Over Easter Weekend, MATAMOSKA! (@matamoska) posted a rather cryptic message on Instagram, which simply read: "[soundcloud] exclusive only." along with a Monkey Emoji and hashtags "#matamoska&friends" and "#thespecials." It took a little while, but with some earnest digital sleuthing, we soon stumbled upon MATAMOSKA! & Friends' cover of The Specials' "Monkey Man" uploaded to multi-instrumentalist and mixing engineer Esteban Flores Valenzuela's Soundcloud page. According to Facebook, MATAMOSKA!'s core line-up consists of Flores on keyboards/backing vocals, rhythm guitarist/vocalist Jose Padilla, drummer Richard Sanchez, bassist Hector Rivera, trumpet player Ivan Lopez, trombonist Robert Verdugo, and tenor saxophonist Jovan Loera. We first heard about by way of their amazingly-titled 2017 album SKALLUMINATI released on limited edition cassette through Illinois-based In The Lake Records. Next we heard from MATAMOSKA! they were releasing their Band Geek Martians 7-inch EP—featuring covers of Voodoo Glow Skulls' "Band Geek Mafia" and The Misfits' "I Turned Into A Martian"—on Steady Beat Recordings in July 2019. Unfortunately, MATAMOSKA!'s Voodoo Glow Skulls/Misfits covers have never been released digitally, but it's definitely worth tracking down a copy of Band Geek Martians on 7-inch wax!


But, back to "Monkey Man:" yet another cover expertly executed by MATAMOSKA! & Friends, "Monkey Man" was entirely recorded remotely from self-quarantine/isolation. Said recording features MATAMOSKA!'s own Esteban Flores, Eddy Rodriguez (Una Mas,) and Jose Padilla, along with musically-inclined friends Jon Bravo (Mr.Kingpin, Rude Kings,) Travis McKayle (The Bad Ups,) Curtis Irie (The Bandulus, Irie Idea,) Alexis Briseño (Inspector, Skapital Sound,) Gil Simo (Katzu Oso,) Heath Schlatter (The Operators, Circle City Deacons,) and Cristian Riquelme (The Operators, Circle City Deacons.) Flores tells us, before these suggested world-wide self-quarantines started, MATAMOSKA! were in the process of recording a new album... but, "since this virus broke out, my band decided to put a break on this and figure out a way to keep content out and have fun, while we are stuck at home." A one-time staple during MATAMOSKA!'s rehearsals and live sets, Esteban Flores says, since the band's "foundation is built upon friendship and unity, this felt like the best time to get in touch with everyone we care about and interact with them, via music." Plus, let's just admit, who doesn't love The Specials/The Special AKA!!? It appears as though MATAMOSKA! intend to continue releasing remotely-recorded digital-only content from quarantine for as long as this lasts. As a small underground/D.I.Y. band, MATAMOSKA! just ask, if you dig "Monkey Man," please, consider supporting the band directly by buying some of their merchandise.

MATAMOSKA! & Friends - "Monkey Man" Credits:

Esteban Flores (MATAMOSKA!) - Drums/Piano/Organ/Background Vocals
Eddy Rodriguez (MATAMOSKA!, Una Mas) - Bass
Jose Padilla (MATAMOSKA!) - Guitar/Lead Guitar/Lead Vocals
Jon Bravo (Mr. Kingpin, Rude Kings) - Background Vocals
Travis McKayle (The Bad Ups) - Background Vocals
Curtis Irie (The Bandulus, Irie Idea) - Percussion
Alexis Briseño (Inspector, Skapital Sound) - Alto Sax
Gil Simo (Katzu Oso) - Trombone
Heath Schlatter (The Operators, Circle City Deacons) - Trumpet/Background Vocals
Cristian Riquelme (The Operators, Circle City Deacons) - Background Vocals/Toasting

Mixed By: Esteban Flores
Produced By: Jose Padilla & MATAMOSKA!
"Monkey Man" By: The Specials (1979)
Mastered By: Jon Mireles at Audiomech Productions