WITH A LITTLE HELL FROM MY FRIENDS

Some decades ago Zappa asked: "does humor belong in music?", and the answer at least to the talented Mexican mind named Greco Bastián, is a big YES.

Since the first time I approached his music I realized he´s got something different to offer, something unique that is not commonly shared in Mexican musicians, because while the sounds he produces are powerful and eccentric, in the vein of zeuhl and RIO music (or avant-garde, if you prefer), he always adds a bit of humor which is clearly noticed in the mind-games he does with his album titles, just like he does with this magnificent 2022 released entitled 'With a Little Hell From My Friends'.

I love the title, and I don't really care about that old song it might refer to, but I care about that sense of gratitude he has with the different musicians that collaborated and help him to finish this album, musicians from Mexico and from all over the world, whose grain of sand was essential to approach what he was aiming to. Names such as the almighty Tatsuya Yoshida (legendary Ruins drummer) and the lovely Patrick Shirohishi who I saw once playing with Corima are included in this album, so go figure.

The explosion starts with 'Proteo revampirizado', and since the first seconds we will find a vertiginous road, so much energy and power that is unleashed through complex time signatures and a precise yet elegant execution. The piano rhythm is very zeuhl-esque, and I love that powerful drumming that is also wonderfully complemented by bass, crazy guitar riffs and of course, the sax that appears here and there. Welcome to my music, says Bastián with this amazing opening track.

I follow Bastián on Twitter and know he is a soccer fan, haha, which maybe led him to name this second track as 'Zidane Racist'. The humor is not only present in the title, but also in the music, because the song starts with a kind of gypsy and funny tune, then it becomes more serious and adds that raw zeuhl sound, but I love there are some moments that it also reminds me of some Zappa moments. At half the song it slows down and shares a darker, horror-like passage, and then the song starts to be rebuilt.

There is a traditional Mexican chant called 'Cielito Lindo' (it is the song Mexican soccer fans sing in every World Cup), and here Greco Bastián took inspiration of it to give this third track the fabulous name of 'Zeuhlito lindo', quite curious and original. Despite the soft and kind sound of that traditional song, here the music is completely opposite to it, because since the very first seconds it explodes, creating that Ruins-like sound with powerful drums, a raw bass and a wonderful addition of xylophone and sax. Then odd-time signatures appear once again, taking us to a multifaceted trip full of sensations, colours and textures. I also love the use of keyboards here, because it produces a dark atmosphere that may remind you of Goblin. Love it.

'Oniontown' starts with cadence, a soft piano and then drums, bass, mellotron and other instruments join and create a horror-theme ambient, once again I remembered Goblin for some reason. Well, this track is wonderful, it perfectly flows in spite its challeging changes, and no matter how avant-garde or zeuhl it sounds, I believe it could be enjoyable to any prog rock fan.

'Aclowntrenos' is like saying "between us" haha, is another word game made by Greco Bastian's restless mind. Also, the term "clown" included hidden in the title reflects a bit of the song's sound, because it might take you to a circus, an obscure circus, of course.

'My First Metal Swing Set' is a fast and short song full of guitars, so if you are into speed sports, fasten your seatbelt and let the music take you.

The shortest track comes next with 'D.A.S.' which work as a sort of intermission. Jazzy and zeulh-esque, it reminds me a bit of Soft Machine.

Well, Christmas time is also present here with 'Don't Open til Xmas', a funny track that has that december flavor, even the rhythm keeps the Xmas essence, but the adaptation to Greco Bastian's sound is amazing. He is really a talented composer and knows how to make things work; of course, the help he received from the different musicians is priceless, but he put the first stone.

'Exit Filming for a Muse' is the last song and I love how it sounds sooo different from the previous ones. It has some classical arrangements, it really works as a film-score, reminding me of some Western films. After all the vertigo and the storm and energy provided in the previous tracks, they delight us with a soft goodbye, letting us know they can change the mood, the sound and the result, if the want to, because they are capable of reinventing themselves.

Of course, as I mentioned earlier, there are 5 bonus tracks, which are actually alternate versions of some of the songs I previously described. A worthy material for those who already loved the album.

And yes, I loved it, and I really thank Greco Bastián for daring to create this kind of music that is hardly listened in Mexico, and also for daring to contact all the musicians featured in this album, musicians he actually admire, so it is great to achieve something with people you appreciate. Congrats!

RIO / Avant-prog / Zeuhl album of the year? Why not!

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