The Nortec Collective began in the late nineties as a group of Tijuana electronic/techno music artists came together using norteño music as the raw material for their new unique sound. With the help of graphic artists they established a recognizable millenial border/fronteras aesthetic.
Tijuana Sound Machine a new album by Nortec Collective’s core artists Bostich and Fussible has its release digitally today(May 6 in stores). Overall the tracks have slower, lighter beats than expected from Nortec Collective with more emphasis on melodies on some songs. One of their strong points was making the connection between the big beats of the combined style norteño and techno. But it could also become a repetitive trap and Bostich and Fussible wisely expanded their palettes. At first listen its a disappointment to lose the sugar rush, but TSM gets better the second.
The first several tracks would lead one to wonder if Bostich and Fussible were replaced by the band Air. Playbox, Reten, and America’s Wanted contain the basic ingredients of norteño like accordions but treated with the kitschy etherealism of the the French duo. Not bad just different from expectations. Cetren, Mama Loves Nortec, and Tijuana Sound Machine re-establish the essence of Nortec just with a lighter touch. The weakest song is Brown Bike soft indie rock and cliché English lyrics.
This is a video of track Tijuana Sound Machine performed at a rave in Mexicali with live musicians. The slide show also gives a taste of the graphic art design that is an essential part of the Collective.
[...] The original concept of the group was to combine tango with techno and turntablism, much the way Nortec Collective uses Norteño and techno. With Mar Dulcethe group decided to take an organic, real time approach [...]