Cupido has always been known for singing about love to the point of self-parody, even releasing releases, announcements, or Valentine’s Day concerts. Their new album rethinks the band’s concept. With the ghost of open relationships removed—given the skeptical tone of their lyrics that wouldn’t suit that idea—it is titled Amor compartido because it is built from collaborations. In this way, it aims to be a journey through contemporary Latin American pop, representing a voyage, a dialogue, a “shared love” between countries such as Spain, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Guatemala and the United States.
The most exotic flavors arrive courtesy of Cuco, who appears in a bolero-flavored track called “Maldito Cupido,” a piece that carries the usual heartbreak found in the band’s more sorrowful songs, perhaps due to the piano. A piano that also takes center stage in “Dolor de muelas.”
But there is also a trace of vaporwave in that help-seeking track titled “Parada del bus” they’ve done with Little Jesus; or even a touch of Catalan rumba courtesy of old friend Kinder Malo in “Calle de la pena.” A very Spanish-sounding track that laments that two lovers didn’t even remain friends.
That drama inherent to Cupido’s romantically inclined lyrics continues to be the strongest element of their records, regardless of the style. Guitars, keyboards and different rhythms have built the band’s identity without a doubt, but the music cannot prevail over the lyrics when they include passages as roguish as those we hear in “Troleo.”
This collaboration with l0rna is one of the album’s leading singles, full of witticisms (“since you left I don’t know where to put my fingers”), signs of independence (“I don’t need you to be able eyacu-”), and pimp-mile-style squabbles, such as that moment when the invited artist and Pimp Flaco debate who is more toxic. He wins, after vanishing for a night and turning up the next day with Instagram packed with new contacts.
There’s also a smile-worthy moment in “404,” where DrefQuila rhymes “My dream is to die of asphyxiation beneath that cu-” with “coffin.” And it feels very cinematic—and, by extension, very catchy—the onomatopoeic “Ouch :-(” signed with Usted Señlemelo, in which Pimp Flaco takes blows until he bleeds and pleads: “it’s not money, it’s your kisses I ask.” The pop-rock carpenter-like feel of the track that opens the album alongside Álvaro Díaz, the costumbrista nod to the days of the week in “LMXJVS-D,” or Zoe Gotusso’s sweet voice in “más valen cien pájaros volando que uno en mano” prevent Cupido’s formula from running dry, once again. It won’t be long before the flame of love starts to fade, as happens in every “amor compartido.” For now, it hasn’t quite happened.
Cupido are touring across several cities this year. Tickets for Madrid, Zaragoza and Bilbao, here.
