Eastern Spices

"Eastern Sounds" is a captivating album by Spices Peculiar, featuring a collaboration with drummer Steve Ippolito. The album takes listeners on a sonic journey through the ancient spice trade route: the Silk Road.

The tracks feature intricate rhythms, improvisation, and avant-garde elements, creating a unique sonic landscape that transports listeners to a distant time and place. The album showcases the collaboration of Dante Villagomez and Steve Ippolito, whose years of bring the spice trade route to life through their improvisations.

Overall, "Eastern Sounds" is a stunning concept album that seamlessly blends meditation, looping and percussion to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience.

The World is a Button

"The World is a Button" is a new concept album by Spices Peculiar's Dante Villagomez. While it is music for kids, it still maintains the distinctive Spices Peculiar sound that fans have come to know and love. The album is a solo effort by Villagomez, showcasing his immense versatility as a musician and producer.

Featuring an array of percussion layers, synths, guitar, and looping effects, the tracks on "The World is a Button" are both playful and mesmerizing. The album heavily features the Steel Tongue Drum, a unique instrument that produces a soothing and melodic sound, perfect for young ears.

"The World is a Button" is a heartwarming and enchanting album that will capture the imaginations of both children and adults. With its unique blend of percussion, synths, and looping effects, it is a testament to the limitless potential of music and the power of imagination.

Album release 8/28/23


Hear to Help

3D-animated music video "Hear to Help" is the single from the upcoming release "The World is a Button".

Rew: Animated Video

Dante Villagomez: Steel Tongue Drum, MIDI Keyboard, Melodica, Kluwak, Caxixi, and Gourd Shaker

Produced by Dante Villagomez

“Hear to Help” is part of the sixth edition of the Flat Earth Film Festival in Seydisfjordur, Iceland


Bangkok Hangover

3D-animated music video "Bangkok Hangover" winds through a cityscape with curious features. Skyscrapers contort, caged rocks dance and blobs undulate to the electrifying percussion and synths. A heightened audiovisual experience results from precise edits and strange scenes mirroring the experimental sounds. This project explores bizarre visions of a modern world, in a time when world events feel more shaken up.

“Bangkok Hangover” was also included in Denver Digerati’s Supernova 7th Dimension: Everything Abstract Sonic 2022

Rew: Animated Video


Glasses Off

"Glasses Off” was recorded over two days in late March 2019 in Pittsburgh, PA. All the recordings are improvised. This album is the culmination of Spices Peculiar's time and creativity in Pittsburgh from 2014 to 2019.

Dante Villagomez: Pocket Piano, Percussion and Effects
Steve Ippolito: Drums and Percussion
Zack Mester: Drums and Percussion

Recorded and Produced by Dante Villagomez
Artwork by Dante Villagomez


Chiquiadores

"Chiquiadores” is a free improvisation of guitar and drum duos. We all met in Pittsburgh in 2012 and the ecstatic pace in these improv jams reflect those ten years of growth as musicians and friends.

Dante Villagomez: Guitar, Pocket Piano and Effects
Steve Ippolito: Drums Zack Mester: Drums

Mixed & Mastered by Dante Villagomez
Produced by Dante Villagomez


So Called Brothers

"So Called Brothers" is a percussive/synth reflection of two summer weeks in Italy with my cousin Bixoma

Dante Villagomez: Critter and Guitari Pocket Piano, Woodblocks, Cowbells, Camel Bells, Burmese Bell, Melodica, Dvojnice, Pan Flutes, Peking Cymbals, Singing Bowls, Gourd Shaker, Pangi Shell Shaker, Kenari Nut Shaker, Caxixis, Krakebs, Teponaztlis, Rainstick, Whistles, "Florence" Oboe and Field Recordings

Produced by Dante Villagomez


Reganado album square.jpg

Regañado

A Journey of Cyclic Tension and Release, Regañado pushes the bounds for Spices Peculiar’s unique production style.

Dante produced the majority of this eleven track album with a variety of world percussion instruments and the Critter and Guitari: Pocket Piano Synth. The few remaining tracks are cut from a live recording session with Pittsburgh drummer, Zack Mester.

Released 10/9/18



INQUIRY & Booking

spicespeculiar@gmail.com