ELAN is a band that I have fallen head over heels for over the last few months. The band is one that up until recently has been relatively unknown in the States. Created in a little town in Mexico, ELAN is comprised of Elán (lead vocals, keyboard), Jan Carlo DeFan (lead guitar), Carlos Padilla Maqueo (bass), Michel “Cheech” Bitar DeFan (drums) and Muaricio “The Duck” Lopez.
The really interesting thing about this band is their focus on sounds and musical influences like Janis Joplin, Melissa Etheridge, Bob Dylan and John Lennon. The first Latin American female songwriter to begin her career in English, Elán has sold more than 1.7 million copies of her music. ELAN is a band that is going places. With the release of their eighth album, See Us Spin, and their first tour across the US, more and more people are hearing this remarkable band for the first time.
“Be Free” is the first song on London Express. The edgy drums, howling guitar and sultry vocals grab you by the lapel and bring you into a sinful vortex of sound. Elán’s vocals are an audible caress that does not disappoint. The vibrant sound of her voice and the intense magnetism of the band carry you into another world. Percussion rumbles, guitar riffs seduce and the intense vocals marry well to craft a song that will stick in your head long after it is over.
“Devil In Me” has a smoky percussion lead in that brings to mind the darkened stage featuring a steamy strip show. Lights pulse to the beat as pace by pace, Elán’s voice walks you across the stage, dipping seductively and gripping the pole as you undulate for an imaginary crowd. Hips gyrating, you move to the music, reaching out to caress the purity of the sound. Guitar riffs roll your mind as the almost physical touch of the song runs in little electric pulses on your skin. Seduction is imminent. Liquid sin rolls along your flesh with each pluck of the strings. This track is one that will haunt your dreams at night.
“Get Your Blu” is a pensive number that takes a whack at fame and what it means to be successful beyond the glitz. This piece is a soul searching song that really digs at the visceral feeling of loss, living and finding out what is important in life. The tempered feel of this track, with its mellow riffs and even percussion is a great ending to the album.
ELAN is a group that is going places. With the release of their eighth album, See Us Spin, they are more popular than ever. London Express was their 2005 release, but maintains a sound that transcends time. Like Joplin and Etheridge, Elán’s voice can be gritty like shards of broken glass in “Be Free,” sexy as Hell with “Devil In Me” and thought provoking in “Get Your Blu.” This album is a must for ELAN enthusiasts. If you are new to their sound, this is a great album to start with. You won’t be disappointed.
Key Tracks- Be Free, Devil In Me, Get Your Blu
August 26, 2012
