Orquestra by Carlos Cutaia

The first release of 2016 sees a journey to mid-80s Argentina and the highly sought after 2nd solo album of Carlos Cutaia. Inspired by the new electronic sounds emanating from Europe, this multi-instrumentalist offers more than a pastiche, embedding his own melancholy in a unique and classic “nueva wave” album.

Classically trained, Carlos Cutaia started as a composer for dance and theatre, before spending much of the 1970s as a member of a number of heavy rock, prog rock and rock-fusion bands of some note, before finally going solo with the City Of Distant Tones album in 1983.

However, by the time of his 2nd solo album in 1985, as his country finally left behind a long period of military control and enjoyed greater freedoms, Carlos was fully immersed in the new electronic pop sounds imported with hungry ears from Europe.

Teaming up with fellow composer, keyboardist and producer, Daniel Melero and Alejandro Oucinde, the futurism of Kraftwerk and Gary Numan’s Tubeway Army was embraced, but also adapted to fit their native land, just as it was understanding a new modernity.

Starting with the swagger of Visiones Incomunicadas, the template is set. Sharp drum machines, semi-nonchalant, half spoken vocals set the scene, while chopped guitar and smart synth lines fit the over riding feeling of an intelligent nonchalance.

Things however, do go beyond the straightjacket of Euro-pop as heard on the anthemic Programacin and avant twist of the first of two piano-ambient pieces Aproximacion Dos - and it’s companion piece “Uno” found on the b side). Eric Satie and minimalism are clearly not far away.

However, it is side B opener Sensacion Melancolica that captures the sound to perfection. A Balearic masterpiece, capturing in it’s title the over-riding atmospheric of an unexplained sadness, a loss. Operativo and the poem Humanos De America bring things to an end - of a “feeling melancolica”.

Reissue label for lost or forgotten tracks, remastered and pressed on vinyl with love.

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