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Rating:
Cockroaches smoking marijuana.
There are places that, more than others, have inspired famous writers, directors, and screenwriters in search of magical and evocative landscapes that could speak for them, and even painters in search of new colors to enrich their palette. Music is no exception and finds here in this borderland the right habitat for the surreal stories of Tito & Tarantula. Here, between Southern California and Mexico, Tito Larriva moves at ease, a true frontman dressed like a gunslinger with sunglasses, the trusty sidekicks Peter Atanasoff (lead guitar) and one Hernandez (drums and percussion) with the addition of a skirt-wearing bass player who resembles Tura Satana.
Not exactly the four you'd sit at the card table with.
This debut album, year 1997, is a half masterpiece. Just look at their faces and just listen to their music.
Almost impossible to categorize, they sound like no one else. As if at an unlikely crossroads, southern rock and the blood-red blues of the southern United States meet with the melancholy that certain chicano guitars know how to evoke, and on the other, a harder and even dirtier soul if possible; all sprinkled with Tito Larriva's unmistakable voice that effortlessly imparts dark and romantic atmospheres at will.
Propelled to the limelight by Robert Rodriguez thanks to the music and appearances in From Dusk Till Dawn, (those who play at the Titty Twister and turn into vampires are them) and Desperado (here only Tito), they unfortunately never truly broke through, which makes them all the more (if ever there was a need) a cult band.
Produced with four hands by Tito and Rodriguez himself, this "Tarantism" is a tex-mex soundtrack for a raid in the Mexican desert and the exact sound translation for the films of the director, now Tarantino's right-hand man. Rodriguez sniffed out the immense talent of this unique band. Unique for their attitude but especially for the sound they have; a true trademark that cannot be traced back to anyone else.
Ten tracks made just to let loose, to sway in wild dances ""Angry Cockroaches" above all, or to take a siesta swinging in a hammock ""Flying In My Sleep". ""After Dark" with Atanasoff's lead guitar (standing out throughout the album) introduces us, with great atmosphere, to this musical journey.
I look around and already understand that I find myself unwillingly in a dangerous place, I let myself be carried away by Tito's sinuous and spicy voice and find myself leaning against a filthy counter, sipping the worst quality whiskey and tequila. In my ears ""Smiling Karen" and ""Slippin'& Slidin'" where southern tradition, electric blues, and slide guitars clash, involving you from the start. Like it happened to me, listening to "Tarantism," you'll find yourself dodging bullets and stools thrown mid-air by tattooed smugglers, singing <<Don't Look Back, Don't Look Back...!! >>, while clean sounds à la SRV mix with the Texas boogie of the best ZZ-TOP. To give you an idea of the mood you feel listening to this handful of songs (quoting Tito himself) one might say "if I am nearer to heaven or one step closer to hell". You're charmed but at the same time afraid that something sinister might happen.
Tito's songs tell of losers, unscrupulous people, shady dealings, secrets taken to the grave, but also of loves and overwhelming passions always seen from his perspective. So, for every bunch of roses or night of love, know that someone will have paid the right price made of scars and tears shed.
Whether they are splendid mariachi ballads ("Sweet Cycle" and "Back To The House") or infernal blues ("Jupiter") Tito does it his way, using guitars in guacamole sauce and his voice which truly takes on a thousand forms: sweet, dreamy, whispered and a moment later stains the timbre becoming hoarse and you almost smell the mescal coming out of his mouth and filling the air.
In the end, this album will bring many people together, many with different tastes will find themselves sitting at the same counter among clouds of tobacco, captivated by those guitars that will make you say <<hombre otra cerveza...>>.
While the final notes of ""Killing Just For Fun" resonate in the air, mixing with the red dust raised by my boots, I hasten my step towards the Californian border thinking that once again I've made it home in one piece. I swear this is the last time... yes, yes.
Meanwhile, as I look for some shade and pull up my sweaty pants, it dawns on me that I left without paying. I don’t think it’s a good idea to owe debts to people like that in a borderland.... I should go back, yes but not now.
The sun is setting, it's getting dark... and you never know.
Adios.
