Search - Nortec Collective :: Tijuana Sessions 3

A Delight!

Gary Peterson | San Diego, California USA | 06/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me start out this review with two overwhelming generalizations, both of which, of course, have many exceptions. First, I really enjoy electronica music. Second, I don't care for Mexican music. Now, having said this, you can imagine my mixed feelings about reading a review (in the Wall Street Journal, as I recall) about an album of Mexican electronica by Nortec Collective entitled "Tijuana Sessions, Vol 3." The review was quite laudatory. My curiosity was piqued. I couldn't resist ordering the CD.



"Tijuana Sessions, Vol 3" is a delightful CD, without question. It's good listening right from the first spin, and it's one of the most unusual and creative albums I've ever heard. The music is unique; nothing I've heard compares. The musical program is done in techno style and has all sorts of strange sounds against a throbbing bass and drums background, but most of the tracks also have horns, guitars and accordion parts. It's a strange mix. Imagine a good British techno band, but with a heavy reliance on traditional Mexican instruments. Don't think of it as traditional Mexican music, but rather think of it as a distantly related cousin. Good stuff. It's festive and danceable throughout. Fun listening. Humorous. Lyrics are done in both English and Spanish, but the reliance on the lyrics (with one exception) is so small that language presents no barrier to the enjoyment of this wonderful music.



The best track, in my opinion, is the first, "Tengo La Voz." It's simply delightful and a great way to start a disc! Some of the other better tracks include "Autobanda," "Dandy del Sur," "Bar Infierno," "Revu Rockers" and "Tijuana Bass." I burned out on "Tijuana Makes Me Happy" after the third listen and would regard it as the weakest track on the CD. Otherwise, all of the remaining tracks on this 15-song CD are worthy. This is great stuff! Try mixing it in with other types of electronica. Good listening!



Gary Petersonn"

ElectroNorteno via Tijuana

Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 10/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Early in the summer of '05 I started listening to this disc and by the end of summer I was hooked. I must admit the first listen was rough for me only because I was turned off by "Tijuana Makes Me Happy," however it is catchy and I think most young people will like it. The Nortec Collective have taken their time to avoid the sophmore jinx with a lapse of four years since "Vol.1." The result is a polished sound that is equal to or better than their first release. The cohesive organic sound may be the result of taking the musicians into the studio and working around the electronic elements as opposed to just using samples. This is good stuff much like spicy food that you keep putting salsa on in spite of the burning pain; it feels so good you just have to have more, mas y mas, it is all good and just gets better and better. The tambora and electronica elements still make me think of the bar scene in Star Wars at times but afterall Tijuana is like a scene from Star Wars with quirky and kooky characters who live there and are visiting. The music on this disc will make you shake your head in approval and take you across the border. Some of the highlights include "Revu Rockers" which is an uptempo song that takes you on a southbound sojourn with metallic and jazzy forays along the way. The simplicity is mixed with the complex to create a different sound uniquely reflective of the geographical loation. "Esa Banda en Dub, which features Calexio is a perfect mixture of old and new to create something totally different like a jazzy Clint Eastwood movie set in the future badlands of the southwest desert. "Bar Infierno" is a jazzy interlude that has tangoesque world beats that are international in depth. "Funky Tamazula" is like a walk down a dark street in Tijuana amongst the street life cabaret. The music of Nortec Collective on this disc is like electronic aural postcards where the honking cars and putrid smoke belching buses mix with the overpowering delicious wafting aroma of carne asada as a faceless person beckons while a vendor is trying to get your attention; it is cultural overload only found in Tijuana. The music of Nortec is a musical transport where no passport is neccessary; the street circus of Tijuana comes clearly into view without going there. No need to cross the border just put this disc on and sit back and enjoy the ambience of Tijuana from your speakers and the images of your mind."