The Best Of 2020. Top50. 21 - 30

30. DOM "Emergency" (p)Discos Delejos 

Read this 

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29. Terry Vs. Tori "Heathers" (p)El Genio Equivocado 

Read this 

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28. El Relevo Aleman "La Septima Invasion" (p)Repetidor 

There's something in the music of El Relevo Aleman what I can't resist. Their proportions of grunge/ post-hardcore/ noise rock are almost ideal so everything what they do is my ear's delight.

BNDCMP

27. Trau "33/45" (p)U98 Music 

The 70's-tinged hook-filled slightly psychedelic indie pop from Catalonia produced by the Catalan indie pop's jack of all trades Roger Gascon.

BNDCMP

26. Blusa "Resonance" (p)self-released 

The Sevillians don't lower their standards with their most recent release remaining the most hidden gem of Spanish post-rock scene.

BNDCMP

25. Ajeeb "Toss And Turn" (p)El Hombre Bala 

Read this 

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24. Trial "La Nova Olada" (p)self-released 

At the first glance this disc sounds pretty unambitious and nonchalant but when the album terminates you find yourself humming its melodic hooks, and I think it's a perfect feature.

BNDCMP

23. Anna Andreu "Els Mals Costums" (p)Hidden Track 

Anna Andreu, former one half of indie folk duo Cálido Home, has created this short album of exceptional beauty where space and silence is as important as words and melody.

BNDCMP

22. Capitan Sunrise "Dramas del Primer Mundo" (p)Jabalina Musica 

Read this 

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21. Da Souza "Salsa Agredolça" (p)Bubota Discos 

Read this 

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Da Souza "Salsa Agredolça"

Da Souza "Salsa Agredolça" (p)2020 Bubota Discos

I'm unaware if there is a term considering the new generation of catalan/balearic indie scene. El Petit De Cal Eril, Ferran Palau, Ran Ran Ran, Da Souza, Roig!, Jorra I Gomorra, L'Espiadimonis, to name a few - they're all united by the specific feel their music creates. Call them 'slacker indie' because of their palpable lack of ambition that never prevents them from making the great song, or call them 'fluid pop' as those songs intentionally avoid the firm structures in such a way that any catchy tune contains an element of suspense: would it last for long until the end of the song (yeah, I'm gonna use that line in my own song) or would it break to pieces with some unexpected pipes entering the scene, or a dominant synth line reminiscent of Tubeway Army's "Replica". I guess this is exactly what is called 'artistic freedom'.

Regarding this particular example of 'fluid pop' [tm] I would like to say the following: Da Souza's "Futbol D'Avantguarda" appeared to be kind of an indie sensation a couple of years ago, and it was really great. "Salsa Agredolça" is even better.

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Monkey Week 2018 - 10th Anniversary. 24.11.2018

The summary >>>

23.11.2018 >>>

The next morning I woke up at 9 am having three hours of sleep only. Surprisingly, I felt myself alive enough to come out immediately as I had an urge to visit the record shops of Sevilla. As I travelled without any luggage except for a backpack it could be a major problem for me if I had purchased some vinyls but it appeared that the record shops I visited were specializing on second hand records having little of the most recent releases. The only records I'd like to purchase were La Estrella De David's "Consagracion" and Basanta's "Colorama" but finally I decided to avoid the possible transportation issues.

Despite my nondirectional territorial fluctuations I was just in time at Ron Contrabando stage (Alameda de Hercules square) to catch the very beginning of the Radio3 La Batalla de las Bandas hosted by one of the most famous Radio3 anchors Angel Carmona. The time limits were the same as for yesterday's mini showcases (also MC'ed by Angel): 6 minutes for the whole round of 'come out - plug in - play a single song - walk away'. The event started with the performance of the new local heroes Derby Motoreta's Burrito Cachimba that obviously represented the [arguably] the main contemporary trend of rock music: the 70's revival. The band that exploited the completely different direction - my new friends San Jeronimo - replaced the Sevillian six-piece onstage. Then I managed to see two more bands: the Foehn Records' residents Alien Tango, and the cock-rock combo Los Jaguares De La Bahia. Then I escaped the event to come to the opposite side of the Alameda de Hercules for Yawners. This was one of my best decisions because this metropolitan girl/boy quasi-punk duo was enormously great. I can't explain what was that decisive element of their show that made me surrender and convert myself into a devoted fan. But this was such the pleasure to see this band in action.

