Posted in Whathaveyou on April 17th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
The simple fact is that Viaje a 800 were years ahead of their time. Years. After their Diablo Roto De… debut in 2001, the band took more than half a decade to deliver a follow-up in Estampida de Trombones, but they made that wait absolutely worth it. Rife with memorable songs that crossed any and all language barriers with their fludity of groove and memorable melodies, it was a record that, if it came out today in the sphere of social media word-of-mouth, would have them headlining tours and digging into slots at one festival after the next. Don’t believe me? Listen to the record. You’ll understand.
Estampida de Trombones is being given a get-it-while-you-can limited vinyl repressing through Spinda Records that’s up for preorder now and officially out June 5. If there’s any justice in the universe, they’ll be long gone by the time June gets here. Make that happen.
Info from the PR wire and the preorder page:
Viaje a 800 re-edit ‘Estampida de Trmobones’ on vinyl
The stampede returns … YELL!
Exhausted years ago, with skyrocketing prices in the second-hand market and over time become an authentic cult album among the followers of progressive rock, stoner or psychedelic rock, ‘Estampida de trombones’ from Viaje a 800 is re-edited these days through the independent label Spinda Records.
Released: June 5, 2018 Price: € 20 (pre-order offer)
‘Estampida de Trombones’ 11th Anniversary Numbered-Limited Edition Orange-Translucent 12″ Vinyl, including new artwork and lyrics.
Music & Lyrics by Viaje a 800. Special guests: Andeas Papandreus (‘Cáncer Bahía’) & Curro Snortil (‘Estampida de Trombones’). Produced by Viaje a 800 & Spinda Records. Recorded & Mixed at La Casa del Perro (Algeciras) by Curro Snortil. Mastering by J.M. Sagrisa at Estudios Punta Paloma (Tarifa). Photography by Steele-grasza. Artwork by Artidoto.
Track-list: SIDE A 1. Los ángeles que hay en mi piel 2. El amor es un perro del infierno 3. Dios astrónomo 4. Ossario 5. Zé SIDE B 6. Luto 7. Patio Custodio 8. Estampida de trombones 9. Cabezas de tugsteno 10. Cáncer bahía
Vinyl Edition by Spinda Records (5th June 2018)
300 numbered units Vinyl 12 “Gatefold Translucent orange vinyl Includes lyrics Good trip…
If you’re getting tired of hearing me talk about it, that’s probably just too bad. This Friday, April 7, is the release date for Atavismo‘s wonderfully progressive, lush and psychedelic second album, Inerte (review here). It’s coming out via Temple of Torturous, and between the recent European tour announcement, their video for “La Maldición del Zisco” (posted here), the review/track premiere linked above, the initial album announcement, and my own Most Anticipated of 2017 list, the record has been an ongoing theme for the early part of the year. When I like something, I say so. It’s not like I’m doing this to keep secrets.
And not that I couldn’t keep rambling about its ongoing appeal, from the opening rush of “Pan y Dolor” to the musings of “Volarás” at the finale, but it seems only fair as it is release week to give someone else a shot. The band, say. Atavismo — the Algeciras-based three-piece of Jose “Poti” Moreno (ex-Viaje a 800, Mind!), bassist/vocalist Mateo and drummer/vocalist Sandri Pow (also ex-Mind!) — have been kind enough to let me host the full stream of Inerte, and while I’d normally pair that kind of thing with a review, that’s already been done, so instead, we’ll get their take on the record.
Below, you’ll find the five-track entirety of Inerte for your streaming pleasure, and I do hope you’ll make your way through it front to back. Beneath that is a track-by-track look at the album courtesy of Atavismo themselves, which is doubly appreciated for the fact that English isn’t their first language.
With special thanks to Becky Laverty for coordinating, I hope you enjoy:
Atavismo – Track by Track Through Inerte
“Pan y Dolor”
“Pan y Dolor” is the first track on the album — and one that we premiered here with the Obelisk! As we said at the time, this song is something of a tribute to the Spanish band, Triana. The act of breathing becomes the succinct exercise of feeling beyond paradigms and self inner worlds. The album starts with some serious psychedelia.
