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Art vs. Rock 12 February 2007 It is perhaps the combination of contemporary art and music that creates the right conditions for experimentation and the development of new styles and approaches that lead to musical innovation. In the last couple of weeks there have been events that highlight how music in Mexico is developing on many levels, not only in the sense of creating music that is commercially viable but also in terms of maintaining a “art rock movement” within the rapidly growing scene. The first “Editiones Mentes” took place in El Eco Museum in San Rafael at the start of February in free space provided by the museum and with free drinks to guarantee a good crowd. The project brings together the media of music and visual art in a particular form. A 10 “track” poster pack based around the concept of the introduction of rock on vinyl with produced by a group of designers. The curators celebrated the launch with an evening of experimental sounds produced by Evil Hippie and Robota for the open-minded audience. The following Friday a random rooftop in the Historic Centre provided further free space for extra experimentation. Post Pastel, Les Fleurs du mal, El Pan Blanco and Roc n Robots all provided performances that were geared as much for visual and sonic impact. Working within an electronic blues/rock/pop framework the live experience is all about improvisation and entertainment. The music generated helps build strong musical relationships and allows performers to relax and enjoy themselves in front of a small but appreciative audience. With many people from a range of musical backgrounds involved it is possible to see how successful acts such as Nuevos Ricos’s Jessy Bulbo and Maria Daniella y Su Sonido Lasser may have been developed during informal interactions such as this. The interface of art and music always seems to throw up interesting concepts. Nuevos Ricos at times could be seen as operating within a “KLF” (the true champions of art vs. rock) type construction. Maria Daniella y Su Sonido Lasser seems almost perfectly programmed pop following a recipe designed to create commercial success. The KLF manual “How to have a number one – the easy way” published in 1988 suggests simple cliché lyrics (not many) that are “sugared up”, the bass rift factor that drives the song, a dance groove that runs all the way through the record and tracks no longer than 3 minutes and 30 seconds. The book is a step by step guide of how to create a number 1 in three months or your money back… Maybe things have changed a little but there is a suggestion of a similar formula in songs such as “Fiesta de Cumpleaños” that have penetrated the lucrative mainstream in Mexico and beyond. The label uses EMI distribution to make sure of CD availability to capitalise on an artist’s popularity. This perhaps provides the funds for other projects that the “non-collective” conceives. With new album releases by Jesse Bulbo, Silverio and Dick el Demasiado celebrated on the 15th February in el DF, Nuevos Ricos seems to have created an effective framework that operates between artistic expression and experimentation, and making the necessary adaptations to create commercial success. |
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