The Best Of 2020. EP's and mini-albums

Top10 EP's and mini-albums (in alphabetical order)

Bullitt "Drawer Sessions" (p)BCore Disc 

This is the proof of the simple fact: Bullitt don't make weak songs at all. Even their outtakes are great. I really can't understand how and why they could put such delicious track as "Opening Harbours" aside.

BNDCMP

Calibra "Okavango" (p)Polar 

The first song contains a guitar line that sounds like a Two Door Cinema Club guitar line. Actually, I hate the sound of TDCC's guitars. In the light of this fact to get into this list looks like even more significant achievement than it really is. What's the answer? The songs. At the end of the day, the answer is always the songs.

BNDCMP

Detergente Liquido "Tu Tampoco Eres Como Antes" (p)self-released 

Read this

BNDCMP

Future Ark "John" (p)Leonora 

Starting with ethereal IDM at some point the music ascends to Alcest-like post-black only to return to fragile electronica in the end. Finland-born Tero Heikkinen (also of Kindata) has been residing in Sevilla for years where he managed to position himself successfully as an active contributor to the local indie music community. This is his second solo EP under Future Ark moniker.

SPTF

Honolulu "Gold" (p)Foehn 

Honolulu is a perfect example of today's world. The siblings of French origin, Lea & Quentin Mevel, reside in Barcelona and release their songs with lyrics in English and French via Catalan indie label Foehn Records.

BNDCMP

Madee "Under The Sun" (p)BCore Disc 

The Catalan cult favourites return to activity with this 4-song teaser for the forthcoming LP (to be released in the beginning of 2021).

BNDCMP

Margarita Quebrada "Luces" (p)Jabalina Musica 

The minimalistic Neue Deutche Wellesque synth-driven gothic rock meets The Pains Of Being Pure At Hearts'y naïve nugaze on this mini album created by Valencia-based trio under the wing of renowned indie label Jabalina Musica.

BNDCMP

Pumuky "Castillo Interior" (p)Keroxen 

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BNDCMP

Scoff "City Lights" (p)self-released 

This EP is such a cool cocktail of Hole, Sonic Youth and obscure Canadian band Sully (highly recommended) prepared by the band from tiny Andalucian town Utrera (for me personally this town is best remebered for the perfect solomillo con salsa pimienta in La Brasa restaurant).

BNDCMP

Verkeren "ellllla" (p)Right Here Right Now 

The Barcelona-based five-piece returns after 4 years of hiatus with a pack of beautiful electro rock songs in the vein of The Killers or Dorian.

SPTF

The Best Of 2020. Compilations (and a split album)

I’m still devoted to the ‘solo performer or a band’ standard regarding the selection for the main Top50 list but the truth is, if I wasn’t that stubborn the list would be topped by a compilation. One of these compilations below. 

Conjunto Podenco/ Lullavy "Garabato" (p)Repetidor 

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BNDCMP

Various Artists "Radar Keroxen Vol.1" (p)Keroxen 

That said best release of the year. Four bands (Gaf Y La Estrella De La Muerte, Conjunto Podenco, Pumuky, Saletile), two tracks per band. The perfect combination of four different approaches united by the commonly shared vision that only Canarians (and the Gaf bandleader/ Keroxen co-head Mladen Kurajica) can share. Gaf's "Watashi Wa Tako" is the best track I have listened to this year.

BNDCMP

Various Artists "We Are Never Alone. Songs of Vic Chesnutt" (p)No Aloha 

The indie label No Aloha Records has started its activity with this quite unexpected tribute to late American singer-songwriter - and this is that rare tribute where every cover version reflects simultaneously the persons of both author of the song and the musician who reimagines it.

BNDCMP

Various Artists "Yo La Tengo C(L)overs" (p)edita la servidumbre 

The huge 52 track tribute to one of the most critically acclaimed indie bands of the world. No surprise at all that this attempt was taken by the [world's best] record store Ultra-Local Records well-known for its friendship ties with Yo La Tengo. There is a suggestion that this comp says more about Spanish underground than of the Hoboken three-piece.

BNDCMP

Various Artists "De Zaragoza a Tokio: Viajando con Capitán Sunrise" (p)Confesiones Tirado en la Pista de Baile 

A lovely compilation of cover versions that celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Santi Diego-led indie pop vehicle. The bands of Puzzles Y Dragones and Detergente Liquido caliber were gathered by the blog Confesiones Tirado en la Pista de Baile to pay homage to one of the Spanish indie pop scene's most renowned bands.

