Here's a few musical suggestion from our resident graphics programmer Osiris Pérez, who got really excited when I told him I was going to see Los Amigos Invisibles along with Federico Aubele, Bebel Gilberto and headliners Thievery Corporation at the Hollywood Bowl last weekend. Based on that, Os suggested two more bands he thought I would like, Famasloop, and Masseratti 2lts, which I bought as soon as I got home last night.

Los Amigos Invisibles - Superpop Venezuela

It turns out that Os was right to get excited, because Los Amigos Invisible were probably the best part of the concert, with the sextet from Caracas obviously having a great time on stage, from the crazy antics of the keyboard player (I've never seen someone put so much energy into playing with one or two fingers at a time) to the guitarist, who had the best set of curly rock hair this side of the 70's.

Super Pop Venezuela is probably the most ambitious project the Venezuelan super group, Los Amigos Invisibles, have embarked on. What they accomplish on the new album is making hits that inspired the band their own. Listening to the interesting selection of tracks, it's clearly evident that it is a diverse selection of music that comes from all spectrums of Venezuelan music. Everything from the indigenous music of the Native Venezuelans, to merengue and of course, pop!

Los Amigos Invisibles Superpop Venezuela

Famasloop - Tres Casas

With a great blend of jazz, electronica, pop and the usual bossa-nova flavorings that are becoming more and more a staple of my music collection, Famasloop is currently my favorite Venezuelan band. Formed by Alain Gómez, Gabo Millán and Rafa Urbina, Famasloop's only album so far is the brilliant Tres Casas. Don't miss the following tracks: Pararrayos, for a vocoded melody that vaguely reminds me of a Pink Floyd's anthem but with the annoying progressive rock replaced by a great groove, or Avion A which explores the downtempo side of the trio.

Famasloop Tres Casas

Masseratti 2 lts - Cuentos de Ada 6 +

Masseratti 2lts (Masseratti Dos Litros) is two Venezuelan brothers, one living in Caracas, the other in Paris. Encouraged by the simplicity of Amazon's 1-click shopping, I ended up buying two of their albums, their latest release Cuentos de Ada 6, and the previous one titled Coctel #5: Cacao, Mujer y Beats.

Appropriately named The Downtempo Venezuelan Project, their music was a perfect background to a lazy afternoon, chilling out at home for a day, before jumping back into another 180 hour week before we deliver our project. This being said, I can't think of a particular track that stood out for any reason.

Masseratti 2 lts Cuentos de Ada 6
Masseratti 2 lts Coctel #5: Cacao, Mujer y Beats

Los Amigos Invisibles "Yo No Se!"

Famasloop "Pararrayos"