5 años. 5 Albums More

The year 2018 marks the 5-year jubilee of this tiny music-related blog. So I'm in the process of making of kinda 'special issues' to celebrate this. The fourth of them is right here right now, and it's dedicated to 5 more albums (this time without ranking) I’d like to put emphasis at – reasonably, but without one common reason for all of them.

Tania de Sousa “Taniatank” (p)2014 Talka Records

This album was recorded with the help of Correos’ frontman Fermin Bouza and one-of-a-kind Fermin Muguruza. The additional amount of attention should’ve been attracted to it by this mere fact - and it did some splash at the moment of release, I recall. But the initial buzz was not prolonged for more. As the album sounds better than any given pop punk band’s ‘the best of’ compilation I could only express my regrets that it doesn’t seem to receive some continuation cos it looks like Tania quit making music now to pursue other interests in her life.

SPTF

Sin Rumbo “Forma Parte Del Espectaculo” (p)2012

My Spanish isn’t as fluent as I might want it to be. There are moments when I speak quite easily, and otherwise there are moments when I stuck like a dumbhead with no words in my mouth. This August I talked to Pablo Rodriguez-Salinas (guitar) twice, and both times were of the latter kind, to my self-depreciation. I tried to explain him that the whole Sonorama thing has started for me with Sin Rumbo’s performance back in August 2013. That performance was mostly based upon “Forma Parte Del Espectaculo”, so this album itself is a milestone in my own history of interactions with rock español.

SPTF

Moriran Todos! “Saltar” (p)2015

I bet you’ve never listened to Moriran Todos! cos the band ain't pretty active on the mainland of Spain. They’re from Canary Islands and “Saltar” is their first LP. This album has the right feel. It’s not overproduced. It’s not intended to be taken too seriously. It’s not that case, you know, when you can physically feel the burden of the commercial expectations (or expectations of any other kind) in every song. It’s kind of lighthearted album. Even if it was born too far from music epicenters – it’s hardly a reason for discarding it. The term ‘cool’ was intended for the albums like this one, and coolness never depends on place of birth.

BNDCMP

Mi Pequeña Radio “Donde Esta Lo Que Un Dia Fuimos” (p)2012 Bohemia Music

From my point of view, for this album the gap between the attention it deserved and the attention it received is the greatest of all. It seems like I am the only person (apart from its auteur David Tabueña) who still understands how good the album is. I recommended it to my friends, to my facebook and twitter followers. I put it in the 2nd place of my 2013 annual Top30 list. It all never seemed to work. The band put out another EP (which was great as well) and then quietly disbanded. As of now David plays guitar in Cycle. For him it’s all Ok today, but I still feel some kind of guilt about Mi Pequeña Radio’s ill fate.

BNDCMP

The Bright “Lineas Divisorias” (p)2015 Subterfuge

Definitely it is the most frequently listened album for me through the last 3 years. I may return to it in different moods, in different places and in different situations. This is my constant choice when I ain’t up to listen to something new. This is my constant choice when I don’t know what I want to listen to. Frankly, this is my constant choice - whenever.

SPTF

Briefs #1

Unfortunately, at the moment I'm not able to post here as frequently as it was earlier due to some complicated circumstances at my dayjob, but the sun of Spanish rock still shines bright so I got an urge to write something about it, at least in brief.

First, there are some sad news.

• In August Javier Fernandez, the former drummer of Los Piratas, was accidentally killed by police attended at the place by the claims of domestic abuse. Fernandez, who suffered bipolar disorder, was shot dead after the refusal to obey the policemen. Later the family of the musician posted a message revealing that he was just ill and was never aggressive/abusive.
• After two cool albums and one equally cool EP Mi Pequena Radio finally called it a day as a band. I am waiting for any good news from the bandleader David Tabuena. 
• Mercromina decided to finalize the second stage of their existence, with Joaquin Pascual already having solo album to be released later this year. I was lucky enough to catch their show at Sonorama.
• Helena Miquel left Delafe Y Las Flores Azules putting the further perspectives of the band on hold. As for the time-being there are no additional notifications, let's say that from this moment on the band is just Oscar D'Aniello (Delafe) and Dani Acedo (no nickname).
• The Asturias-based indie label Discos Humeantes has called it quits for good. The final release of this garage/punk-oriented imprint is the 2-LP comp album "Siempre Adelante: Los Primeros Anos de Discos Humeantes". You can obtain the digital version of the album here on the 'name your price' basis.

