четверг, 22 декабря 2016 г.

Best of 2016. Albums 1-10

Today I've tried to count up the money I spent on purchasing the new music this year but quickly understood it was an impossible task. And what is more important - it was totally senseless. No matter how many Euros it took - it was the best investment ever. However many hours I spent listening - it was the best thing I could do. 

Previous entries:
Top50. Albums 11-20
Top50. Albums 21-30
Top50. Albums 31-40
Top50. Albums 41-50
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

10. Joan Colomo "Sistema" (p)BCore Disc
...Joan sounds absolutely organic and natural in every direction and every land he steps on...

09. Poomse "This Is How We Fail" (p)Espora
'Less dramatic, more Centro-matic' I wrote on "This Is How We Fail" 3 months ago, and I wrote it for the following reasons: 1) the new album doesn't contain such tragedy-filled tracks as "Daily Bread", and 2) the sound of the album is so perfectly shaped that you almost can imagine the room where it was recorded - the same thing as for Denton, TX uncrowned lo-fi kings' records (though Poomse are quite far from lo-fi now). I'd consider this album less obscure in comparison with "Poomse vs. the Kingdom of Death" and in many aspects more refined, so to speak.

08. Atencion Tsunami "Silencio En La Retaguardia" (p)Records Del Mundo
These men are the chameleons. If you ain't familiar with Records del Mundo family, I'm going to tell you they are same people who created the astonishing "Sillas Voladoras" under the name Incendios and "Pensamiento de Paz Durante Un Ataque Aereo" under the name Paracaidas last year. These projects differ considerably one from another in everything but the team. Different names, different genres - the band is the same. "Silencio En La Retaguardia" is the most unpredictable work of the troupe. Visually both legs in contemporary danceable indie rock, Atencion Tsunami manage to jump 3 miles higher what you may think about while seeing 'contemporary danceable indie rock' tag.
07. Lost Tapes. "Let's Get Lost" (p)Mushroom Pillow
I thought it could be just some good companion to La Habitacion Roja's "Sagrado Corazon" LP when I ordered the latter from the Mushroom Pillow online shop. I had a fear that the single LP might be damaged while travelling 4000 km alone and felt like I needed to choose something more to add some durability to the mail package. So I've chosen the debut album by LHR guitar player Pau Roca's side project LostTapes. All hail the small momentary decisions! This record doesn't even try to hide its influences but wears them proudly instead. Post-shoegaze Cool Britannia's (The Boo Radleys, Wedding Present), the 2000's indie pop (The Radio Dept.) along with the evergreen classics (New Order and Tears for Fears) are mixed in this palette to produce the colours of unique brightness and rare authenticity.

06. Sr. Chinarro "El Progreso" (p)El Segell De Primavera
...the melodic intuition of Antonio is flawless, and we can only pray for this perfection to be prolonged on the subsequent Sr. Chinarro releases...

05. Sorry Kate "Haven Hood" (p)Foehn
...during the first couple of tracks you have to adjust your mind and auditory nerve fibers to embrace the sound, and then sound embraces you...

04. Trinidad "Karma" (p)El Hombre Bala
...lo-fi? No, mostly it's no-fi. Fuck Wavves, fuck Hinds. It's the real spontaniety and the real sincerety transmitted to this world through the mind and soul of the real riot grrrl...

03. Berlina "Desertico" (p)Grabaciones A Montones
"Desertico" made me to dive into the dreampop whirlpoop this year. It may remind you of Catherine Wheel, it may remind you of Rufus T. Firefly, it may remind you of Havalina (it's no surprise it is co-produced by Manuel Cabezali) - with all components in right proportions and right places. "Desertico" is about the textures and thin atmospheres, about slow moves and 'where would they cruise at within the next seconds?' wonderings. "Desertico" is like the puzzle. Just try to solve it.

02. Linda Guilala "Psiconautica" (p)Elefant
With the shiny melodies and a lot of segues that interconnect these shiny melodies into one solid blast of noise pop/shoegaze majesty, with the stunning hooks you will be humming for months, with the wall of sound and the intricate guitar work the Galician band took a giant leap ahead on the new release. It's a conceptual album, and its name probably relates to drug consumption (I don't really know, but for me the word 'psychonaut' is a romantisized synonym for 'junkie'). Initially I wasn't up to listen to it because I thought it might be some kind of psychedelic indie pop. But then I decided to listen to literally EVERYTHING, and it turned out to be really great with all these aforementioned shiny melodies, stunning hooks and the wall of sound that could make Kevin Shields proud.

