Illicit were quite simply the Peruvian
Beatles, a sublimely melodic power pop band deeply indebted to the Fab Four's legacy whose music deserves mention in the same breath as
Big Star and
the Raspberries, complete with harmonies and songs to rival the best the genre has to offer.
We Are Not Together assembles material recorded by the individual members of Illicit via projects outside of the core lineup, and while the compilation's achievements don't quite measure up to the group's cult-classic LPs, its sun-kissed, psychedelia-inspired melodies nevertheless impress. Highlights include Carlos Guerrero & the Nilo Espinosa Orquestra's Latin-tinged cover of
the Doors' "Light My Fire," Cerro Verde's "I Lost a Game" and Monik's "Thank You." ~ Jason Ankeny