V/A - Back Up Dos: Mexican Techno Pop 1982-1989 [Dark Entries Records]

Dark Entries returns to Mexico with Back Up Dos: Mexican Tecno Pop 1982-1989. Following 2021’s Back Up compilation, Back Up Dos features 10 new tracks of synth-pop and New Beat, 7 of which have never appeared on vinyl before. From mutant drum machine beats to irresistible synth hooks, fans of the 80s margins will find songs to ignite their cold, dark hearts. But Back Up Dos goes beyond retro kitsch; it documents the development of a rich DIY music scene that is still underexplored.

As accessible samplers and digital synths became widely available throughout the decade, post-punk and new wave gave way to more aggressive sounds like EBM and cyberpunk. The scene also developed in opposition to the political climate of the time: the rise of drug cartels and a reactionary turn in national politics. Using home recording techniques, these bands drew inspiration from the electronic magic of Human League and Wax Trax Records, while also reflecting Mexico’s vibrant and chaotic cultural landscape of the era.

On Back Up Dos, pristine pop anthems from the likes of Casino Shanghai and Los Agentes Secretos blend with twisted darkwave from Ford Proco and María Bonita, showcasing a decade of audacious irreverence and enthusiastic experimentation. This album comes in a neon 80s aesthetic sleeve designed by Gwenael Rattke and includes a 12-page booklet with photographs, lyrics, and liner notes. Back Up Dos compiles synthetic music produced in Mexico at the crossroads of Tecno Pop and Post-Industrial, nourished by cultural clashes and stories of dystopian worlds.