01. Viva Suecia "La Fuerza Mayor" (p)Subterfuge
The last night of Sonorama'2016 I placed my feet at the first line before the Carson Сamping stage, and from my left side there were three cheeks who looked like, you know, classic teenage Love Of Lesbian fans. For my eyes and ears Viva Suecia were far from overwhelming popularity due to the fact the music of Murcia-based quartet is introspective and slow-burning and visually has no connections with the pop side of the world. And it was kinda real surprise for me to see these gurls beside me knew all the verses and all the names of bandmembers. And they were not alone! It was a real surprise to see this band ready for crowds as I thought Viva Suecia could be just the subject of a small cult following. Now the band is seemingly one step before the indie sub-world stardom, and I hope they'll take this step without making concessions and the major pitch, roll and yaw corrections.


вторник, 20 декабря 2016 г.

Best of 2016. Albums 11-20

I have to speed up the process to finalize it before Christmas. Hurry up, man, hurry up!

Previous entries:
Top50. Albums 21-30
Top50. Albums 31-40
Top50. Albums 41-50
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

20. El Petit De Cal Eril "La força" (p)Bankrobber
With the help of his colleagues from Seward and Animic, Joan Pons (one man behind El Petit De Cal Eril moniker) has created the album that is short in timing but large in senses. From Jose Gonzalez/Isasa-esque tiny acoustic renditions to more upbeat tracks with full instrumentation it's easy to fall in love with these songs. Thanks again to iCat.cat radio for getting me acquainted to this band and this album.

19. El Tercer Semestre "33 1/3" (p)Aloud Music
Born on a merge of math rock, free jazz and post rock, "33 1/3" is the vessel full of extreme beauty and fascination.

18. Kasparov vs Deep Blue "The Flare" (p)self-released
Read this.

17. Big Summer "Trigger" (p)El Genio Equivocado

16. Monte Del Oso "Existen Moscas Que Se Relajan Durante El Vuelo" (p)Farmway
Read this.

15. Leon Benavente "II" (p)Warner
Though not being the same sensation as their first longplay, the sophomore album of Leon Benavente is the work of magnificient quality. In equal proportions it is divided onto the cold and angry El Columpio Asesino-like post-punk rockers ("California", "Gloria", etc.) and the melodic bittersweet songs ("La Ribera", "La Vida Errando") but the best results they got when they unite the both ("Aun No Ha Salido El Sol").

14. Viva Belgrado "Ulises" (p)Aloud Music
Read this.

13. Las Ruinas "100% Maximum Heavy Pop" (p)El Genio Equivocado
I'm not sure this is 100% pop, but if it's really so this pop is 100% heavy. The trio spearheaded by Edu Chirinos (Edu Ruinas) continues their 'an album in a year' run with one more brilliant effort. "100% Maximum Heavy Pop" is one of these records that you may dance to, party to, get drunk to, laugh with, drive in a car with, travel by the train with, or do anything else with (or to).

12. Power Burkas "Llarga Vida Al Taranna" (p)BCore Disc
Read this.

11. Homeless "Solidos Platonicos" (p)self-release
The last album to enter the top list (to be honest I kept one blank spot for them till the last moment), Homeless' "Solidos Platonicos" was released the 1st of December, and from the first listen it was clear for me that this album deserves much. The only question was: how much? To find the answer I needed listens number 2 and 3. And then 4. And then in a week I had more listens of "Solidos Platonicos" than most of the albums in a year.
I'm still in love with their previous album "La Ciencia Lo Sabe". The new record differs soundwise (as it incorporates now the elements of the guitar player/producer/sound engineer Juan Antonio Mateos' parallel project The Magic Mor) - but the satisfaction is the same. And it's nice to know that the band doesn't tread the same path over and over again.

суббота, 17 декабря 2016 г.

Best of 2016. Albums 21-30

As you might see, I'm trying to assort quite diversified list without leaning to any particular genre. Sometimes I'm forced to calm down my own tastes to present really cool records from the genres I don't usually adore because from the point of view of a reader I'd consider it boring to look through this ranking and see only the same-sounding bands all through the Top50, or to see the names you could see in any other's lists. And, otherwise, it should be exciting to find new names and new music even from the lands you'd never dare to step on previously. So I try to cover as much territory as I can listening to every band and every album I get in touch throughout the year even if initially this band or this album doesn't seem interesting to my doused in 90's indie rock mud and soaked in post-hardcore bleach soul.

