More latin influenced weirdness by Uwe Schmidt (*,*), here posing as Moog player Lisa Carbon, through his own Rather Interesting label, with a few contributions, namely by Argenis Brito (*,*). Includes an instrumental cover of 'Space Oddity'.
Fusing together spaced electronics, funk and acid with his experiments in South America's rhythms, I think with the Lisa Carbon project he attempted a contemporary take on the whole early '70s movement that combined library music with pop, jazz and 'ethnic' rhythms. To my ears, it's similar to how David Perian & Alberto Baldan's 'Happy And Crazy Music' would sound if crossed with 'El Baile Aleman', though a bit more on the clicky side and showing off more its rhythm section.
Lisa Carbon - 2003 Standards
Info here.
Standards
Atina.Latino
This is the first Mambotur album I talked about in the last post, also through MultiColor.
More latino colored than the next one, it's a product of a process similar to the Senor Coconut records of the time, a fusing of latino 'ethnic' music elements with a touch of pop and european 'experimental' electronic music techniques. Uwe Schmidt is attributed some additional production credits (and thanks), his influence though can be easily heard throughout the whole album. The reason I think I like 'Al.Frente' a little more is that it has the Mambotur mark, it's more original in its own way, where as this one is the First Record, showing its influences more, going down a certain path already trodden. But it's all just about personal taste, so...
Mambotur - 2002, Atina.Latino
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Al.Frente
Mambotur is a project of Argenis Brito and Pier Bucci, now both famous on their own and, at the same time, constantly in groups and collaborations with the Cadenza/ Perlon guys. They are really well known, I think, so I'll cut to the chase. This (of course) went out in multiColor.
If you're expecting minimal dance elements and lots of funky clip-clop techno, you're for a small surprise. This Mambotur album is closer in style with the already posted 'Blind Behaviour' (where Bucci played a part in the recording, and which btw was recently re-printed in vinyl, run now). This is almost an electronic pop album, though the occasional deep techno track will casually turn up, in the almost typical now neo-latin style (call it sentimental minimalism). Some tracks have SA-spanish lyrics over sweet melodies, all are more or less dub infused, never going uptempo but without getting at all boring. Of course, the 'electro-latino' character of these recordings is obvious as a mannerism, but also is artistic expression and choice.
To sum up, this is the counterpoint to Cadenza's percussive marathons, without which those tool-tracks would be no more than... well, just tool-tracks; it would be stretching to call their producers artists. Personally, I like a lot Pier Bucci's music, the album in Border Community in particular (maybe my favourite release there, along with Adamski's and Heim's). And Argenis Brito has a really good voice. And stage manners, I watched him a few years ago with the Senor Coconut live band. Despite Mr.Schmidt's overwhelming maestro presence, he effortlessly managed to gain the crowd by being pleasant and entertaining. In a good sense, and believe me that is rare.
I remember I found this CD in the 'Lounge' shelf... Hmm. At the moment I've lost track of the first one (I was going for a double post actually), but soon I'll find it and up it.
It's summer down there...
Mambotur - 2005, al.frente
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Baila, baila
The first official part of Senor Coconut's 'career', in Rather Interesting label circa 1997.
Actually, some experiments had preceded this album in the same label (where almost all releases are by Uwe Schmidt). Unfortunately they were at that time unobserved, lost in the river of Atom pseudonyms, waiting for future recognition. Still, the impact on European electronic music and Pop culture of this Latin-infused Electro amalgam was so big that a lot of people felt the need to turn back and listen to Los Samplers, Eric Satin, etc., only to find out that Rather Interesting original records were sold for three digit numbers. I guess that especially after the YMO tribute album, Atom records are even more out of reach.
Anyway, thank your gods for the Multicolor re-releases and their support of certain South American artists like Villalobos, Jorge Gonzalez and Mambotur aka Pier Bucci & Argenis Brito.
Senor Coconut - 1997, El Gran Baile con...
(Multicolor re-issue, 2000)
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
