Sotomayor’s Wabi Sabi: The Most Enjoyable Game of 2026

Big shoutout to N_Gorski for today’s recommendation! They dropped a comment last week asking about the new Sotomayor album, and I have to admit, I hadn’t listened to it until now—but I’m completely hooked.

Sotomayor is made up of siblings Raul and Paulina from Mexico City, and their latest release, *Wabi Sabi*, is their first since 2020’s *Origenes*. This album is a burst of joy! If you’ve been following my previous picks, you’ll know that “fun” hasn’t been the main theme lately, but *Wabi Sabi* flips that script—it’s chaotic, danceable, and just plain fun.

My previous knowledge of Sotomayor came from a short documentary featuring Raul and his various projects, where he talked about how his music-making approach has evolved. He used to focus on creating “proper” and “clean” sounds, but now he’s all about pushing boundaries—“how much can we distort it?” and “how much can we stretch it?”

You can definitely hear that evolution in their music. The opening track, “Me dejo llevar,” kicks off with a synth arpeggio that’s been stretched to its limits, filled with digital artifacts. The whole track has a slight grit, as if everything is just on the edge of clipping. “Who’s there” carries that same energy, sounding like a dance floor ready to explode into a frenzy.

With vintage electronic drum hits, a droning bass, and reverb-soaked noise stabs, the tracks simmer beautifully, especially in the standout “Vida.” Here, Paulina delivers sultry vocals over a UK garage-influenced beat that eventually transforms into an afrohouse club anthem.

*Wabi Sabi* bounces between genres with infectious energy. Afrobeat, cumbia, electro pop, R&B, and more collide, making it easily the most enjoyable album of 2026 so far. What’s truly impressive is that despite its eclectic sounds (including a donkey jaw?), Sotomayor maintains a clear vision that ties the record together.

The chaos never feels overwhelming; it’s clear that the duo isn’t just throwing ideas around to see what works. Every element is a thoughtful choice aimed at creating a party atmosphere. The gently flowing guitar in “Yo se todo de ti,” the classic house vibes of “Todo se derrumba,” and the dancehall rhythm in “Prende la palma” all come together, unified by Paulina’s captivating presence and Raul’s adventurous sonic exploration.

You can find Sotomayor’s *Wabi Sabi* on Bandcamp and most major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Qobuz, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Spotify.