Rey Pila - "Alexander"

My Fonograma colleague Blanca Méndez hit the nail on the head when foreshadowing that Rey Pila’s vastly overlooked debut would be one to revisit again and again, “if only to discover more of its subtleties with each listen.” Yet, in the last couple of years, it seemed like Rey Pila had lost momentum. Though quiet, the project has remained very active. Following the underrated success of the first release, Rey Pila toured extensively with the likes of Interpol, Muse, TV on the Radio, and Ariel Pink. In 2012, Diego Solórzano, alongside bandmates Rodrigo Blanco (Dirty Karma) and Andres Velasco (Chikita Violenta), moved to New York City to work on a sophomore release. With the help of producer Chris Coady (Beach House, Smith Westerns, Wavves), Rey Pila are putting the final touches to their second album, which they described as “a synth-laden, guitar-driven collection of pop gems.”

With cover art inspired by Halloween III, the band has unveiled “Alexander” as their new single. Momentum seems to be on their side again, as the band has officially signed to Cult Records (Julian Casablanca’s label). The single comes with B-side “Lady in Red,” a Chris de Burgh cover. “Alexander” seems to emerge from a place of solitude, where rhythm, timing, and arrangement are negotiated for a post-new wave, almost cinematic outcome. Diego and his band mates don’t shy away from ambition, and their trickery of the medium pays off as they create a number that’s equally exquisite as it is atmospheric.

Video: Chikita Violenta - "Roni"

Pablo Davila helms Chikita Violenta’s glowing and creepy new video “Roni”, the latest single off their album TRE3S. The video starts with a sort of horrific setting in the woods of Desierto de Los Leones, where the band is ready to shoot their video. There’s plenty of sunlight, but it gets cloudy right away with the appearance of an aggressive old dude who demands to see a film-shooting permit. The guys try to get away with it justifying it’s for academic-purposes (we’ve all been there), but he is of course, not buying it. The clip goes on to unexpected turns, exploiting much of its platforms with plenty of genius. Half of the footage has the Harmony Korine docu-drama motifs, while the other half, is like a visceral (and splendidly shot) sequence of Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives. It's gorgeous inside out, with a great commentary of the monstrous fear towards the camera, and the unpredictability of its subjects. Bravo.

MtyMX Begins

I’m interrupting Andrew Casillas’ tasteful SXSW coverage to begin our exciting MtyMX coverage, wait… we’re not going! You guys have no idea how excited we are about this festival, but you can’t travel too far without money. Everyone was expecting us to go considering we’re one of the few blogs out there that has heard all the Mexican bands set to perform. Yesterday, Pitchfork’s founder Ryan Schreiber posted a wonderful mix of Mexican bands (+ Jovenes y Sexys) playing at the fest, mentioning Club Fonograma among his references for his DIY Mexico Mix. If you have reading us since then, know we’re not based in Mexico, but the U.S. It was great to see our link a P4k, although it added to our disappointing of not being able to get ourselves down there.

But we won’t let this landmark event just pass by us; our dear Venezuelan friend Cheky from Jóvenes y Sexys will be covering the fest for us (at least in pictures). His band will be playing on Monday, so if you’re down there, don’t miss it. In an effort to get you on the mood, for all those who can’t be there, here are some mp3s from most of the Mexican bands playing today. The headliners for this kickoff Saturday: Los Planetas, Acid Mothers Temple, Chikita Violenta, Telepathe & Quiero Club.

♫♫♫ Quiero Club feat. Jorge Gonzalez. "Minutos de Aire"

♫♫♫ Yo! Linares. "Unos amigos, unos vatos, unos güeyes"
♫♫♫ Lazaro Valiente. "Benvindo"
♫♫♫ Chikita Violenta. "Laydown"
♫♫♫ Soho Riots. "Mr. Tambourine Man"

Best Songs of 2008 So Far Vol.2

2008 Half-Year Roundup
Vol.2

Vol.1 - Songs #30-21
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20. “Celebra la vida”, Axel
From: Universo (Sony)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Para muchos Axel no pasa de ser un cantante demasiado dulce, no apto para diabéticos musicales. Pero “Celebra la Vida”, una canción positiva a la “Color Esperanza”, logro enrutarlo hacia otros rumbos. Es una delicia escuchar como el Charango marca el ritmo de la canción. (Paulo Correa)
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19. “Laydown”, Chikita Violenta
From: The Stars and Suns Sessions (Noiselab)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

The Stars & Suns Sessions is truly complex album, it is extremely hard to digest but once it gets you, is hard to make it stop. Second official single “Laydown” is their finest hour of new wave, not just in music but also registering the themes imposed by the revolutionary musical movement. Chikita Violenta is an ambitious band that is universally appealing; “Laydown” might just bring them the attention needed to take another step. (Carlos Reyes)
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18. “Left Behind”, CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy)
From: Donkey (Sub Pop)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

This band is proving to be one of the only alternative imports from Brazil, a country categorized for the high demand of roots music. “Left Behind” actually sounds like your teenage pop star song, eventually getting into Bjork territory, but you won’t care at the end as the song is catchy as fire. Cansei de Ser Sexy rocks! (Jean-Stephane Beriot)
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17. “Tem que ser voce”, Victor & Leo
From: Ao Vivo Em Uberlandia
YouTube/IMEEM

Una balada en portugués, cantada por dos hermanos representantes de la movida “Sertaneja”, algo así como el Country de la región de Sao Paulo en Brasil. Grandes voces en una buena canción. (Paulo Correa)
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16. “Hansel y Gretel’s Bollywood Story”, Porter
From: Atemahawke (Tercer Piso)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

One of Porter’s most psychedelic pieces, their interpretation of the classic children’s book is alarming and orgasmic. Bollywood is a great host but the siblings are still invaded by tragic. Juan Son is a master of tales and the artwork in Atemahawke signals an unconventional creative writer that is able to circuit through different art media. “El mundo es cruel, te va a comer, si tu antes, no lo atacas a el.” (Carlos Reyes)
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15. “Politik Kills”, Manu Chao
From: La Radiolina (Nacional Records)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Ever since I played this song from La Radiolina, I can’t stop thinking about its resemblance to M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes.” Both are political songs that do their job without been cheesy or trying to change the world with melodrama. (Jean-Stephane Beriot)
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14. “Bonita”, Cabas
From: Amores Dificiles (EMI)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Romántica, rítmica y melodiosa. Cabas nos demuestra en esta canción como se escribe sobre el amor sin llegar a ser cursi. (Paulo Correa)
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13. “Normal”, Ximena Sariñana
From: Mediocre (Warner)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

This was supposedly the first single from Mediocre, which always felt too risky and dark to be truth. “Normal” was released as an internet single and has quickly and deservedly overshadowed the not-so-good “Vidas Paralelas.” (Carlos Reyes)
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12. “Carmensita”, Devendra Banhart
From: Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (XL Recordings)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Hippies get up! Banhart is back with another hit from his awesome latest album, exploring the Spanish language again, much more fluent this time. “Carmensita” works on all levels, and especially visually with that extraordinary music video honoring bollywood. (Jean-Stephane Beriot)
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11."Algun día”, Julieta Venegas feat. Gustavo Santaolalla
From: MTV Unplugged (Sony BMG)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Banjo, xilofono, y tuba no son instrumentos tipicos en una cancion pop. Julieta sabe como hacer para sonar diferente en una canción esplendida que evoca los sonidos de la música tradicional mexicana, esta vez junto al maestro Santaolalla. (Paulo Correa)
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