Mexican Institute of Sound is a project led by Camilo Lara, an all-encompassing music super-producer, remixer, composer and “sampling sommelier.” His new album, ALGO-RITMO, reflects all these wondrous abilities and components, sonically engaging us in an exploration of the past with the present (and the future), bringing it all together in one gorgeous package.
A Grammy and Latin-Grammy nominated artist, Lara has produced work for artists like Nora Jones, Calexico, Los Angeles Azules, Lila Downs, and Band of Horses, among many others. His music has been featured in television series and movies like Ugly Betty, Breaking Bad, Y tu Mamá También and Californication, to name a few. Lara also creates music for film, television and game projects, including incidental music for Pixar’s Coco as well as Thor: Love and Thunder among upcoming Marvel releases.
Camilo Lara presides regally over Instituto Mexicano del Sonido | Mexican Institute of Sound. His new double-album, ALGO-RITMO, covers a large part of his musical history with more than two dozen songs featured, each a tiny glimpse into the collage of sounds Lara puts together in such an out of the ordinary manner.
This new album, along with his musical history, makes me think of Unbelonging, the word, its definition, as well as the book with that title by Ivan A. Ramos.
I often thought of unbelonging when I wasn’t gelling with the music that others were so into, especially when I started delving into rock en español. I wanted something more, something different, something that didn’t sound like anything else. Artists like Instituto del Sonido Mexicano have occupied this space and it’s great to see an album like this compilation taking a little bit from each soundscape to encompass it all in one place. Among the albums some of his hits were selected from are: Méjico Máxico (Nacional, 2006), Piñata (Indie Europe/Zoom, 2009), Soy Sauce (El Volcán Música, 2009), Político (El Volcán Música, 2012), Disco Popular (El Volcán Música, 2017), and Distrito Federal (El Volcán Música, 2021).
Lara has that magic touch that can connect so fluidly one sound, beat or vocal to their opposite, which is something we should all be so lucky to experience. It reflects an artist’s admiration and appreciation for their surroundings rendering a colorful sonoridad. ALGO-RITMO reflects all these wondrous components, exploring the past with the present, and bringing it all together in one gorgeous package.
In ALGO-RITMO the journey begins with a welcoming “Escribeme Pronto” from the 2007 album Piñata, his second full-length album.
Mexican Institute of Sound reflects a fantastic sampling of retro sounds with hip-hop, electronic blips and scratches, chachacha, cumbia, synths, pop, and more. Some of my favorite elements include the use of heavy, romantic, yearning horns and synths, los sonidos de la calle, good-humored lyrics (listen: “Dioz” + “Yo Digo Baila” + “Mi T-Shirt de la Nasa”), and vintage instrumentation/samples/blending (almost everything – “Mirando a las Muchachas” + “El Antidoto” + “Yemaya” + “Es Toy”).
One of my favorites is “Mirando a las Muchachas” from the album Méjico Máxico released in 2006. It has everything! I love the combination of sounds and the feelings it evokes. Here’s a great live version of the song…
Another song from MIS that head me pondering is “My America is Not Your America.” It was an important song on my playlist in 2021 when it was released on Distrito Federal and it features the founding member of the rock band Blur, Graham Coxon.
In an interview, Camilo explaind, “For us, America is many races, ethnicities and colors, while for them, it is only the United States. It was important to help bring about change and amplify certain messages that were hidden.” The music video for this new single features cultures of the United States and Mexico and the filming took place during the Black Lives Matter protests in Los Angeles, reflecting the explosiveness that was being felt. Filming also took place in Mexico City’s Plaza de las Tres Culturas, which has great significance for him.
Listen to my review of ALGO-RITMO as broadcast live on 105.5 FM Lumpen radio (WLPN-LP Chicago) during my program, Enchufate, beginning at the 36:00 minute mark…