“El Sueño”
“El Sueño” is a long walk in the moonlight, catching all your senses from the first second. When you are completely in charge of creating your own album, you get to decide exactly how it will sound, then the results are a dream come true. We’re very happy with the way this sounds.
“La Maldición del Zisco”
“La Maldición del Zisco” suggests being a decadent trickster. Pot’s amazing vocal melody flies over an insidious bass reminding us of a real ’80s essence, that one which made us fall in love with riding on coloured cotton clouds and apocalyptical rainbows.
“Belleza Cuatro”
“Belleza Cuatro” is a slice of classic psychedelia — and in our opinion, a perfect, original crepuscular soundtrack.
“Volarás”
Inerte finishes with the track “Volarás,” a long way from the intense rhythm of the beginning of the album; it becomes a lysergic and poetic journey through our hearts. Guitar solos and harmony voices destroy our worst fears and make them become the most beautiful feelings of love and real truth.
Overall, Inerte is a neccesary trip, the unhurried sound which is hiding between your future visions; the best auditive pleasure you didn’t know you were looking for.
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 24th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Glad to see Algeciras progressive psychedelic rock trio Atavismo getting out in support of their second album, Inerte (review here). That record, still forthcoming with an April 7 official release date through Temple of Torturous and a recently unveiled video for “La Maldición del Zisco” (originally posted here) that you can see below, has been an early favorite of 2017 for me, building on the fluidity of 2014’s engaging four-track debut, Desintegración (review here), while at the same time fleshing out a more pointed approach. Proggier, in other words, but in a classic, patient and not-at-all showy sense of the style. If you haven’t heard the album yet — and it’s okay if you haven’t, what with it not being out and all — keep it in mind. You should hear it.
I know I’ve said that before. Hard to imagine this will be the last time I say it either. Some points are worth reiterating. In any case, Atavismo‘s upcoming Euro run through Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium and maybe the Netherlands has a few dates open, and if you’re in that part of the world and can help them out, well, do that.
From the social medias:
ATAVISMO EUROPEAN TOUR
Full of happiness for announcing this Tour Poster, lots of working behind it and not only from us (the design is amazing, thanks again Antonio Ramírez).
THANKS TO EVERYONE who has helped us to book some shows (still some of them TBA), your support has been incommensurable. We love you with all our hearts. This wish has become true.
14.04 El Perro Club Madrid ES 15.04 Inferno Pamplona / Iruna ES 16.04 Sala Shake Bilbao ES 18.04 Tiefgrund Berlin DE 20.04 Immerhin Wurzburg DE 21.04 Villa Nachttanz Heidelberg DE 22.04 Rock Pub Moskva Bilina CZ 23.04 TBA CZ or DE 25.04 The Mix ArtsSense Brussels BE 26.04 TBA NL or BE 27.04 Bombardon Gent BE 28.04 Jam Club Koblenz DE 29.04 TBA FR 30.04 Rocksound Barcelona ES
ATAVISMO are: Poti: Guitar and vocals Sandra: Drums and vocals Mateo: Bass and vocals
Like the album it’s meant to herald, the new video from Spanish trio Atavismo is deeply colorful, expansive, and underscored by a live-feeling performance. The record is called Inerte (review here), and it’s due out April 7 via Temple of Torturous, which also released the band’s stellar 2014 debut, Desintegración (review here), and the song in the clip is “La Maldición del Zisco,” the centerpiece of the five-track offering. Making use of ascending and descending scales throughout, it makes a particularly resonant impression in putting emphasis on the more progressive take Atavismo show this time around, but amid the headphone-ready synth swirl, layers of vocal melody and winding guitar figures, there are also bouncing drums and a funky bassline, and neither seems the slightest bit out of place. This is among the core factors in what makes Inerte work so well.
I’ve gone on — at length, and multiple times — about this band and how I think they’re onto something special. I know sometimes it’s hard to wade through. The internet is a place full of hyperbole and it’s easy for things to get lost in the wash of opinions, noise and distraction. Still. Take a couple minutes and check out “La Maldición del Zisco,” especially if you haven’t had the chance yet to listen to Atavismo or if you missed the “Pan y Dolor” premiere that went with my review linked above. Aside from the fact that I wouldn’t say these things about Atavismo or about Inerte if I didn’t think they were true, I genuinely believe that good music has the power to make your day, week, month, life better. I believe good art enriches who we are as people, and part of the reason I’m going to encourage you to check out this track as I have Atavismo‘s work all along is because I think it offers the kind of warmth that improves one’s existence. Maybe it’s not for everyone. That’s cool too. At least you will have tried.
