Politics and dancing just don't mix. Or, at least, you might think that if you'd grown up heavily invested in electronic music culture. There are very few movements that house and techno have explicitly engaged with. The Criminal Justice Bill immediately comes to mind. But other than fighting for your right to party, artists have generally remained silent on all sorts of issues. And even when there have been implicit messages, a lack of context often leaves listeners in the dark as to what a DJ or producer might be trying to say.
As one of the true mavericks in his field, it should come as little surprise, then, that Villalobos and cohort Jorge Gonzales—an artist that has had plenty of political troubles in his home country of Chile—bring the current economic crisis to the dance floor on "Bank Brotherhood." It's dry stuff, in theory. But both artists bring their particular talents to the table on this 12-inch for Barraca Music. Villalobos is both messy and groovy in equal measure, offering up a squealing, simmering bed for Gonzales to wax lyrical over. Gonzales' monologue rails against the lending institutions, but he also lightly pokes fun at electronic music producers, as well, mentioning those that borrow for bigger houses, cars and analog consoles.
The three mixes here don't vary greatly from one another. Audio George—a Gonzales pseudonym—gets a bit wetter and murkier. Andrew Grant predictably goes straighter. (It would be hard hard not to, given the company.) Villalobos' ducking bass swells mark it out as the finest version, but it's got plenty of competition. What's more interesting, though, is this rare entry into the political arena from one of the genre's biggest names. Music has the power to change, educate and enlighten. Let's hope there's more where this came from.
As one of the true mavericks in his field, it should come as little surprise, then, that Villalobos and cohort Jorge Gonzales—an artist that has had plenty of political troubles in his home country of Chile—bring the current economic crisis to the dance floor on "Bank Brotherhood." It's dry stuff, in theory. But both artists bring their particular talents to the table on this 12-inch for Barraca Music. Villalobos is both messy and groovy in equal measure, offering up a squealing, simmering bed for Gonzales to wax lyrical over. Gonzales' monologue rails against the lending institutions, but he also lightly pokes fun at electronic music producers, as well, mentioning those that borrow for bigger houses, cars and analog consoles.
The three mixes here don't vary greatly from one another. Audio George—a Gonzales pseudonym—gets a bit wetter and murkier. Andrew Grant predictably goes straighter. (It would be hard hard not to, given the company.) Villalobos' ducking bass swells mark it out as the finest version, but it's got plenty of competition. What's more interesting, though, is this rare entry into the political arena from one of the genre's biggest names. Music has the power to change, educate and enlighten. Let's hope there's more where this came from.
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Published /
Tue / 8 Sep 2009 -
Words /
Terrence Fuller -
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Tracklist /
A Bank Botherhood
B1 Bank Brotherhood (Audio George Mix)
Digital: Bank Brotherhood (Andrew Grant's Medium Is The Message Mix)
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