According to the schedule, the OffMonkey session was the next event I should attend right after Yawners. This one was organized by my friends from WeAreWolves Records to showcase the bands of the roster: the dj sessions by Pumuky and I Am Dive and two full-fledged performances by Kindata and San Jeronimo. This event should be started at 2 pm inside the Hops & Dreams gastro bar but when I came to the place only three persons were there. I was quite embarassed as I tried to consult a barman but he didn't understand me. So a guy who revealed to be Berni from Kindata came to me trying to resolve the problem. We quickly got in contact, and then I introduced myself to Tero, the second half of Kindata. This band was my biggest discovery of the year so I was completely happy to see them live and to talk to them within a month from the moment I had learned of their mere existence.

Little by little the venue got full of people. I got in touch with a man named Fran who revealed to be a photographer and a friend of Jose A. Perez. We sat together and discussed our further plans and past experiences of Monkey Week 2018. Moreover, Berni introduced me to the guys of Palo Alto who were nice and welcoming as well. In the meantime the bands started playing. San Jeronimo were the first to play, and then Kindata stepped in. These bands were the pure delight - both musically and personally.

The actuation of Da Souza at the nearby Mangaroca stage drove me away from Hops & Dreams. This Mallorcan band released the new album "Futbol D'Avantguarda" (p)Famelic that appeared to be kind of indie sensation, and I liked it as many others did so it was no way to avoid visiting their performance. It was a bit spoiled by the rain. The band played inside the tent but I beheld it getting soaked with the raindrops. Anyway it was quite low price for making it possible. Good music always defeats the rain.
By the way, at the entrance of Santa Clara I met Joan and Natalia of Saim. I approached them and expressed my respect, we talked a bit and they gave me a t-shirt as a gift. Moltes gracies!  

Then I made a short run to Jagermeister. Puma Pumku already started playing there. Like Yawners before the Galician neo-psych combo demonstrated the ability to win over the unprepared observer from the very first glance. I wasn’t totally unprepared as I used to listen to their first album for quite a while – but I never caught them before and had no idea how could they sound live. They quickly made me realize that coming up there I did just fine. This band is great, don’t miss the opportunity to see them.

Uniforms are only going to be great. The nugaze starlets just released their debut ("Polara" (p)Oso Polita) and managed to gather a considerable crowd inside Fun Club. Thus I was forced to stand behind the pillar and could see a little. Anyway, their performance wasn't perfect but their potential was obvious.

The populous and stylistically omnivore rock collective Los Jaguares De La Bahia spearheaded by the one of the most renowned indie rock producers of Spain performed at Ron Contrabando. I saw Paco Loco onstage once when he performed with Australian Blonde, but as a frontman he was even more... ummm, impressive. Shamelessly unleashed, he was like an uncontrolled beast there upon the stage. Despite his anti-star appearance, I think, he made every photographer there loaded with the whole lot of ‘rock star pose and gestures’ photos.

The Donostarrian indie rockers Pet Fennec sounded good performing in the open air (I witnessed it at Sonorama) but now within the limited space of Fun Club they sounded really massive. I placed myself in front of the bass monitor and every beat and every low note made my insides tremble. As I spent most of their time limit at Los Jaguares I caught only three songs. It was not enough - but what could I do.

Regarding the all-female garage band Melenas from Pamplona I'd like to say the following: I can’t call myself a fan of garage rock, but the girls do their thing with palpable honesty. It shouldn’t be omitted despite the fact is the listener a fan of the genre or not.

