MANTA RAY

Psychedelic/Space Rock • Spain

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Manta Ray biography
MANTA RAY was born in 1992 in La Plaza caf�, Gij�n, on the North of Spain, a meeting point for young bands of the city. Nacho �lvarez, who would later be the band�s bassist, worked there as a waiter, where he met Jos� Luis Garc�a (guitarist on YELLOWMUFFIN) and Luis Mayo (guitarist and singer on SCREAMIN�PIJAS), but musical and artistic differences made this later one give up the former project. To complete the band they recruited Isa�as Sanz, drummer on YELLOWMUFFIN. They recorded their first demo in 1993 in Subterfuge Records. One year later, Nacho Vegas (guitarist on ELIMINATOR JR) joins the band and they record their first EP, 'Escuezme!'. Their sound was typical 90�s indie rock. in fact, they brought their name from PIXIES� song 'Manta Ray'

In 1995, Isa�as Sanz is replaced by Juan Luis Ablanedo, drummer in Nacho Vegas� band ELIMINATOR JR. This quartet would record their first single, 'The Last Crumbs of Love', which was supposed to be part of their first LP. They presented the single to Villa de Bilbao young bands contest and were awarded the first prize, which consisted on the full recording of their first record, 'Manta Ray'. Despite being quite an amateur work, the band began to develop its personality and differenciate of other less innovative contemporary ensembles. This same year the band collaborates with the Festival de Cine de Gij�n (Gij�n Cinema Festival), recording CHRIS ISAAK�s 'Wicked Game' cover for the 'Gij�n Goes to the Movies' compilation. That first collaboration led to another one the next year, where they recorded part of Jos� Luis Garci�s 'El Crack'soundtrack with mexican experimental artist Javier Corcobado.

In 1996 new members join the band. Jos� Luis Ablanedo leaves the band and is replaced by Nacho Vegas� younger brother Xabel Vegas. The latest addition would be multiinstrumentist Frank Rudow, who had been member of german psych band DIE GOBS, with whom Jos� Luis Garc�a had played previously. This incarnation as a quintet would set the basis for the new sound of the band, oriented towards post rock trends and musical experimentation.

By the end of the year they collaborate again with Javier Corcobado and record their non conventional CD 'Diminuto Cielo' in 1997 and tour Spain to present it live. This same year they coincide several times on different festivals with french band DIABOLOGUM, and their common interest on the most intricate sounds leads them to rehearse for a split EP, 'La �ltima Historia d...MANTA RAY was born in 1992 in La Plaza caf�, Gij�n, on the North of Spain, a meeting point for young bands of the city. Nacho �lvarez, who would later be the band�s bassist, worked there as a waiter, where he met Jos� Luis Garc�a (guitarist on YELLOWMUFFIN) and Luis Mayo (guitarist and singer on SCREAMIN�PIJAS), but musical and artistic differences made this later one give up the former project. To complete the band they recruited Isa�as Sanz, drummer on YELLOWMUFFIN. They recorded their first demo in 1993 in Subterfuge Records. One year later, Nacho Vegas (guitarist on ELIMINATOR JR) joins the band and they record their first EP, 'Escuezme!'. Their sound was typical 90�s indie rock. in fact, they brought their name from PIXIES� song 'Manta Ray'

In 1995, Isa�as Sanz is replaced by Juan Luis Ablanedo, drummer in Nacho Vegas� band ELIMINATOR JR. This quartet would record their first single, 'The Last Crumbs of Love', which was supposed to be part of their first LP. They presented the single to Villa de Bilbao young bands contest and were awarded the first prize, which consisted on the full recording of their first record, 'Manta Ray'. Despite being quite an amateur work, the band began to develop its personality and differenciate of other less innovative contemporary ensembles. This same year the band collaborates with the Festival de Cine de Gij�n (Gij�n Cinema Festival), recording CHRIS ISAAK�s 'Wicked Game' cover for the 'Gij�n Goes to the Movies' compilation. That first collaboration led to another one the next year, where they recorded part of Jos� Luis Garci�s 'El Crack'soundtrack with mexican experimental artist Javier Corcobado.

In 1996 new members join the band. Jos� Luis Ablanedo leaves the band and is replaced by Nacho Vegas� younger brother Xabel Vegas. The latest addition would be multiinstrumentist Frank Rudow, who had been member of german psych band DIE GOBS, with whom Jos� Luis Garc�a had played previously. This incarnation as a quintet would set the basis for the new sound of the band, oriented towards post rock trends and musical experimentation.

