Allá sound like the Cocteau Twins at a cocktail lounge on an Acapulco cruise ship, which is strange, considering that the Mexican-American trio has its deepest roots in blue-collar Chicago and instrumental post-rock, specifically the band Defender, which played a few shows with Can’s Damo Suzuki. But the Spanish-language Es Tiempo finds good footing on the lido deck, combining lush synths and equally lush actual strings into a sunny stew on “No Duermes Mas.” Hints of Stereolab and Tortoise creep in at times, and “Tu Vida” even incorporates some scratching and distant rap samples, but those influences are never sharp enough to puncture the sumptuous, exotic vibe.
