En Español Friday #1: Volován

Because of its close proximity to the U.S., its numerous colleges, and the technology afforded by its relative wealth, the highly-industrialized Mexican municipality of Monterrey (capitol of the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon) has, in the last ten years, become one of the biggest wellsprings of alternative music in Latin America. As the richest city in Mexico, Monterrey was known in the past more for its factories and shopping malls than its music clubs and recording studios. Nowadays, its thriving music scene has earned it the nickname "Monterrock," and bands like Control Machete and Plastilina Mosh have helped to establish it as "the Seattle of Latin America."


MP3: Volován - "Ella Es Azul"

Indie pop foursome Volován emerged from the Monterrock scene with their self-titled debut album five years ago. Produced by Andy Chase (Tahiti 80, Ivy), Joe Robinson (Badly Drawn Boy, Mom and Dad), and Alejandro Rosso (Plastilina Mosh), Volován spawned two international hit singles. "Ella Es Azul" and "Flor Primaveral"--both heavy on layered "whoo-hoo" choruses, tambourine, handclaps and Fender Rhodes--recall the summery beach pop of mid-century California rather than the traditionally-inspired norteño music popular throughout most of Mexico.

MP3: Volován - "Flor Primaveral"

Elsewhere on the album, when the band isn't picking sand out of its toes, it's caught up in a sunny swoon. The power pop chords of "Invencible," bearing down in waves of bass and snare, summon the spirit of Sonic Youth and The Cars with the warm fuzzy edge of shoegazey synth.

MP3: Volován - "Invencible"

Stay tuned at the end of the album for a quick New-Order-inspired instrumental hidden track. It's sorta nice. Then go out and buy the album--you'll wear it out in no time. As for follow-ups? Earlier this year, after whittling the band down from four members to three, Volován released a sophomore album called Monitor. Frankly, we haven't been as captivated by it as you'd think, so that's about all we have to say about that.

MP3: Volován - Hidden Track

Freestyle Wednesday #5: Exposé

MP3: Exposé - "Point of No Return"

One of the most successful freestyle groups of the 80s was, like most pop acts of the day, a record label construct. Exposé, formed in 1984 by Pantera Productions, initially consisted of Miami natives Sandra Casanas, Alejandra Lorenzo, and Laurie Miller. "Point of No Return" debuted at number one on the Billboard dance charts in 1985, and the success of the single earned them a contract with Arista Records.

MP3: Exposé - "Exposed to Love"

The following year, to the strains of their second hit single, "Exposed to Love," Exposé prepared to begin work on their full-length debut, Exposure. Changes in the group's lineup would stall the album until 1987, but when it was finally released to a #16 position on the charts, Exposure set a new musical record for the group. With chart-topping hits like "Seasons Change," "Let Me Be the One," and "Come Go with Me," Exposé surpassed The Supremes and even The Beatles for the most Billboard Top 10 singles from a single album.

MP3: Exposé - "Come Go with Me"

Exposé's current lineup of Anne Curless, Gioia Bruno, Jeanette Jurado (and, occasionally, Kelly Moneymaker) is still coasting on the triple-platinum sales of Exposure. County fairs, "Freestyle Explosion" concerts, gay pride festivals--you name it, they're there.

Caribou - "Melody Day"

Chances are you know Dan Snaith as Manitoba, the musical alias under which he released two albums in the early aughts (including 2003's incredible Up in Flames). But in 2004, under threat of a lawsuit from the Dictators' "Handsome Dick" Manitoba, Snaith changed his stage name to Caribou, re-released his previous material under the new dub, and began work on his 2005 motorik Krautrock-inspired album Milk of Human Kindness.


MP3: Caribou - "Melody Day"

Andorra, Snaith's latest release as Caribou, follows his tradition of musical metamorphosis. On "Melody Day," the album's first single, he fuses the 60s jangle of The Zombies, The Beach Boys, maybe Margo Guryan, and processes it through a dream pop nuclear reactor. The Four Tet remix--which you'll find alongside "Zoe" on the single's b-side--strips the original track down to an acoustic wisp of a song.

MP3: Caribou - "Melody Day" (Four Tet Remix)

The smell of repetition really is on you.

It's only been a year since the release of Hot Chip's Mercury Prize-nominated sophomore album, The Warning, but you know what? You can't just drop a single like "My Piano" and then say, Oh, by the way, you're gonna have to wait until next year for the actual album, okay? Come on already!

MP3: Hot Chip - "My Piano"

!K7's DJ Kicks series--the label's genre-spanning remix project--is 12 years strong this week. Hot Chip's own DJ Kicks album is the latest mix (not yet counting next month's mix by Booka Shade), and it's just as eclectic as the series' roster of remixers. Along with the first appearance of "My Piano" is an awesome Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto track, bookended by Young Leek and Black Devil Disco Club and fused into one big club stormer. Here's an excerpt.

MP3: Hot Chip - "Jiggle It/In the Basement/On Just Foot" (DJ Kicks)

Hot Chip's new album, tentatively titled Shot Down in Flames, will be out in February on DFA Records. The next single, which they've been performing live everywhere (and apparently features Todd Rundgren), is due out any day now. In the meantime, here are some very nice remixes they've done for various folks.

MP3: Ladytron - "Destroy Everything You Touch" (Hot Chip Remix)
MP3: Le Tigre - "TKO" (Hot Chip Remix)
MP3: Scissor Sisters - "Take Your Mama" (Hot Chip Remix)