- World Cafe, NPR: “Le Butcherettes forge cutting, adversarial songs about moving forward in a world that's intent on holding people back”.
- Record Collector : “…Le Butcherettes most accessible/inaccessible release yet, being flecked with toothsome idiosyncrasies and aberrant quirks but also overflowing with anthemic melodies”.
- SLUG Magazine: “…phenomenal new album bi/MENTAL, the trauma and healing of family and staying positive in the present moment”.
- Indie Rocks Magazine: “…each song enhances what it conceives and then manifests”.
Le Butcherettes deliver their highly-anticipated fourth full-length studio album, "bi/MENTAL" today on Rise Records. The album is the band's most personal album to date and an ode to frontwoman, Teri Gender Bender's mother.
"Essentially, this record was inspired by the death of a living mother, but none of that matters anymore. A disconnection in itself is so ravage, so confusing it leaves one feeling incomplete... Is there hope? Is there light? Maybe it isn't all so black and white. In the end there is a Duality in All. Life is a cycle, the moon, the sun, the ocean waves transcending into sand. It will be okay” states Teri Gender Bender (Teresa Suárez Cosío) about the new album.
The album was produced by iconic Talking Heads' member Jerry Harrison (No Doubt, Violent Femmes, KD Lang) and recorded at his home studio in Northern California. Harrison brought a new creative environment and another dimension to the band’s sound and lyrics in the new album. "I was going through a lot, but I felt like I had a family during this time. I was able to be vulnerable and in-your-face at the same time. With all of his wisdom, it’s as if Jerry fathered the record. I think my dad would’ve liked him", comments Teri.
The band dissect the meaning of family on "bi/MENTAL" and first album on Rise Records. Themes of internal and familial strife hang over the opener and first single "spider/WAVES" (feat. Jello Biafra). The song is a ticking timebomb of riffs, clicks and clacks as Teresa Suárez howls falsetto swings towards a searing screech punctuated by spoken word from the Dead Kennedys frontman, Jello Biafra.
The schizophrenic barrage of “mother/HOLDS” (feat. Alice Bag) unites two generations of disruptive goddesses as Alice Bag and Teri formally meet on a recording. Chilean superstar and “ultra-girl crush” Mon Laferte lends her massive vocals to the Latin-tinged “la/SANDIA”. Everything concludes on the abrupt catharsis of “/BREATH”. It’s the ultimate emotional exorcism conjured by theatrical delivery, rock ‘n’ roll ambition, and punked-out psychedelic provocation.
“We all have two extremities”, exclaims Teri. “Black and white are on opposite sides. When I was little, I had a family. Now that I’m older, it’s fallen apart by conflict, emotional corruption, blackmail, and sickness. What does that mean? What does it do to us? We’re always battling with, what I like to call, ‘The Other’. When things aren’t right with your roots, you feel like you’re on the edge of disconnection. You start doubting yourself. They were the roots of my everything… But I’m not that little girl anymore. I have to start making room for myself. I can’t let this torment me. The pendulum swings back and forth. Reason will be lost and gained again. That’s'bi/MENTAL'. Now that I think about all of this, it makes sense I came up with the name in the shower”, comments Teri.
"bi/MENTAL" is also a personal story about mental health told by frontwoman, Teri Gender Bender who is also a mental health advocate. The album is filled with equal parts cerebral poetry, art assault, and primal punk cacophony. The album includes 13 tracks that represent the Guadalajara-born and El Paso-LA based group.
The band will also tour Europe in support of "bi/MENTAL" starting in March. Check out the European dates below. All tour dates can be found here. Le Butcherettes are: Teri Gender Bender (vocals/guitar/piano), Alejandra Robles Luna (drums), Rikardo Rodríguez-López (guitars) and Marfred Rodríguez-López(bass).
- Tue 26th MARCH - Hotel Cecil (COPENHAGEN, DK)
- Fri 29th MARCH - Paradiso (AMSTERDAM, NL)
- Thurs 4th APRIL - Charlatan (GENT, BE)
- Sat 13th JULY - Mad Cool Festival (MADRID, SP)
"bi/MENTAL" Track listing
1. spider/WAVES ft. Jello Biafra
2. give/UP
3. strong/ENOUGH
4. father/ELOHIM
5. little/MOUSE
6. in/THE END
7. nothing/BUT TROUBLE
8. la/SANDÍA ft. Mon Laferte
9. struggle/STRUGGLE
10. dressed/IN A MATTER OF SPEECH
11. mothers/HOLDS ft. Alice Bag
12. sand/MAN
13. /BREATH