Prosperidad #37 — Enrique De La Rosa (Album Review)
Prosperidad #37 — Enrique De La Rosa (Album Review)
Written By: Dan Eachus
Release Date: May 16, 2025
Genre: Electronic / Synthwave
Introduction
Enrique De La Rosa’s debut full-length, Prosperidad #37, is a deeply personal and atmospheric statement that marks the “closing of an emotional cycle,” as he takes listeners through his creative origins on the street of his birth and artistic formation in Mexico City. Named after his childhood address, this album traverses a striking range of lo-fi hip‑hop, downtempo electronica, ambient and experimental textures—all while honoring collaborators like Magpie Jay’s Felipe González and longtime producer Martín Brandt.
1. “Moon Dust”
The album opens with “Moon Dust,” a slow-moving groove rooted in warm bass and bright keyboard tones. It sets a tranquil yet layered ambience, reflective of De La Rosa’s contemplative mood. Subtle shifts in texture and tone throughout the track suggest both calm and infinite possibility, forming a powerful emotional foundation .
2. “La Condesa”
“Da“La Condesa” strikes with playful intensity, pairing buoyant synth flourishes and robust percussion. The momentum here is palpable—energetic beats and bright timbres propel the listener into the album’s second chapter, heavy with possibility and motion .
3. “Glorieta de los Insurgentes”
This track elevates the pace into evocative, sci‑fi‑tinged territory. It feels cinematic in scope, combining rhythmic loops and electronic harmonies that echo the bustle of Mexico City’s famed roundabout. It bridges the personal and the universal, carrying forward the album’s thematic journey.
4. “Broken Arms”
A turn toward vulnerability, “Broken Arms” absorbs darker textures and more introspective chord progressions. Its emotional resonance lies in combining ambient electronics with rich depth—echoing personal wounds and the complicated process of turning the page on old cycles .
5. “Sorry, I Don’t Have Energy” (feat. Loop City & Zerujio)
A standout collaboration, this track pairs textured lo‑fi beats with hypnotic, melancholic vocals. The title says it all—inti mate, self‑aware, and kindly raw. It’s a moment of honesty in the album’s emotional arc .
6. “MetroBus”
With rhythmic propulsion mimicking urban transit, “MetroBus” is a perfectly streamlined interlude. Its movement is both literal and metaphorical: the track reflects De La Rosa’s journey—emotional and physical—through the landscapes that shaped him.
7. “Doña Catalina”
Doorway to adventure, “Doña Catalina” infuses Latin‑tinted percussion with immersive melodic patterns. It’s lively, bright, and exploratory—reconnecting energizing motion with emotional memory.
8. “Tacos de Patriotismo (Los Mixes)”
A playful, eclectic turn, this track meshes acoustic guitar riffs with luxuriant electronic washes. It’s a sonic palate cleanser, juxtaposing local bardic elements (“Tacos de Patriotismo”) with experimental soundscaping—fun yet sonically daring.
9. “It’s All About You”
The album’s first vocal-led piece introduces a tender moment—a dreamy, introspective pause. Gentle melodies glide over lo-fi textures, spotlighting De La Rosa’s emotional voice and sense of personal immediacy .
10. “Andrea”
At just over a minute, “Andrea” serves as a brief oasis. Warm, lo-fi atmospherics permeate this pause—rich with nostalgia and comfort. A moment of full release before deeper emotional terrain .
11. “The Yirman Song (48 Horas)” (feat. Yirman Jimenez & Yamil Soleibe)
Teaming up with Yirman Jiménez and Yamil Soleibe, this track evolves from quiet textures into dramatic build. Beginning calm and contemplative, it crescendos with layered jazz‑tinged instrumentation and intensity. The result is cinematic, uplifting, and full of transformative resonance.
12. “Nunca me Miraste”
Here, vulnerability reigns. With poignant lyrics and emotive melody, the song is a deeply felt confession, capturing unrequited love and emotional exposure. It’s fragile, resonant, and tender—the album’s most emotionally raw track .
13. “10 de diciembre de 2018”
Closing the album, this track offers a luminous, dreamlike finale. Ethereal textures float atop lo‑fi production—an intimate farewell that signals new beginnings. It feels celebratory and hopeful, a beautiful turning of the page .
Artistic & Emotional Arc
With these thirteen tracks, De La Rosa delivers an expansive emotional journey. From the initial “Moon Dust” calm to the introspective “Broken Arms,” and onward through collaborative highs (“Yirman Song”) and personal lows (“Nunca me Miraste”), each composition provides a unique emotional narrative. The album’s sequencing is thoughtful: it opens with ambient openness, gains momentum, retreats into reflection, and finally returns to ambient closure—mirroring life’s cyclical nature and the personal transformation De La Rosa described
Sonically, Prosperidad #37 masterfully blends lo‑fi hip‑hop beats, evocative electronics, Latin-percussive elements, occasional guest vocals, and experimental textures. Production is warm and tactile—no pristine, clinical polish here, but lived-in warmth that emphasizes emotion over precision. Contributions from Felipe González and Martín Brandt root the album in both technical skill and heartfelt collaboration.
Conclusion
Prosperidad #37 is an impressive debut—an honest, layered, and emotionally literate album. Enrique De La Rosa proves his capacity as songwriter and sound curator, skillfully merging genre elements to support a deeply personal narrative. The result is an immersive, relatable, and emotionally resonant journey through place, memory, growth, and transformation.
In López’s own words, this album is both “a celebration and the closing of an emotional cycle … a tribute to everything that has shaped me and a step toward what’s next” . It stands not just as a debut, but the opening act of a compelling artistic path.
If you’re drawn to thoughtful lo‑fi hip‑hop, ambient electronica with Latin flair, or emotional storytelling through sound, Prosperidad #37 is a deeply rewarding experience. It’s a first album with substance—and a soul patina that promises more revealing chapters ahead.
