Chilean singer-songwriter Pascuala Ilabaca's new album 'Rey Loj' - the title translates as "Father Time" and is sort of an anagram of reloj, Spanish for watch - must be a serious contender for the most beautifully executed album sleeve of 2016, because when one opens the cardboard CD-case an impressive popup of Father Time appears. Visually 'Rey Loj' may well be a gem, of course music should be the essence. Pascuala Ilabaca is a child of the world and even though she now lives in the Chilean city of Valparaíso again, she also studied with master vocalist Pandith Pashupatinath Mishra in Varanasi, India, for a while (see closing track 'Sabatanasa', a composition lasting nearly twelve minutes and unwillingly reminding us of the work of Susheela Raman), and with her parents spent a number of years in Mexico. Ilabaca prefers to accompany herself on piano ('Preguntas Al Rey', 'Cueca La Mariposa') or accordion and on 'Rey Loj' explores everything from singer-songwriter over cumbia (the delicious 'Caminito Viejo') and bolero ('El Perdon') to funk rock ('Santa Caravana') and jazz ('Sueño Con Un Rayo'). Delight for eye and ear!