Previous entries:
Top50. Albums 31-40
Top50. Albums 41-50
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

30. YO, Estratosferico "Potencialmente Infinitos" (p)self-released
With emotionally charged vocals and overall DIY aestetics, the second longplay of Yo, Estratosferico delivers more streamlined sound crossed with more courageous approach. The new album sounds simultaneously fresher and edgier than the predecessor, and the songs seem to be more focused.

29. Bigott "My Friends Are Dead" (p)Grabaciones En El Mar
For the most part of his career I somehow discarded Borja Laudo for whatever reason, but seeing him live at Sonorama'2015 changed my opinion completely. This new album is the most fragile and warm in his back catalogue showing the [rarely exposed previously] vulnerable side of the auteur's nature.

28. Esperit!/ Negro "Heraclito" (p)La Castanya/ Bankrobber
The split LP of totally unclassifiable musician Dalmau Boada who's hiding himself under Esperit! moniker and the abstarct/slowcore acoustic one-man project Negro (Fernando Junquera). The equally experimental tracks from quite different sound worlds that you may find contradictory exciting.

27. Las Sexpeares "Me Fui De Casa" (p)Gaser Discos
The loud, fast and effervescent melodic punk rock with female vocals and Argentine roots. All 10 tracks are equally cool and catchy to make "Me Fui De Casa" the bouncing fireball of energy and the fullness of life (I'm pretty sure it's an optimistic album).

26. Fasenuova "Aullidos Metallicos" (p)Humo
It's no surprise that after reconfiguration of Discos Humeantes the newborn imprint Humo Records continues to release the strange, uncomfortable and embarassing experimental music. Surely it's not the music for the masses, but for those who would embrace their convoluted vision Fasenuova could be the perfect choice for a life soundtrack.

25. La Habitacion Roja "Sagrado Corazon" (p)Mushroom Pillow
Another great pop album from one of the greatest Spanish rock bands. It's aparently more diverse than "La Moneda En El Aire" (which was entirely grown on the ashes of "Ayer") thanks to the presence of tracks ("La Vida es Muy Corta" and "Sombras En La Oscuridad") that are closer to "Fue Electrico" than to "La Moneda...".

24. Cala Vento "Cala Vento" (p)BCore Disc
With the debut eponimous work the duo Cala Vento adds their name to the string of cool bands (such as Wann, Nueva Vulcano, Pedro Parque, L'Hereu Escampa and others) that sustain the highest creative level of the Catalan post-hardcore scene.

23. Schwarz "Nacion Subterranea" (p)Goecia/ Verlag Sustem
The predictable escape of Cesar Verdu to stardom in the Leon Benavente's spaceship didn't change much in Schwarz modus operandi in creating the rhythmically impeccable instrumental kraut rock.

22. Resonance "Light Continuum" (p)El Hombre Bala
Canary Islands are the heaven for the wealthy European guiris, but not only for them. The local electronic/experimental scene seems to be one of the most engaging worldwide - yet underappreciated due to its remoteness from the main culture centers and the relatively small numbers of participants. Javier Perez Rodriguez is the one who tries to break the cage through creating the super-quality minimal/ambient/IDM soundscapes.

21. Retirada! "Victoria | Derrota" (p)self-released
Composed of 2 EPs "Victoria" and "Derrota", this album provides you with slow motion observational notations of the everyday life. At times it reminds me of Autolux's "Future Perfect" - and you hardly could find the better recommendation.

понедельник, 12 декабря 2016 г.

Best of 2016. Albums 31-40

Previous entries:
Top50. Albums 41-50
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

40. Keep Out "Spicy Mud Cake" (p)Polar
Electrified and contaminating, this album is like the bottle of Molotov cocktail ready to explode thrown into the trash container full of the construction debris and chemical production paraphernalia.

39. Shinova "Volver" (p)Warner
Switching from punching alt-rock to more folk-tinged song constructions doesn't change the main thing about this Basque band: they specialize on hymns, not songs. All these tracks are born to set flames to stadiums. Sometimes this approach leads to the great results.

38. Escuelas Pias "Nuevas Degenarciones" (p)El Genio Equivocado
The synth-driven branch of indie pop that's called 'indietronica' is something of a common place in Spanish music since the first successes of Elefant Records. But some true pearls are still appearing seemingly out of nowhere. This duo is one of these pearls.

37. Modelo De Respuesta Polar "Dos Amigos" (p)self-released
As introverted as gorgeous and as subdued as sublime, the new album of Modelo de Respuesta Polar (initially released via the crowdfunding campaign) presents Borja Mompo's band on a peak of the creating form.

