In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a couple of lovers of dark and psychedelic rock and punk came together in 1998 to form Capsula, a band with a unique sound that blended garage, glam, and punk rock. Their name, which means "capsule" in Spanish, is derived from the David Bowie song "Space Oddity".
Despite not having released an album yet, they played shows in clubs across Europe, showcasing their raw and energetic live performances. As they continued to develop their sound, Capsula caught the attention of legendary producer Tony Visconti, known for his work with David Bowie and T. Rex. Visconti was impressed with their music and agreed to produce their album "Solar Secrets" in 2013. The album was a critical success, with Rolling Stone magazine describing it as "garage-glam heaven on a platter." Capsula's sound was praised as "a dynamic compression of The Who, The Cramps, and Sonic Youth in a high tide of psychedelia"[1] by David Fricke. The band's reputation grew quickly, and they became known for their intense live performances and unique sound.
Capsula's success continued as they toured relentlessly across Europe, the United States and South America, playing shows with bands like Iggy Pop, Os Mutantes, and Pearl Jam and developing a devoted fan base along the way. They continued to push the boundaries of their music, experimenting with new sounds and influences.
Today, Capsula is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential rock bands of their generation, with a career that spans over two decades and countless live performances and recordings. Their music has been praised by critics and fans alike, and their influence can be heard in the work of other artists.
History
1997–2006: South America, Bilbao, road and Songs & Circuits
Capsula self-released their debut album, Sublime, in 1999, followed by Yudoka"in 2000, which showcased their unique blend of alternative rock, lo-fi, experimental, and psychedelic rock genres. After moving to Bilbao, Capsula continued to experiment with their songwriting process, employing surrealist automatism and cut-up techniques for their self-titled album Capsula, which was released in 2002. The album was published and distributed by the independent record label DDT Diskak from Bilbao and was characterized by its alternative rock, experimental, and psychedelic rock sounds. To promote the album, the band played intimate acoustic performances at libraries and on radio shows starting in 2003.
In 2005, Capsula began recording their album Songs & Circuits, which was eventually published by the Madrid-based label Discos Liliput. This album showcased a mix of garage rock, pop rock, indie rock, psychedelic rock, and glam, and was distributed worldwide by the label Northern Star Records. It was described as "garage rock for the 21st Century." The album hinted at the feeling of being in the presence of a truly great group. Capsula embarked on an extensive tour in support of the album, playing 110 shows across the USA, Canada, Europe, and South America, and received rave reviews for their electrifying live performances.
Capsula's musical influences, including The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, early David Bowie, and Television, are evident in their acclaimed live performances.
Since then, Capsula has toured extensively across three continents, including five tours in the United Kingdom, France, Germany (where their participation in the Popkomm 08 festival made them known and led to them being invited to be part of the BCore stable), Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, South America, and a tour of the United States (including a celebrated performance at the SXSW festival in Texas).
BCore Disc, SXSW, 2007–2011
After their debut album Songs & Circuits (Liliput, 07), Capsula signed with Barcelona-based independent record label BCore Disc in October 2008 and released their album Rising Mountains in April 2009. Rolling Stone{{{1}}} David Fricke hailed them as one of the best surprises at the 2009 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. The band toured extensively in support of the album, playing 54 shows across Europe, the USA, and South America.
Capsula's live set is not limited to music but also includes visuals and a technological display, making them a unique case of futuristic garage-rock. They collaborated with New York City rock legend Ivan Julian (Richard Hell & The Voidoids) to record an album titled The Naked Flame, released in Spain by Bloody Hotsak in July 2009.