That’s my spiel. Until the next one.
Please enjoy “La Maldición del Zisco” below. Inerte is out April 7 on Temple of Torturous, which posted the info you’ll find under the video:
Hailing from Spain, and with a critically acclaimed debut album, Desintegración, already under their belts, ATAVISMO are exploring new territories with their second full length release. Breaking away from the space rock jams of their debut, ATAVISMO have maintained a psychedelic edge, only this time around the evolution of the band is reflected in their more compact, progressive sounds.
The writing process starts with a jam session – as many great creations have – before a firmer structure is applied to the songs. Lysergic lyrics revolve around soulful feelings, love, and bad dreams which the band describe as “existential poetry”. The result, among other things, is a submersion into the Andalusian rock legacy of the legendary band Triana, without losing sight of more current means of understanding psychedelic or progressive rock from bands like Black Mountain, Wolfpeople or Motorpsycho.
Inerte was recorded in October 2016 at Trafalgar Estudios, El Palmar (Cádiz), Spain.
ATAVISMO are: Poti: Guitar and vocals Sandra: Drums and vocals Mateo: Bass and vocals
[Click play above to hear the premiere of ‘Pan y Dolor’ from Atavismo’s Inerte. Album is out April 7 via Temple of Torturous and can be preordered on CD, black vinyl and clear vinyl.]
Expectations for the second album from Spanish trio Atavismo were set pretty high following their gorgeously cosmic and serene 2014 debut, Desintegración (review here). Inerte makes short work of them. Expanding from four to five included tracks, it sees guitarist/vocalist/synthesist Jose “Poti” Moreno (ex-Viaje a 800, Mind!), bassist/vocalist Mateo and drummer/vocalist Sandri Pow (also ex-Mind!) push brazenly past the fluid textures of their first outing and hold onto some sense of ethereal psych-jazz jamming — hola, “El Sueño” — as they find ultimately more progressive footing.
Released like its looser-feeling-in-hindsight predecessor through Temple of Torturous, Inerte answers some of the questions the band posed with the space-rocking single “Haribo” (discussed here) and affirmed for their audience that they’ll not necessarily be defined by one course or another, one sound or another, and that their goal is far more individualized than to simply execute the tenets of heavy psychedelia, space or prog rock, even as their aesthetic pulls from each of those and more besides. Songs like “Belleza Cuatro” and opener “Pan y Dolor” offer distinctive moments of resonance marked by beautiful melodies and rhythm that can either be insistent and winding, as in “Pan y Dolor”‘s first half, or barely there at all, something carrying the song forward like a gentle river current, as in the drifting guitar-led midsection of the aforementioned, 11-minute “El Sueño.” This nuanced blend is presented with a lush but natural production captured this past October at Trafalgar Estudios in Cádiz, and does nothing across its 42-minute span to rescind the invitation to the listener issued by its in medias res launch.
The tighter feel of Inerte and the uptick in progressive influence from Atavismo is as immediate as that launch itself. A quick, fuzzy lead line careens into forceful Iberian acoustic strum as the vocals arrive for the first verse. It happens fast, but is welcoming nonetheless, and a play back and forth between the electric and acoustic ensues between chorus and verses for the next several minutes, Moreno and Pow and Mateo singing together in classically prog form as a kind of mini-chorus themselves — an element of space rock willfully repurposed and put to excellent use. Shortly before the halfway point of its eight-and-a-half-minute run, “Pan y Dolor” breaks into a wash of guitar and keys/Mellotron that is as hypnotic as it is joyous, with just an undercurrent of foreboding, cutting itself off at 6:48 in order to reintroduce the acoustic strum and resume the song’s prior course, as if to say, “don’t worry, it was just a dream.” It may well have been, and if so, it wasn’t the last.
