MIS Remezcla - Part II

I just got a copy of the Nickodemus Remix of MIS's "El Microfono" and believe me when I say, it's fire.

Take a listen:

Noteworthy: "The Truth"

"The Truth" is a hit song by the Trip Hop/Electronica group Si*Se. The group, made up of vocalist - Carol C, violinist - Tarrah Reynolds, percussionist - Neil Ochoa, programmer and keys - U.F. Low, drummer - Farley, and bassist - Morgan Phillips, has had their music featured on Sex and the City, One Tree Hill, and Six Feet Under, and have shared the stage with top acts like Norah Jones, Cesaria Evora, and James Brown.

"The Truth" is a love song that lulls listeners into submission with Carol C's sweet, yet vulnerable vocals. For lack of an actual video, I selected a One Tree Hill montage (dedicated to my little sister because it's her favorite show ;). With instrumentals reminiscent of a Spanish lullaby, "The Truth" has an addictive and sexy quality that is sure to hook anyone within ear shot.

As mentioned in a previous post, Si*Se will be playing alongside Los Amigos Invisibles from February 6th - 12th for a series of West Coast Performances at various House of Blues locations and two shows at the Independent in San Francisco.

For more info on Si*Se and show dates visit their myspace page

Noteworthy: "Te Comes Lo Que Dices"

The first single off the "power pop rock" trio's 2007 album Perfume Panetera, "Te Comes Lo Que Dices" captures the boys from Liquits (Edi, Ro, & Teo) rocking at their finest. "Te Comes Lo Que Dices" is a fast-paced, hyperactive kind of song that builds until you're bouncing around, rocking out on air guitar, and just plain enjoying yourself.

To hear more songs from Liquits visit their myspace page. I recommend the ska-inspired song "Cuando Apagues La Luz."

La Nueva Oreja?

The Spanish Alternative Scene recieved a huge blow on November 20th when La Oreja de Van Gogh (Van Gogh's Ear) announced that their sugary, sweet-voiced siren, Amaia Montero, would be leaving the band after 11 years as lead singer. Montero made this announcement in order to pursue a solo career.

As fans absorbed the shock and felt the loss, the rumor mills began to spin. At one point it was rumored that Mexican pop-sensation, Paulina Rubio, would serve as the bands lead singer. The latest rumor was that Edurne García, winner of the Spanish, American Idol-esque reality TV show, Operación Triunfo (Canal Satélite Digital), would become the new lead singer.

However, the group announced on their blog that the Edurne García rumors, were just that - rumors. They encourage fans to be patient and not believe everything they read/hear.

If you have any ideas on who could be the Nueva Oreja send a comment our way.

Más Pa' La Calle

With all the success around Manu Chao's award-winning single "Me Llaman Calle," there's news of a new Manu remix in the works (according to his label, Nacional Records). Keep an eye out. Área Alternativa will keep you posted.

MIS Remezcla

An exclusive remix of Mexican Institute of Sound's "El Microfono" by underground electronica sensation, Nickodemus, will be released on the upcoming soundtrack to the Showtime movie E.S.L. which will premiere nationwide this March. The soundtrack will feature other Latin Alternative greats like the The Pinker Tones, Nortec Collective, and Andrea Echeverri (of Aterciopelados fame). The soundtrack will be released February 12th, so check record stores near you.

Café to play Coachella 2008

Café Tacvba will be playing this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The three-day festival held in Indo, California has played host to top acts like Manu Chao, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Morrissey.

Café is scheduled to perform on Saturday April 26th, the second day of the festival. This year’s festival also includes performances by MIA, Kraftwerk, Portishead, I’m from Barcelona, Tegan and Sara, Vampire Weekend, and Architecture in Helsinki, among others.

Meme, Cone Cahuitl, Quique and Joselo, better known as Café Tacvba have been together since 1989 and have been stirring up the Latin Alternative scene ever since. They are best known for one of their early songs, the corky sounding “La Ingrata” and their 1994 album Re. Café Tacvba also won the 2004 Latin Grammy award for Best Alternative Music Album with their album Cuatro Caminos.

Their latest album, Sino was released in October 2007 featuring the hit single “Volver a Comenzar.” Ranging from electronic to rock and even punk, their music is eclectic, fun, and just plain good. They also played last summer’s Lollapalloza alongside other icons like Pearl Jam, Daft Punk, Stephen Marley, and Iggy & the Stooges.

To purchase tickets visit the Coachella website. They just went on sale at 10AM this morning.

To keep up on Café news visit their myspace page.

- Stephanie Aviles
[Stephanie is a sophomore public relations major at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications @ Syracuse University. She hails from San German, Puerto Rico and is a self-proclaimed record junkie. Her favorite bands include The Addicts, The Clash, Permanente, Circo, and I’m From Barcelona. Check out her posts appearing regularly on Area Álternativa.]

