In these times of globalization and blog saturation, we can hear music from all strains made all over the world and discover forgotten classic, local anthems, and records that barely got recognition past the block they were recorded on. Truly a wonderful time, but still, some patches of land have gone largely undocumented. I’m talking specifically about Mexico.
By the start of the 80s, Mexican bands either embraced the rupestre movement — folk songs about life in the city using low brow language — or went over to the electronic side. Along with Size, Syntoma, Artefacto, Casino Shangai, and Capitán Pijama, Decada 2 was one of the most prominent outfits of the era, embracing the industrial edge of international luminaries like Front 242 and Skinny Puppy. Before Decada 2, however, its leader Carlos García, along with Jaime Herranz and some friends, recorded a 12-inch EP under the name Silueta Pálida (Pale Silhouette). They described the EP as “techno pop,” though it had more to do with minimal wave artists like Linear Movement and Solid Space than anything too synth-poppy. The record was self-released on their own Discos A.E.I. and the artwork features cut out squares that turn black when you slide the record with its inner sleeve.
The music features plenty of synths, but also has a bunch of acoustic instruments like marimba, piano, guitar, and even drums played by a human, believe it or not. There’s a somber, gothic shadow over everything, but García’s lyrics are earnest, especially on the song that opens the set, “El paso del tiempo,” about returning to a simpler time in his childhood. That same song has a remix on the same side, showcasing some noise and rough editions to the instrumental take on the track. Another instrumental song, “Impensado,” is more introspective and softer and there’s percussion going on everywhere.
As surprising as it may seem, there’s still music yet to be discovered and reissued and, as this piece of vinyl proves, there’s some real gems, regardless of where they come from. And that, to me, is an exciting fact.
