Emilio Aparicio Moog

“Expansion Galactica”

I’ve often said that I like to collect and listen to records that shouldn’t exist. This compilation is a quintessential example of that designation.

Due to the benevolence of Roberto Abularach Jr. (the scion of one of the richest families in Guatemala) his friend and schoolmate Emilio Aparicio ended up with modular Moog synth model 3P with the serial number 00003 in 1969.

Number 00002 was owned by Wendy Carlos. Number 00001 was owned by Robert Moog himself.

Aparacio embarks on recording these wonderfully explorative and divergent songs without any concern for commercial viability.

After two years of recording, the songs are released as a collaboration with Abularach’s family soft drink company, Salvavidas Roja.

In exchange for four “corks" (this may have been mistranslated and I suspect it should be bottle caps) of the drink and three quetzal coins, folks would receive one of these records.

How beautifully odd and understandably unsuccessful.

But beneath it all, there’s an exploratory oddness and fresh perspective of these songs. I cannot imagine how these would’ve been received at that time or in that country, but I am extremely grateful the stars aligned for this brilliance to be captured.