Alba Asensi: “Sóc Poeta” (2023) CD Review

Alba Asensi is a singer, harpist and composer based in Alicante, Spain. On her new album, Sóc Poeta, she takes poems from contemporary writers and sets them to music. The album’s title translates from Catalan as “I Am A Poet,” and indeed Alba Asensi is a poet, as she wrote the title track. Joining her on this album are Rita Baulida on percussion; Alejandro Mateo on violin, lyre and ukulele; Pablo Albarrán on violin; Laia Domenech on cello; Abraham Lojo on guitar, Carla González on double bass; Maria Gil on flute; Christos Barbas on ney; and Miriam Trias and Marina Cabau on backing vocals. The CD case is a bit bigger than normal, and it contains a liner notes booklet featuring each of the poems, along with some photos. There are also notes by fellow musician and composer Efrén López, who mixed and mastered this album.

The album opens with a short piece titled “Toda Yo Soy,” on which Alba Asensi is unaccompanied. She sings and performs this piece on harp. It has an uplifting and empowering, even spiritual, feel. Then “Voldria Ser Una Flor” features Alba Asensi’s vocals supported by some exciting percussion by Rita Baulida, giving it a very different vibe from the first track. Alba Asensi delivers some gorgeous vocal work, and halfway through she is joined by Miriam Trias and Marina Cabau on backing vocals. They give the track an angelic, spiritual tone, particularly in that moment when the percussion drops out for a bit toward the end. This poem is by Adrián Hernández. Alba Asensi returns to the harp for “Paula Pau,” a piece written by Angela Baldó about giving birth. Alba delivers a powerful vocal performance. And, like the first track, this one she performs solo, at least until partway through, when Marta Arcas joins her for a spoken word section.

The album’s title track, “Sóc Poeta,” features both music and lyrics by Alba Asensi, the only track for which she wrote the lyrics. It opens with a beautiful and soothing instrumental section, featuring some interesting percussion work. Also interesting is the fact that the lyrics are delivered by several people, giving us the sense that we are all poets, that we are all – in our different ways – involved in creating something worthwhile for the world. This track also contains some beautiful work by Pablo Albarrán on violin and by Laia Domenech on cello. It’s a wonderful piece. That’s followed by “Volveremos Al Mundo,” which eases in with a repeated phrase before her vocals come in. It then takes on a bright feel, as her voice is raised as if addressing the skies and angels. She also delivers some beautiful work on harp, supported by Carla González on bass and Rita Baulida on percussion. And she is again joined by Miriam Trias and Marina Cabau on backing vocals. Halfway through, this piece returns to that opening phrase. This poem was composed by Luis Miguel Sanmartín.

“Entraré A La Cuina” an interesting track, for there is a beautiful dreamlike quality to it at moments, particularly at the beginning, while there is also a strong sense of being grounded in a specific place, mostly through the percussion work by Rita Baulida, who sounds like she is at work in the kitchen, using a cutting board and pulling out pots and pans. Alejandro Mateo plays both violin and ukulele on this track, and Laia Domenech delivers some pretty work on cello. There is more joy in Alba’s delivery as the track progresses, and there is laughter at the end. The poem was written by Gràcia Jiménez. That is followed by “Carícies,” a poem by Carme Cabús. On this track, Alba Asensi plays both harp and kora, and is unaccompanied. This track has a gentle, pretty, soothing sound that feels like a magical night embracing us and conveying us to some better place.

On “Pequeñas Cosas,” Alba Asensi is accompanied only by Rita Baulida on percussion. But it begins with just vocals and harp. The percussion doesn’t come in until close to the track’s conclusion. It is followed by “Poema D’Una Dona,” which features some wonderful work on strings. And here Alba Asensi is also joined by Maria Gil on flute, giving the track a lighter feel. It feels like a joyful dance with the elements. There is spirited delivery to this track. Then on “Arcilla Y Pan,” she is joined by Abraham Lojo on guitar, and by Christos Barbas on ney. This is a piece that transports us. I especially love the moment when it swells in power. And I love that work on ney, particularly the lead in the middle. This is a gorgeous, passionate and moving track, featuring an incredible vocal performance. It is followed by “Nit Nit Nit,” where Alba Asensi is joined by Alejandro Mateo on lyre. There is a sweet, magical quality to the sound, and at one point, Alba nearly whispers to us, telling us “la llum/és màgica.” The album’s final track, “Sóc,” interestingly, is an instrumental track, featuring some wonderful percussion.

CD Track List

1. Toda Yo Soy
2. Voldria Ser Una Flor
3. Paula Pau
4. Sóc Poeta
5. Volveremos Al Mundo
6. Entraré A La Cuina
7. Carícies
8. Pequeñas Cosas
9. Poema D’Una Dona
10. Arcilla Y Pan
11. Nit Nit Nit
12. Sóc

Sóc Poeta was released on January 23, 2023.