Lo Mejor del Ano - EPes y mini-albumes/ Best of 2014 - EP's & mini-albums

Before I start revealing my annual Top30 list of the best Spanish albums I'd like to present to you the teaser. So please find below my list of Top10 EP's - in no particular order (with Karen Koltarne as winner anyway):

Karen Koltrane "Plantas De Interior" 
(p)Foehn Records
This is the classic Foehn album - intelligent, warm and thinkful. The say they play synth pop. I'd rather say Karen Koltrane (the name of this four piece only seems to be the name of a single person - and there are no females in the band either) play something like trip-hop for smartasses. The slow motion beats, the melodies that evolve in minutes, the pure electronica and lo-fi ambient. The album was recorded as a pack of demos. But if these songs are demos - what would be their high fidelity?
And as a classic Foehn record - "Plantas de Interior" is a piece of heaven for every vinyl junkie.

El Viejo Astra "Estudio Dos" 
(p)El Hombre Bala
The Canarians El Viejo Astra somehow call this album an EP. I don't know why cos it's 35 minutes long, and there are many albums of shorter lenghts which are long plays. But if they want to call it an EP - let it be. Who am I to argue with the creators? The music here is full of the layers of foggy psychedelia, and it also contains thick analogue noise and timeless melodies galore. The bastard child of ELO and Medicine (or Spacemen 3). 

Kasparov vs Deep Blue "E.P." 
self-released
The band whose name reminds the battle of the greatest Russian chess champion of Azerbaijan origin Garry Kasparov with one of the first chess-trained supercomputers named Deep Blue plays alternative rock that flows from post-rock to post-grunge with Dredg as a main transit hub.
The great guitar sound and depression flowing directly into your blood system. The song "Big Eyes" is one of the best songs of the year.

baden bah! "futuro/a"
self-released
I've already spread my opinion on this cool album HERE

Doctor Lobo "Reiniciar"
self-released
Honestly speaking, I know nothing about this band from Valencia. I have picked this mini album from their bandcamp at random and found it very interesting. Stylistically they have something in common with the band Neuman, I suppose - it seems like they also did not make the final decision on what exact genre to play. But despite the stylistic uncertainty the songs are good, and their singer really can sing.

Nixon "Alter Ego" 
self-released
The music of this a bit psychedelic indie rock band from Almeria can remind you of Second at times.
Nixon exist from 2006 and "Alter Ego" is not their first release (in fact it's second), so the issues of 'the first attempt at writing' are hardly present here - all 6 songs on this EP sound very professionally composed and recorded.

Dulce Pajara de Juventud "Faithful Songs"
(p)BCore Disc
The provocative cover hides only three songs on this EP - but all these tracks are great.
The first "Evelyn Fuck Machine" is a killer hit. The next "Faithful Song" contains at least six non-cycled melodic progressions in the range between noise rock and chamber pop. The closing song "Benjamin" is a calmer track that fits good for the purpose of a classic closing track. The great appetizer before the full lenght.

Apenino "Viravolta"
(p)Jabalina Musica
This is the classic Jabalina Musica release - intelligent, warm and thinkful - but not in the same way as Foehn's classic releases. The project of Marco Maril (who hides himself under Apenino moniker), one of the core artists of Jabalina, delivers the smooth and intimate electronica-based indie pop that fits best for the sad smiles and quiet minutes of the pairs newly in love.

Mi Pequena Radio "Mono"
(p)Audiomatic/Sony ATV/EMI Publishing

Another pack of great songs from David Tabuena. Recording now as a full band, my personal favourites Mi Pequena Radio show the signs of the creative growth and growing ambitions on this tiny EP. Godspeed you, chicos!

Walden Dos "La Distancia Indolora"
self-released
This Madrid-based formation plays music which is obscure, powerful, colourful, loud and melodic. It incorporates the elements of trip hop, old school psychedelia, shoegaze, and krautrock standing in a couple of steps from electro-industrial.

Los recuerdos de Sonorama 2013

Just spent some time editing the [mostly poor quality] photos I've made with my mobile phone till Sonorama fest in August.

Sin Rumbo:

Cyan:

Igloo:

Leon Benavente:

Pumuky:

Havalina:

Stay:

Xoel Lopez & his band:

The New Raemon & Maga:

Mi Pequena Radio:

Garamendi:

Dorian:

The Best Of 2013. Album #2

02. Mi Pequena Radio "Donde Esta Lo Que Un Dia Fuimos" (p) Bohemia Music

It took almost 4 years for David Tabuena to record the sophomore release of his alter ego Mi Pequena Radio. Like the 1st album "Esquiando Hacia Arriba" the new album is very energetic one, but unlike the previous release, "Donde Esta..." is much more diverse rhythmically, containing the trademark fast rockers along with danceable rock tunes and a couple of the perfect ballads.
Unfortunately, it's a pretty overlooked album, and even the casual help of Iker Casillas didn't work well. But it contains the best tunes this side of Miss Caffeina, and the songs like "La Reina Magnetica" or "Si No Me Has Matado" you'd never shake off your head even if you'd want to. So I don't have much words about this album except the following: if you haven't listened to it, then you haven't listened to year 2013 at all.

