For the Record

Author: Grace Duggan

Rock 'n' roll may have developed in the United States, but almost immediately afterwards it became difficult to pigeonhole it as a uniquely American phenomenon. Rock music has cemented its influence everywhere from CBGB and the Viper Room to Wembley Stadium and Budokan, but what about the rock bands who don't necessarily care about making it across the pond or being huge in Japan?

Souvenir is one such band. Formed in Pamplona, Spain in 1999, this electro-pop rock duo has released four albums, including last year's 64. Thankfully, unlike bands like Nous Non Plus (who performed at Middlebury in recent years) Souvenir doesn't camp up their Francophile status - they may sing in French, but they still remember what side of the Pyrenees they grew up on. On their web site they describe 64 as a collection of songs "interwoven with the different vocabularies of techno-pop, new wave, 80s dance music ... sung with Patricia's beautiful voice and Jaime's 'surf' guitar touch." The energetic songs - complete with more than their fair share of Bauhaus-inspired music videos and cover art - let Patricia de la Fuente's light vocals shine through and withstand the rock and electronic accompaniments supplied by Jaime Cristóbal (and the occasional help of a full band). "Accident à Londres," the album's opening track, has it all: twangy guitars, ethereal synthesizer melodies and de la Fuente singing husky, desperate lines that sound good regardless of how much French you remember from high school.

Some Spaniards do in fact stick to their mother tongue, including Barcelona-based Refree, Raül Fernández's latest project (he also sings in Catalan). Formerly of influential Spanish indie band the Corn Flakes, Fernández began recording as Refree in 2003 and continues as lead singer of Élena. On his Web site his music is described as a successful union "of sounds, rhythms, instruments, collaborations ... [and] a markedly urban and modern profile ... [that] confirm a body of work simultaneously a concave and convex mirror in which all of our expectations are reflected." His sweeping songs and beautiful lyrics make albums like Els Invertebrats and Quitamiedos important rock/electronica works in the contemporary Spanish music scene.

If you were that kid that didn't like your peas touching your mashed potatoes, maybe you don't like all that electronica mixed in with your rock 'n' roll. Maybe you're just a purist. In either case, Mexico's recent rock scene merits more than a cursory glance. The now-defunct Zurdok got its start in the city of Monterrey with a sound not altogether unrelated to English groups like Oasis and The Verve. Make use of the $o.99 downloads on iTunes and listen to songs off of Hombre Sintetizador, such as the creeping "Nos vemos en la luna" and "¿Cuántos pasos?," complete with strings and simple, ambivalent musings on a dead-end love. Maquillaje features a number of memorable tracks, including the single "Estático," a tight, irresistible track with an addictive hook and a delivery reminiscent of - stay with me here - post-Beatles John Lennon records, particularly Double Fantasy.

Also from Monterrey is Kinky, a band of continuing importance and prominence in the Mexican rock scene. Ridiculous name aside, the best part of the band is their genuine integration of Mexican music traditions into the rock genre. Case in point: the sweet accordion melody on "Sister Twisted" off of Reina, their 2006 release preceding last month's iTunes-only debut of Barracuda. See also: the Latin percussion-heavy "Más" and "¿A dónde van los muertos?," a jumping, scratchy song with an accordion part you would expect from a lead guitarist or bass player. If Jethro Tull could make flutes cool, maybe the accordion isn't so bad. Also make sure to listen to their wonderfully subversive cover of Wall of Voodoo's bizarre hit, "Mexican Radio."

What about the rest of the world? Well, this is a column, not an encyclopedia. Past these four bands, I guess sites like www.muzikalia.com, www.commonpeoplemusic.com and www.mondosonora.com will have to do.