August 11, 2010

Devo, Jocko Homo (1977).

"Are we not men? We are Devo!"

That's the catchy line of Jocko Homo, some kind of Hymn for de-Evolutionist. This band that started from a "why don't we create a band" back in the 1960s. In 1973 the band performed in several performing arts festivals, closer to a happening than to regular rock band.

In fact they create something new, something that nobody else where doing back then. They used home-made electronics along the electric guitar and keyboards. Thus they could be considered pioneers of Techno and electronic Pop Music, but they were no Tangerine Dream. They were Devo.

In the 1970s they only achieve some spotlight by being part of two movies where they act and play their music (one of then is a Neil Young movie). Jocko Homo and Mongoloid where released in a single and some people, important musicians, hear them.

David Bowie back them at WB and Brian Eno produced their Debut album, some eight years after the foundation of the band.

Humor and innovation are at the core of the band. They present themselves as devoluted men, living in a society that turns then into, well, nerds. Their covers are anthologies, with a Satisfaction (Rolling Stones) and Are You Experienced? (Jimi Hendrix) that are unforgettable.

Their most popular song was Whip it, heavily exposed in early MTV. But this odd meter Jocko homo was really difficult proposition to the public and it worked.

Enjoy the music.