Various
Back Up Dos: Mexican Tecno Pop 1980-'89
Following 2021's 'Back Up' compilation, 'Back Up Dos' delivers 10 more tracks of synth-pop and New Beat, seven of which have never before appeared on vinyl. From mutant drum machine beats to irresistible synthesizer hooks, fans of the fringes of the '80s will find songs to stir their cold, dark hearts. But 'Back Up Dos' does more than mine retro kitsch; it documents the development of a rich DIY music scene that is still underexplored. As affordable samplers and digital synths spread throughout the decade, post-punk and new wave gave way to more aggressive EBM and cyberpunk sounds. The scene also developed in opposition to the political climate of the times: the rise of the drug cartels and a reactionary turn in national politics. Using home recording techniques, these bands took cues from the electronic wizardry of the Human League and Wax Trax Records while reflecting the vibrant and chaotic Mexican cultural landscape of the era. On 'Back Up Dos,' impeccable pop anthems from Casino Shanghai and Los Agentes Secretos sit alongside gnarled obscurities from Ford Proco and Mara Bonita, showcasing a decade of sly deviance and enthusiastic experimentation. This album comes housed in an '80s-inflected neon sleeve and includes a 12-page booklet with photographs, lyrics and notes.