Ay Ay Ay

The Chilean-born electronic musician Matias Aguayo first became known for his work with Dirk Leyers in the German-based duo known as Closer Musik. Since then, Aguayo has broken away from many of techno’s conventions: his dance music has a warm homemade feel and it’s hard to categorize. 2009’s Ay Ay Ay opens with “Menta Latte,” which immediately tunes the listener into Aguayo’s wavelength. We hear a delicious mix of vocal sounds: a human beatbox, whistling, talking, buzzing, and appealingly loose singing. On “Ritmo Tres” Aguayo once again puts together a variety of odd and catchy vocalizations, and this time they ride a delightfully funky shuffle. A choppy, tumbling rhythm animates “Ritmo Juarez” while the fierce rumbler “Me Vuelvo Loca” sports engagingly goofy voices. The title track is a charmer that evokes a minimal version of the French vocal group the Swingle Singers. Aguayo saves one of the best songs, “Juanita,” for last. Building on a folksy Latin American groove that becomes more ecstatic the longer it goes on, he’s created a track you hope lasts forever.