- Photo by Sibila Estruch.
In Spanish, the word “tranquilo” is pretty versatile, being used for “relaxed,” “peaceful” and even the command “calm down!” Although slightly awkward and not a word that would normally be used to describe a band, its false friend (sort of) in English, “tranquil,” would serve as a good adjective for Naturalesa Salvatge. The Barcelona band’s name is in the regional dialect Catalán and literally means “wild nature.” However just like the tranquil example, sometimes the straight translation loses some of the flavor in the process, and maybe a better one would be “untamed wilderness.”
The name goes well with their sound, as their songs seem to take place deep in the woods. The meandering lead guitar melodies cut paths through the underbrush. The droning vocal harmonies sunken into the mix sound like they are being crooned a mile away from behind a thicket of tree trunks and bushes. The poppy moments add that bit brightness to the songs like twinkling and waning light that filters through the thick branches blocking out the sky. The rhythm is tapped out around a campfire where the five dudes are hanging out having beers and making s’mores.
