A La Altura: Visionary Mexican Music 1977-1999

Join us for a listening of the new record A La Altura: Visionary Mexican Music 1977-1999 with the album's co-curator Mark "Frosty" McNeill founder of Dublab who will be sharing with us about this project, the featured musicians unknown to many, and a selection of photos as well as visuals by the record's artwork by Mexican artist, architect, designer Eduardo Terrazas.

A La Altura, or “To The Height” brings recognition to Mexican musicians who, in the last decades of the 20th century, ventured into experimental territories with electronic and indigenous instruments, in dialogue with minimalism, ambient, jazz and new age aesthetics. Sourced from original tapes and masters, it contains unreleased, long out-of-print, and private-pressed recordings. Conjured through modalities such as free improvisation and electro-acoustic composition, these sonic dreamers tapped into a deep cultural continuum while pushing towards the horizon.

We'll listen to excerpts from the record on the Head HiFi vintage Klipsch La Scala soundsystem.

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About the organizers:

Mark “Frosty” McNeill is a DJ, radio producer, writer, curator, professor, and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He’s the founder of dublab.com, a pioneering web radio station that has been exploring wide-spectrum music since 1999. McNeill’s work is focused on experimenting with broadcast formats, broadening perspectives on music culture, and sharing transcendent sonic experiences. McNeill serves as a Creative Producer for the LA Phil where he focuses on expanding sound awareness and deepening music experiences. Frosty hosts Celsius Drop, a monthly dublab radio show and has produced long-running programs for Red Bull Radio, Marfa Public Radio, and KPFK 90.7 FM. He has also produced many acclaimed album projects for Light in the Attic Records including the three volume Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie series, Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980-1988, Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996, and the forthcoming A La Altura: Visionary Mexican Music 1977-1999.

Carlos Icaza is a music scholar, musician, and DJ also known as Tropicaza. Based in Mexico City, his research on Mexican and Latin American music for over 30 years has been central in the rediscovery of musical lost heroes like the Latin funk masters Rabbits and Carrots, jazz drummer Tino Contreras, Venezuelan maestro Aldemaro Romero and Colombian artists Jimmy Salcedo, Ana y Jaime and most notably Elia y Elizabeth, with the compilation La Onda de Elia y Elizabeth becoming an international success. Carlos has collaborated with renowned labels like Brownswood, Vampisoul, Analog Africa and Mad About Records.  As a radio broadcaster, over the decades he has collaborated with Radio Universidad de Guadalajara, L.A.’sdublab, London's Worldwide FM, NYC's WFMU, Madrid's Radio Gladys Palmera and Mexico City´s ElRecreo.FM. He has toured worldwide as a DJ and musician and contributes regularly to Mexico City street magazine Mi Valedor. Carlos also has published essays for books Cumbia Somos (UdeG 2025) and Pais Tropical (UdeG 2026). 

From humble beginnings in a Seattle basement apartment in 2001, Light in the Attic has since established itself worldwide as a standout, multi-GRAMMY®-nominated archival label and distribution company. Light in the Attic's exuberance and dedication to spreading joy through music has propelled the label through the release of 200+ titles worldwide, setting the industry standard for the archival process. LITA's releases are always presented in vibrant packaging complete with professionally restored audio, in-depth liner notes, eye-catching photography, and premium quality vinyl.

Head Hi is an organization dedicated to art, architecture, design and sound specializing in publications and cultural programming with an espresso bar and bookshop located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn by the Navy Yard. We feature a curated selection of publications from around the globe. Working with local and international artists, designers, publishers, and organizations in various fields, Head Hi is a space for exploration and interaction that hosts talks, book launches, exhibitions, music, performances and other events. Head Hi Fi enhances the experience of sound in the space with its vintage Klipsch La Scala speakers. @headhi_ny