In 2011, Capsula released In The Land of Silver Souls, produced by John Agnello. The album was promoted with a tour in the United States, playing 39 shows including KEXP Concerts at the Mural in Seattle Amphitheatre and City Arts Festival. The band also toured South America, playing shows in Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
2012 – 2018, Bowie, Visconti, Psychedelia, Pearl Jam, science-fiction and surrealism
In 2012, Capsula went back to the studio to record a personal reinterpretation of David Bowie's classic album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars with producer John Agnello. The process of recording the album was documented in a film called Dreaming Of Ziggy Stardust, which was presented at the Official Section of the Music Documentary Film Festival in San Sebastián, Dock of the Bay.[2] The album was described as "more than simple curiosity, a contemporary approach to the album. A bit more lo-fi, garage. A bit dirtier. Equally rocking."[3]
In 2013, Capsula recorded a new album titled Solar Secrets, produced by producer Tony Visconti, who had just completed David Bowie's powerful comeback album The Next Day. The album was originally inspired by Argentine painter Xul Solar, and included the songs "Constellation Freedom," "Seven Crimes," and "Trails of Senselessness." The album received great reviews, with Rolling Stone magazine and the Chicago Tribune premiering the song "Blind." Critics described the album as "garage-glam heaven on a platter" and "a dynamic compression of the Who, the Cramps, and Sonic Youth in a high tide of psychedelia."
Capsula performed 53 shows in the United States, touring with influential Brazilian psychedelic rock band Os Mutantes, and 57 shows in Europe. They played at Austin Psych Fest 2013, where the Austin Chronicle described their show as "a fabulous gilded snake, writhing on a big stage while plying seismic garage rock." Capsula also opened for L.A. punk band X in December 2013, with singer, artist, and poet Exene Cervenka expressing her admiration for the band.
Capsula appeared at several music festivals, including SXSW from 2008 to 2012, San Sebastian Jazz Festival in 2013, Día De La Musica Festival in Madrid in 2013, Nox Orae in Vevey, Switzerland in 2013, Sonorama Festival in Burgos in 2013, DCode Festival in Madrid in 2012, Primavera Sound in Barcelona in 2011, Bilbao BBK Live in 2010, Low Cost Festival in Benidorm in 2011, Nrmal Festival in Monterrey, Mexico in 2010, Decibelle (formerly Estrojam) in Chicago in 2010, and Incubate (formerly ZXZW) in Tilburg, Netherlands in 2008 among others. In November 2015, they opened for Pearl Jam in Argentina at Estadio Único de La Plata.
In 2016, Capsula recorded Santa Rosa, an album heavily influenced by surrealism, The Cramps, Dead Kennedys and science fiction. The band played 110 shows in 220 days across 93 cities[4] while promoting the album. The album was mastered in Argentina by Eduardo Bergallo and released by the Basque label Gaztelupeko Hotsak in Spain and the independent label from the city of Bordeaux, Vicious Circle, in France.
2019: The era of Bestiarium
In 2018, Capsula began writing a new album titled Bestiarium, which was inspired by antique bestiaries as well as the 1962 Jean Cocteau film in which he asks whether humans in the 2000s have become robots. The album is Capsula's personal answer to that curious and accurate question. Each song on Bestiarium features a creature that is a unique blend of human, animal, and divine characteristics. Capsula imagines these beings as representing the cyborgs of the future, exploring themes of identity and transformation in a rapidly evolving world.
The album was created using a combination of surrealistic cut-up techniques with algorithms, which enabled the band to experiment with new sounds and push the boundaries of their music. Bestiarium was released in 2019 and received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to rock music.
Recorded at Silver Recordings, the songs of this album have a noir spirit. The first singles are "Sirens's Lips", "Cry With You" and a version of the band The Lords of The New Church's "Russian Roulette".
The album was published on March 22, 2019. Barcelona's magazine Ruta 66 describes Bestiarium as a "dark retrofuturist and punk paradise"[5] and the musical publication MondoSonoro called it a "Devilish and exciting artifact", rating it 8/10.[6]
2021: Phantasmaville, empty cities, Ciudad Fantasma!
Phantasmaville, released in 2021 and published by Capsula's label Silver Recordings, features a unique combination of psychedelic, post-punk, and Latin sounds, with pulsating rhythms and raw, energetic guitar riffs. Capsula accompanied the release with a tour of 54 concerts throughout Spain, France, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, and the United States.
In 2021, Phantasmaville was voted the second-best national album by the rock n roll magazine Ruta 66. It was also included in the Top 5 list for November 2021 by the radio station KEXP.
