Emilio Moog Aparicio

Mental Experience present the first ever collected works of Guatemalan electronic experimental musician Emilio Aparicio, collecting five 45s he released from 1969-1971. Aparicio was an, a pioneer in using the Moog synth in Latin America. He released a series of private 45s, recorded at his home studio in collaboration with his patron and producer, the painter Roberto Abularach. It is from 1969-1971, when the recordings included here, were registered. Most of the tracks were written at the country house of Abularach, where Emilio built his own home recording studio and where he spent long periods of seclusion. It is in this house where they also spent weeks experimenting with hallucinogens (LSD and datura) in the company of other artists from the underground arts scene of Guatemala. The fruit of those two years of experimentation were released in less than one month as five volumes of a 45 housed in a generic picture sleeve and titled Música Electrónica ("Electronic Music"). These strange records were given away in exchange of four corks of a local drink called Salvavidas Roja, related to Abularach's family. Most of the 45s were destroyed and recycled and soon after Emilio created another experimental project, La Banda Plástica. Aparicio's music is a fascinating blend of primitive homemade electronics with Latin influences. Imagine "Psyche Rock" era Pierre Henry (1970), Gershon Kingsley, and Bruce Haack meeting Joe Meek at the Guatemalan jungle. Emilio Aparicio passed away on 2012. Remastered sound; Insert with rare photos and liner notes by Ruffy Tnt (Discodelic).

"In 2010, I was searching for old records in the city of Quetzaltenango in Guatemala. I found myself in a dusty basement which had been in another time the warehouse of Iximché, a rock-o-la machines distributor. It was an exciting discovery, two big rooms full of old 45s but also dust and rat's dung. Among some incredible finds, I found two strange private 45s which had been released by local drink company. The song titles, 'Brujería' ('Witchcraft') and 'Transmutación del iniciado' ('Transmutation of the initiated') matched perfectly with the abstract psychedelic/electronic instrumental Moog sounds emanating from the grooves. I was fascinated and I knew I had a mission: to discover and tell the world the story behind Emilio Aparicio Moog. After seven years, I finally managed to locate all of his recordings, eight in total." --from the liner notes by Ruffy Tnt (Discodelic)