) and Young Blood Blues (2009) were put only as releases. The album of covers My Dearest Darkest Neighbor (2013) serves as gratifications for donors on Kickstarter who crowdfunded the recording of 2012 Look Out Mama. In 2014, sSmall Town Heroe finally brings her critical recognition and substantial commercial success.
Sixth album The Navigator marks a robust shift in the sound, and it represents her return to the Puerto Rican roots and the childhood she spent in Brooklyn with her family of immigrants. Album is some sort of intimate confessional of fictional character Navita Milagros Negron. It is conceptualized as a two-piece musical. The first part connects this artist with tradition, while the second half is her vision of dystopian future where gentrification, assimilation and segregation ruin unique culture and society.
On her past materials, Segarra was sticking to folk/country/blues motives. The Navigator is a tasty cocktail of her recognizable expression enriched with elements of salsa and son cubana, elements that were perfectly dosed in songs. The music never strays from folk, country and r'n'r structures, and as such, it is an example of richness that one multi-culti society offers.
Album unfolds with Entrance, with doo-wop singers and city noises in the background. Together with closing track Finale, it generates a framework which helps you experience the record as a whole, rather than collection of individual songs. It's all about the gestalt. The Navigator sails through various genres, so Living In The City is a bit of The Velvet Underground, Hungry Ghost is postpunk, and Nothing's Going To Change The Girl is a country ballad. Rican Beach is spiced up with hot Caribbean tones, while political Pa'lante samples the voice of Puerto Rican poet Pedro Pietri.
The Navigator is serious step forward in Alynda Segarra's career and her band Hurray For The Riff Riff. It is a clear herald of more great music that will come from these musicians.
