пятница, 27 декабря 2013 г.

Los Treinta Principales. #23. Najwa "El Ultimo Primate"

#23. Najwa "El Ultimo Primate" (p)2010 WEA Spain


There is plenty of signs showing that 'girl with guitar/piano/whatever' rock tradition (t)here in Spain is full-blown. Just to name a few renowned female singers: Russian Red, Annie B Sweet, Eva Amaral, Zahara Gordillo Campos and, of course, Christina Rosenvinge, the foremother (and the role model) for the most of the domestic girls in rock.
And I suppose the best example of this sub-scene is neither pure acoustic emotions of Russian Red nor convoluted free-form pop vision of Anni B Sweet.
Najwa Nimri exist somewhere between two worlds neither being promoted to the major league (probably due to unconventionality of her music) nor fully involved in the world of indies (probably due to her successful movie career and following non-abligation to associate herself with any given sub-culture). There is a lot of influences both stylistical and personal - avant-garde guitar drones, trip-hop electronis passages, programmed ritual beats, Cocteau Twins, Shinead O'Connor, Kate Bush - all soldered into one perfect wrecking ball of true perfection slowly coiling down from your mind to your heart. And there is nothing more as frightening as the scary image of the cover art on this beautiful and bewitching album.

The best tracks: Dejame Pasar, Como Un Animal, El Ultimo Primate



вторник, 3 декабря 2013 г.

The Best Of 2013. Album #1

01. Leon Benavente "Leon Benavente" (p) Marxophone


Abraham Boba is a busy man. Formerly emerging as the member of Nacho Vegas' studio and touring team, later he became the anticipated session musician appearing on the albums by Julio De La Rosa, Pumuky, and tons of others as well as having three successful solo releases on Limbo Starr label. Now teamed up with old pal Luis Rodriguez (also of Nacho Vegas' team fame) on guitar along with Eduardo Baos from Tachenko (bass) and Cesar Verdu from Schwarz (drums) he started a new band (himself focusing on his 'Farfisa' and singing duties). Though this project hardly contradicts all what these well-trained men did before, but also it hardly coincides fully with their previous experiences, and the sound of their debut disc has little in common with Nacho Vegas or Tachenko. Loosely based on Joy Division-inspired branch of gloomy post-punk so many times reinterpreted by myriads of bands worldwide, the music on "Leon Benavente" is nevertheless deeper, smarter, and more emotionally charged (especially in the songs "La Palabra" or "Ser Brigada" with the inner tension escalated to the point where it could produce the spontaneous combustion) than the most of contemporaries. And the voice of Boba - warm but pretty detached - sticks all the parts together creating such the well-balanced and inward-looking state in you that you easily fall into to never come back. Until the music stops.




понедельник, 2 декабря 2013 г.

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.