Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Argentine Juana Molina’s Album ‘Halo’ Draws Universal Rhythms from Our Collective Unconscious

Paraguaya (official music video)
Juana Molina’s journey to musical stardom is a winding one.

Born to a musical family in Argentina, she began learning to play guitar at the age of five. When the 1976 military coup forced the family to flee the country, they lived in Paris, France for six years. Molina eventually returned to Argentina in her twenties. Looking only for a job that would let allow her the time to dedicate herself to music, she auditioned for a TV show. The program hired her immediately and within three years she had a hit comedy show of her own. Almost a decade after her TV debut, Molina became pregnant and had to suspend her show. The break turned out to be a productive one. It gave her time to reflect, and ultimately Molina decided to leave television and return to music.

A courageous move, Molina’s return to music was not an easy one. Fans held the cancellation of the show against her and after the release of her first album in 1996, those who attended concerts were befuddled by the lack of comedy. She stayed resolute in her decision, however, and two decades and six albums later, Juana Molina is world-renowned, receiving features in the New York Times, Pitchfork, The Quietus, NPR, and many others. On May 5th, she released her seventh album, Halo, through Crammed Discs.

Halo is not a pop record, but it is the kind of album whose songs stick in your head. Its twelve tracks revel in hypnotic rhythms that feel uncannily familiar, as if they were culled from our collective unconscious. With its timbral explorations, ever-changing soundscapes, and voices that drift from proper speech into simple sounds, Halo directs listeners toward a wordless truth in the way only great art can.  

Halo by Juana Molina is out now through Crammed Discs and available on Amazon, the Crammed Shop, and iTunes.

Writer’s Note: In addition to contributing to The Manual, I work at a music promotion company, Distiller Promo, that is currently promoting Halo.

Terence Praet
Terence Praet contributes to The Manual’s New Music Monday column. He studied Philosophy and History at Skidmore College…
The best advent calendar Black Friday deals on Lego and more
A scene from the Lego Marvel Avengers 2023 Advent calendar featuring Iron Man and Captain America.

Black Friday deals are well underway, and early this year, which means it’s almost time to start counting down to Christmas. The countdown can be a pretty fun endeavor with one of the best Advent calendars for men, but Black Friday also offers some opportunities to get the whole family involved. Retailers like Amazon have discounted a lot of Advent calendars among the current crop of Black Friday deals. You’ll find Lego-themed Advent calendars discounted right now, as well as more traditionally-themed options.
Our Favorite Advent Calendar Black Friday Deal
Lego Marvel Avengers 2023 Advent Calendar — $27, was $45

Children and adults alike can find some fun in counting down the days to Christmas. With an Advent calendar, the process typically begins on December 1 and culminates with Christmas morning. One Advent calendar deal that stands out to us this Black Friday shopping season is the Lego Marvel Avengers Advent calendar. Behind each of the 24 doors of this Advent calendar is a gift to kick-start a new adventure. These include seven superhero mini figures featuring the like of Captain America, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man, Black Widow, and Iron Man, among others.

Read more
The 11 best Steven Spielberg movies, ranked
These timeless classics are by the master movie director himself
Steven Spielberg in the mouth of Jaws

There are certain people who are instantly tied to their profession when you hear their name. When you think about your favorite memories at the cinema, Steven Spielberg is as synonymous with success as Michael Jordan is with basketball. The visionary director of such classics as Jaws, Indiana Jones, and E.T., Spielberg is quite possibly the most popular and influential filmmaker since the dawn of contemporary American cinema.
Born in 1946, Spielberg was always fascinated by cinema and the magic it creates. From a very young age, he was creating short films and imagining grand set designs for his ideas. In 1969, he got his first real chance with a seven-year contract as a director, and he was the youngest director to be signed to a major Hollywood company. Due to his dedication and hard work, Spielberg rose to national acclaim just eight years later with the release of Jaws.
Being so popular and successful comes a long way, but it helps to have the assistance of so many other talents on your side. Spielberg has worked with many who made his film resume that much stronger, some of which include George Lucas, Richard Dreyfuss, Kathleen Kennedy, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, and most notably, composer John Williams.
Spielberg and Williams have worked together in 27 films over 40 years -- Spielberg stating that Williams has been "... {B}reathing life into every movie we have made." The two have always worked together to create movie magic for decades, sharing a vision and seeing it through to the sometimes bitter end. For Spielberg, one is not without the other, as Spielberg once said, "... if movies are like lightning, then the musical score for me is like thunder. It can shake things up for years." Due to this, I had to dedicate this to Williams as well.
So now, without further ado, let’s rank the top 10 Steven Spielberg movies and show you his directorial history.

11. The Color Purple (1985)

Read more
I’m tracking all the best PS5 Black Friday deals live
sony playstation 5 deal monoprice august 2023 ps5 with controller

Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and a host of retailers have already started their Black Friday sales. Flicking through, one thing is clear: There are a lot of PS5 Black Friday deals, on everything from the consoles themselves (in the form of bundle deals) to the latest games and must-have accessories like SSDs to expand your storage space. Join me live as I continue to sift through all the Black Friday PS5 deals on offer and pull out the offers you can't afford to miss.

Read more