“Monte Espina explores the non-idiomatic space occupied by constructed and discovered sounds, both musical and non-musical.” Tom Carter
An electroacoustic free improvisation duo consisting of Ernesto Montiel and Miguel Espinel, Monte Espina focuses on the use of amplified sounds and signal processing to create evolving soundscapes and musical forms. Montiel and Espinel, both Venezuelan-born, met in early 2016 while attending experimental music shows around the Dallas-Denton axis.
Monte Espina frequently collaborates with others, live and in the studio. Among those they have played and recorded with, from the Dallas-Denton axis and from Texas: Liz Tonne, Louise Fristensky, Tom Carter, Rebecca Novak, Andrew Jordan Miller, Karl Roehling, Kevin Butler, Aaron Gonzalez, Steve Jansen, Sarah Ruth Alexander, Justin Lemons, Chase Gardner, Adriana Valls, Ray Henninger, Derek Rogers, Elaine Di Falco.
about 'y culebra':
"On December 17, 2017 we recorded at Infinite Ohm, Justin Lemons' studio. We wanted to do a recording out of the usual training environment of Miguel’s space. Two pieces/situations came out of these session, 'y culebra' is the first one we played.
The name 'y culebra' is taken from an old Venezuelan saying: “Caracas es Caracas, lo demás es monte y culebra” (“Caracas is Caracas, the rest is bush and snake”). Caracas is the capital city of Venezuela. This saying was used by its people to remark on a very centralized and upstart attitude towards the rest of the country (they also used to call everything outside Caracas, "province"). This attitude wasn’t just a social thing, politically it was also felt in the way the whole country was developed and in the manner that the idea of progress spread (or not) into the territory. We didn’t even get to elect mayors and governors until 1989; until then they were appointed from Caracas. The capital city was by far a priority, so economically it produced an unbalanced development in Venezuela, generated an urban exodus, and made Caracas a hypertrophied city. The government use of land, the unavailability of services, and low levels of respect toward citizens sprouted many issues, typical of unhinged class problems and social development."
Christian Vinck, an artist from Maracaibo, Venezuela, now settled in Madrid, and longtime friend and collaborator of Ernesto (among other things, both of them were the core of the guitar improv ensemble Los Jardineros Del Chance), made the artwork specifically for 'y culebra'.
Valentina Alvarado Matos, also from Maracaibo, is a graphic designer and visual artist. Valentina and Ernesto worked together on the design of the cover and the cd.
•MIGUEL ESPINEL
Originally from Caracas/Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela. Also plays in the Denton-based, improvised black doom noise act, Cacodemon. Has played with Throne of Odin (influenced by early death metal with progressive undertones), Casuist (black metal with post???and avant-black influences), Ride at Anchor (grunged doom), Galactic Morgue (mid-paced death thrash with some roll), and other projects based in Bryan/College Station, TX. Studio-only projects include the conceptual multi-subgenre metal Todeshuhn, featuring a varied gamut of collaborations, as well as the solitary blackish Mente Rumiante.
Has been studying ethnomusicology for the last two years after having focused his studies in composition with a slant towards electroacoustic, computer, and chamber music for the previous seven years. Has been attending the University of North Texas since 2014, having had opportunities to participate in UNT's NOVA (new music), Bwana Kumala (gamelan), Chinese, and Brazilian ensembles.
•ERNESTO MONTIEL
Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Ernesto Montiel is a visual artist and improviser, formally educated in architecture. Ernesto moved to Dallas in 2015.
Ernesto’s initial improvisation project was an open collective called El Jaibo (1995) which spawned several other projects, including: Los Jardineros del Chance, Metra, Gabinete Sonoro Goma Espuma.
Since the beginning of KUZU LP FM 92.9, Denton community radio, he’s been a monthly guest on Sarah Ruth’s show Tiger D, and started his own every-other-Thursday two-hour show, Sonido Tumbarrancho, in August 2018.
He is curator for the Further Sounds/Further Jazz experimental music series at The Wild Detectives in Dallas and has been booking shows at Top Ten Records, Texas Theater, and Full City Rooster.
As a visual artist Montiel has been developing for some years a chance-driven body of work, Stochastic Ethics. His work has been exhibited in some galleries and museums in Venezuela, also in Colombia, Aruba, and Germany.
credits
released July 2, 2019
Layout: Valentina Alvarado Matos (Maracaibo)
Artwork: Christian Vinck (Madrid, Maracaibo)
supported by 13 fans who also own “MCFD H | y culebra”
this is so wonderful. the sounds of a plenty tiny morsels of human past present and future(s), documented and sewn one unto the other into a babel's cloak. avery
supported by 13 fans who also own “MCFD H | y culebra”
This goes crazy. Never heard something like this. What an experience and definitely opened and inspired my creative eyes, ears, body, and soul abstractshine
supported by 12 fans who also own “MCFD H | y culebra”
After 25 minutes of wandering piano keys, gurgling and whirring electronics, unidentified field recordings, solemn French horn and plucked bass, we reach something resembling a “song” at the tape’s end. It’s not the destination, but the journey, some might say, but in this case, the earthy headphone muck asks if the dream quest ever truly ends. https://www.vikingschoice.org/archive/amp-stacked-ambient-japanese-folk-black-rave/ Lars Gotrich
This reissue of a 1987 cult classic by Venezuelan synth pioneer Angel Rada is still fresh and vibrant, analog tones curling like vines. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 30, 2020
Stunning electronic music from Barcelona with a sci-fi expansiveness; rippling keys form constellations of eerie, mesmerizing sound. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 10, 2020
This mesemerizing dark ambient record uses chiaroscuro swirls of sound to replicate its maker’s real-life experiences. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 13, 2022