Talkie Talkie

When cosmopolitan instrumental rock outfit Los Bitchos finally released their debut album in 2022, it had been sitting on the shelf for a while; its release had been delayed by the widespread arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic two years prior. The follow-up, Talkie Talkie, reflects a tighter, more confident-sounding foursome no doubt resulting from years more touring, writing, and jamming together. Let the Festivities Begin! is still a good reference point for their party-ready blend of influences, which range from surf rock to Peruvian chicha, Argentine cumbia, Turkish psych-rock, and more. The members themselves are from Australia (guitarist Serra Petale), Uruguay (keytar player Agustina Ruiz), Sweden (bassist Josefine Jonsson), and their base of London in the U.K. (drummer Nic Crawshaw). Los Bitchos open Talkie Talkie with a cheerful unison "Hi!" on "Hi!," a slinky welcoming track with occasional vocal interjections and an implied conga line. While varying tempos, swampiness, and energy level across tracks, they never clear the chateau dancefloor, and they add flashes of 80s synths on tracks like "Dont Change," video game music on "Kiki, You Complete Me," glockenspiel and fluttery effects on the mysterious "Its About Time," and a sense of urgency on the fiery "La Bomba." It all makes for a good time for all while at the same time offering to recede nicely into a groove-heavy background as needed, making it ideal for catching up with friends at a house party. Having said that, the final track, a racing one that sounds like a lost theme for a 70s crime show, is indeed called "Let Me Cook You" (not " Let Me Cook for You"). ~ Marcy Donelson