RODOTOTOED

Well, it is cool to find new names in the musical scene, and better if they come from your country and make great music, this is the case of Mexican trio Rodototoed, a band that I've just discovered but that has been in the musical realm for some years, actually, this is their third album which was released in 2012, so a couple of years passed until I found "Ver (detrás)" a release which was recorded live, and consists of six tracks that make a total time of 30 minutes of nice psych prog rock.

The songs don't have a real name, they just have an order in Roman Numbers. The first is "I", which starts with some lost bass notes, accompanied by some free jazz drums, seconds later the guitar appears with some loops, giving the impression that the music will take you to another galaxy. It is like an improvisation, a mixture of kraut with space rock, nice. Suddenly "II" starts, so it is actually one long song divided in six parts. In this second one, the trio keep jamming, adding new sounds while the seconds pass, playing and having fun with their instruments, but also sharing to the listener their trippy offer. I like when they get a bit crazier and the music becomes nervous and faster.

However, it slows down and they continue playing, making new passages with different time changes. When "III" starts the atmosphere is spacey, but really soft, what I like here is that the music flows and there is a moment after four minutes where the guys become crazy and share much more interesting music, I feel the climax is in this one part. Then it vanishes and "IV" begins. It also flows but it does not reach a climax, this time they just keep playing in a sot way, they have fun but I feel the music leads to nowhere, I mean, it does not have direction in moments. Plus, this is the longest "track" of the album.

It is actually not easy to notice when a track finishes, they follow the same line and play and experiment, but there is not a sign that distinguishes one from another, not really. So "V" starts with a cheeky guitar tone, while drums play some things and bass rests. It lasts for 3 minutes and then "VI" appears just to finish the album in a tense and spacey mood; at first it is softer, but later it becomes a bit rockier, just a little bit. And then, it just finishes.

Though I can say I enjoyed some moments, I cannot deny I feel the album lacks of several things, it lacks of a goal, of a personal touch, of memorable moments, and I know this is a live jam and the talent of the musicians is evident, however, the result might not be the best or the one that you want to keep in your collection. Anyway, I hope they keep making music in my country and produce more and better releases. My final grade, 2 stars.

Enjoy it, though!

Retro seems to have gone through a metamorphosis. Going from being a cool word that indicated style and flair to what it is now a rather maligned one with terrible connotations in certain musical circles..... I think it's fair to criticise openly copycatting, but I never really linked that to the retro word and what it means. To me personally, it just tells me that the musicians playing in whatever band feel more comfortable around the good old instruments such as electric guitar, flute, mellotron, hammond organ, saxophone, congas, piano, moog, triangle and yeah you probably get where I'm going with this. It's a vibe thing - a way of utilising sounds and oldish tested instruments to channel one's music forward.

Retro also means paying homage to what came before you. Letting oneself get excited and inspired by styles and sonic auras - all the stuff that makes your heart sink into your stomach. In the psychedelic quarters, there's been a lot of that going on most recently. Only last year, Swedish space rockers - Kraut-affiliates, My Brother the Wind made one of the finest albums of the year with I Wash my Soul in the Stream of Infinity - connecting our modern day music scene with a most vibrant and experimental one happening in Germany some 40 years ago. Well, Mexican power trio Rodototoed are of the same ilk. This their debut album was recorded live in August and September of 2010. Focusing heavily on instant composition - letting the music appear as it is played, these two pieces fumble elegantly around the musical vacuum and deliver high soaring majestic space rock - totally improvised and free.

Guitar, bass and drums are the ingredients, but with differentiating moods and segments ranging from the snuffling ambient serene to blasting tomahawk fire rock, this album never gets boring or one-sided. It's instrumental as well, so the instruments are doing the talking, and in all honesty, I actually prefer my space rock like this. No disturbing vocals from people who've probably been licking bullfrogs prior to their loosey goosey live performance, and let's face it - the guitar benefits much more from an acidic quivering musician standing behind it, than the fragile microphone that has precisely zero tolerance for mistakes and mumblings(That is of course not entirely true, but it's very few singers who are able to do what Damo Suzuki does - and successfully too...)

If you enjoyed last years My Brother the Wind release, or just feel comfortable around music without a harness, then you'll probably lap this baby right up. This is great music for turning on, tuning in and dropping out. Old Timothy would love music like this, and I happen to do so as well. There's a fire and rawness to the music, and nowhere does it begin to feel out of breath or steam. The ideas are there, and they do get materialised, although Rodototoed managed to pull something even better off for their next album simply called 2, - which incidentally also is free of charge on the band's bandcamp page. Oh, did I neglect to inform you about that? Yes my fellow space cadets, this music is free - and damn fine to boot! So what are you waiting for? Haley's comet and the reformation of Sha-na-na? Get up and get with it big boy!