The opinion of Commendator Bossolazzi:
<< Quattrodimazzo e una scopa cinque!.....Nespole ovviamente>>.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 After Dark (03:44)
watching her
strolling in the night so white
wondering why
it's only after dark
In her eyes
a distant fire light burns bright
wondering why
it's only after dark
I find myself in her room
feel the fever of my doom
Falling falling
through the floor
I'm knocking on the devil's door yeah
In the dawn
I wake up to find her gone
and the note
says "only after dark"
Burning burning in the flame
now I know her secret name
You can tear her temple down
but she'll be back and rule again yeah
In my heart a deep and dark
and lonely part
wants her and waits for
after dark (x4)
03 Slippin' & Slidin' (03:42)
Shot a man in the street
Clipped his wings like a dove
He fell hard to the ground
Slidin'deep in the mud
I've got clouds in my eyes
Blood on my hands
Fire on my feet
As I run to my Love
Oh I'm slippin' & slidin'again
Yes I'm slippin' & slidin'again
Why am I
Slippin'& slidin' again
She said don't ask me baby
Ask the Devil man
The earth shock
Like a woman
Spit like a man
The win blew
Through the bars
In every prison land
My Love is a cave
Dark as a crow
I'm enslaved by her wisdom
& her hips of gold
Why am I
Slippin' & slidin'again...
Just when you think
IT's over baby
You gotta live some more
& just when you think
You've made it
You gotta make more
I woke up
In a fire in my sheets
Straight to an Angel
To kill the heat
I need a hand to hold to
Break my fall
If I can get through this
I can get through them all
Why am I slippin'& slidin'
So much
She said don't ask me baby
Ask the dust
05 Angry Cockroaches (04:38)
Cucarachas enojadas
Fumando Marihuana
Buscando una Fiesta
Y un kilo de Cooooo...ca!
Cucarachas fumando Marihuana
06 Back to the House (04:31)
I know its raining baby
I am stripped of all my pride
I stand here at your door
Sick of all the lies
Let me come inside
I couldnt see myself
The room was
Filled with signs
A strange woman kissed me
A tattoo in her eyes
Forget about the past
Forget about the guilt
I am going back to the house
That love built
I need to remember
What I came here for
Love or mercy keeps me
at your door
Let me come inside
Nowhere to goNo way to tell
If I am nearer to heavenOr one step closer to hell
08 Sweet Cycle (04:58)
Let my arms be a tree
Let my eyes be a bee
Let my hair be
A bed of roses
Let my lips kiss the ocean
Let my feet feed
An earthworm
Let my ears feed a beetle
Let my thights feed a wolf
Let my nose be a plum
Oh it's the sweet cycle of life
Oh yes it's the
Sweet cycle of life
Well who am I to complain
About a bit of earthly pain
Let my heart be
An orchard of artichokes
Let my chest be
A bridge of Mesquite
Let my cock feed a crow
Let my stomach feed
A flock of geese
Oh it's the sweet cycle of life
Oh yes it's the
Sweet cycle of life
Well who am I to complain
Are we not one and
The same
Let me celebrate my life
In the way that I want to
In a feast of all the pieces
That were meant to be used
10 Killing Just for Fun (04:22)
Johnny Came From Santa Cruz
Killed Seven People For Luck
He Murdered For A Reason
One He Knew Nothing Of
He Was Killing,
Killing Just For Fun
He Drove Down The Highway
Looking For A Place To Eat
He Pulled Into A Denny's
Had A Denny's Deluxe
Spotted His Next Victim's Teeth
He Was Killing,
Killing Just For Fun
He Had A Finger And A Toe
In The Pocket Of His Coat
The Rest Lay In The Trunk
He'd Burn All Their Belongings
Under The Moonlight
And Then Danced In Their Rot
He Was Killing,
Killing Just For Fun
He Was Killing Just For Fun
On Your Cross You Shall Bleed
That's Was Mommy Said
She Loves Me She Loves Me Not
Johnny Stood There
Hackin' Her Apart...
On Your Cross You Shall See
That's Was Mommy Said
On Your Cross You Shall Bleed
That's Was Mommy Said
On Your Cross You Shall See
That's Was Mommy Said
On Your Cross You Shall Bleed
That's Was Mommy Said
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