Sonorama Ribera 2013. The Aftermath

Just uploaded some hi-res photos of Igloo, Mi Pequena Radio & Sin Rumbo to my Flickr account:

Igloo set

Mi Pequena Radio set

Sin Rumbo set

All photos were taken by Tanya.

Sonorama Ribera 2013. The Report. Day 3, 17.08.2013. El final and other hesitations - Part 1

Day 3 schedule: 

Plaza del Trigo: Igloo, Angel Stanich, Izal. 

Red Bull: Tres Notas Project, La Doble Fila, Raisa, Mi Pequena Radio. 

Carson Camping: Andres Garrasparri, Sethler. 

FutureStars: Margot, Musst H, Trajano!, Garamendi, Llum, Wiggum, Los Madison, Ultima Experiencia. 

Castilla y Leon: McEnroe, Havalina, Pony Bravo, The New Raemon & Maga, L.A. 

Ribera del Duero: Stay, Xoel Lopez, Standstill (presenta Cenit), Supersubmarina, Estereotypo. 

 The 3rd day of Sonorama should start for us at midday with Igloo. Then would be some time to walk along the town before the set of Mi Pequena Radio on the Red Bull. Carson Camping aside, in the evening we should be on the first line at the Castilla y Leon stage, where Havalina would destroy our ears with the possibly loudest show of the 16th edition of Sonorama. Then - Xoel Lopez, el unico man of sorts. And after Xoel's there would be only three obligatory POIs for us: The New Raemon & Maga, Supersubmarina and L.A. We were not prepared to the fact that saturdays are the dias de mercado in Aranda. So we had lost some time searching for appropriate parking place. 

When we came to Plaza del Trigo Igloo were already there. The band was plugging in, the technical personnel was sticking the Sonorama stickers along with Carson ones on the equipment. Then the band started playing. They played 3 songs and then abruptly stopped playing and walked off the stage. People got stuck unconscious. Minutes had passed away, at least one third part of the crowd seemed to pass along with the minutes. It was good for us so we could get much closer to the stage. The stage was empty for 8 or 10 minutes. I have noticed that there were 9 songs in the set list - as long as the set list was at the arm's lenght from my eyes. So the band finally walked from behind and started playing. With four albums (and one EP where they covered not less than "Twin Peaks theme") in the back catalogue they had plenty of great songs to play. Led by the charismatic leader Beni Ferreiro the band was as powerful as intimate. Beni looked pretty shy saying 'Somos Igloo' to the crowd. Also, he mentioned the trainwreck tradegy in Santiago de Compostela as the band members are the province of Galicia natives, and dedicated a song to the victims. The consistensy of the band's sound and the quality of songs quickly made Tanya the massive fan of Igloo as a whole and of Beni Ferreiro personally.

Igloo

After the show we had some time to kill before the next stop. We walked down the river Duero to have a can of beer (me) and of orange drink (Tanya). When we came to the Red Bull Tour Bus the sun was in zenith ruthlessly burning the skins of the spectators who were pressing themselves into the walls of the houses. Mi Pequena Radio was the fourth band (the first three were Deluxe, Love Of Lesbian and Tulsa) I had discovered in rock en espanol years ago when their first album "Esquiando Hacia Arriba" was out. Having the new album issued less than a year ago this band led by 'migrant bird' (Huesca -> Madrid -> Barcelona -> back to Madrid) David Tabuena was one of the last ones to be confirmed for Sonorama 2013. As I have mentioned before, the Red Bull Tour Bus escenario was really the bus, so the musicians should get on it for the show and later get down after the show - and in that moment one could manage to interact with them.Taking this in mind I got one more matryoska for David. Mi Pequena Radio had the brief stint of popularity earlier this year when the glorious Iker Casillas, the goalkeeper and the captain of the national football team posted the video for the song "Valor Galactico" in his Facebook page, and the next day marked the 20,000 youtube views for this video. David and his guys played the songs mostly from the latest LP called "Donde Esta Lo Que Un Dia Fuimos" for the empty square and the audience somewhere in the shadows. I considered it not fair for such a great band doing such the great work and for the hit "Valor Galactico" I stepped off the shadows in the center of square and made a song-long tribal dance. Sadly, my heroic performance was less than well-documented by anyone including my beloved wife.

Mi Pequena Radio onstage

When the band stopped playing I placed myself closer to the ladder on the rear side of the bus. David came down, I came to him shouting "David!!!" and put the matryoska in his hand. He looked really surprised to know that his band had the fans in the dark and snowy Russia. Tanya came and hugged and kissed him, and finally we took a photo together. It was fine.

 

  David & me