![rené the siren [aye aye]](https://postpunkmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/rene-thesirenayeayedl.jpg?w=940&h=198&crop=1)
One of the joys of having this blog are the people and music that enter over the transom that I might be otherwise completely unaware of. In recent weeks we’ve had René Peraza discuss both the general topics we all weigh in on in the comment threads here as well as his own musical endeavors. Like any artist, you can’t create in a vacuum to any degree of satisfaction. He sent me his latest song and press kit about a month ago. This during an exceptionally busy summer with my wife having hand surgery planned for a few weeks ago and the current plunge deep into the waters of eBay after nearly a decade out of it to build a nest egg for our planned European trip next April.
I finally found the time to listen to the song last Thursday night and I was certainly glad that René had come across PPM and recognized us as kindred spirits; hitting that contact form. It’s called “The Siren (Aye Aye),” and it’s an atmospheric, seafaring tale ripe with the whiff of obsession and romance. Qualities that are always in demand here at PPM. It began with a synth bosun’s whistle hook broadcasting over the pulsating synths before getting quickly grounded with the guitars and bass. Real drums were wisely used to give the song a body that called back to the more substantial sounds of the past as the vibe easily slotted into that atmospheric post-Bowie/Roxy New Wave of the late 70s that also informed Monastic faves like Metro and Icehouse.
But all of those trappings are for naught without the goods that Mr. Peraza brought to the table with his capable singing and songwriting. The motorik verses were tantalizingly breathless before the triumphant chorus found Peraza doubling on the vocal hook for emphasis as the band lent grit and sophistication to the proceedings. Leading me to make comparisons to adjacent Icehouse material like “Spanish Gold” from “Measure For Measure.” The caliber of this effort would have been enough to win me over, but René lobbed a middle eight guitar solo in our direction, courtesy of his brother, José, that was startling in its juxtaposition of a wildcard acid rock ethos into an otherwise smooth and elegant soufflé. It’s that sort of thinking outside of the box that elevates this material and increases my engagement. And somehow, René found the time to direct the video clip for this song as well.
Mr. Peraza has an eclectic CV [to say the least] with a melange of acting, graphic design, and musical endeavors painting him as a peripatetic creative. You may have seen him acting on Hugh Laurie’s series “Chance,” and he’s got plenty of print work for some high profile clients under his belt, but what carries the most weight around here might be his stint with the Bay Area 80s band Bolero [left] who you may have seen opening for fine bands of a New Wave pedigree such as Men Without Hats, A Flock Of Seagulls, or Pseudo Echo.
And it’s heartening that all of these years later, he’s got tunes as ace as “The Siren [Aye Aye]” still in him. That it pushes so many Monastic buttons makes me curious and eager to hear what’s next on the agenda. If you want to listen, it’s streaming in all of the places that you might look, but if you’d like something more permanent, the DL is certainly available… and encouraged. So D.J. hit that button!
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![Rock GPA: Ultravox - Quartet [part 6]](https://i0.wp.com/postpunkmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ultravox-quartetuklpa.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1)
Post-Punk Monk 
Interesting track. It sounds like it could be the up-tempo follow-up to Double’s “The Captain of Her Heart” though maybe his attire makes me think of that. His linked name above doesn’t seem to work. I’m not familiar with Bolero, but see noting on Discogs. Did they release anything? Thanks PPM.
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secretrivals – Double’s debut album was one of my most played albums of 1986, but I think that René was a little more reckless in comparison! But as a nautical-themed song it’s adjacent if certainly more fiery. Maybe Icehouse’s “Spanish Gold” would slot in between René and Double on the continuum? The big pull for me is how it juggles the rough and the smooth. The musicians involved also know what they are doing. And the URL should be fixed now! Sorry! As for Bolero, I don’t think they made any releases. I also pored through the many Boleros on Discogs to no avail.
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You called it with “Spanish Gold,” that’s why they pay you the big bucks, Monk! I’ll check out the link, as well as the rest of the Double album, as I only know The Cap’t. Thanks
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secretrivals – Double proffered adroit Jazzfunk sometimes and skirted AC with the hit, though I still loved it. At the time I was hearing suggestions of The Blue Nile in their DNA, though as an early adopter of Yello, Felix Haug’s presence was undeniably a draw.
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Bolero was indeed more of a ‘live’ thing, but we did have a 12″ vinyl in 1989 for a song titled ‘Gypsy (Catch My Soul)’ b/w ‘Better Than The Real Thang.’ I have a few copies for posterity but you’d be hard-pressed (pun intended) to find them in any catalog listing as it was self-produced and distributed – truly an indie. We did have them in our local Bay Area Tower Records, though!
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René – I miss Tower! That was how you do a coroprate mega record store chain!
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Tower Records was fantastic, from NYC to SF! Rene, I was in the Bay/Columbus location as far back as ’89! Also, the one in Berkeley! I’m not from the Bay, but visited here then and moved here in ’92. I used to shop there through the 90s til it suddenly closed in the 2000s sometime. Anyway, your new song is nice and smooth!
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Thank you, SeceretRivals! In fact, my last five singles were mastered by multi-Grammy-winning engineer, Michael Romanowski. He’s helped with the ‘smooth’ sonics, for sure.
Indeed, those were the days of physical music and media shopping and impulse buying, too! I have some great purchases still that will never be reprinted or digitally (a lot of 12″ and Euro promos)! The last Tower Records SF Bay Area store (Mountain View, CA) closed on December 22, 2006 at 5 PM — I knew the year but had to look up the date. ;)
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Now see, why isn’t top-notch stuff like this burning up what’s left of commercial radio?! Grrrr.
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Am definitely trying! I’m in regular rotation on ModernRetroFm (USA) and Montreal’s KRAC Radio, and UK’s XRP. I was so close with Sirius XM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage show, the Genya Ravan segment there called ‘Goldies Garage’ 2 months ago. Genya liked it, and then turned around and said, ” We only play unsigned talent on this show!” I AM UNSIGNED! There’s been no reply no matter how many appeals I’ve made. I guess I sounded not so ‘unsigned’ – LOL!
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René – Genya Raven is still alive??! When I think of Little Steven’s Underground Garage I think of Garage Rock; at least a thousand miles away from what I think you are doing. What I would consider “Roxy Music adjacent.” But don’t mind me. I’ve never listened to satellite radio ever.
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LOL — yes: Genya Ravan still rocks her weekly show on Little Steven’s Underground Garage on Sirius XM! I don’t subscribe to satellite radio, either, but thought I’d leave no stone unturned. And, you’re right: I probably don’t fit the ‘garage band’ sound but thought I’d knock on her door anyway!. Little Steven’s show is a bit more accessible… let’s see if I get any traction there.
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René – Grrr. Your comments are going straight to spam, but I’m saving them…once I find the time to. It’s funny… my friend’s Girl Group pastiche act, Fuchsia Poshette, was almost attached to Genya Raven for producing their album…32 years ago.
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My mind, she is BLOWN by this news! [foom]
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