By the end of the year they collaborate again with Javier Corcobado and record their non conventional CD 'Diminuto Cielo' in 1997 and tour Spain to present it live. This same year they coincide several times on different festivals with french band DIABOLOGUM, and their common interest on the most intricate sounds leads them to rehearse for a split EP, 'La �ltima Historia de Seducci�n', printed simultaneously on Spain (Astro Discos) and France (OVNI Records). This would be their first effort to get known outside of Spain, where they began to be famous by their live shows.

1998 was an intense year. The band releases their own second full length CD, 'Peque�as Puertas que se Abren y Peque�as Puertas que se Cierran', very well reviewed by the press. They started the first international gigs in Europe and worked again with the Festival de Cine de Gij�n preparing the live set 'Score', arranging film soundtracks (The Godfather, Crash, Midnight Cowboy and The 8th Man) and their own songs with a string quartet. Despite being very well acclaimed, the show would appear recorded on CD only as a limited edition pack in Rock de Lux magazine, and nowadays it is really a collector item, although the concert would appear later on video. This would be the definite consolidation of the band as one of the most innovative of the moment, but it would not prevent Nacho Vegas to leave the band and start his solo career.

The band�s interest in electronics and new technologies led to a collaboration with techno record label Cosmos, which would give them their particular homage with a remix record in which participated some artists of the label. That interest influenced their next record, 'Esperanza', and an european tour that would consolidate them as international artists. That same year the band gets in touch with young band SCHWARZ, and the share of common musical interests leads them to record together 'Hept�gono' in 2001. This septet band created one of the most outstanding live sets in Spain, and their three live shows tour is remembered as a masterpiece by journalists and reviewers.

After such an intense work, the members of the band start different projects apart from MANTA RAY, being VIVA LAS VEGAS one of the most remarkable, formed by Frank Rudow, Jos� Luis Garc�a and Chris Brokaw (from COME and CODEINE), an ambient music project far away from the noisy, experimental and aggressive sounds of the band.

In 2002 the band prepares the next work, 'Estratexa', in a different record label. The sound changes again, coming back to their roots, more rock oriented and less prominent in electronics. The American edition on Film Guerrero would lead to an intense international tour, including the USA, until 2004.

After the American tour, the band members would start again other projects, including VIVA LAS VEGAS second album and a reincarnation of the seminal band ELIMINATOR JR, which would be called simply JR. By the end of 2005, the band would rejoin again to record their last record, 'Torres de Electricidad', in the same vein that the previous one. From this moment, they will disband definitely and work in very different projects, including folk (AROAH), improvised music (LA JR), songwritng (XABEL VEGAS Y LAS UVAS DE LA IRA), modern pop (ELLE BELGA) or DJ sessions by Frank Rudow. All this projects show the great versatility of the musicians of a band that was named, in words of Roberto Inieza (Astro Records chairman), 'the avantgarde of the avantgarde in Spain'.

victor77 (Victor Rangel)

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MANTA RAY discography

Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

MANTA RAY top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.00 | 1 ratings

Manta Ray
1995

4.00 | 1 ratings

Peque�as Puertas Que Se Abren Y Peque�as Puertas Que Se Cierra
1998

3.67 | 3 ratings

Esperanza
2000

3.33 | 3 ratings

Estratexa
2003

3.50 | 2 ratings

Torres De Electricidad
2006

MANTA RAY Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 1 ratings

Score, Un Concierto De Manta Ray
1999

MANTA RAY Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

MANTA RAY Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

MANTA RAY Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

0.00 \| 0 ratings Escuezme! 1994	0.00 \| 0 ratings The Last Crumbs Of Love 1995	0.00 \| 0 ratings O.F.King 1998	0.00 \| 0 ratings Smoke 1998	0.00 \| 0 ratings Rita 2000
0.00 \| 0 ratings Take A Look 2003

MANTA RAY Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Thanks to rivertree for the artist addition.

0.00 \| 0 ratings Escuezme! 1994	0.00 \| 0 ratings The Last Crumbs Of Love 1995	0.00 \| 0 ratings O.F.King 1998	0.00 \| 0 ratings Smoke 1998	0.00 \| 0 ratings Rita 2000
0.00 \| 0 ratings Take A Look 2003