Decibel

Decibel is a Mexican progressive rock group formed in 1974. The original trio consists of keyboardist Carlos Robledo, bassist Walter Schmidt and percussionist Moises Romero, who is later replaced by Jaime Casteñeda. Within about six months, the group expands into a sextet.

Line-up and influences

The first album line-up includes Carlos Robledo on keyboards, Walter Schmidt on bass, Jaime Castañeda on drums and percussion, Carlos Alvarado on keyboards, Alejandro Sanchez on violin, and Javier Baviera on saxophone. Alejandro Sanchez later forms Nazca. The group is influenced by Henry Cow, Faust, Magma, Il Balletto Di Bronzo and other progressive acts, as well as 20th-century composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.

Style and recordings

Decibel combines chamber music elements with more hectic, disorganised passages, using keyboards, bass, drums, saxophones and violin. Their sound is often described as warmer than the colder approach associated with groups such as Art Zoyd. In 1978 the band releases El Poeta Del Ruido, which is regarded as its major work. The album is pressed in 1,000 copies and is distributed in the UK by Recommended in 1980.

Later activity

The band reforms in the 1990s and performs live again, also releasing a live album.