Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 1

Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000059M07

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Mexican electronic music, yes. But which Mexico? The capital city and its panorama sprawl of concrete, or the interior's jungle promise of Mayan premodernity? Well, how about Tijuana, which depending on your trajectory might mean economic promise or B-movie titillation? In other words, exactly the sort of high-traffic, low-rent zone that breeds artists--for example the various acts that comprise the Nortec Collective, all young, pop-minded, tech-enabled musicians who want to build a bridge (and verse and chorus) to the 21st century. Amon Tobin's digitizations of Brazilian percussion have prepared listeners for this blend of indigenous sounds and globetrotting club culture. There's something for everyone here: Fussible's hard 4/4 dance sounds, Terrestre's encompassing collages, Hiperboreal's eerie street recordings--and, most of all, the general funhouse-mirror thrill of hearing the familiar (Norteño's tuba and accordion, techno's ethereal ambience and studio sheen) in entirely new ways. --Marc Weidenbaum

Tracks:

Polaris - Bostich
Casino Soul - Fussible
And L - Panoptica
El Vergel - Bostich
Elemento N - Plankton Man
Norteno De Janeiro - Terrestre
Cantamar '72 - Clorofila
Trip To Ensenada - Fussible
El Lado Oscuro De Mi Compadre - Terrestre
Synthakon - Bostich
Tijuana For Dummies - Hiperboreal
Ventilador - Fussible
No Liazi Jaz - Plankton Man
Tepache Jam - Terrestre

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Mexican electronic music, yes. But which Mexico? The capital city and its panorama sprawl of concrete, or the interior's jungle promise of Mayan premodernity? Well, how about Tijuana, which depending on your trajectory might mean economic promise or B-movie titillation? In other words, exactly the sort of high-traffic, low-rent zone that breeds artists--for example the various acts that comprise the Nortec Collective, all young, pop-minded, tech-enabled musicians who want to build a bridge (and verse and chorus) to the 21st century. Amon Tobin's digitizations of Brazilian percussion have prepared listeners for this blend of indigenous sounds and globetrotting club culture. There's something for everyone here: Fussible's hard 4/4 dance sounds, Terrestre's encompassing collages, Hiperboreal's eerie street recordings--and, most of all, the general funhouse-mirror thrill of hearing the familiar (Norteño's tuba and accordion, techno's ethereal ambience and studio sheen) in entirely new ways. --Marc Weidenbaum

Customer Reviews:

Good, But Not Nearly Good as the New "Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3".......2005-07-31

Don't get me wrong, this is a good album. But the Tijuana-based DJ collective doesn't live up to the name 'Nortec' (a fusion of norteno and techno) on this 2001 debut. This album felt more like a regular electronica album made by some musicians who just happened to be Mexican. Thankfully, the boys took their time and came back with the downright genius "Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3", which is far better. Vol. 3 far exceeds this album because you can really hear the norteno influence integrated with the electronica. In sum, skip this record and pick up the new one!

The best tune is missing in this compilation.......2005-02-10

This is almost the same album you can get here in Mexico, only they crippled out "Trip to Ensenada". Get that if you can! It's the climax of this compilation!. Other than that, this album is excellent if you're looking for a new approach to techno. Nortec just doesn't dissapoint too many people, and I believe many of you, readers, that have visited our country will find something familiar in its sounds. De México para el mundo.

El Zorro de Seattle.......2004-12-23

This is pretty interesting music.
I've lived in Germany, Tijuana, San Diego and now in Seattle, so i have had a touch of everything to say if you don't like it you are a retard. Because you will miss a step in the electronic music ladder.
Foxtronix Ink Seattle 2004

What a disappointment.......2002-03-16

From the reviews here I was expecting something different: Electronic-Techno music, yes, but I was hoping it would be mixed with something recognisably Mexican to give some originality and local input. I should say from the outset that I am not usually a fan of techno music but I was excited by the prospect of a techno/mexican fusion. Such fusions can offer something genuinely new and quite distinct. For instance, I wasn't a huge fan of hip/hop until I heard it being mixed with Mexican music by Delinquent Habits or with Senegalese music by Djoloff. A spark was formed. This Nortec stuff contains nothing very Mexican- no local guitar or trumpet rifts and, this being techno, there was not even any Spanish or Native American singing. These would have offered something which would have set this apart from an electronic sound which could just as easily have come from Berlin. Overall what this collection offers is just another assortment of bland and dehumanised electronic music. No one will remember this album in 5 years time. If you like techno you might like this. If you don't usually like techno don't bother with this because it is NOT an original take on the genre. If you are interested in modern takes on Mexican music check out Cafe Tacuba, Los de abajo, Maldita Vecindad or Control Machete. But these might not always appeal to techno fans....

great backyard bbq music with a teqila twist.......2001-11-17

i bought this after hearing it once on KROQ radio station and ihavent been sorry. be open to different beats moves and grooves if you want to enjoy it...its good to know that our southern neighbors enjoy modern hip hop and can hybrid it with mexican cantina music....good stuff

Album Review:

Album Review

Album Review