“Pan y Dolor” builds to its conclusion and “El Sueño” kicks in with lower tone and a deceptively fast tempo, Mateo‘s bass more prominent in the mix. This is the bed over which vocals soar for another soon-arriving verse, and their being somewhat more drawn out — notes held longer — than the opener prefaces the turn into calmer fare that the second track makes at about the 4:20 mark, the tension Atavismo have thus far mounted seeming to let itself go in favor of more improvised-sounding jamming driven by fuzzed-out psychedelics and effects flourish that settles in a delight of meandering wah and builds to an apex over its last couple minutes as it recalls its own early going without necessarily returning to it outright. That jam carries Inerte‘s longest inclusion to its finish and the finish of side A, ending in a cymbal wash and surge of guitar noise that emphasizes the live feel it has fostered all along.
Centerpiece “La Maldición del Zisco” backs sparse guitar with a steady bass and drum progression and fills out its arrangement with keys, using the guitar more as an outward-ringing accent to its early verses, spacious and patient, before it at last launches into what one might call its chorus right around three minutes in. It’s a moment of taking flight through sound and Atavismo make the most of it in terms of thrust, but they’re still not forcing the song to go anywhere it doesn’t want to go.
They dip back into the verse easily and return to the mostly-instrumental chorus quicker the second time through, then proceed to jam their way out of the track, fading to silence just before the seemingly complementary “Belleza Cuatro” — the two are the shortest cuts on Inerte at 6:18 and 5:18, respectively — takes hold in a soothing trance of liquefied guitar and keys. Its importance in being positioned as the penultimate track before 10-minute closer “Volarás” shouldn’t be understated, and as Moreno, Mateo and Pow drift toward that grand finale, they do so with no less purpose behind them than they had rushing at the outset of “Pan y Dolor.” Vocal harmonies echo under sweet lines of guitar and softly-thudding drums, and a louder, fuller tone rises in the second half, but they still cap quietly, which gives the percussion/keyboard opening of “Volarás” an even more dramatic sensibility. This is something of a ruse, on the band’s part — another dream, maybe — because just after three minutes of building to who knows what, they juke left and shift into a particularly Floydian blend of lightly-strummed guitar, keys, bass and drums, a memorable keyboard line serving as the core around which the rest is placed.
This will be the movement that carries Atavismo out of their second record, and it seems to be a final highlight of the point that their progression is by no means a settled issue. It is striking how many different looks the band gives in these five tracks and how able they are to tie them together as a single flowing work. As “Volarás” quietly makes its way out, Inerte seems to have done as much through understatement as through its reaching new heights, and if it’s in that balance that Atavismo will find their place, then all the better. Whatever they do going forward — Moreno and Pow also have a new four-piece project in the works with former Viaje a 800 guitarist Jose Angel “Oceano” Galindo called Híbrido, adding intrigue to this release — Atavismo have exceeded the potential their debut showed with Inerte and given their listeners a work of depth and breadth that should be treasured for years to come.
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 7th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
If you need to, take a second and get your brain properly excited for how good the second Atavismo album is going to be. Remember how frickin’ excellent their 2014 debut, Desintegración (review here), was when that arrived, and then go ahead and picture something even broader in its scope and with more depth of melody and tone. Something more progressive but not necessarily less ethereal. I’m telling you it’s one of the best records you’re going to hear this year, and yes, I say that having heard it. I’m usually shy about saying that kind of thing, but I got this one early and it’s just pure immersive bliss. It’s out April 7. I’ll be reviewing it Feb. 21 with a track premiere, so watch out. I’m already stoked to be able to share some of it with you.
The PR wire brought art and other details, and when I see preorder whatnots, I’ll pass those along as well. The release is through Temple of Torturous, as you can read below:
ATAVISMO confirm details of upcoming album, ‘Inerte’
Progressive power trio, ATAVISMO, have today announced details of their upcoming sophomore album, entitled Inerte. The five-track album will be released on April 7, via Temple of Torturous Records.
Hailing from Spain, and with a critically acclaimed debut album, Desintegración, already under their belts, ATAVISMO are exploring new territories with their second full length release. Breaking away from the space rock jams of their debut, ATAVISMO have maintained a psychedelic edge, only this time around the evolution of the band is reflected in their more compact, progressive sounds.
