It’s such a welcome surprise when a debut kicks you directly in the head — figuratively, of course. Such is the case with Amanecer, the first LP from Marcie Hernandez. The local singer-songwriter and certified music therapist has spent years building a network of collaborators and fans in Burlington. That includes three years working on her first full-length album, which is all the better for it.

Despite a modest seven-song track list, this project covers a lot of ground and straddles myriad genres. Yet Amanecer could hardly be called eclectic. This is a cohesive record whose polished songs make for a formidable journey. Along the way, Hernandez grapples with both personal and political turmoil, reflected through the lens of her Puerto Rican heritage.