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понедельник, 20 августа 2018 г.

Sonorama 2018. Day 4

Days 1-2
Day 3

Saturday, 11th
Our last Sonorama 2018 morning started at midday with the band Repion performing on Plaza la Sal. Repion were one of these bands we decided to look at only by chance as there was no appropriate alternative at the moment. Fortunately, it turned out to be one of the best decisions as this band impressed us much. They’ve got mood, they’ve got vibe. They’ve reminded me of The Breeders (though I never had a chance to see The Breeders live) – especially when the sisters Iñesta swapped their instruments with Teresa coming in to the mic and Marina taking on drumming duties. The discovery #1 for me.
The next band to appear on Heineken stage were Los Estanques. We missed most of their performance while drinking beer on Plaza Mayor but we managed to catch two last songs of their set. Thus we found them charming enough to dive deeper into their Paisley Underground-bred music upon returning home.
Then we headed to Castilla Y Leon stage for Burrito Panza. I personally had the strong desire to see them live as they’ve got that enormous new album “El Nuevo Frente Frio” and I was guessing how they would reconstruct the sound of the album onstage. Live the band sounded more in the vein of Mercromina (albeit excluding the latter’s signature wall of post-shoegaze guitar noise). For me as a longtime fan of Albacete’s finest it was all ok. 
At the moment we were teamed up with Rafa Tuñon (leader of Paciente Cero) and his company of friends so we won ourselves a couple of beers and the good place next to the entrance of Santa Catalina building to fully enjoy what was happening around. Also I was happy to see Rafa and Joan, the co-heads of Burrito Panza’s label El Genio Equivocado, amongst those before the sunlit stage. Up to the next gig (La Bien Querida) Gloria and her friends came to the place so our company grew bigger.
In the very beginning of La Bien Querida’s show we recognized Manuel Cabezali playing bass for Ana Fernandez-Villaverde. As far as I know this was his first appearance in Sonorama since the show of his primary vehicle Havalina was abruptly switched off the power (due to technical issues or schedule constrictions) back in 2013. 
Inside our circle of friends we talked alot but amidst the talks we paid attention to the show where Ana in her yellow dress did her tiny dancing to her own songs in slightly electronic wrap-up.
We stayed there for one more timeslot waiting for Nocturnos to come out. Frankly speaking, Nocturnos didn’t sound like the band for escenario principal. Rather they sounded like the great band for a club. Nevertheless, they’ve got plenty of catchy tunes and lots of energy so their performance was one of the best for us. Somewhere around that time Rafa Tuñon walked away searching for his friends, and Glo brought us some more beer...

***
Cosmen Adelaida have peeled off their dream pop influences almost completely for this gig presenting us their post punk side only. I don't know was it their usual modus operandi as it was the 1st time I saw them live. As for ‘Joana Serrat – Nat Simons’ case being compared to La Plata they sounded way more diverse while treading the same path.
Los Punsetes were our next POI. The only motions Ariadna, the female singer of the band, did during the performance were to come onstage and to come off. The entire concert she – dressed up in the Alice in the Wonderland costume (or it was the uniform of 18th century chambermaid) – stayed absolutely immobile. But the music was highly energetic, and this difference created pretty strange effect. We stayed there until the end of their set, and then accidentally run into Coque and Pablo from Los Vengadores. We talked in the interim, and these two folks were so nice that it felt such a pity to part ways with them.
For the second time in a row I was watching the performance of Izal through the leaves of an adornment plant standing in the corner of the VIP zone. For the last 5 years Izal grew on to enter the Pantheon of the best live bands of Spain, so they gathered the crowd easily comparable to one Liam Gallagher gathered the last night. They started their gig with “Pequeña Gran Revolucion”, my favourite song of theirs, so I screamed alot and then the rest of the concert I was just standing literally in the ficus elastica tub trying to figure out what’s going on onstage. They finalized the show with the fireworks. It looked so beautiful and, eh, monumental.
We didn't dare to move away from VIP zone cos there were too many people onsite, so little changed for me for Dorian's concert. The same corner, the same ficus elastica, the same emotions, the songs that great... Just some contagious sense of yearning started to crawl somewhere inside my spine as I knew well that this would be our last show of this Sonorama.

среда, 1 августа 2018 г.

Sonorama 2018. 10 ‘minimal font size’ bands whose shows you surely should attend

Some bands from the lower lines of the new Sonorama poster have apparently outgrown the minimal font size (Tulsa, Modelo De Respuesta Polar, Villanueva, etc) so please find below the short list of the bands and personalities who deserve it to an equal extent.

Disco Las Palmeras!
With the new effort “Calida” ((p)2018 Sonido Muchacho) the Galician power trio spearheaded by Diego Castro abandoned both the scratching noise of “Asfixia” and the ever-buzzing wall of sound of “Ultra” leaving the core of their songs peeled off almost completely. And I’m curious how it would sound live.


