Killer Kumbia / Escribeme Pronto / El Microfono / Para No Vivir Desesperado / La Kebradita / A Girl Like You / A Todos Ellos / Hip Hop No Pares / Katia, Tania, Paulina Y La Kim / Belludita / Mi Negra A Bailal

/ La La Meda / La Kebradita (Le Hammond Inferno Mix By Holger)

COOKING VINYL

Perhaps easiest described as some kind of Latino take on Fatboy Slim, Camilio Lara is someone juggling the same musical melting pot of obscure samples and charity shop vinyl kitsch.  Trading here under his Mexican Institute Of Sound guise, Lara's second long player PIÑATA follows up his successful 2006 debut MEJICO MAXICO with the same winning twinkle in its eye of toe tapping tropicalia beats and catchily infuriating hooks.

The likes of KILLER KUMBIA and ESCRIBEME PRONTO swiftly set the tone, Mexican Institute Of Sound deftly teetering on the edge of novelty pop at times, but never quite succumbing to total silliness; a few high pitched warbles and the odd moment of sped up Crazy Frog-esque annoyingness aside.  EL MICROFONO finds MIS on steadier footing, a song dripping in Latino cool, samba beats shuffling up against Mexican rap and a tinge of tropicalia vibes.

The carnival-esque PARA NO VIVIR DESPERADO blends mariachi brass with Brazilian funk, whilst LA KEBRADITA injects elements of grime into the exotic mix.  Elsewhere A GIRL LIKE YOU is an ice cool slice of slinky cuban funk, A TODOS ELLOS a dizzying collage of obscure samples and spoken word shoutouts and KATIA, PAULINA Y LA KIM, low slung hip hop that recalls MC Solar or Manu Chao; though with added harps and church bell bombastics.  The eighties electro pop of BELLUDITA finds Mexican Institute Of Sound flexing retro musical muscles whilst on the jazzy MI NEGRA A BAILAL; a heady mash up of funk, jazz, electro and hip hop is the order of the day.

As a glorious collision of styles, genres and sounds, PIÑATA is an album that finds Mexican Institute Of Sound on superb form; a record that constantly surprises and delights.

BIOGRAPHY

The Follow-Up to the Successful 2006 Debut “Méjico Máxico” Once Again Showcases MIS’ Talent for the Unexpected: An Infectious Pastiche of Electronica, Dub, Cha Cha, Spoken Word and Other Musical Surprises

“El Microfono” Slated as the First Single; Track Will Also Be Featured on Upcoming EA Games release ‘FIFA 2008’; MIS’ Music Was Also Recently Featured on ABC’s Hit Sitcom ‘Ugly Betty’

“Mexico City office worker and beat painter Camilo Lara mixes traditional Latin music, including Colombian cumbia and Cuban Chacha, into his dubby electronics bubblescapes…..MIS goes for a patio-friendly, Esquivel-style, cocktail-party vibe. Jams for people whose drink of choice is the mangopolitan.” -SPIN

“MIS finds somber beauty in the most bustling of places, primarily guided by the simplicity of piano samples looking for a way to fit in amongst turntable scratches, bellowing brass and the occasional laser. Expansion and discovery are always the key to redefinition and MIS is looking like quite the explorer of familiar lands.” -URB

“A remarkable collage of electronica, spoken word, and old-school samples that serves as a reminder that Mexico's musical tradition is much richer than mere mariachi…..Mexican Institute of Sound is not only able to give order to disparate ingredients, it does so with taste, sophistication and a good amount of fun.” -ASSOCIATED PRESS

Following the success of last year’s Mexican Institute of Sound (MIS) debut ‘Méjico Máxico’, MIS is back with “Piñata” (July 24th - Nacional Records), an infectious pastiche of electronica, dub, cha cha cha, cumbia, spoken word and other musical treats waiting to burst out of its paper maché shell. The new album features a number of guests including members of Tom Tom Club, Fantastic Plastic Machine, and Babasonicos. In the past year, MIS has received widespread acclaim from outlets like Spin, NY Times, and Urb, as well as radio support from such tastemakers as KCRW (Los Angeles), Indie 103 (Los Angeles), KEXP (Seattle) and KUT (Austin). MIS’ music has also been featured in other projects including a recent episode of ABC’s hit sitcom “Ugly Betty”, Dos Equis’ national advertising campaign, multiple soundtracks, and the upcoming EA Games release ‘FIFA 2008.’

Camilo Lara is the one-man dynamo behind Mexican Institute of Sound. Hailing from the sprawling metropolis that is Mexico City, Lara channels his inner rockstar, while holding down a day job as head of a major label. Like a musical superhero, Lara steps out of his executive alter ego, gets involved with the underground musica movement and begins his musical mission delivering electronic masterpieces with only the help of his computer, his nurturing imagination, and his awesome collection of vinyl.

Lara’s genius is not his ability to hide behind a computer screen or immerse himself in the world of modern technology (in which he’s admittedly quite a clumsy participant), but rather lies in his ability to carefully select and blend diverse musical references that will surprise and delight even the most discriminating listener. Camilo Lara has distinguished himself as a musical trendsetter among his circle of friends with his annual Christmas compilation of the year’s best tracks and unreleased MIS tracks, which has fast become a sought-after collector’s item. This hobby led Lara to collaborate on remixes under the moniker of Mexican Institute of Sound for bands and friends like Placebo, Le Hammond Inferno, Gecko Turner, and Babasónicos.

Piñata continues the vision established by MIS’ debut album, Méjico Máxico, as a carefully constructed collage of musical influences that combine to reflect Lara’s unique impression of life in bustling Mexico City.

LINE UP

Camilo Lara

Andres Sanchez

Kay

Paco Vazquez

DISCOGRAPHY

PIÑATA (Cooking Vinyl>2007)

Killer Kumbia

Escribeme Pronto

Latin

El Microfono

Para No Vivir Desesperado

La Kebradita

A Girl Like You

A Todos Ellos

Hip Hop No Pares

Katia, Tania, Paulina Y La Kim

Belludita

Mi Negra A Bailal

La La Meda

La Kebradita (Le Hammond Inferno Mix By Holger)

LINKS

Mexican Institute Of Sound>www.institutomexicanodelsonido.com

FURTHER LISTENING

Fatboy Slim

The Avalanches

Tito Puente