Devo to Spain: do you copy?

In 1976 the Mongoloid single escaped from Akron, a transmission which promptly made its way to kindred spirits across the Atlantic. A parallel set of futurist/science-fiction geeks were lurking in the halls of a Madrid high school, first unleashing their dadaist fury under the guises of Alex y Los Drugos and Holoplástico. Nerd-angst turned into a full-fledged counter-movement, complete with code-names, manifestos, and an electric organ as the group finally settled on the name El Aviador Dro Y Sus Obreros Especializados.

Armed with radiation suits, safety goggles, synthesizers, and the signature Spanish lisp, Aviador Dro made spastic new wave combining their love for Tubeway Army, The Residents, and Kraftwerk. Check out this amazing video for the song "Laser" (mov, 40MB): if these dance moves don't win you over, it's time to switch your meds. I'm guessing the piece was made around '79 or '80, when the song appeared on their album Vano Temporal.

A few of the band's core members left in 1980, forming the group Esplendor Geométrico: take a listen to "Moscu Esta Helado" (real audio, from an archive of Michael Goodstein's show). Remaining members of Aviador Dro continued making music, though with the growing success of their own independent label, DRO, little time was left for practice. The band recorded albums through the 90's and an incarnation of the group is still active today. Here are some sites for more info on Aviador Dro: English | Official AD Site (Spanish only) | another Spanish site, most up-to-date.

Thanks to Zoms Frenchman of Zom Zoms for the video nugget!

Comments

[rafadro]

Yeah,for years (20 and counting) I being hardcore fan of the group. I saw Aviador Dro live at concert this spring in Tijuana, Mexico and they burn the house down.
You make my day with this post.
thanks.

[C]

Aviador Dro is one of the best bands in the Spanish 'movida', that is, in the explosion of creativity which followed Franco's death. It was an interesting time, with Psychic TV playing live in the state TV and that kind of crazy things. I recommend Aviador Dro's 'Selector de frecuencias', a techno hymn from those years.

[Omega Point Records]

Our record label just released a "Greatest Hits" for Aviador Dro here in the states. Check it out: http://www.elaviadordro.com/media.html

[Nataliya]

In group Aviador Dro music there is a Spanish colour and the European melody. Their music is pleasant to me more than English and American SynthPop.My Favorites songs are El Color De Tus Ojos Al Bailar, Baila La Guerra, Selector de frecuencias (vocal and Instrumental)

[Georgie]

Aviador Dro,Once I fell asleep listening to their music.Dreamnt Amelia Earhart was knocking at my front door.When I went to answer the knock,to let her in.Instead of the lost women,was a huge retina with a density in brown .