I liked the second album of the Galician art punks Travesti Afgano so they were in my own schedule from that very first moment I saw the #mokeyweek10 line up. They performed at gay bar Itaca - the southernmost location of the festival. Live the band positioned themselves as stylistically and behaviorally unpredictable act that could easily interact with public whilst changing the genres three times within a song. One of the irrefutable wins of the festival that, unfortunately, was sparsely attended.

Then I headed to La Calle rock club for the Canarias Crea/ Keroxen showcase. When I passed along Teatro Alameda I witnessed a queue that splashed out from the entrance and flew around the corner.
I walked along the queue guessing who the hell might gather such the crowd. In the middle of the queue I met Fran who explained me that all these people were there for Pony Bravo. This band had created a considerable cult following during the years of activity so the audience welcomed their first performance in years with huge enthusiasm.
Nevertheless, I came further to the club. It could be nice to see Pony Bravo but the prospect of losing some amount of time in passing through this queue was up to kill the possible perks of seeing one of the scene-defining bands in action.
Saletile, the experimental rock duo from Tenerife, opened the Canary Islands night at La Calle. The schedule was cruel for them as their slot coincided with Pony Bravo’s. On the other hand, Saletile’s music is not for everybody and the focus groups of the bands were hardly coincident. For me, I enjoyed their set of long instrumental passages and digital noise drones a lot.

I’m not going to spread much words about those two bands that followed Saletile onstage. What could I say… Pumuky and GAF Y La Estrella De La Muerte, my favorite band and the best live act of the scene respectively, that’s exactly how I'd like to label them. I feel some kind of personal connections to both of the bands. I can’t judge them with due objectivity so I should pull them off the scale. For me it’s like, you know, there are Messi and Ronaldo – and there are the real people.
Unfortunately, the actuation of GAF was my final concert of the festival. The bell rang for me. I wasn’t happy to say goodbyes to all the people that accompanied me through the Monkey Week 2018 but the Ryanair’s flight schedule forced me to do so.
Then I walked outside and then lost the next 23 hours of my life in taxi cabs, aircrafts, stopovers and trains.

Best Of 2018. Top50 Albums. 31 - 40

<writer's block>

40. Da Souza "Futbol D'Avantguarda" 

(p)Famelic

BNDCMP

Much-lauded indie pop album is as incompromisingly quirky as hauntingly melodic. Sounds great live.

39. Monte Del Oso "Cosas Que Salvar De Una Casa En Peligro" 

(p)Farmway/ Underhill

BNDCMP

Read this

38. We Were Heading North "Lightness" 

(p)El Hombre Bala

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The tender instrumental music that suddenly explodes with the bursts of guitars to shift the focus from the soft pastel cinematic soundscapes to the grandiose God Is An Astronaut-like post rock.

37. Les Atxes "Decora Paneres" 

(p)El Mamut Traçut

BNDCMP

The album shows how to raise a bunch of good songs out of the crooked off-key guitar strumming and the fractured rhythm section.

36. Belako "Render Me Numb, Trivial Violence" 

(p)El Segell

SPTF

Four folks from Pais Vasco found their niche in the very beginnig of their career as a band, and they continue to tread the same path since - but every time the result sounds fresh and exciting.

35. Invisible Harvey "No Es Justo Que Llegues Ahora" 

(p)El Genio Equivocado

BNDCMP

Undeniably the best record of the prolific Catalan singer/songwriter Dimas Rodriguez.

34. Cycle "Electrik" 

(p)Subterfuge

SPTF

The renowned electro band moves into the guitar-driven rock territories with David Tabueña (ex-Mi Pequeña Radio) now onboard.

33. Tuxedo "Tuxedo III" 

(p)Musaranas

BNDCMP

The Valladolid-born slowcore, really beautiful and never boring.

32. Ornamento Y Delito "El Glamour De Las Provincias" 

(p)Fikasound

BNDCMP

Ornamento y Delito released the new album at the very end of December'17. While finalizing my '2018 Top50' preparations I've put it on to listen briefly to a couple of tracks to taste it and in a half an hour found myself with the mouth wide open.

