| Special Cases | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Origin: | Santiago, Chile |
| Years Active: | 2011–present |
Special Cases is a band with members of Föllakzoid, Chicos de Nazca and 10 Years Lost, based in Santiago, Chile.[1]
The band was originally the solo project of multi-instrumentalist musician, songwriter and a Föllakzoid founder Juan Pablo Rodríguez, formed in 2011 and used as a vehicle to explore instrumental active ambient and space rock music with the following equipment: Roland JD800, Roland SPX404 and Samick guitar.[2]
Their debut album, the eponymously titled Special Cases has received critical acclaim since 2020, with The Quietus’ Brian Coney praising its place in neo psychedelic music and the legacy of Föllakzoid, "As a whole, though, Special Cases spills over with low-key majesty and purpose. From the vantage point of the future where his band have cornered a niche within modern psychedelia, it evinces JPR as a rare shaman of kosmiche savvy."[3]
Since late 2020,[4] Special Cases has developed into a fully fledged live band centred around Rodríguez with songwriting and performance geared towards alternative and psychedelic rock.[5] As a live act, they have performed at numerous venues and festivals across Chile, captivating audiences with their dynamic stage presence and infectious energy.[6]
The influences of the band are derived from art, poetry and film. Lyrically, inspiration is occasionally drawn from artists such as Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon with atmosphere resonating from directors such as David Lynch. The track Believe from their most current album 6 is expressive of appreciation for Spacemen 3's Jason Pierce and his work as Spiritualized.[7]
Visual Artists Tomás Olivos and Martin Line have contributed album art on various records.[8]
The band has physical releases on cassette, CD and vinyl spread across the following record labels: Blow Your Mind,[9] Weisskalt[10] and ETCS Records[11] with the music distributed by Sacred Bones,[12] Midheaven Revolver,[13] Cargo Records, Rough Trade[14] and Tower Records.[15]