CONTRAMANO

Artist Information

Biography

Reminiscent of the sound of Ra Ra Riot and the Cure, Contramano, who have been around for almost ten years (give and take some lineup changes), will release their fourth full-length album ContraAtaca this year. In their current formulation, Contramano is led by vocalist (and classically trained cellist) Pablo Cubarle from Argentina, along with Juandi Aguilar, from Peru, on drums and Jay Troop, from DC on bass, guitar, pianos, backing vocals.

Last summer, the band, whose performances often include background visuals and clips, released a narrative music/short quirky film When You Need Me featured during last summer’s HBO/International Latino Film Festival.

Cubarle says his techy film, which had minimal dialogue with a soundtrack entirely by the band, "explores the following themes in its 24 minutes: Love in the digital age, English as a second language, geeks versus hipsters, urban paranoia and the last gasps of Williamsburg irony."

Instrumentation

Pablo Cubarle - electric cello, Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar
JD Aguilar - The Drums.
Jay Troop - Bass, back vocal

Discography

ContrAtaka 2012
UNSATISFECHO 2007
CONTRAMANO 2005
EP 2003

Links

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• Twitter
• Official Contramano website
• MySpace
• iTunes
• CD Baby
• YouTube

Audio

• 01_Recession_Depression_1-18-12
  Listen  
• In/Out Of Love
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Unsatisfied
• TV Reality
• Jugando With Ghosts
• Contramano
• bad Memory
• Me Acuerdo
• From Somewhere To Tracy And Back
• Caroline

Video

When You Need Them -The Making Of-

Meet Me I'm Great -Music Video-

Photo Gallery

Press

• Contramano Launches Thursday Nights at Salon Hecho [+ Show ]
  

  Reminiscent of the sound of Ra Ra Riot and the Cure, Contramano, who have been around for almost ten...Reminiscent of the sound of Ra Ra Riot and the Cure, Contramano, who have been around for almost ten years (give and take some lineup changes), will release their fourth full-length album ContraAtaca this year. In their current formulation, Contramano is led by vocalist (and classically trained cellist) Pablo Cubarle from Argentina, along with Juandi Aguilar, from Peru, on drums and Jay Troop, from DC on bass, guitar, pianos, backing vocals.
  
  Last summer, the band, whose performances often include background visuals and clips, released a narrative music/short quirky film When You Need Me featured during last summer’s HBO/International Latino Film Festival.
  
  Cubarle says his techy film, which had minimal dialogue with a soundtrack entirely by the band, "explores the following themes in its 24 minutes: Love in the digital age, English as a second language, geeks versus hipsters, urban paranoia and the last gasps of Williamsburg irony."
  
  We hope their performance at Salon Hecho includes a screening of the film, along with the soundtrack of course.
  
  The free show is at 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 at Salon Hecho, 356 Bowery

• Fingertipsmusic.blogspot.com [+ Show ]
  

  "TV Reality (The New Plague)" - Contramano If David Byrne had been an Argentinian cellist rather th..."TV Reality (The New Plague)" - Contramano
  If David Byrne had been an Argentinian cellist rather than a geeky Ontario- and Maryland-raised art school dropout, Talking Heads might have sounded something like this. Contramano centers around Pablo Cubarle's spiky cello playing, homely singing, and joyfully unexpected sense of melody. The jagged rhythms of the introductory cello riff lead us into an extended, unsettled opening section--the band has our attention but it's unclear what they're going to do with it, as the chords hover without resolution and Cubarle's accented English renders understanding minimal. Then, as Cubarle sings, "But it's not a special day," something begins to shift, we are suddenly in a bridge to somewhere else, and that somewhere else becomes a crazy-great chorus, a very Talking Heads-like bit of infectious simplicity, enlivened by crystal-clear bass arpeggios and a lively drum kit. Cubarle is particularly difficult to understand right here; to add to your enjoyment, you should know that what he's singing is: "It's the new plague/The new invasion/Click on, screw your life, screw your life." And maybe reality TV presents an easy target but if so, not nearly enough people are taking it on. "TV Reality" is a song from Contramano's second CD, Unsatisfecho, which the band will release themselves next week. The MP3 is via the band's site.

• Sixeyes [+ Show ]
  

  Contramano is an electric, eclectic, experimental trio based in New York. Led by the fiery Argentini...Contramano is an electric, eclectic, experimental trio based in New York. Led by the fiery Argentinian, Pablo Cubarle, on electric cello, Contramano create fascinating music from diverse sources. This free full length mp3 does an admirable job of driving home the beat and the eclectism of the trio.

