Kiltro is a Chilean word for stray dog or mutt, and also is an Alternative/Indie Band from Denver, Colorado. The band mainly focuses on ambient psychedelia with rhythms from South American folk. Chris Bowers Castillo is the vocalist and songwriter, Will Parkhill is the bassist, Michael Devincenzi is the drummer, and Fez Garcia is the percussionist.
I first came across this band from an animatic on YouTube. I, personally, really enjoy Alternative music because it blends a lot of different genres and elements, so it caught my attention immediately. The first song I ever listened to from Kiltro was “Mi Capitán,” and I have since explored a lot of their music.
This review will go over Kiltro’s 2023 album, Underbelly, comprising “Crazy (in the absence),” “Guanaco,” “Errasuriz,” “All The Time In The World,” “Crazy,” “Softy,” “Kerosene,” “Underbelly,” “What Gives,” and “Cuchito.” The focus will be on three categories: lyricism, creative elements, and enjoyment.
Crazy (in the absence)
This song is first on the album and also the shortest at 2:21 minutes. My favorite lyrics are: “I find I’m most alive/ In the absence of everyone/ It’s how I learn to love.” From my interpretation, these lyrics relate to introverted tendencies. Someone who needs to be away from others sometimes in order to feel more comfortable and happy in their life. The song, from what I can tell, uses a lot of acoustic instruments to create a very calming, almost melancholic vibe. So I very much enjoy this first song, and it leaves me waiting for the next one.
Guanaco
The first phrase in the song is, “Ya viene el guanáco,” (here comes the guanaco). A guanaco is a kind of llama found in South America; guanacos are known for spitting. This song has a lot of layers of instruments playing at the same time, creating a foreboding feeling. Additionally, a lot of the sounds are scratchy and repetitive, creating an aura of stress for me. Personally, I do not enjoy listening to stressful sounds like that, given that I play songs to de-stress, but the song is still very cool artistically.
Errasuriz
This song, similar to the previous, is very foreboding. Some of my favorite lyrics are, “Say what you want to do/ It’s murder, it’s murder/ That man is a lot like you.” I interpret this as a story about a fight between two people who loathe one another. Additionally, this song, from what I can tell, utilizes a lot more drums for certain parts, but goes back to the acoustic instruments for other parts. This creates very dramatic changes in the song, which toys with emotions but is not necessarily stressful. Overall, this has to be my second-favorite song of the album.
All The Time In The World
My favorite on the album by far, it really gets across the ambient psychedelic feel and is very cathartic. The lyrics, “I keep my head in a jar/ I pass the time in an empty room,” point to the feeling of isolation and bottling emotions. I relate to this meaning a lot, and I find that listening to it in a song is almost a release. The best part of this song is towards the end when all the instruments stop, and all you hear is this kind of zen music with wood creaking. It is so calm, and it exhibits the feeling of becoming present. Personally, due to that pause in the song, I got the most enjoyment out of it.
Crazy
The lyrics of this song are essentially the same as the first. Mainly, the difference is the tone of this song; it is played at a faster tempo and incorporates a lot more sounds. In comparison to “Crazy (in the absence),” this song is way more chaotic and is longer overall. I appreciate the two perspectives on this song and interpret it as “crazy comes in many different ways.” However, what truly makes me enjoy it is the similar pause like in “All The Time In The World,” where the song just winds down.
Softy
The feeling of this song is way smoother than any of the previous songs. The lyrics are sung in a very soft, spoken way, which probably is what gave the song its name. Some lyrics that stuck out to me were, “Someone to see you/ Just someone to see you.” I interpret this as a craving for true human connection, which I can relate to. I think even the soft vibe of the song matches that somber feeling of want. Ultimately, a decent song that I find enjoyable.
Kerosene
This song is not my favorite, but I like the lyrics, “Most things we leave end up coming back.” This song, from what I can tell, is about strolling through life and how a lot of times things do not change that much. The main thing that throws me off is a sound that sounds like when you put your hands over your ears and off again. It is a breaking sound that is probably meant to be of significance, but I just find it annoying. Therefore, the song lyrics are great, just not my favorite to listen to.
Underbelly
Since it shares the same title as the album, I thought this song would strike me more, but it is pretty forgettable. I like the use of the word malady (a disease or ailment) and melody. I just think the word choice is clever and gets across the point of feeling wasted. Also, this song utilizes a piano, which is a first from what I can tell. All things considered, the song is just too short and fast for me to catch much.
What Gives
A very airy song that sounds like you are floating. My favorite lyrics of this song are, “And if I’ve grown out of touch, well it’s from thinking too much.” For me, the song gives the feeling of escapism and dreaming so much that you’re out of touch with everyone around you. Then the song has a point where it brings a new sound that sounds orchestral. In summary, I find the song pretty enjoyable and lovely.
Cuchito
Cuchito is a word commonly used for cats in Chile and is a diminutive of cute/adorable. This is pretty self explanatory from the lyrics that say, “Hamstrung the alley cat.” However, the meaning behind this song is hard for me to interpret. From what I can tell, Castillo makes a lot of comparisons between himself and stray animals. I find that really interesting, and this song once again pulls me into a very apprehensive atmosphere with the instruments used. All in all, I like the song.
The album Underbelly, as a whole, I really love, and I believe each song fits pretty seamlessly together. I believe the lyricism is top notch, and the creative elements make each song really enjoyable. Although some songs are more repetitive than others with scratchy sounds that I do not like, the meaning and relatability in each song cancels that out. Everyone should go and check it out.
