Lima's Ballet Mecánico builds on the 80s coldwave sound of Peru

Ballet Mecánico, the latest project of Fernando Pinzás features guest vocals from Gomas singer Susan Fátima and many other Perruvian indie stars. 

Here's the scoop...

Buh Records has just announced the release of "Primera Secuencia,", the debut album by Ballet Mecánico, the latest  musical project of Peruvian keyboardist Fernando Pinzás. After his time in the popular Lima synth-punk band Varsovia, Pinzás embarked on a new phase as a solo artist and producer.

While "Primera Secuencia" retains elements of the EBM and techno punk sound  that shaped Varsovia, the new project expands into other 80s electronic styles such as synthpop, Hi-NRG, Italo disco, and techno pop. Suffice it to say, there's a load of synth involved in Ballet Mecánico's concept however there's a much darker vibe than might be expected from the aforementioned influences which makes sense when you consider that Primera Secuencia" against the backdrop of a global pandemic and protests for social justice. 

And it's not really a coincidence that Gonzalo de Montreuil's sleeve art recalls the Italians Do It Better releases of Johnny Jewel and company. The Chromatics, Desire and Glass Candy were clearly inspirations for the work of Pinzás on Primera Secuencia. Each song on the album features a guest singer: Susana Fátima (best known as a member of the group Gomas), Noelia Cabrera (associated with Blue Velvet and Silveria), Kat Kathia, Luxsie, Luminiscencia, Anabhell (vocalist of the punk band Las Ratapunks), Laura Rosales (member of the dream pop band Solenoide), and Elva Cío (singer of the gothic rock band Specto Caligo)—all  prominent vocalists from the Peruvian independent music scene.

The album was produced by Fernando Pinzás in collaboration with Antonio Ballester, Oman Morí, Rafael Benavides, and Juancho Esquivel. The album also includes a remix of "No cederé" contributed by  Italoconnection, the duo formed by Fred Ventura and Paolo Gozzetti, key figures in the Italo disco scene. 

Ballet Mecánico's debut "Primera Secuencia" will be released digitally and in a limited vinyl edition on May 9th through Buh Records. Get a digital version of"No cederé" via Bandcamp here and watch the video following the album's tracklisting below. 

Ballet Mecánico – "Primera Secuencia"

1.- No cederé (feat. Susana Fátima)

2.- Rosa era inocente (feat. Laura Rosales)

3.- Mascarilla (feat. Luxsie)

4.- Como la última vez (feat. Noelia Cabrera)

5.- La ciudad de los incendios (feat. Elva Cío)

6.- La memoria es un acto político (No hay perdón ni olvido) (feat. Kat Kathia)

7.- Fábricas del miedo (feat. Anabhell)

8.- Testamento (feat. Luminiscencia)

9.- No Cederé (Italoconnection remix)