Gearing themselves up for a proposed future attempt at the English-language market, Latin Grammy-winning Mexican siblings
Jesse & Joy Huerta traveled to London to work with Swedish producer Martin Terefe (
KT Tunstall,
James Morrison) for their third album,
¿Con Quién Se Queda el Perro? While several of its 12 tracks showcase a distinct European flavor, such as the "lighters in the air" Eurovision-ish balladry of "La de la Mala Suerte," the chiming '80s-tinged new wave of "Veneno," and the slow-building
Snow Patrol-lite indie rock of "iCorre!," the follow-up to 2009's
Electricidad still shows signs that
Jesse & Joy aren't willing to entirely abandon their roots just yet. "Quiero Que Me Quieras" is an infectious
Shakira-esque pop number packed with shuffling beats, quirky synths, and slinky acoustic hooks; a feel-good mariachi band makes its presence known on the jaunty fingerpicking jazz-pop of "Gotitas de Amor"; while the melodic Latin rock of "Me Voy" (famous for its star-studded video), the title track, and jaunty opening number "Aquí Voy" suggest
Jesse & Joy may well need to make space on their mantlepiece for a second Gramophone-shaped statue. The forays into gentler territory are equally self-assured, whether it's the twinkling folk of "Me Llora el Cielo," the string-soaked melancholy of closer "Me Quiero Enamorar," or the ghostly Americana of "Tu Mi Poesia," the latter featuring a rare solo lead vocal from Jesse, even if they're unlikely to propel them into the global arena just yet. However,
¿Con Quién Se Queda el Perro? contains enough potential to suggest that if they want to, they can outgrow their local-act status. [The Deluxe Edition features five bonus tracks.] ~ Jon O'Brien