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Do you remember the Mars Volta? Do you remember At The Drive-In?
Well, the famous duo Cedric Bixler-Zavala & Omar Rodríguez-López also had this project called De Facto, along with two other colleagues who later played in the aforementioned bands, namely Isaiah Ikey Owens and Jeremy Michael Ward (by the way, R.I.P. to both of them).
While Owens and Ward were respectively in charge of keyboards and melodica/sound manipulation, our more well-known friends gave free rein to their creativity using instruments unusual for them: Omar mainly played the bass, and Cedric unleashed himself on the drums.
Their final product can be summarized with the term "Experimental Dub", offering instrumental tracks mostly based on improvisations made in the studio.
It should also be noted that this project was born a few years before the formation of the Mars Volta, and it is quite noticeable how some sounds were later revisited and encapsulated.
"¡Megaton Shotblast!" was the first album for the group, followed by a few EPs and the more famous "Légende du Scorpion à Quatre Queues", all in 2001.
The start is immediately experimental where the combination of melodica, ultra-deep bass, and the peculiar management of various noises introduces us to "Manual Dexterity", which serves more as an introduction.
It directly transitions to what will become a "classic," that is "Cordova" (live version), where for 10 minutes ample space is given to keyboard improvisations.
One of the most impressive tracks, in my opinion, is "El Professor Contra De Facto" where Dub is excellently infused with Reggaeton and Salsa spices, where percussion (especially bongos) completely let themselves go with the rhythm. The choice of sampling "aquatic" sounds is also quite nice.
The rhythm slows down when "Fingertrap" starts, with a slight Jazz influence, allowing guest trumpeter David Lopez to express himself.
As in "Rodche Defects", where the bass groove echoes in the background while trumpet and percussion perform virtuously, when suddenly the voice of another guest, Ángel Marcelo Rodríguez-Cheverez, enters, adding that extra Hispanic and Latin touch. One of the most enjoyable tracks.
An album to enjoy "in tranquilada", as we say in my part of the world.
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