<< REWIND 10 : SIR BOB CORNELIUS RIFO

Ladies & gentleman, El Solitario is proud to present the 10th take on ESMC’s <<REWIND, a series of interviews with the people that rock our Moto-World®, centered around the music that shaped their lives. Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything

For the 10th <<REWIND, we had the chance to chat with our dear Bob AKA: The Bloody Beet Roots, while he was in LA recording with Tom Morello, and he told us about those ten records he would take to a deserted island.

The Sex Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks

“Anarchy in the UK“ was the first vinyl I ever bought. Shortly thereafter, the Sex Pistols became one of the most influential bands of my life and punk settled in as a lifestyle. Fate brought me to meet Steve Jones on his radio show in Los Angeles 20 years later. We became good friends and when I’m in LA, we always have good chats over dinner at Da Pasquale on Santa Monica Boulevard. Life can be surprising.

The Prodigy – The Fat Of The Land

This record changed the rules of electronic music forever, bringing the energy of rock into the rave, and vice versa. Without the genius that is The Prodigy, my TBB project would have never existed. I consider them pioneers. In my opinion, no one has managed to think so far ahead of their times like this group did. RIP Keith Flint, forever in my heart.

Chemical Brothers – Surrender

If there is anyone who has taught me not to demonize four-on-the-floor to the alternative rock audience, those are The Chemical Brothers. Their masterful use of chord progressions and grooves that are never taken for granted made this album a milestone in the universe of contemporary music. As far as my favorite songs from this album, it’s hard to choose – there’s one for every hour of the day.

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

I was a young child when I picked up this vinyl for the first time, attracted to the multicolored cover, I was absolutely NOT aware of what could happen to me in the future. So much so that this record accompanied my whole childhood. Little did I know that when I grew up, I would be lucky enough to collaborate with Sir Paul McCartney on a song. As I said before, life really is incredible,

Rage Against The Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles

If there was one thing that I have always tried to imitate, it’s the chaotic energy that this band was able to release live. I have consumed, studied, and decomposed this record in all its parts and what remains is still one of the best records ever written and performed, period. And what do you know, I got a message from Tom Morello to talk about producing his new album. It’s happening now in 2020. Am I repetitive if I say life is a fucking adventure? Let’s go!

Refused – The Shape Of Punk to Come

This is hands down, one of the most avant-garde punk records in the history of this genre. It was shocking for me to listen to this piece of work, it has all the elements to win over any stage in the world. Refused release their best live, and songs like “Rather Be Dead” or “New Noise” are still anthems of the freedom we should learn to follow. Newer generations of artists should absolutely study this piece of music in order to understand how to make a revolutionary album.

DJ Shadow – Endtroducing

This record reminds me of how much research and crate digging DJs used to do in the 90s. The art of sampling was an intense study which required an extensive knowledge of music. I advise you to listen to this record with clean ears, with an inclination to open your mind. DJ Shadow is another pioneer that must not be forgotten and this record affirms that statement.

Massive Attack – Mezzanine

Ever heard of trip-hop? This album definitely changed the history of music. It made me discover the importance of going slowly; of going deep. In its own way, this too is a punk record – it is subversive, dense and suffocating, sometimes claustrophobic. I loved Massive Attack.

Wendy Carlos – Switched on Bach

Back in the 60s, Wendy Carlos took a collection of pieces by composer Johann Sebastian Bach and made incredible transformations in a totally electronic key using a Moog synthesizer. What else can I say? Overall, it’s just so minimal yet so accurate in detail. It was one of the first visions of classical music translated into a language that, at the time, was blasphemous. I consider it pure art, in its beauty and never cold performance of a solid pillar of modern music.

Jay-Z – The Black Album

The Black Album is a great record that should have been Jay-Z’s last – it’s his best from my point of view. It has innovative sounds and it’s certainly a piece of history that nestled Jay-Z in the collective imagination. It teaches listeners how to reinvent yourself without losing artistic integrity, an excellent lesson still today. This album continues to sound new.