Panoptica

Roberto Alonso Mendoza Lopez, known as Panoptica, has been one of the figures in the Mexican electronic music scene since the late 1980s, founding bands like electro pos-industrial outfit Artefakto and in the late 1990s, being part of the Tijuana-based norteña-meets-techno Nortec Collective.

Biography Mendoza has also been releasing tracks as Panóptic and has been one of the figures in the Mexican electronic music scene since the late 1980s, founding bands like electro pos-industrial outfit Artefakto and in the late 1990s, being part of the Tijuana-based norteña-meets-techno Nortec Collective. He has been invited by English DJ John Peel to do one of his Peel sessions for the BBC in 2001. In 2005, Mendoza had finished two projects, "Desierto" and "Mendoza", in collaboration with David J. (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) on bass and guitars.

In late 2007, he separated from the Nortec Collective and created the "Nortec Panoptica Orchestra" a band for his live shows, and in early 2008, decided to record a new solo album to push and further develop the electronic sound, working independently from the Tijuana collective with new musical partners (Zoell Farrujia (Ambiente), Benjamin Rivera (Grupo de Acero), Edgar Hernandez (Banda Aguacaliente), Adrian Rodriguez (Koñorteño)), and guest musicians (Javiera Mena, Khan Oral, Yerba Buena). The album was released in March 2010 on Vinyl LP and digital form.

Studio albums

Title Year Details Notes Panoptica Orchestra 2010 Released: June 15, 2010 Label: LOV/RECS (México) Formats: Vinyl, CD Guests: Javiera Mena ("Complejo de amor"), Khan Oral ("Time ends"), Cucú Diamantes ("Tu sabes"), Alma Velasco ("Ven a mi") Debut album as Panoptica Orchestra; produced independently after departure from Nortec Collective Special edition released with a second disc of remixes (Panoptica Orchestra – Edición Especial) Bajos Tiempos 2016 Released: ca. 2016 Label: NPO Music Formats: Digital Guests: Leo Stragno ("Cenizas") Border Frequencies 2020 Released: September 18, 2020 Label: NPO Music Formats: Digital Tracklist: "El Mitote", "Tijuanights", "Sintonía Pop", "Radio Ranchito", "El Arca de Neón", "Triki Tran" 6-track album

Other releases

Title Year Type Notes Mumbai Express TBD EP / Album Label: NPO Music Formats: Digital Cited by Mendoza as the project where he began experimenting with downtempo beats and Middle Eastern influences Cumbia del bordo TBD EP / Album Label: NPO Music Formats: Digital Remixed TBD Remix album / compilation Label: NPO Music Formats: Digital Remix collection of Panoptica Orchestra material Fotonovela 2021 Single / Track Released: January 30, 2021 Label: NPO Music Formats: Digital

Compilation appearances

Title Year Notes The Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1 2001 As member of Nortec Collective Label: Palm Pictures / Rykodisc Tijuana Sessions Vol. 3 2005 As member of Nortec Collective Label: Nacional Records The Tijuana Remixes 2002 As Panóptica (solo) Contains "Mumbai Express (Tijuana Dub Mix)" Label: Certificate 18 / Domino Records (UK) Sound Trip Mexico 2009 Compilation Label: Reise Know-How Sound (Germany)