Lost and found Latin-Beat masterpiece. Los Telepatas were the gods of the 80’s Buenos Aires (Argentina) beat revival. Their only release came out too late, in the early 90s, right before the band broke up. Only a few copies were pressed, it went out of print soon after it was released, and has never been re-issued.
A few copies showed up in Buenos Aires and No Fun grabbed them. Latin-Beat-Psych at its best, with farfisa, fuzz guitar, and unbelievable lyrics by Pepe K. Buenos Aires had a prominent Beat scene in the second half of the eighties, with bands like Los Peyotes, Amor Indio, Mal Recetado, La Celebracion and many more, that were trying to recreate the 60’s sounds of bands like Los Gatos, Los Iracundos, Los Shakers, etc. This is Charlie Lorenzi’s (No Fun Records president) favorite all-time record.
What else can be said about the Fuzztones? As fans worldwide know, the band has achieved legendary status as cult faves during their 3-decade career. Their fiery brand of Garage-Psych-Punk pre-dated the entire “Garage Revival” of the 1980s and has influenced hundreds of groups, some quite famous.
No doubt Fuzztones’ fans expected to ogle sexy strippers onstage when they attended 2007’s “Horny As Hell” tour, advertising “Very Special Horny Guests!” What they got instead was the mighty Fuzztones with a killer HORN SECTION! To top it off, the line-up featured the return of veteran Fuzz-monster “Mad” Mike, beating the crap out of the drums, just like he did from 1986 to 1992, and together with bassist Screamin’ Bo Pille’s steady throb, creating the rhythm section from Hell! Their huge new sound went over so well that Rudi decided to take the band into a recording studio at the end of the tour, and record the set.
To emphasize the new arrangements, Lana Loveland switched to wailing Hammond C3 organ, while Rudi Protrudi and Lenny Silver trade stinging leads and driving rhythms throughout! And finally, as if that’s not enough, a four-piece female backing group was utilized to provide the sassy backing vocals. The band recorded 17 songs, including future favorites “Garden of My Mind” and the Pretty Things’ “Alexander”, as well as brand new versions of Fuzztones classics (wait ’til you hear “Ward 81” and “She’s Wicked” done “Big Band” style!).
Last but not least, Rudi’s hypnotic vocal delivery – just as energetic and vital as when he formed the band almost 3 decades ago! No Fun Records, appropriately based in the Detroit area, is delighted to release The Fuzztones’ “Motown” album, definitely one of the highlights of their career. Also appropriately titled “Horny as Hell.”