In general, Bogotá's rock scene these days lacks spontaneity, enjoyment, and fun. Too many bands have bought into the hype of formality, the clumsy attempt at a convenient message, and the fear of stepping on toes. or to believe that by speaking of non-existent devils, the demons of rebellion will be awakened. There are too many music projects that lack freshness, inspiration, and joy. Perhaps they're trying too hard to convince traditional producers, those who demand discretion in the face of the media, those who demand a smile in front of those who claim to be powerful. That's not rock. And yes, I know it's a cliché to say that rock is attitude, but the opposite is to adopt rules to be liked, to strive for a sound that doesn't offend, to seek pompous exquisiteness. I want guitars that rumble, toxic airs that carry happy sonic substances, words that cross borders. Listen to it in the chorus of a song, for example, «"I'm so worthless.". Of course, that's what the cold city of Bogotá often needs., It's that their immigrants from warmer cities come to spread their audacity, Otherwise, the sample looks very artificial. And that's where it comes in. Astronova and his new album Nadaist Carnival Groups.
Musicians Fab Astro and Lyon Ace, from Santa Marta (Colombia's Atlantic coast), joined Ricardo Guerrero in the capital and they formed this trio, which acknowledges influences from bands as diverse as Sebadoh, Stone Temple Pilots, Sonic Youth, The Stooges and other unconventional sound classics. Their texts contain references to national alternative writers, and they claim to be the children of renowned artists such as Gonzalorango, Norman Mejía, Andrea Echeverri, Maria Mercedes Carranza, Alejo Durán, Teto Ocampo, Débora Arango, Beatriz González, Luís Caballero, Delia Zapata and many others. This album contains eleven tracks, among which is a recording called Transmigration, by the poet Jotamario Arbelaez, representative of Nadaism, a Colombian countercultural artistic and philosophical movement that prevailed from 1958 to 1964, an obvious reference for the lyrics of the group. The rest is music with psychedelic vibes, very rock and roll moments, dense distortions, reverberated vocals, with certain moments of return to what was done in the alternative scene of the North American west coast in the nineties. There are striking experiments that include feedback, inexplicable noises, and enveloping textures that might distract and annoy the more conservative listener, but I don't think that will necessarily worry this group.
The best moments of Nadaist Carnival Groups, In my personal opinion, they are their instrumental cut. Santamarta (a recording filled with maritime nostalgia), It's over. It's finished. (a tune that starts out folk and then turns into a fascinating Hendrix-like noise, with sixties spirits included) and its already recognized anthem I'm so worthless (Nihilistic exaltation, catchy riffs, and small recordings that add to the atmospheric confusion). Even so, the album as a whole maintains its appeal from beginning to end., and it has all the elements to become a new benchmark for what it does in contemporary music on this side of the world. Hopefully Astronova will soon have its cult following throughout the continent.
