The DIY-community, self-production-mindset has always had a home in London, from the punk era of The Clash and Pistols, to the modern-day psycho-rock movement. So it’s really refreshing to come across a band with a DIY mindset, from Argentina.
Apparently, in Peru, ‘Los Cripis’ means marijuana. In Spanish, it means ‘The Creepies’.
Josi and Nico started jamming together back in 2009, before thinking they should start a band. Devoid of a drummer, they started recording anyway and in 2010 put out their first album, called ‘Our First Album’ (reminds me of the baby book my sister made when her kid was born). Their second album, ‘FAT’ followed in 2011. This also spelled the birth of their self-made record-label ‘Fariscal Records’. Two albums and a record-label in, they thought it might be good to start doing live gigs. But first they needed a drummer – enter Marta.
Let’s stop and pause for a moment. The standard process in the ‘handbook’ of ‘how-to-create-a-band (there is no such thing worth reading, but let’s stick with the idea) is that you find a few mates you like jamming with (and that you don’t feel like smashing their heads in with your guitar), whose sound fits. Then you start to play a few songs, do a few recordings and perhaps start thinking about gigs. Right? So two albums in and no drummer, Los Cripis were going commando musically-speaking.
Like many bands and artists, however, there is no magical formula for success, sometimes it just happens.Their second gig in Buenos Aires, the trio meet a guy called Bruno who invites them to play the upcoming 1234-Shoreditch Festival. Thus begins their European tour 2012.
‘Los Cripis’ don’t ‘do’ fancy studios apparently; in fact they have a self-made recording space they call ‘Momia Studio’. It’s a room with all that is needed to make music; one computer, a microphone, an amp, guitars, a fan and…a cassette player. DIY, self-creation to the max. In the past three years Fariscal Records has expanded to put out more punk and experimental music from Argentina; listen-worthy bands Botanophobia and Gizmo amongst them. Most of it is free, from the Fariscal website; another nod to the free-sharing nature of DIY-everything. The next album for ‘Los Cripis’ is due out in 2013.
Some notable songs: ‘Yapa Ride’, ‘Breakfast’, ‘Angry Country’ and ‘Not Enough’ (from ‘Our First Album’) and ‘Fondue de Jesus’, ‘My Face is Funny’, ‘Angry Man’, ‘Refrigerator’ and ‘Ghettoblaster’ (from FAT).
Apoyo a los:
Fariscal Records: http://fariscal.com.ar/
Los Cripis: http://www.facebook.com/loscripiss.
CRASH 