According to rock journalist Ignacio Julià, "In 'Phantasmaville,' they maintain and amplify their psycho-glam-rocker vocation, oblivious to the trends and flavors that dominate popular music of the new millennium."[7]
Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter. Glam artists drew on diverse sources across music and throwaway pop culture, ranging from bubblegum pop and 1950s rock and roll to cabaret, science fiction, and complex art rock. The flamboyant clothing and visual styles of performers were often camp or androgynous, and have been described as playing with other gender roles. Glitter rock was a more extreme version of glam rock.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is the fifth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 16June 1972 in the United Kingdom through RCA Records. It was co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott and features Bowie's backing band the Spiders from Mars — Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey. It was recorded from November 1971 to February 1972 at Trident Studios in London.
Aladdin Sane is the sixth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released in the United Kingdom on 19April 1973 through RCA Records. The follow-up to his breakthrough The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, it was the first album he wrote and released from a position of stardom. It was co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott and features contributions from Bowie's backing band the Spiders from Mars — Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey — with pianist Mike Garson, two saxophonists and three backing vocalists. Recorded in London and New York City between legs of the Ziggy Stardust Tour, the record was Bowie's final album with the full Spiders lineup.
"Suffragette City" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was originally released in April 1972 as the B-side of the single "Starman" and subsequently appeared on his fifth studio album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972). The song was later reissued as a single in 1976, with the US single edit of "Stay" as the B-side, to promote the compilation album Changesonebowie in the UK. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, it was recorded by Bowie at Trident Studios in London with his backing band the Spiders from Mars, consisting of Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey, at a late stage of the album's sessions. The song was originally offered to English band Mott the Hoople, who declined it and recorded Bowie's "All the Young Dudes" instead. It is a glam rock song that is influenced by the music of Little Richard and the Velvet Underground. The lyrics include a reference to Anthony Burgess' novel A Clockwork Orange and the lyric "Oooohh wham bam, thank you, ma'am".
The Spiders from Mars were rock singer David Bowie's backing band in the early 1970s, and initially consisted of Mick Ronson on guitars, Trevor Bolder on bass guitar, and Mick Woodmansey on drums.
"Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally released as the closing track on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars on 16 June 1972. Co-produced by Ken Scott, Bowie recorded it with his backing band the Spiders from Mars – comprising Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey. It detailed Ziggy's final collapse like an old, washed-up rock star and, as such, was also the closing number of the Ziggy Stardust live show. In April 1974 RCA issued it as a single.
"All the Young Dudes" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally recorded and released as a single by the English rock band Mott the Hoople in 1972 by Columbia Records. Bowie produced the song, which he had given to the band after they rejected his "Suffragette City". Bowie would subsequently record the song himself. Regarded as an anthem of glam rock, the song has received acclaim and was a commercial success. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "All the Young Dudes" number 166 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is also one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
"Queen Bitch" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was originally released on his 1971 album Hunky Dory before appearing as the B-side of the single "Rebel Rebel" in the United Kingdom in early 1974. It was debuted on BBC radio in June 1971 before being properly recorded at Trident Studios in London between late June and mid-July. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, the lineup consisted of the musicians who would later become known as the Spiders from Mars: guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Mick Woodmansey.
"Moonage Daydream" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was originally recorded in February 1971 at Radio Luxembourg's studios in London and released as a single by his short-lived band Arnold Corns in May 1971 on B&C Records. Bowie subsequently re-recorded the song later that year with his backing band the Spiders from Mars—comprising Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey—for release on his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The re-recording was co-produced by Ken Scott and recorded at Trident Studios in London in November 1971. The re-recording is a glam rock song that uses melodic and harmonic hooks, as well as percussion and guitar influenced by heavy metal. On the album, the song directly introduces the character Ziggy Stardust, who describes himself as a bisexual alien rock superstar who will save the Earth from the impending disaster described in the opening track "Five Years". It features saxophone played by Bowie and a guitar solo and string arrangement by Ronson.
