Although the Chicago-based outfit Allá issued its first full-length effort, Es Tiempo, during 2008, the project’s roots stretched back nearly a decade. Guitarist/keyboardist/producer Jorge Ledezma and bassist Gabor Meszaros launched Defender in 1998 as an initially private studio endeavor that paired the pair with various guest players. The arrival of Jorge’s older sibling, drummer Angel—who had logged a brief stint in the punk outfit the Vindictives—locked the trio into place by 1999, prompting live appearances across local stages and the gradual shaping of an experimental, shoegazey aesthetic. A pivotal 2001 recording session, however, marked the true emergence of Allá: when Meszaros departed early, the younger Ledezma devoted the remaining time to crafting what became the track “Un Pedazo.” Budget shortfalls ultimately halted Defender’s album, yet Ledezma retained the master tapes and kept refining the material. Local vocalist Lupe Martinez joined the sessions in 2004 and remained through 2006, at which point she and the Ledezma brothers parted on amicable terms to establish Allá. The new group afforded the three musicians space to delve deeper into their Mexican lineage while still honoring earlier touchstones that included Can—Defender had once toured with the band’s vocalist Damo Suzuki—as well as Brazilian tropicalia, electronica, and indie pop. The completed Es Tiempo, which retained only “Un Pedazo” and one other cut, “El Movimiento,” from the 2001 Defender tapes, was tracked in facilities spanning multiple countries and appeared in spring 2008.
