Mexrrissey

It's a well-known fact that <a href="spotify:artist:3iTsJGG39nMg9YiolUgLMQ">Morrissey</a> has a devoted fan base in Mexico and among the Mexican-Americans who live in Los Angeles as well as throughout the U.S. The reasons are many, from his retro rockabilly looks to his melancholy world-view to his lovelorn, almost desperate lyrics that recall the ranchera music of Mexico, but what is clear is that he is a beloved, almost revered figure to a large segment of Mexican music fans. Camilo Lara of the group <a href="spotify:artist:4TPTW3cTwUtiihgOMSQfmy">Mexican Institute of Sound</a> is one of <a href="spotify:artist:3iTsJGG39nMg9YiolUgLMQ">Morrissey</a>'s devotees, and in 2015 he was asked by Andy Wood, director of the La Linea Festival in London, to put together a project to honor Mexico's love affair. Lara formed Mexrrissey and stocked the group with a stellar lineup of respected Mexican musicians, including <a href="spotify:artist:5sIuOfUs74K1zFv5BqVaQY">Chetes</a> on guitar; Sergio Mendoza and Jacob Valenzuela (both from <a href="spotify:artist:1OmdWpAh1pucAuZPzJaxIJ">Calexico</a>) on vibes, accordion, and trumpet; vocalist/keyboardist <a href="spotify:artist:7xKtg8mN9eQ8jBiLRnbq8U">Ceci Bastida</a>; bassist <a href="spotify:artist:2PQW0MnXmZd19XKZQyoPgu">Jay de la Cueva</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:5XsWrYhwadPBjW20qYbdZg">Moderatto</a>/<a href="spotify:artist:4pznqIbj3YFnwvG44k1GIu">Titán</a>); and <a href="spotify:artist:5qUyJ52ARWXdUNECvFHBag">Adan Jodorowsky</a> on guitar. After choosing songs that either had connections to Mexico (like "Mexico") or were simply songs that they liked, Lara and Mendoza worked out arrangements that incorporated traditional Mexican instruments and electronics. The band debuted successfully in Mexico City before jetting to the U.K. to play the La Linea Festival and make an emotional stop in Manchester, and then played sold-out shows in New York City and Los Angeles. The group recorded an album in Mexico and Arizona, selecting seven songs from different eras of <a href="spotify:artist:3iTsJGG39nMg9YiolUgLMQ">Morrissey</a>'s solo career. The album, No Manchester, also included live tracks recorded at their May 2015 performance in New York City at BAM. The album was released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Nacional+Records%22">Nacional Records</a> in March of 2016. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi