The last time we covered The Zeta they were releasing Mochima, the bands most recent LP. The album saw punk rock, post-hardcore, and jazz live together in the same songs while putting heavy emphasis on the band’s Venezuelan and Carribean background.
But this weekend The Zeta released “La Flor De Palabra,” a piece in which traditionalism seems to be rooted at the very heart of things. Earthy, groovy, and hypnotic at the same time, we’d even call this one a warning shot. We’re actually pretty excited about it.
Trying a new sound can be treacherous, especially when you’ve built a name for yourself in a particular scene. Your fans associate you with a sound now; is it worth the risk of alienating them? Yes. A thousand times yes. And especially in case of The Zeta – “La Flor De Palabra” represents the perfect bridge between old Zeta and new.
Though Mochima, and to an extent, Magia Infinita established an upward tick in the bands experimentation with traditional Afro-Caribbean elements, it was the band’s last single “El Canto de la Victoria” that seemed to emerge from an organic space between all of these ideas. Before we had a lot of defined sounds meeting up with each other. But this year, all of the things that make The Zeta great seem to be coalescing, forming a true identity. From the production and instrumentation to the basis of the songs themselves, things no longer feel referential.
As the band steeps itself in traditionalism, it’s clearer than ever that they’re making music with the intent of being timeless. A noble quest indeed, and thankfully, one The Zeta is more than capable of succeeding in.
Keep an eye out for more Zeta on their Bandcamp. We have no doubt that there’s more exciting stuff just over the horizon.