What began as the backdrop of multiple Mexican folkloric dance groups in the Denver area gradually became something more when producer/DJ Armando Garibay experimented with new and exciting electronic sounds. With nearly a decade’s experience behind him, Garibay started releasing original material in 2018 under Machu Linea, a solo project that has since carried into the present with his latest album, INVASION.
Machu Linea, an amalgamation of Peru’s Machu Picchu and Nazca Lines, or líneas de Nazca in Spanish, calls back to Latin music’s influence on Garibay’s sound. But the production is often something from out of this world, taking equal amounts from house, pop, and general electronica.
On INVASION, Garibay weaves genres at the opposite ends of each other under infectious electronic production, with the many unique collaborations for each track spotlighting Garibay’s ability to finetune his songs around artists of varying styles.
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“Silver Tongue,” the album’s lead single, features singer-songwriter Mezzzmer harmonizing delicately against eerie chimes dotted across the click-clack beat. The first half of the song seemingly builds up to a climactic erosion of electronic crackling but instead settles in a sweet spot between Mezzzmer’s soft vocals and impending doom defined by repeated bass booms.
Much of INVASION uses familiar electronic dance set-ups to take detours into more interstellar avenues reflective of Garibay’s creativity. “CIRCE” featuring Vedette is among the album’s most adventurous tracks, following the alien aesthetic through the futuristic percussion and synths vibrating like evaporating bubbles. Vedette’s hushed voice provides the right amount of ominous atmosphere to a song that initially confuses but eventually encourages you to dance.
Since Garibay has primarily operated in his home of Denver, he’s always wanted to play at Red Rocks, an amphitheater suitable for his alien soundscapes. But outside of Colorado, he hopes to branch out and perform for festivals with bigger audiences like Primavera Sound and Bonnaroo.
In the meantime, INVASION proves Machu Linea is a hard-to-define project for all the right reasons. Garibay works with a combination of local and international artists who all sound right at home amid the wide-ranging beats. Even on a surface level, the album’s electronic inflictions lead to a good time that matches the need for genuinely out-there music.
“I try to build a sonic world with each album with different moods to match what you may be feeling,” said Garibay. “Day to day life can be hard and I wanted to provide a place where people can escape to and feel free.”
Words: David Sosa
INVASION by Machu Linea is out on streaming services. For more on new music and potential shows, follow him on Instagram.
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