BNDCMP

The Best Of 2020. Honorable Mention

Every time it gets harder because every time there are more albums in the scope as compared to the previous year. Back in the year 2013 when I did it for the first time, it was the case of ’the 30 best albums out of 55’ as my vision – that one of a neophyte – on the scene was pretty narrow at the time. This time it’s like ‘the 50 best albums out of 450’. In addition to the main Top50 list I’ve marked 68 albums more as the ones that deserved to be mentioned – but to mention them all is impossible to do. Thus, I have to cut off lots of flesh from the bones. Below you may find a list of 20 records in alphabetical order that haven't made it into the Top50 list. Some of them were featured earlier in this blog (Atalaya Roja, Bisquit, Lua Gramer, Sauna Bytes).

Alice's Cream "Medicina Carmica" (p)Flor Y Nata BNDCMP - nice take on the psychedelia-tinged hard rock made by La Alcarria indie scene mainstays.

Atalaya Roja "!Quemad Las Naves!" (p)self-released BNDCMP

Biscuit "Negligencia Programada" (p)La Castanya BNDCMP 

Biznaga "Gran Pantalla" (p)Slovenly BNDCMP - the best album of the ferocious social punk band from Madrid.

Como Vivir En El Campo "Siempre Te He Amado, Nunca He Dejado De Quererte, Toda Mi Vida Es Para Ti" (p)El Genio Equivocado BNDCMP - the least eclectic (as well as the most relaxed) record in CVEEC back catalogue.

Confeti De Odio "Tragedia Espanola" (p)Snap! Clap! Club BNDCMP - pop melodies are crossing garage rock guitars in this short thematically acerbic album made by songwriter Lucas Vidaur and Carolina Durante's drummer Juan Pedrayes.

El Nino Erizo "Y Mi Respuesta Es…" (p)Flor Y Nata BNDCMP - the band may sound old school at times but speaking of melodies - the hooks, catchy choruses, etc. - this album is more than worthy.

Isius "Fox & Castle" (p)Ernie Producciones BNDCMP - the second Isius' album in two years is more fascinating than its predecessor "Songs From Everywhere". It resembles some international indie stars like Nada Surf or even The Flaming Lips in their more straightforward version..

Kuartz "II" (p)self-released BNDCMP - the paisanos and soul brethren of Nina Coyote Eta Chico Tornado make Royal Blood sound like suckers.

Llacuna "Incendis" (p)BCore Disc/ Saltamarges/ La Agonia De Vivir/ etc. BNDCMP - sonically abrasive, rhythmically inventive and emotionally charged post-hardcore album whose sound pallette is broadened with such the rare instrument for the genre as trumpet.

Loss Leader "Songs About" (p)BCore Disc/ Saltamarges/ Waterslide/ etc. BNDCMP - the debut LP of the Madrid-based punk band that shares memebers with Wild Animals and Ulises Lima - which sounds like reference in its own right.

Lua Gramer "Destruir El Pop" (p)Clifford BNDCMP

Mostaza Galvez "Desventura" (p)Subterfuge SPTF - the perfect pop record that could be even better if Guille Mostaza and Frank Galvez added some touches of their live performances' rock feel.

Mourn "Self Worth" (p)Captured Tracks BNDCMP - after two albums that showcased their edgy noisy side the new one successfully demonstrates Mourn's melodic self.

Que Bailen Los Demas "Flip" (p)self-released BNDCMP - the country rock attempt of Detergente Liquido's helmsman Alberto Rodway shows that Alberto never loses his original world view. Just look at the song names: "I'd Like God Existed Just To Make Her Guilty", "The End Of The Man Who Met The Most Boring Woman In The World", "Song In English" (all these songs are in english in fact).

Roger Pistola "Quart Creixent" (p)Bubota Discos BNDCMP - the psychedelic folk-pop that draws inspiration from Beach Boys legacy, for the most part of album escaping comparisons to contemporary pillars of the genre (Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, etc.)

Salvador Toxico "Canciones Del Laboratorio" (p)self-released BNDCMP - the third LP of the former Algora guitarist Javier Castellanos features some of his best songs to date.

Sauna Bytes "Sauna Bytes" (p)self-released BNDCMP

Sensible "Precovid Sessions Vol.1, Vol.2" (p)self-released BNDCMP BNDCMP2 - Jose J. Martin (Gaf Y La Estrella de La Muerte, Estratega Pencherjevsky) has created two albums of laid back bedroom pop heavily influenced by the 80's. The second volume is a bit better for my taste but the first one contains one of the best tracks of the year - "Modo Avion".

Shitbrain "The First Songs" (p)edita la servidumbre BNDCMP - the collection of recordings by an obscure band led by Ed Matto (Glitterhouse, Beauty Fool Records) in array from meditative lo-fi to loud noise rock.