Lección de Vuelo

Aleks Syntek

Aleks Syntek's brainy pop persona expands admirably on Leccion de Vuelo. "Superficie Lunar" is an appealing blend of bluesy licks, psychedelic rock strains, and sci-fi accents. Syntek sounds like he's having a blast. "Historias de Danzón y Arrabal" offers elegant instrumentation perfect for a candlelight dinner and dance. And "Intocable" is pure pop shimmer, as shiny and strident as a boy-band anthem. But the disc is missing one crucial element: a unique musical identity. "La Doña Muerte" and "Entra" sound like leftover Juanes tunes, and "Laberinto," a promising collaboration with Belanova, could have used more neon fizz. Better is "¿Quién Soy?" a moody collaboration with Mex-pop duo Jesse y Joy. The rest is skippable pop filler, including "Hasta el Fin del Mundo" and the overlong, overly cutesy "Natalia." Syntek is a thoughtful singer and songwriter, but with a tighter focus, Leccion de Vuelo could have soared much higher. --Joey Guerra

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