Floridablanca
The re-branded and re-named madrilenos Sin Rumbo switched to the sunshine balearic disco-pop. Despite they stepped aside quite far from what they were before, if you’re a fan of Sin Rumbo it’s time to convert yourself into a fan of Floridablanca.


Joana Serrat
The best Americana singer-songwriter the Iberian Peninsula ever gave birth to.


La Plata
While most eyes are set at their equally promising labelmates Carolina Durante you shouldn’t overlook young post punk band from Valencia. They have released this year their debut album “Desorden” that created considerable splash amongst the music press and, additionally, have found its place in my own record collection.


Pet Fennec
The Basque band that draw comparisons to such North American indie legends as Band Of Horses, Built To Spill and Nada Surf. As for me, kinda perfect reference points.


Burrito Panza
This year Burrito Panza have released “Un Nuevo Frente Frio” – by all means the best album in their career – and one of the best to-date. You shouldn’t miss the chance to watch at the band on the creative peak.


Cosmen Adelaida
They may look like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart’s young followers but this metropolitan combo has 3 full lengths along with 2 EPs (all on El Genio Equivocado) of high quality dreampop-meets-post punk in their back catalogue. They have already experienced performances on FIB, Primavera Sound and ContemPOPranea – so this year they’re gonna tick the box at Sonorama’s name.


Nocturnos
Covering the vast specter of genres from dizzy synth groove of “Rey Absolutista” to the guitar-driven rock club singalongs of “Fantasia LiberalNocturnos are stylistically polymorphous and amusing in every turn. Year ago they were set to perform at Sunday that made attending their show completely impossible for me. This time I’m ready to fix this honest mistake.


Ladilla Rusa
As funny as kinky this drag queen fashioned duo is going to kick asses with their trashcan aesthetics, ‘death on the dancefloor’ electropop and quirky sense of humor (“Whitney Houston, tenemos un problema”).


Cala Vento
The Catalan duo is the only band out of my wishlist that finally made it to the festival’s line up. Unfortunately, I’m forced to leave Aranda by the Sunday morning, so there’s no chance for me to catch them. You should do it for me.

среда, 7 декабря 2016 г.

Best of 2016. Honorable Mention #2

This could be the good Top20, but it's only 'honorable mention' because music-wise this was hugely successful year.

Previous entries:
Honorable mention #1
Top10 EPs and mini albums

A Por Ella Ray "Turista" (p)self-released
BANDCAMP
A Por Ella Ray is the new name for me (as well as for the most of us). They play music that has a lot of influences: Egon Soda, Los Piratas, Vetusta Morla - but the band definitely has its own face.
Brian Hunt "Love/Unlove" (p)self-released
LOVE UNLOVE
Two sides of this rare format (double EP) are divided by the mood. The 1st side ("Love") is sweet and sunny power pop/americana, while the other ("Unlove") is gloomy and painful experimental rock.
Familea Miranda "Radiopharm" (p)BCore Disc
BANDCAMP
Wordless psychotic hard-punching psychedelia born in the ovens of Bcore.
Holograma "Gemini" (p)Foehn
BANDCAMP
This album was released by Foehn Records. Listening to the Foehn's releases always adds +2 to your intellectual skills.
Joana Serrat "Cross The Verge" (p)Loose Music
SPOTIFY
The part of Joana's soul definitely lives somewhere in the Nashville suburbs and befriends the likes of Amy Stroup and Katie Herzig.
Julieta 21 "Alerta" (p)self-released
SPOTIFY
Another Sonorama'2016-inspired discovery for me. Good songs, rich sound - but I believe it could perform much better if it was a bit less polished.
Keiko "Within" (p)El Hombre Bala
BANDCAMP
Massively diversified double album (2nd half is instrumental) incorporates many genres of guitar music - from blues to abstract experimental guitar noodling. An adventurous listening.
Lazaro "Soles Y Pinguinos" (p)self-released
SPOTIFY
One more cool band to follow. I know nothing about them, and it's definitely my fault cos this album is almost entirely great.
Love Of Lesbian "El Poeta Halley" (p)Warner
SPOTIFY
Now I like this album much more than at first listen, when I liked just a couple of tracks. But I still consider some songs ("Cuando No Me Ves", for example) sent in the wrong direction. That's why LoL are not in Top50.
Marcos Cao "Oceano Caos" (p)Marcos Cao/Sony Music
SPOTIFY
The debut solo release of the former La Sonrisa De Julia frontman. Sweet and beautiful semi-acoustic songs.
Moriran Todos! "Saltar" (p)The Borderline Music
BANDCAMP
This album of the melodic danceable indie rock in the vein of The Right Ons is full of potential hits.
Nocturnos "Hemos Visto Lobos" (p)INUIT Produciones
BANDCAMP
The 2nd LP by Nocturnos cant't decide what to choose: to be the guitar-driven indie pop record ("Fantasia Liberal") or to be the fashionable indie electro album ("Rey Absolutista"). Despite this dychotomy the songs are great.
Postman "Life Can Change In A Moment" (p)Keroxen
BANDCAMP
It's the release #2 by the newly born Keroxen label. Postman (aka Abstract Groove) is one of the most prolific electronic producers of Tenerife. He explores mostly drum&bass/abstract techno/broken beats territories. Reminds me of my techno-infused university years. Funki Porcini, Plastikman, something like that.
Siloe "La Verdad" (p)Mushroom Pillow
SPOTIFY
This is the great album with great songs that stuck in the head for weeks, and there's only one problem: 75% of it sounds like Vetusta Morla. You know, EXACTLY like Vetusta.
Speaker Cabinets "Requiem For Atlas City" (p)Formula Free
SOUNDCLOUD
Loud, fast and furious dance rock from Barcelona. They say it's like the 60's psychedelia mixed with electronica beats, but you can easily recognize the influence of the multiple dance-related English bands from Jesus Jones to Klaxons as well.
Stay "The Mean Solar Times" (p)Rock Indiana/Picture In My Ear
BANDCAMP
With the help of Owen Morris and Andy Bell the Catalan psychedelic britpopers have recorded an album that is much better than the most of the contemporary British britpop.
Temas Incomodos "Alicia En Ningun Lugar" (p)RockCD
OFFICIAL SITE
This album of good-to-great songs lacks cohesion, as some tracks sound like if they were done by different bands.
The Lazy Lies "The Lazy Lies" (p)Right Here Right Now
BANDCAMP
Read this
The New Raemon & McEnroe "Lluvia Y Truenos" (p)Subterfuge
SPOTIFY
This record of double authorship wears the Ramon Rodriguez and Roberto Luzon identities on its sleeves and is able to add new colours to their well-known pallettes. But 'the slowest Raemon record and the fastest McEnroe record', as told by some reviewer in Spain, at times falls in between. 
We Were Heading North "We Were Heading North" (p)El Hombre Bala
BANDCAMP
The intelligent Canarian post rock's tiny healing protuberances will slightly touch the wounds of your soul.

