Sandra Lilia Velasquez A.K.A. SLV Flips the Script

Mexican-American songwriter Sandra Lilia Velasquez has released two albums of edgy, jangly guitar rock with her band Pistolera, most recently the 2011 song cycle El Desierto y La Ciudad, which explores the sometimes harrowing ups and downs of the immigrant experience in New York. Considering how eclectic her writing has been up to this point, infusing rock with elements of Mexican folk and ranchera, reggae and soul music, it’s no surprise that she would pull a surprise move and take a plunge into moody, hypnotic groove-pop. There’s a serendipitous backstory: Velasquez had wanted to work with Meshell Ndegeocello for some time and finally got her opportunity. The new ep, titled Dig Deeper and released under the band name SLV, is the result of Velasquez presenting Ndegeocello with nineteen songs, leaving the bassist/producer to choose her favorites.

Much as these songs are more polished, with more of an overt pop vibe than Velasquez’ previous work, they’re not particularly slick or heavily produced. The arrangements are artful and even minimalist in places, with layers of keyboards and percussion constantly shifting through the mix to create the effect that there’s more going on here than just vocals, guitar, keys, bass and drums.

“These days I want to stay inside and pretend to say I’m somewhere, but it will get me nowhere,” Velasquez broods on the first song, Enough, minor-key guitar ringing out over blippy synth in the background. As the song moves along, the bass moves toward the front of the mix, reggae-style, one of many production touches that don’t jump out but make just enough of an impact to change the song. It could be early 90s Everything But the Girl, but with more bite, trading that band’s English folk influence for a distant Mexican one. The second track, Sueño, is more upbeat, with contrasting light/dark keys, a little funk in the bassline and a neat trick ending.

The best song here is History: it’s also the darkest and most relevant one. “Like to know who wrote the book, because I like to check my sources,” Velasquez insists nonchalantly, over a catchy, Neil Young-tinged four-chord guitar progression. “Those of us who don’t have a voice, we’re stuck with taking your word for it.” Who was it who said that history is a lie agreed upon? The ep winds up on an optimistic note with Painted Pictures, moving from a moody, syncopated sway to dreamy, echoey ambience: Velasquez’ pensive, poignant, nuanced voice has always been a strength, so it’s a nice change to see her front and center for once without having to compete with the racket behind her, enticing as that racket has been. SLV plays the album release show for this one on Feb 4 at 9:30 PM at Joe’s Pub; $15 tix are still available as of today.