• Buzzsaw hair cut—Zach Loeb [+ Show ]
  

  (El Cacho Records, 2005) The Argentinean expatriates Contramano show with their debut album pr...(El Cacho Records, 2005)
  
  The Argentinean expatriates Contramano show with their debut album precisely why their name means “against the flow.” Blending punk energy, indie sensibilities, and a lead singer who is trained in the classical cello creates a record that truly stands out.
  
  Contramano owes almost all of its spirit and energy to Pablo Cubarle, whose lyrics, voice and cello imbue Contramano with their charm. Cubarle displays impressive versatility with the cello, which he uses traditionally in some songs and more like a guitar in others. All the while, his voice wavers from depressed drawls (“A Mess”) to romantic croon (“5D”) to energetic squeal (“Pretending”).
  
  While Cubarle provides the front of the songs, the bass and drum work turn the songs into highly contagious and even danceable tracks. The album is populated by tracks that vary from irreverent love songs to more politically-conscious tracks, with the music itself changing to accommodate the spirit of the particular song.
  
  The album begins with the cello playing along to a metronome as Cubarle moans “I don’t fit anywhere,” a slow-moving but enticing intro that builds into a frenzied beat. From there the album progresses from strength to strength, the comedic lovesick tone of “Checking U,” the sadness and intensity of “Sharing,” and the silly almost bounciness of “Disposable Song.” All of this comes to a fitting conclusion with the classical cello sound of “I Hope You Exist.”
  
  Contramano’s self-titled record is likely to fly under many radars, a true shame as it is a highly accessible and enjoyable record that refuses to go with the flow.
  
  —Zach Loeb

• New York Times [+ Show ]
  

  CONTRAMANO (Tonight) This Argentine trio happily go dumpster diving for new wave leftovers just like...CONTRAMANO (Tonight) This Argentine trio happily go dumpster diving for new wave leftovers just like lots of
  other Williamsburg bands, but they also hang on to their Latin roots and come up with something quirkier. 9:30 p.m., Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette
  Street, East Village, (212) 539-8778 or (212) 239-6200, $12. (Sinagra)

• Village Voice [+ Show ]
  

  “This local Argentine-Spanish new-wave trio’s self titled CD is one of the freshest local albums ou...“This local Argentine-Spanish new-wave trio’s self titled CD is one of the freshest
  local albums out right now: spearmint cello lines, iced-tea guitar strum, cool breeze vocals.”

• New York Press [+ Show ]
  

  “Cubarle has bilingually found a romantic socialist poetry to match his sound, which looks toward t...“Cubarle has bilingually found a romantic socialist poetry to match his sound, which looks
  toward the future of all-nations’ politics without repressions, without government
  intervention or class separation.”

• Flavorpill NYC [+ Show ]
  

  Classically trained Argentinean cellist Pablo Cubarle leads Contramano, a largely riff-less punk tr...Classically trained Argentinean cellist Pablo Cubarle leads Contramano, a
  largely riff-less punk trio that channels angst through arty-pop prisms in
  deliriously charming, spirited shows.
  - SP

• Diario Clarin "Buenos Aires" [+ Show ]
  

  ¿Qué pasaría si Kevin Johansen tuviera unos años menos, se hubiera quedado en New York y fuera cor...
  ¿Qué pasaría si Kevin Johansen tuviera unos años menos, se hubiera quedado en New York y fuera cordobés como su tocayo de rostro, el Piojo López? Bueno, probablemente haría algo parecido a lo que Pablo Cubarle presenta en su proyecto llamado Contramano. Hay rock, arreglos de cuerdas, ironía, desprejuicio, spanglish y ganas de pasarla bien sin olvidar la música. A Pablo y su combo, al que recientemente se sumó Murray (ex Villanos) podrán encontrarlo tocando en Buenos Aires por estos días. Y si no lo pescan, pueden acercarse a un disco tan curioso como interesante.

• smother.net [+ Show ]
  

  The sound of crickets is the only answer to the question, “How many of you have heard a classically ...The sound of crickets is the only answer to the question, “How many of you have heard a classically trained cellist lead a power-pop punk band?” Well and Contramano too. Argentine cellist Pablo Cubarle flourishes alongside this ‘80’s orphan of power-pop cum New Wave act. Very off-kilter Latin-flavored melodies are placed alongside more straight-forward pop harmonies. You can’t refuse the catchy choruses and addictive glittering of these magical melodies. Pick it up.

Setlist

From 45' to 90'

Microwaves
On The Street
Vas a Estar Ok
Small Town
Me Acuerdo
Get Up or Give Up
The Club
In/Out Of Love
Human Deception

Quedate

I Don't Like The Recession (But la Receción Likes Me)
SPACECOTHEQUE
INGENUO PENDEJO
JUGANDO WITH GHOSTS
DISPOSABLE SONG
CONTRAMANO

Basic Requirements

Calendar