31. The Prussians "Karma" 

(p)3 Notes

SPTF

The ultimate 'contemporary indie rock' album. A million of influences, the great sound, the pulsating rhythms, the good vibrations.

Top20 EPs and mini albums

Honorable Mention

41 - 50 >>>

21 - 30 >>>

11 - 20 >>>

01 - 10 >>>

Monkey Week 2018 - 10th Anniversary. The Summary

Just some info in brief.

My average “go/not go” decision-making term for travels is 6 months.

The decision-making term for this particular trip was less than 5 days. Even while sitting in Cologne airport stopover I was under threath of coming back.

The whole 4 days of the travel. 

The whole 2 days of the Monkey Week 2018 festival.

This was an adventure ad-lib, the most unprepared trip in my life.

My first visit to Seville, my first visit to Andalusia.

70 km passed on feet.

40 bands seen onstage. 

The new encounters. The re-encounters with the old pals. 

The new bands to follow.

Estrella Galicia under the rain. Lots of Estrella Galicia under the rain.

These were the happiest of days.

I felt like every person I run into was a musician.

I was happy to see Saim, Da Souza, Travesti Afgano, Bifannah and Exnovios live. I expected them to be great onstage – and they were truly amazing.

I was happy to get soaked into the magic sounds of Dreyma, Terry vs Tori, Kindata and Saletile.

I was happy to discover and immediately fall for Yawners and Puma Pumku (regarding the latter – I liked their “Is It In You?” LP alot but they spent plenty of time quite quiet since, and I had no idea on what they were up to now).

San Jeronimo, my greatest live discovery of the fest both musically and personally.

And, last but not least. Pumuky and GAF Y La Estrella De La Muerte. "One of my favourite bands and one the best live acts of the scene" - I can apply this phrase to both of them. The only reason for you to avoid visiting their shows in your town is death. No kidding, I saw the persons amongst the audience who cried after their sets. 

And I was crying after their sets too.

During these two over-saturated days I’ve seen live the following.

Full Concerts:

Mini Showcases (Friday 23, DITTO)

Saim (Friday 23, Mangaroca)

Pumuky (Friday 23, DITTO)

GAF (Friday 23, DITTO)

San Jeronimo (Friday 23, Mangaroca)

Cor Blanc (Friday 23, Studio 74)

Exnovios (Friday 23, Sala X)

Yawners (Saturday 24, Jagermeister)

San Jeronimo (Saturday 24, Hops & Dreams – OffMonkey)

Kindata (Saturday 24, Hops & Dreams – OffMonkey)

Melenas (Saturday 24, Vinilo Rock Club)

Travesti Afgano (Saturday 24, Itaca)

Saletile (Saturday 24, Sala La Calle – Fiesta Keroxen)

Pumuky (Saturday 24, Sala La Calle – Fiesta Keroxen)

GAF Y La Estrella De La Muerte (Saturday 24, Sala La Calle – Fiesta Keroxen)

Partially Seen:

Baiuca (Friday 23, Jagermeister)

Dreyma (Friday 23, DITTO)

Biznaga (Friday 23, Teatro Alameda)

Terry vs Tori (Friday 23, Sala Even)

Bifannah (Friday 23, Sala Even)

Da Souza (Saturday 24, DITTO)

Puma Pumku (Saturday 24, Jagermeister)

Uniforms (Saturday 24, Fun Club)

Los Jaguares De La Bahia (Saturday 24, Ron Contrabando)

Seen Only Episodically:

El Imperio Del Perro (Friday 23, Ron Contrabando)

Las Yumbenas (Saturday 23, Mangaroca)

Baywaves (Friday 23, Sala X)

RADIO3 La Guerra De Las Bandas (Saturday 24, Ron Contrabando)

Los Estanques (Saturday 24, Ron Contrabando)

Dani Llamas (Saturday 24, Ron Contrabando)

Pet Fennec (Saturday 24, Fun Club)

Planned But Not Seen:

Alien Tango, Futuro Terror, Vulk, Joan Colomo, Aliment