The writing process starts with a jam session – as many great creations do – before a firmer structure is applied to the songs. Lysergic lyrics revolve around soulful feelings, love, and bad dreams which the band describe as “existential poetry”. The result, among other things, is a submersion into the Andalusian rock legacy of the legendary band Triana, without losing sight of more current means of understanding psychedelic or progressive rock from bands like Black Mountain, Wolfpeople or Motorpsycho.
Already considered one of the most exciting and eclectic bands emerging in their home country, Inerte looks set to secure ATAVISMO similar acclaim world wide.
Inerte was recorded in October 2016 at Trafalgar Estudios, El Palmar (Cádiz), Spain.
Inerte track listing 1. Pan Y Dolor 2. El Sueño 3. La Malediction Del Zisco 4. Belleza Cuatro 5. Volarás
ATAVISMO are: Poti: Guitar and vocals Sandra: Drums and vocals Mateo: Bass and vocals
Inerte will be released via Temple of Torturous on April 7. Information regarding pre-orders will be available in the coming weeks.
Over the last several weeks in Madrid, Nooirax Producciones has celebrated its eighth anniversary with a series of festival-type showcases featuring the likes of Atavismo, Wooly Mammoth Rebellion and Arabrot. The promotion company/record label continues to thrive with new offerings and a rich scope of bands from Spain and beyond, and for Atavismo, it gave the Algeciras trio an outlet to show off some new material as they make ready to follow-up their 2014 debut Desintegración (review here), which continues to offer sunshiny warmth regardless of the actual listening conditions.
Not much is known about Atavismo‘s second album at this point — things like its title, when it’s going to be recorded or if it already has, how many songs will be on it — the debut had four, each one a gem — and when or if it will be out before the end of the year, but listening to “El Sueño” those things matter far less than they otherwise might. What the three-piece of guitarist/synthesist/vocalist Jose “Pot” Moreno, bassist/backing vocalist Mateo and drummer/backing vocalist Sandri Pow affirm with the new clip is that the hypnotic motion of the debut remains intact and that the chemistry of that material has only grown in the two years since Desintegración first came out (it was also released on LP last June).
That’s invariably good news to anyone who, like me, was and continues to be a nerd for that record, and with the space rock-style push Atavismo had for their recent split with Grajo in the song “Haribo” (info here), I’m intrigued to find out how it all ties together with the progressive, lush psychedelia on offer last time around. I have the vague feeling it’s going to be an impatient wait for their second album, and it seems like it’s time to get that wait started.
Congrats to Nooirax on eight years and thanks to them and to Atavismo for allowing me to host the premiere of this live version of “El Sueño” below.
Please enjoy:
Atavismo, “El Sueño” Live at Nooirax Eighth Anniversary
“El Sueño” (The Dream) is the name of this song that will be part of the second opus from the andusian power trio that will be released next year. Triana meets Motorpsycho and Camel in this easy-driven prog-groovie melting pot…
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 19th, 2016 by JJ Koczan
The tracks have been online at Nooirax Productions and La Choza de Doe since December, but the vinyl just reportedly came in this week for the new split release between Spanish outfits Atavismo and Grajo. One song from each is featured along with some decidedly manic artwork, and as you can hear below, it’s a decidedly different take from each group that still resides under the umbrella of heavy.
For Atavismo, whose Desintegración (review here) debut continues to haunt in the best way possible, they give a spacier push on their “Haribo,” repeating the title line in Hawkwindian style and calling to mind a richly cosmic vibe. Grajo, who will reportedly unveil their own debut later this year through DHU Records, present a decidedly doomier take, with dense low end and fuzz guitars topped by ethereal and echoing vocals, the six-minute “Feeding Our Demons” building to a thick head of riffy wash.
Both cuts have something to offer, and since at this point I’ll take whatever Atavismo are willing to give, I’ll take this as a glimpse of where they might at least in part be headed after their first record. Dig it:
Finally in our hands the coveted split 7 ” Atavismo / Grajo… By this time, we only have it available for direct sale at concerts or in hand, but if you want to be with him, you can purchase it through Nooirax Producciones and / or La Choza de Doe.
