Early history

Humus was founded in 1987 by Jorge Beltran as a one man band, where he played all instruments in home recordings made through the ping pong recording technique

Ping pong recording technique

The Ping Pong recording technique is used in sound recording, to condense program material by dubbing multiple parts to just one or two tracks, allowing more room for overdubbing or to simplify mixdowns.The two most common methods consist of A)Dubbing tracks between two tape recorders The Ping...

. He chose the name "Humus" based the earthy, humus

Manure

Manure is organic matter used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are trapped by bacteria in the soil...

-like sound caused by sound degradation caused by the reduction mixing. During the late 1980s and early 1990s Beltran released five cassettes, causing interest in the underground quarters of Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...

, where there had been a long history of progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

 that managed to exist despite all the adversity a Latin American country faces in terms of making independent music business.

Jose Luis Garnica, a long time friend of Jorge's and a rock connoisseur, was very much impressed by the quality of sound of these recordings, but mostly by Beltran's musicianship, so he became producer of Humus's first LP, Tus Oidos mienten in June 1992. The album finally gave recording status to Humus, and soon international reviews from the U.S., Germany, France, and in particular from Italy began to emerge, praising the new band from Mexico.

Second Album and Lineup Change

From the second album, called simply Humus (released Dec. 1994), the one man band concept changed to a live performing band, which included old time school friend and bass player Victor Basurto, with whom he had formed their first band, Stomago Sagrado

Stomago Sagrado

Stomago Sagrado was a Mexican rock band formed in Mexico city in 1980 by Victor Basurto and Jorge Beltran, both of Humus and Frolic Froth fame.-----Band members:Pepe Bobadilla: Guitar and Vocals.Victor Basurto: Bass.Jorge Beltran: Guitar and Vocals....

 in the late 1970s. Victor had designed the cover for Tus Oidos Mienten, and has been in charge for the art of all recordings both musicians have been involved with ever since.

Several local tours took place, and the drum stool was occupied by no less than 8 drummers during the 1990s and well nigh into the 21st century.

Third and Fourth Albums and Side Project

A third album, Malleus Crease was released in 1995. This album, along with brother Project Frolic Froth

Frolic Froth

Frolic Froth is a psychedelic band formed in Mexico City by members Victor Basurto and Arturo López of Loch Ness, and Jorge Beltrán from Humus...

's album Ouroboros were also released in Italy by the D-dabliu label in LP format. Humus 4 degrees, released in 1997, is the band's only album to exist only in CD format, all others were both CD and LP productions. This album was released through Smogless Records and newly formed Nuggetphase productions, and from there all albums produced by either of the bands leadered by Jorge and Victor have been released in the Nuggetphase label.

Also in 1997 Humus found themselves in an international tour of England and Italy . In Exeter They recorded an album with American Dave Tor who became singer for the only vocal album ever made by either Jorge or Victor, and for this project a new name was devised: Euphoric Darkness, since it detached completely from the instrumental approach always favoured by Humus. The resulting album was named Colours You Can Hear and only 100 hundred copies were made.

Fifth Album - Present Day

In Pesaro they recorded Humus's fifth album, Whispering Galleries, under the production of Italy's doom metal legend Paul Chain, who also contributed to the album. Three hundred numbered copies were made.

Since 1998 Humus has recorded no less than five albums, though none has been released yet. The band continues to be active, though members live in different continents: Jorge Beltran lives in Mexico and Victor Basurto lives in The Netherlands. The manage to continue playing together through the use of the new communication technologies. Because of their limited press runs, Humus albums have been rare, and some of them reach up to US$250 in international distributor listings. However, late in 2006 Smogless Records put out new CD editions of the first three Humus albums, Tus Oidos Mienten, Humus and Malleus Crease.
A totally new album called Happy Days Ahead was independently released on July 23, 2011, the first one in digital format only, available through some of the main digital stores.

Cassettes

Sientate y escucha (1988)

Cero Melodico (1989)

Jardines Colgantes (1989)

Sopa Invisible (1990)

Planepantla (1992)

Lp's

Tus Oidos Mienten (1992)

Humus (1994)

Malleus Crease

Malleus Crease

Malleus Crease is Humus' third album, released in 1996, by Smogless Records in Compact Disc format.The recordings took place from 1994 throughout 1995...

(1995)

Four Degrees (1997)

Whispering Galleries (1999)

Happy Days Ahead (2011)

Other releases

Song: Brylcreem (included in the International psychedelic compilation "Floralia 2"), 1996. On/Off Records,Italy.

Song: El Vampiro (included in the international Horror Movies soundtracks tribute "E tu vivrae nel terror"), 1998, Black Widow Records, Italy