Reynols Box Set: Band With a Drummer Who Has Down Syndrome
Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 1 Feb 2019 - Updated: 4 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Informative
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This information covers the February 2019 release by Norwegian label Pica Disk of Minecxio Emanations 1993-2018, a box set documenting Reynols, the experimental band formed in Buenos Aires in 1993 by Roberto Conlazo, Alan Courtis and drummer and vocalist Miguel Tomasin, who has Down syndrome. The set holds six CDs and a DVD with 52 audio tracks, most never released before, 90 minutes of video and two booklets, including a new history by music writer Marc Masters. It spans early cassette recordings, two unreleased albums from the early 2000s, conceptual performances and collaborations with artists such as Pauline Oliveros and Acid Mothers Temple. The release is of interest to music fans and to anyone following disability in the arts, since Reynols is often cited as an influence on inclusive music projects around the world.
At a Glance
- 1 - The physical box set was limited to 500 copies.
- 2 - A digital version was released on Bandcamp without the DVD material.
- 3 - Thurston Moore called Reynols among the most experimental and wild people he had heard.
- 4 - Conceptual pieces include performances at the Eiffel Tower, NASA in Houston and the Atomium in Brussels.
Topic Definition
- Inclusive Music
Inclusive music refers to music making, performance and education in which people with disabilities take part as equal creators and performers alongside others, rather than only as audience members or therapy participants. It includes bands, orchestras and ensembles with disabled members, adapted instruments and music technology, and accessible venues and teaching methods that let people of all abilities contribute.
Overview
In February 2019, Norwegian label Pica Disk released a box set documenting the work of Argentinian cult group Reynols. Formed in 1993 in Buenos Aires, the free rock trio consisted of Roberto Conlazo, Alan Courtis, and Miguel Tomasín, a drummer with Down syndrome. The release is called "Minecxio Emanations 1993-2018" and contains 52 audio tracks (mostly previously unreleased), 90 minutes of video and extensive liner notes and visuals.
Reynols started in 1993 in Buenos Aires and is famous among many things for its unique drummer and vocalist, who has Down syndrome, Miguel Tomasín, who is the band's spiritual architect. The band is considered highly influential since it has inspired inclusive projects all around the globe.
Sometimes referred to as "The Weirdest Band in the World", Reynols is also known for its musical diversity, which spans everything from cosmic free rock and lo-fi drone electronic music, to conceptual sound art and social/political/esoteric observations. The world of Reynols is a universe completely of its own, and inhabits so much that even an extensive box like this only scratches the surface. Although Reynols have worked with an open-process DIY philosophy and been subject to multiple documentaries the band has still managed to sustain an element of mystery, so the release of "Minecxio Emanations 1993-2018" marks the first time the band has allowed an extensive overview of their work to be made.
Fans of the band will also be happy to learn that most of the material is previously unreleased, including two albums from the early 2000s that were completed but never released; the earliest recordings from 1993; collaborations with artists Acid Mothers Temple and Pauline Oliveros; conceptual pieces; and more. There's also a DVD with previously unreleased videos.
Details:
Booklet 1: The story of Reynols
A 3000 word new piece by Marc Masters which covers the history, culled from new interviews with Anla Courtis, Roberto Conlazo and Miguel Tomasín. Also included are shorter text/appreciations by Lasse Marhaug, Oren Ambarchi, Sindre Bjerga, Sixto Fernando, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, C. Spencer Yeh, John Olson and others.
Booklet 2: Visuals
A full booklet of photos, artwork, press clippings, quotes, flyers and posters. Most of this material has not been published before.
7 x Discs:
Disc 1: Early Reynols
Early recordings from the birth of Reynols in 1993-94 [featuring early member Christian Dergarabedian], some material from small edition cassettes, some previous unreleased.
Disc 2: Vedeosmas Tecretre
An album made in 2001-2003, but never released.
Disc 3: Jaz Ronco Jits
A selection of the "Jaz Ronco Japi Javas" sessions from 2001-2002, only previously available as very limited CDRs.
Disc 4: Conceptual Mogal
A disc of Reynols conceptual pieces, including performances at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, NASA in Houston, the Atomium in Brussels, outtakes from the 10,000 Chickens Symphony and from public street protests in Buenos Aires during the December 2001 crisis. All previously unreleased.
Disc 5: Roniles Dasa Selebro
Another previously unreleased album from 2000-2001.
Disc 6: Reynols and Friends
A collection of collaborations with artists like Dr. Socolinsky, Pauline Oliveros, Nelson Gastaldi, Jazzy Mel and Acid Mothers Temple. Recorded between 1998 and 2018. Previously unreleased.
Disc 7: DVD
A 90 minute collage of live performances and other videos that offer a rare portal to the world of Reynols.
- Limited edition of 500 copies.
- All discs come in individual printed wallets.
- All audio have been remastered from the original masters.
- A limited amount of t-shirts will also be made to celebrate the release of the box-set.
- Digital version available from Bandcamp comes with all booklet and artwork, but DVD material is exclusive to the physical box-set.
"Long may they confuse" - John Olson (Wolf Eyes)
"I know Reynols indeed: they are among the most experimental and wild people I've heard" - Thurston Moore
"Reynols is a super band to me. Someday, I wanna fly to Mars with Anla, Rob and Miguel all together. Let's do asado there." - Mitsuru Tabata (Zeni Geva, Acid Mothers Temple, Boredoms)
"One of the most bizarre musical/social units to function. Ever" - Muckraker Magazine
"The Reynols frontier is, in terms of sheer sonic, aesthetic, and conceptual creativity, an infinite expanse. It doesn't break out of barriers so much as it evaporates them. It's not that the rules don't apply in Reynols music. It's that nothing applies. The sound is itself, and everything else." - Marc Masters, from the liner notes of the box
REYNOLS:
- Minecxio Emanations 1993-2018
- 6xCD/1xDVD box-set (Pica Disk PICA047)
- Released by Pica Disk February 15th 2019
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Miguel Tomasin?
Miguel Tomasin is an Argentine drummer and vocalist with Down syndrome and a founding member of Reynols, known for his unusual vocals and creative direction of the band.
What kind of music does Reynols play?
Reynols plays experimental music that ranges from free rock and noise to drone, electronic sound and conceptual sound art.
Where can I listen to Reynols?
Reynols recordings are available on streaming and download platforms, including Bandcamp, and on physical releases from several independent labels.
Are there other well-known bands with members who have Down syndrome?
Yes, examples include the Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat, which competed at Eurovision in 2015, and various inclusive bands and choirs worldwide.
Who was Pauline Oliveros?
Pauline Oliveros was an American composer and accordionist known for her Deep Listening practice and her work in experimental and electronic music. She died in 2016.
How can people with intellectual disabilities get involved in music?
Options include inclusive community music groups, adapted lessons, music therapy programs and arts organizations that support disabled musicians.
What is music therapy?
Music therapy is the clinical use of music by a trained therapist to support goals such as communication, movement, emotional health and social skills.
Is Down syndrome a disability?
Down syndrome is a genetic condition that usually causes some degree of intellectual disability and is recognized as a disability under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Reynols has spent three decades on the far edge of experimental music, and Miguel Tomasin has been at its center the whole time, not as a novelty but as the creative force the other members describe as the band's spiritual architect. That long career makes the group a useful counterexample to the idea that musicians with intellectual disabilities belong only in therapy or community settings. The box set also preserves recordings that might otherwise have been lost, including material made during the 2001 economic crisis in Argentina. For readers interested in inclusive arts, Reynols shows how a band built on equal creative partnership can reach audiences and influence artists worldwide.
Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.