Cati Ribot Ve d'Avior Son Llebre Negre and Automatic's Excess
On “New Beginning,” the opening track of Automatic’s album Excess, they sing “Maybe there's a new world out there / We can do it all again.” Meaning, finding a new planet to colonize and slowly destroy with reckless consumerism like we’ve done to Earth–which in their dystopian future, has become uninhabitable. Cynical? Maybe. Far fetched? Nope.
In the video for “New Beginning,” Automatic members Izzy Glaudini, Lola Dompé, and Halle Saxon set off through space to find a new home because theirs burned. With the punchy synths, drums, vocals, and bass–it’s giving dystopian dance party.
In a way, what Cati Ribot does with Mallorcan wine is the answer to the album’s theme of escapism from capitalist destruction. And the spirit, character, and personality of her 2021 Ve d'Avior Son Llebre Negre is the perfect vinous counterpart to “Excess.”
Like Automatic’s characters in this concept album, Cati is also an explorer. She’s the third generation winegrower following her father, Jaume. Like most winemakers in Mallorca, Jaume planted mainstream international varietals, including Syrah, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
As Cati took on a larger role at the winery, she sought to honor the history and natural environment of the region. That pursuit led her to reviving forgotten native grapes, like Escursac, and converting their vineyards to biodynamic farming. She worked with the Spanish government to officially recognize Escurac and other ancient Mallorcan varietals for commercial winemaking. Even so, she’s still the only known producer to make wine from Escursac.
Photo via Jose Pastor Selections
She proved that these indigenous varietals thrive in Mallorca’s climate and soils, and with totally natural treatment: biodynamically farmed, and made with no added sulfur, stabilization or filtration. She chose to revitalize the land and return the original grapes back to the local wine community despite what was popular or profitable at the time. Ve d'Avior means “from the past” in Mallorquin, a perfectly fitting name for the winery.
At Cati’s bodega, she works with a small collective of collaborators where they create and experiment alongside each other. They test different techniques, unusual aging vessels, and planting additional crops. Similarly, Automatic is the convergence of three women who combine distinct vocals, bass, drums, and synth–no guitar–for an experimental post-punk sound that’s super stylized. Both outfits are fiercely independent, each making their craft according to what they like and what matters to them without assimilating to the current trends.
Ve d'Avior Son Llebre Negre is a blend of Escursac, Callet and Callet Negrella from a single vineyard grown on iron-rich clay soils. The vines’ large berries, proximity to the sea, and high elevation protect the grapes from drought and over-ripeness.
The Son Llebre Negre and Excess are equally electric. Dark fruit aromas like blackberry, plum, and currant jump from the glass, along with a touch of bitter herb, irony minerality, and salty sea breeze. In step with the jagged synths on the album, the wine is high toned and sharp on the palate. This bottle would be a killer companion to a cheese board with cured Spanish meats. Or pizza.
After the super fun and sadly relevant “New Beginning,” Excess continues with the 80s Wall Street aesthetic of “Skyscraper.” The chorus is an apathetic earworm, with sweet yet emphatic vocals singing “Change if you wanna or stay the same / It makes no difference in the end. Shame that you gotta play the game / Every dollar gets you off.”
Like all of their music videos, the one for “Skyscraper” shows how far low-budget can go. The costumes, makeup, hair, set, and props all play an intentional and visually striking role.
“Venus Hour” has a fun, vintage 60s vibe, both in sound and video design. The retro style contrasts with the forward-focused message of searching for a bigger, better future because their present is in decay. It’s playful and damning at the same time.
All the individual elements of Automatic really pop on “Automation.” The pronounced bass and percussion are upbeat and precise, the synths add a buzzy texture and buoyant backdrop, and the vocals bring a Kathleen Hanna energy. The song moves into a steely industrial vibe and describes a girl rebelling against the system, adding to the riot grrl spirit.
The rest of the album continues to energize, get you on your feet, and make you wish you were at the live show. The music and lyrics of Excess are minimal yet powerful, precisely like the Son Llebre Negre bottle.
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