четверг, 2 июня 2016 г.

Nocturnos "Hemos Visto Lobos"

Nocturnos "Homes Visto Lobos" (p)2016 INUIT Prod.
If the previous album of Nocturnos ("Pequenas Esperanzas") was more or less straightforward indie pop/rock, then the new effort is sin duda more diversified both rhythmically and sonically. The digitally-generated effects and dance beats have won over the familiar guitar sound on the most of the tracks. While "Fantasia Liberal" (track #2) and "Exclusiva Universal" (tracks #11) sound like they're recorded during the "Pequenas Esperanzas" sessions, eight tracks in between them are decorated in the different sub-genres of modern electronica-based indie pop with the wide range of influences: from such compatriot colleagues as Miss Caffeina, Love Of Lesbian (in their latest incarnation), Nino Burbuja, El Ultimo Vecino to the international charttoppers Balthasar. As on previous Nocturnos' efforts all the songs here are undeniably melodic and beautiful. But something in me starts crying when one more cool guitar-oriented band abandons guitars in favor of synthesizers.

The best tracks: Fantasia Liberal, Lo Sabes Bien, Navaja Y Filo, Exclusiva Universal


среда, 6 апреля 2016 г.

A Pack Of New Videos #1

Please find below some videos that appeared on air during the first months of the year. Enjoy!

1. Clara Plath "American Do"


2. Les Suecues "Faldilles I Soroll"


3. Paciente Cero "Solsticio"


4. Nocturnos "Rey Absolutista"


5. Cumbia Ebria "Baila Conmigo"





понедельник, 2 марта 2015 г.

Nocturnos "Pequeñas Esperanzas"

Nocturnos "Pequeñas Esperanzas" (p)2014 self-released
The band Nocturnos obviously represents the pop wing of the Spanish indie/alternative rock. Their first full lenght was released last March (at that moment the band's career counted almost 8 years of activity and two EP's in the background), and as it was done independently the album did not come to my hands and ears until the band contacted me via twitter a coupla weeks ago. I started from the song "Astronautas" they proposed to me, and this minor acquaintance quickly ended up in purchasing the whole album via iTunes.
So what have I to say after listening to this album pertty frequently for the week or so. While the band doesn't discover any new territories and doesn't cross many borders all the songs are distinct and catchy, and the album contains no weak tracks at all. Really, almost every track could be a hit single. The guitars are ringing and the drums are banging all in the right way, and I easily can rate "Pequeñas Esperanzas" on par with the first album of my long time favourites Mi Pequeña Radio. For me it's some kind of the best recommendation for the one who's into the loud catchy song, you know.

The best tracks: "Astronautas", "Que Esta Pasando?", "Baile De Disfraces"


Nocturnos in Bandcamp
Nocturnos in Facebook