Los Thuthanaka won Pitchfork's album of the year for 2025 with a self-titled debut that never touched streaming platforms. Most people missed it entirely. That absence is the first thing worth understanding about this band.
The follow-up EP, Wak'a, deliberately pulls back. Lower tempo, smoother edges, but the same core sound palette that made the debut feel like music leaking out of broken hardware in someone's backyard. The original review tracks exactly how much the band sacrifices, and how much they gain, in that trade.
Read this one for the texture of the argument, not just the verdict. The reviewer is working through what it means when a band this abrasive decides to sand itself down one release in.
[READ ORIGINAL →]