How scary would Alfred Hitchcock's famous Psycho shower scene be without its equally famous soundtrack? Music is essential in letting movie audiences know something awful is about to happen. Listen to those violins — any minute now, the serial killer will jump from the back seat of your car.
This week's show has new releases to make the hair on your neck stand up. Songs that belong on the soundtrack to an X-Files film, or a grindhouse flick directed by Quentin Tarantino. We've got it all: the noir psychobilly stylings of a Spanish rock band called Los Claveles, singing "They say hate is cheaper than love, and we're in no position to spend;" a Mexican-American DJ who seems to have locked the ghost of a 1920's starlet in his closet and forced her to sing beautifully; and a repentant Colombian with an angelic choirgirl voice, who just wishes she could be good.
We are also heavy on songs from Spain and rock 'n' roll tunes. That's no coincidence: Spain has a rich rockabilly and punk scene, which is in part a response to the '80s disco revival Latin alternative musicians went through last year.
Sit back and hold tight, because we've got ghastly new music to share with you.
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Alt.Latino: We All Go A Little Mad Sometimes
Nacional 42
From 'Nacional 42 E.P.'
By Los Claveles
Coming at you from: Spain
Sounds like: A bitlike Ry Cooder and Manuel Galbán's Mambo Sinuendo.
Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne Cover)
From 'Crazy Train'
By Metalachi
Sound like: Mariachi's doing Heavy Metal. Enough said.
Coming at you from: Los Angeles
Toro
From 'Diamantes'
By Columpio Asesino
Sounds like: Carpooling to the disco with psycho killers, qu'est-ce que c'est
Coming at you from: Spain
Restart Feat. Sasha Perera
From 'Ceremony'
By Mexicans With Guns
Sounds like: A soundtrack to an X-Files movie.
Coming at you from: Austin Texas/London/Sri Lanka
Beijos E Mordidas
From 'Arar'
By Andrea Roca
Sounds like: Mazzy Star
Coming at you from: Chile
Buena Persona
From 'Color'
By Lido Pimienta
Sounds like: Kate Bush
Coming at you from: Canada/Colombia
Lobo Mayor
From 'El Paisaje Salvaje'
By Fother Muckers
Sounds like: An example of why Chilean music rocks
Coming at you from: Chile