Jorge Drexler turns 30 in his career in 2026. In all this time, based on collaborations with C. Tangana or implementing the use of autotune in his compositions, the Uruguayan artist has known how to renew himself like few others. In ‘Taracá’, his latest album, Drexler doesn’t put on the brakes and delivers a work as rich in tradition as it is in new sounds.
‘Toco wood’ is the best example of this, and also the Song of the Day. The key to the lead single of ‘Taracá’ is the rhythm that runs through the entire song, typical of candombe. Drexler thoughtfully includes in the song’s video what this Afro-Uruguayan style consists of: “Hitting the wood of the drum with the stick to mark a rhythmic key.” Indeed, between pianos, guitars and vocal effects, percussion is the protagonist of ‘Toco wood’.
Letters have always been Drexler’s specialty. On this occasion, knocking on wood becomes the common expression both in music, due to the very nature of candombe, and in the words of the singer-songwriter: “I, just in case / Knock on wood.” The rest of the song exhibits the poetry that has always characterized the Uruguayan’s work: “Everyone thinks there is something better out there / It doesn’t matter what the goal is, just win the race.”
In the verses, Drexler paints a picture of today’s world, talking about geolocators and creating “machines wise as those who bake bread.” He even seems to include a reference to war when he says: “I knew it was going to happen, but I didn’t know when / We don’t see where we’re going, but we’re accelerating.” Love is also upside down in the middle of 2026: “I’m not sure if you are my guard or my jailer / I was not superstitious, but today I am not what I was.” Just in case, Jorge knocks on wood.
