Not too many alternative electronic bands have been as adept at carving out a niche as Horizonte Lied. This long-standing project, started by Monterrey, Mexico native Alex Ezert and Bernardo Garza, has been a melting pot of hard industrial rock and synthy pop textures since day one.Their latest is a stunning example of their unique sonic alchemy, “El Día Después”. This revamped version of the original in 2008 sees the band exploring further into the fringes of their sonic palette, looking to the atmospheric gloom of Depeche Mode and the harsh and abrasive edges of Nine Inch Nails.
From the start the track’s pulsating intro drops the listener right into a world of haunting melodies and intricate synth layers. The effect of the echoing consisted of Ezert’s commanding vocals cutting through the mix like you might hear a siren’s call, dragging the listener further into the band’s hypnotic realm. The percussive elements of Garza’s work give the arrangement a driving backbone and a sense of urgency and intensity, but it is the use of Rodrigo Garza’s guitar work that really takes “El Día Después” into new realms. The mechanical underpinnings wouldn’t be as interesting without his riffs and textures to provide an organic counterpoint, creating a rich tapestry of sound that is hard to define as anything other than richly musical.
That is a testament to the band’s dedication to do what no one else has done before and break boundaries and mix in genres.Thematically, “El Día Después” is a Gustavo Cerati-esque poetic lyricism that delves deep into the darkest parts and corners of the human psyche in a style that is seldom if ever seen in today’s music. For Horizonte Lied, “El Día Después” is a perfect way of signalling their intentions in the shape of a project they’ve dubbed ‘Final Remasters’. Despite 30 years in the game, it’s a reminder that, even now, this band still has the capacity to surprise and amaze. Their dark and depth meld bring us further into an alternative electronic music with no end in sight, solidifying their place as true pioneers.
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