Tortilla Estatal by PATRULLERO MANCUSO

Since in 1989 Guillermo, Murky, Jaime and Manuel adopted, in a specially lucid moment, the name of the hopeless policeman out from the book “A Confederacy Of Dunces” (Patrolman Mancuso!), this -lucidity- has been one of their main characteristics. They’ve been aliens to any movements or hypes which have occurred around them in this time, and have done a coherent, everascending work, until they have reached a point where, although keeping their reknown simplicity and impudence, they finally get to nonchalantly reflect an iconoclastic, determinedly different sound. They still are magnificent and perverse (more than ever!), though they are less clumsy now; but that’s the only considerable change, because they still build up bright melodies on truly original songs, with a charming lunatic attitude and a broad range of ideas and influences.

After the release of the witty single “El Halcón Milenario” (“The Millennial Hawk”; everybody knows now how George Lucas took advantage of the stretch of this great song to remake some effects from his famous galactic trilogy and show it again in selected screens worldwide), “Tortilla Estatal” means the beginning of a new, hopeful era in the career of PATRULLERO MANCUSO: is their third official album already, but they take the challenge with the rashness and shamelessness of total beginners, with a healthy punk philosophy which takes them to co-produce the album and design the cover for themselves (done by Murky after some original prints by Spanish/Belgian underground artist Olaf Ladousse).

In their hilarious concept of “XVIth Century Rock” you can put anything: THE PASTELS naïveté goes hand by hand with XTC’s extravaganza in a refreshing, quite eccentric, bittersweet, invigorating cocktail. “Viva Lo Imposible”, says a female-lead recitative instrumental which could easily be by labelmates BEEF: certainly, their total lack of prejudices lets wide open a lot of doors to unknown, tempting places. Their coolest lyrics reflect a peculiar sense of humour, encircled with a pure, naked of any artifices sound, and caressed by imaginative, perfect backing vocals (“Choquetín”, “El Peine De La Tortuga”).

“Qué Poquita Cosa” is surely the closest that PATRULLERO MANCUSO can get to a tender love song, but they quickly leave to the airport (“Me Presta”), and you are left with a feeling of desperately needing to listen to the whole record again. Then “La Danza De Las Horas” comes again, and you realize that everything is cyclic in this life, and that you won’t be able to hide anymore from the Patrolman. For God’s sake, you just can’t help it!

elefant.com