36. Hola A Todo El Mundo "Away" (p)Mushroom Pillow
These are the pop songs. These are the tight guitar-driven pop songs. I'm unaware about the intention but for me this 'away' is somewhere where the R.E.M's "Shiny Happy People" were born.

35. Sidonie "El Peor Grupo Del Mundo" (p)Warner
Call it irony, call it self-indulgence but for Marc Ros and his pals it's a kind of a cheap trick to name their best album "The Worst Band In The World". The bleak Beatlesque melodies themselves can't make me love it as I'm not the fan of The Beatles, but the irresistible lighthearted elegance this album was created with - surely can.

34. Biscuit "Biscuit" (p)La Castanya
"Biscuit" reminds me of Nerf Herder, Against Me! (before gender reclassification of their front[wo]man) and The Hold Steady. But mostly it reminds me of Bullitt's "Sparks". And it's really nice cos I like "Sparks" alot.

33. El Lado Oscuro De La Broca "Poderosa" (p)El Genio Equivocado
The most inflammable band in El Genio Equivocado roster fires on all cylinders in the sophomore release. Just like on the previous album, "Poderosa"'s sound is the sound of a crashing aircraft backed with the most brutal form of post-punk.

32. Les Cruet "Pomes Agres" (p)Bankrobber
I ain't learned about the themes Les Cruet are exploring in their songs cos the lyrics are 100% Catalan. Anyway, this harsh angry shrieky primordial punk album with sratching gnashy vocals is a good soundtrack to the modern society demise despite the things they are singing about really.

31. Doble Pletina "Asi Es Como Escapo" (p)Jabalina Musica
The best ever pop music for those who don't like pop music.


суббота, 10 декабря 2016 г.

Best of 2016. Albums 41-50

After all the preliminary moves and preparations it's time to present to you the 1st load of Top50 albums. So, here we go!

Previous entries:
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

50. Noise Box "Every Picture Of You Is When You Were Younger" (p)Son Buenos
Dreamy, foggy, blurred photographs of what was your past. The moments you're not sure if they were for real, or they are just some strange faults of your imagination. This is what these songs definitely are.

49. San Jeronimo "Salinas, 20:15" (p)WeAreWolves
The quiet semi-acoustic slowcore album that's made of beautiful sounds and distinct melodies. A good album to dive into the atmosphere of the thin air and fragile visions ahead.

48. Belako "Hamen" (p)Mushroom Pillow
One of the best Pais Vasco bands creates majesty through post-punk marching rhythms, synth-generated noises, guitar bursts and occasional no-wave shrieks. The tools they use are pretty the same as earlier, but "Hamen" delivers their best melodies ever.

47. Señores "La Luz" (p)Cuatro Barbas
Less post-hardcore syncopes, more indie rock kicks? No, I'm not going to say Señores go pop. Their new album is hardly accessible for those who doesn't come to terms with Jawbox or Braid back catalogues but for me it's a nice pool to sink in.

46. Briotica "La Maldicion De Los Galacticos" (p)Warner
The grunge'ed, noise'ed and extremely sped-up form of shoegaze. I'd consider it a successor of JAMC's painfully underrated "Munki" LP. Full throttle from the fisrt beat to the last one.

45. It's Not Not "Fool The Wise" (p)BCore Disc
This is how to make melodic punk record without making pop punk record. The residents of emblematic BCore Disc label know how to make it perfectly.

44. Jorganes "Brokn" (p)El Hombre Bala
Less abstract hip-hop more pure electronica. Less beats more elegy. The Dilated Peoples' gloomy MC'ing allusions are [almost completely] gone and what we've got instead is the pure beauty.

43. Yes I M "#Borabora" (p)Foehn
Oceania in my head. The new record by Mario Gutierrez Brun by all means outdoes his previous work "Vietnam". It's captivating majesty can transfer you to the places where the words 'atoll' and 'haven' describe the reality much better then 'the pressures of urban lifestyle'.

42. Guerrera "Guerrera" (p)Matapadre
The hard-boiled psychedelia meets the suffocating sludge. ¡TchKung! meets the nuclear meltdown. The Santiago-based all-star team have done it again on their double-LP album.

41. Galaxina "Evasion Y Victoria" (p)Clifford
Before I ever listened to this album I assumed it's a dreampop album taking into account the bandname and the album cover. At that moment I 've already got the most part of the Top50 prepared, and I didn't want another dreampop album in my list cos it was already too many dreampop albums in there. But Galaxina's "Evasion Y Victoria" really made me to love it from the first listen cos the songs are great, and some songs are really great. Just listen to "Lejos De Ninguna Parte", for example.