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From album
Oktubre
Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota · 1986 · Track 4
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The story behind
The first time you listen to Semen-Up, the guitar riff grabs you by surprise: it’s not a song that reveals itself easily. It sounds as if the band had taken one of those repeating loops but with an unexpected twist, as if the beat shifted one step further without warning. The lyrics, for their part, play with double meanings that never quite resolve: some hear a woman as the protagonist, others see in those words a nod to something more chemical. But what stands out most is the title, a direct wink to the soda brand Seven Up, where the word “semen” sneaks in like a joke that never quite plays innocent. The song doesn’t ask for permission to sound different—and that’s where its strength lies.
Recorded in 1986 alongside the rest of Oktubre, this album marked a shift in the sound of Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota. Until then, their music had sounded rawer, but here they incorporated elements of new wave and post-punk, blending sharp guitars with a narrative that smelled of dystopia. The album cover, designed by Rocambole, reflects the same atmosphere: a homage to revolutions and social struggles, right at a time when Argentina was just emerging from dictatorship. The song itself lasts 5:22, enough time for the bass and drums to carry the rhythm while the guitar coils around that unforgettable riff. It wasn’t music for the radio, but for those seeking something that sounded like a challenge.