Props for Hip Hop Hoodios, Mexican Institute of Sound, and Monareta

Felicitaciones to Hip Hop Hoodios, MIS, and Monareta because this March their music will be featured in the film Pride and Glory, a "gritty and emotional portrait of the New York City Police Department," starring Ed Norton, Colin Farrell, and John Voight.

The premiere date is slated for March 14th, so mark your calendars.

Noteworthy: "Tatita"

Even though DJ Bitman is out on his own, doing big things, let's not forget about his past as part of the DJ-ing duo Bitman y Roban. Their song "Tatita" combines '80s and 90's hip-hop with smooth lounge rhythms and signature scratching technique. With infusions of Kurtis Blow's "These are the Breaks" and Naughty By Nature's "Clap Yo Hands," "Tatita" is a cool, yet calm way to kick back and blow off some steam. Enjoy.

Coming Soon

With all these bands releasing new albums the big question is: who's next?

Glad you asked -

Plastilina Mosh is currently in the studio working on their next album which is said to be "a crazy-rocked-out musical adventure a la Monterrey!"

The Alterna-Rock group was formed in 1996 by Alejandro Rosso and Juan José González (best known as Jonás) in Monterrey. Their sound is best described as a combination of "'60's sleazy-listening, '70s disco/funk, '80s punk/new wave, and '90s hip hop all microwaved to perfection."

Their last album was 2003's Hola Chicuelos, with notable singles "Peligroso Pop" and "Te Lo Juro por Madonna" but it was 1998's Aquamosh that contained their hit song, "Mr. Pmosh"

Plastilina Mosh have been compared to Basement Jaxx, The Chemical Brothers, and Fat Boy Slim but here's what critics have to say:

"Forget about the much-hyped, little heard "rock en espanol" genre. Plastilina Mosh have something much cooler to offer: call it "Beck en espanol" - INTERVIEW MAGAZINE

The Rolling Tones

The boys from Barcelona are kicking it hard core in 2008. The Pinker Tones are releasing their new album, Wild Animals, on April 29th and headlining Vans Warped Tour where they will play alongside Gym Class Heroes, Everytime I Die, Relient K, The Academy Is..., and many more top bands.

The duo seemed to take over the world in 2007 as a subject of a New York Times feature and an A&E special, a performance on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic," and a song featured on "Ugly Betty" and "Entourage." The Pinker Tones also received heavy play on mtvU, MTV Tr3s, Mun2, and LATV. But perhaps it was their SXSW performance where they performed five shows in 36 hours, blowing the audience at KCRW’s Sounds Eclectic Evening in Los Angeles away alongside leading artists like The Shins, Lily Allen and Rodrigo and Gabriela. Their latest single “Karma Hunters” was also selected as the theme song for Mun2's popular reality show ‘Chicas Project’.

With the success of their 2006 debut The Million Colour Revolution and their 2007 remix album More Colours!, the group plans to expand with their next album, hitting fans with a variety of vocal guests including Jimmy Lindsay from groundbreaking 1970s Jamaican funk group Cymande and Amparo from Spanish reggae-rock band Amparanoia. The albums first single off of Wild Animals will be, “Happy Everywhere.”

Here's what the critics are saying:

“Barcelona’s Pinker Tones are just flat-out unbelievably fucking great…they rate as one of the finest exercises in pop confection currently working in the known universe.” - LA WEEKLY

“An exuberant and eclectic collection, swinging from electro-soul to bossa-nova-esque to a Catalan-Hawaiian instrumental. Think of a soundtrack for a blaxploitation or James Bond movie with a score by both Kraftwerk and Henry Mancini." - NEW YORK TIMES

La Nueva Sound Machine

Nortec Collective returns to the music scene with their new album Bostich + Fussible / Tijuana Sound Machine, set to drop May 6th.

This is the groups latest musical endeavor since their hit 2005 album, Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3. The album scored two Grammy Award nominations for "Best Alternative Music Album" and "Best Recording Package" as well as praise from Rolling Stone, The LA Times, XLR8R, and The New York Times, and #1 status on both iTunes and eMusic in the first week of its release.

The electronic hitmakers are known for bringing their unique music style, Nortec - a fusion of Norteño ("from the North") and Techno, to the mainstream, creating a fusioin between electronica style and culture and traditional Mexican music.

With their musical repertoire featured in commercials (Volvo, Dell, Nissan) , TV Shows ("Big Love," "Friday Night Lights"), Movies (Fast Food Nation, Babel), and video games (FIFA Soccer), the five man phenomenon made up of Fussible (Pepe Mogt), Bostich (Ramón Amezcua), Panóptica (Roberto Mendoza), Clorofila (Jorge Verdín) and Hiperboreal (PG Beas) are sure to blow the Miami Sound Machine out of the water - Tijuana style.