BANDA ELASTICA

BANDA ELASTICA are one of Mexico's finest bands. It's hard to believe that this was their debut released back in 1987. They were a six piece here and full of youthful energy. They can play, and we get some complex music with an avant/jazz flavour standing out in an ethnic sauce. This one had my head spinning at times. A couple of things that makes their second album so much more appealing to me is that they slowed things down, plus they got rid of a lot of the ethnic hot sauce.

They would become a seven piece on that second record, adding a second horn player who also adds flute. We get some guest flute on the opener and third track here, but mostly it's sax and clarinet. We also get two drummers, although one is often adding marimba. There are actually some vocals on that fourth and seventh song, but that's it. I also find it interesting that on that second album they sprinkled in four tracks from this the debut as bonus tracks there, but not tagged on at the end. This record almost feels like a dry run compared to their next one.

"Banda Elastica 2" is the one to get in my opinion from 1989. I also recommend "Ai Tencargo" from 2003 but feel it's a step down from that classic second record.