Surfin’ Bichos, the Albacete-based band, has released a new album titled ‘Más allá’ –(Sonido Muchacho)– on Friday, May 5th. The band’s four members have stated that the record recovers their «essence» after 30 years of silence from the music industry. «We hold on to Surfin’ to never die,» they say.
In an interview with Europa Press, the band members — Carlos Cuevas on drums, Fernando Alfaro on vocals and guitars, José Manuel Mora on bass, and Joaquín Pascual on guitars, piano, and vocals — reveal that they had no intention of recording a new album, but it «just happened».
«The seed of the idea was always there,» they point out; Carlos Cuevas suggested the possibility during one of their tours in recent years. «He suggested that if we ever made a new album, it would be cool to do it without anyone noticing and release it as a surprise. We said no, but in the end, it happened.»
However, the band admits that recording an album after 30 years, when their previous records — ‘La luz en tus entrañas’ (1989), ‘Fotógrafo del cielo’ (1991), and ‘Hermanos Carnales’ (1992) — are part of the «emotional memory» of many people, «is very risky» because «there’s always someone who might feel betrayed.»
«As it was incredibly risky, that’s why we did it. We were always like that, kamikazes in general,» the members of the Albacete band declare, adding that they jumped into the pool not knowing if it was filled with water or lava, and the result «has not disappointed,» and «no one felt betrayed.»
THREE DECADES OF EVOLUTION
With the perspective that three decades provide, the band states that there has been evolution throughout this time, but the way they worked to create ‘Más allá’ was the same that they used 30 years ago, with the premise of not overthinking things, even though they could have used the knowledge they acquired as musicians and producers.
«However, it was about retrieving our essence, coming together as four friends in a local place to play music and giving shape to the songs,» they emphasize, adding that they benefited from having Fino Oyuarnte as co-producer of the album, given their «chaotic» nature, which helped organize «the chaos,» what they considered «a success.»
Moreover, the album, which they describe as «conceptual» and «existentialist,» talks about «beyond» in terms of crossing borders. «It’s not that we come from beyond, nor have we died. After the first stage in terms of the record, the ‘beyond’ of the decades is releasing an album now.»
They also emphasize that ‘Más allá’ is «closely related» to the Surfin’ Bichos of the 90s, both musically and conceptually, although they «never considered» paying homage to «such and such a song» from that era. «But once we recorded the songs, we realized that they were similar to songs like ‘Lotus Europa’ and ‘Fotógrafo del Cielo’.»
The album also immerses listeners in the Manchego roots of the band with tracks like ‘Luz del Mediterráneo’ where the lyrics recount the child’s memories during trips to the coast. «It’s like a rhyme with a similar Mediterranean resonance.»
Additionally, they allege that it is «inevitable» for ‘Más allá’ to sound like Mercormina and Chucho, the two parallel groups that arose after the dissolution of Surfin’ Bichos in the early 90s. «It’s us getting together, and it’s almost an organic issue.»
«WE ARRIVED TOO EARLY»
Surfin’ Bichos, regarded as the predecessor to the explosion of indie music in the 90s in Spain, separated just as the band was starting to explode. They assert that they feel like «they arrived too early» because there was no «media attention» nor a professional music live circuit like we have today.
«You feel like if during the maximum explosion, we had the support that came afterward, it would have worked out differently,» they say, arguing that at that time, it was «difficult to play» because there were no motorways, they weren’t understood in interviews because «no one knew where they were headed,» and the television programs where they appeared were «very bizarre.»
Nevertheless, they do not believe that coming out of a place like Albacete was an impediment to breaking «that initial barrier right at the beginning.» «It was initially a barrier, as there was even a mental barrier to transcend the limits of your land, but nowadays being from Albacete is a plus.»
Surfin’ Bichos will be presenting ‘Más allá’ on May 18th in Madrid, and they affirm that they will play a «substantial part» of the songs from this new album, as well as songs from their entire trajectory and others that are less known. «All the hits, and the hits from the Graveyard too.»
Lastly, on the independent music scene today, they agree that it is «highly diverse,» highlighting that there are still young people playing music with guitars and drums, although they do not encourage people to live off music because it is «very difficult,» it is «very precarious» and «forces you to pay a series of tolls that most of us are not willing to pay.»
«As an example, when we started, musicians were oriented toward radio format, and now they are oriented toward festivals. The heirs to the record industry are now platforms and festivals, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to make that your only aspiration in terms of directing your creative activity – it wasn’t then and isn’t now,» they conclude.