"Lady Stardust" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie that appeared on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972). Co-produced by Ken Scott, Bowie recorded it with his backing band the Spiders from Mars – comprising Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey. The song is generally interpreted as alluding to fellow glam rock icon Marc Bolan. The original demo version was entitled "He Was Alright ". A 4-track demo version of the song was sold as a picture disc single during the "David Bowie Is" exhibition in Japan in 2017.
"Hang On to Yourself" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie in 1971 and released as a single with his band Arnold Corns. A re-recorded version, recorded in November 1971 at Trident Studios in London, was released on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The main riff is representative of glam rock's influence as a bridge between 1950s rock and roll, specifically rockabilly, and the punk to come; it draws on rockabilly influences such as Eddie Cochran, in a way that would influence punk records such as "Teenage Lobotomy" by Ramones.
"Ziggy Stardust" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie for his 1972 concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, he recorded it at Trident Studios in London in November 1971 with his backing band the Spiders from Mars—comprising Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey. Lyrically, the song is about Ziggy Stardust, a bisexual alien rock star who acts as a messenger for extraterrestrial beings. The character was influenced by English singer Vince Taylor, as well as the Legendary Stardust Cowboy and Kansai Yamamoto. Although Ziggy is introduced earlier on the album, this song is its centrepiece, presenting the rise and fall of the star in a very human-like manner. Musically, it is a glam rock song, like its parent album, and is based around a Ronson guitar riff.
"Watch That Man" is a song written by David Bowie, the opening track on the album Aladdin Sane from 1973. Its style is often compared to the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. The mix, in which Bowie's lead vocal is buried within the instrumental sections, has generated discussion among critics and fans.
"Cracked Actor" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released on his sixth studio album Aladdin Sane (1973). The track was also issued as a single in Eastern Europe by RCA Records in June that year. The song was written during Bowie's stay in Los Angeles during the American leg of the Ziggy Stardust Tour in October 1972. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, it was recorded in January 1973 at Trident Studios in London with his backing band the Spiders from Mars – comprising Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey. A hard rock song primarily led by guitar, the song describes an aging Hollywood star's encounter with a prostitute, featuring many allusions to sex and drugs.
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a 1979 British documentary/concert film by D. A. Pennebaker. It features English singer-songwriter David Bowie and his backing group the Spiders from Mars performing at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on 3 July 1973, the final date of his Ziggy Stardust Tour. At this show, Bowie made the sudden surprise announcement that the show would be "the last show that we'll ever do", later understood to mean that he was retiring his Ziggy Stardust persona.
"Around and Around" is a 1958 rock song written and first recorded by Chuck Berry. It originally appeared under the name "Around & Around" as the B-side to the single "Johnny B. Goode".
Atomic Swindlers is an American six-piece rock band from Rochester, New York, United States, fronted by April Laragy. They are known as more for the science-fiction laced sexuality they portray as for their music. They are more often compared to late 60s to early 70s glam and psychedelic bands like David Bowie and Pink Floyd than to any contemporary bands. Their initial following was mainly in the LGBT community.
The Isolar II – The 1978 World Tour, more commonly known as The Low / Heroes World Tour or The Stage Tour, was a worldwide concert tour by David Bowie. The tour opened on 29 March 1978 at the San Diego Sports Arena continuing through North America, Europe and Australia before reaching a conclusion at the Nippon Budokan in Japan on 12 December 1978.
Ziggy Stardust is a fictional character created by English musician David Bowie, and was Bowie's stage persona during 1972 and 1973. The eponymous character of the song "Ziggy Stardust" and its parent album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), Ziggy Stardust was retained for Bowie's subsequent concert tour through the United Kingdom, Japan and North America, during which Bowie performed as the character backed by his band The Spiders from Mars. Bowie continued the character in his next album Aladdin Sane (1973), which he described as "Ziggy goes to America". Bowie retired the character on 3 July 1973 at a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, which was filmed and released on the documentary Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
Acid Tongue is an American rock band, formed in 2015 in Seattle, Washington. In 2022, Rolling Stone featured Acid Tongue on their In My Room concert series. To date, the band has released three studio albums and four EPs on Seattle independent label Freakout Records.
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