Recording review - Kinky, Sueño De La Maquina (2012)

Organic extends the mechanical: dreams of the machine with soul

Kinky's music comes from a remote borderland that doesn't even register arbitrary lines. The Mexican band's five members use live instruments to build on an electronic foundation. Their sound is a grab bag of electronica, rock and roll, Latin beats, and club-friendly mixes. Their predominantly Spanish lyrics regularly incorporate English phrases. But despite their mash-up aesthetic, Kinky isn't playing esoteric mind games, they're just channeling the sound they want.

The band recently released their fifth album, Sueño De La Maquina. Each track has a unique blend of elements, but the high energy jams offer a consistent mix of dance-happy grooves and interesting arrangements. The opening track Inmovil is a veritable smorgasbord all on its own. It starts with a moody synth-pop progression. The cool, laid back groove is relaxing and inviting. The vocals capture a sense of inevitability and acceptance.

Then...BOOM! Two minutes in, the track transforms into a dance club funk groove. The slinky bass riff twistss and throbs as subtle percussion fills crowd into the corners of the song. The chorus raises the stakes by kicking in a heady electro-pop vibe. After hitting the verse-chorus a couple of times, the band wraps up the song with a glitch heavy breakdown. This is a great introduction to the album; these transitions exemplify Kinky's genre hopping sound.

A couple of track later, they surprise me again on Negro Día. The track lays down a loop of grungy guitar noodle, then provides a heavy, programmed beat to hold it. The saw wave, zipper bass is wicked thick. The dreamy female chorus vocals have a hazy layer of echo. Mala Rodríguez's rap flow slides through the breakdown verse grooves. The track is a great mix of tension and release.

Kinky seems to delight in defying expectations. Their intense electronic base often sounds more organic as they rely less on looping than playing. They contrast that by processing their analog instruments sounds into something more machinelike, like Negro Día's guitar line.

My favorite track is Alma de Neón. The trippy groove of Despues Del After finishes and evaporates directly into the sinister grind of Alma de Neón, which is accented with a touch of Clash-like ska chank. The mainline of the track lays a ponderous club-beat electronica vibe. But the overall feel slides into something harder edged than electro pop: powerful electro-rock. Then the breakdown lays down a crazy quilt mix of glitch and Latin acoustic strings before diving back into the big beat.

I enjoy the mash-up aspect of Sueño De La Maquina, but the album's real strength is the balance of organic and mechanical. Kinky may dream of the machine, but it's a machine with soul.