Tabú Tek sometimes spelled Tabutek, or even TABU-TEK, is an alternative electronic rock band based in

Santo Domingo , total_type = Total , population_density_km2 = auto , timezone = AST (UTC −4) , area_code_type = Area codes , area_code = 809, 829, 849 , postal_code_type = Postal codes , postal_code = 10100–10699 (Distrito Nacional) , websi ...

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...

. The band formed in the mid 1990s with a short but productive career and released three albums in their native Dominican Republic. The band enjoyed local success in the

rock scene and released music videos like "El Precio" which enjoyed rotation in MTV. While enjoying success in their native country, the band was never able to push for international success. ''Sintetik'', the band's last album, represented the band's maturation and professionalism but never made it out of the local scene. Tabu Tek later on withdrew from releasing new material but still play shows in the local scene from time to time. In 2008 Maximo Martinez released new solo material named ''Electrónica Ensemble Como Concepto Performático''.

History

New Page: Maximo Martinez, Early Days

Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s Maximo Martinez participated in the Dominican electronic rock band New Page and produced a series of rock songs that laid the foundations for his later work. At the time, the rock scene was just starting to gain popularity in

. Shortly before the creation of

Tabu Tek Tabu may refer to: Cultural and legal concepts *Taboo (spelled ''tabu'' in earlier historical records), something that is unacceptable in society *Tapu (Polynesian culture) (also spelled ''tabu''), a Polynesian cultural concept from which the wor ...

, Maximo Martinez disbanded New Page. New Page had a few significant songs that received airplay; those being "5 aňos", "Triangulo" and "Blanco y Negro".

Tabu Tek: Release of Girar, Rise of Popularity, Sintetik and Hiatus

After Martinez disbanded ''New Page'', he settled down with Bassist Tomas Alvarez from

Toque Profundo Toque Profundo, sometimes referred to as Toque, or TP, is a rock group from the Dominican Republic, the most successful of the local Dominican bands to date in the late 80s and 90s. Most of the songs were related to their native country, and some ...

and friends Franklin Alvarez, Francisco Polanco, Jacinto Mendez, and Alberto Dujarric and formed Tabu Tek on April 15, 1995, in

. In 1996 Tabu Tek released their first album ''Girar'' in

, being well received in local radio stations and gaining the band some popularity with the release of singles like ''Cierra Los Ojos'', ' and ''Escena Gastada''. In November 1996 Martinez joined the Chilean rocker Beto Cuevas and sang along with La Ley's greatest hit " El Duelo" in a concert held in Santo Domingo. Months later, in March 1997 Tabu Tek opened for the Argentinian band

Enanitos Verdes Enanitos Verdes (literal translation: "Little green dwarves", roughly equivalent to the English phrase "Little green men") is a rock trio from Argentina, formed in 1979 in the city of Mendoza. History The band started in 1979, with Marciano ...

in a concert performance in Santo Domingo. In June 1997 Tabu Tek performed in the Dominican Republic's Presidente Festival and received critical acclaim from the international magazine ''Billboard'' and also released their second album material ''Visual''. In 1999, Tabu Tek released their third and final album to date, ''Sintetik'', with a more defined electronic rock based sound than in their previous materials. While the band has ceased producing new album material they still sporadically play at local bars in Santo Domingo like the Cinema Cafe in Plaza de la Cultura sector of the city. Maximo Martinez (now known as Max) remains somewhat active releasing his solo project ''Electrónica Ensemble Como Concepto Performático'' in 2008. Max performed in Clemente Portillo's Bar Calavera as the singer of the song "Acuario" released in 2010.

Members

*Maximo Martinez — Vocals, Composer *Tomas Alvarez — Bass *Franklin Betances — Keyboards *Francisco Polanco — Keyboards *Javier Vargas — Guitar *Alberto Dujarric — Percussion/drums *Jacinto Alberto Mendez — Guitar

Discography

Studio albums

* '' Girar'' (1997) * '' Sintetik'' (1999) * ''

Visual The visual system comprises the sensory organ (the eye) and parts of the central nervous system (the retina containing photoreceptor cells, the optic nerve, the optic tract and the visual cortex) which gives organisms the sense of sight (the ...

'' (2003)

Collaboration albums

* '' Rockero Hasta La Tambora'' (unreleased tribute Participation by Tabu Tek with Compadre Pedro Juan) * '' Rock & Jazz: Turismo Republica Dominicana'' (Participation only by Maximo Martinez) * '' Bar Calavera'' (produced by Clemente Portillo with collaborations by Maximo Martinez)