This is kind of strange music. The members of Metamovida collective (the Galician artistic commune that unites the underground bands such as diola, Cro!, Bala, Guerrera, IgMig amongst others) Ruben Abad (also of Cro!), Marcos Padron, Elena Vazquez and Laura Iturralde take a step into acoustic music built upon the instrumentation unusual for the habitual rock apparatus (even for the underground side of it). How many bands that use accordion you can count except for the Celtick punk sub-genre? That's really uncommon. I've never listened to anything like "Frutal Death" before. This is tiny fragile folkloric music - very quiet, trembling and mysterious.
I like Cadiz. I've never been there, but for some reason I like it very much. Just look over it on the map - how could one not fall in love with it?!
One more reason to love Cadiz is it's burgeoning indie scene with remarkable past (El Hombre Burbuja, Los Hermanos Dalton) and encouraging present (Homeless, Detergente Liquido). Mision Pelutti is the new entry to Cadiz indie - though, I believe, every one in this trio has the music-related past. Initially I thought "Cuentamelo Despues" is an EP, but the band continues to uplodad the new tracks to the album's bandcamp page, so probably in the next couple of months it will grow to the full-blown longplay. Musically it is indie pop at its best: funny. breezy, touched by the light psychedelia - and it's recorded with the wilful negligence in lo-fi aestetics. The lyrics are typical for the genre concentrating on different 'you & me' things - both good or bad - with multiple la-la-la's in choruses. Spain itself has the excellent traditions in indie pop (the back catalogues of Elefant Records and/or Jabalina Musica say it all) so there's no surprise a debut album by a young band could be so fresh and promising.
The americana/indie rock trio from Tudela makes it clear that you really need no banjo in the band to put the 'banjo' in the name. I had a chance to learn more about this band in 2015 when they performed on Sonorama but it took a year and a half more to get acquainted with them. The vocals are sweet, the melodies are distinct, and the arrangements are roughly sandpapered with the 'contemporary Nashville' style on this lovely little disc. Additionally, the band is brave enough to put 6+ minute track on the forefront of the album. With the songs structurally less ("Raros") or more ("Historias Extra-Ordinarias") conventional Con X The Banjo are mixing well-known sounds of old school down-to-earth folk rock with the modern alt-country tricks adding something of their own - and they are absolutely natural at what they do. There's no any overpressured artificiality in their music.
The best tracks: Raros, Siempre, La Imaginacion Es Sabia
Now it's time to shift the point of attention from the dead and bloated corpse of the year 2016 to something more recent and fresh-smelling - but it's not the way the poor slowpoke-minded me wants to go right now as I don't want to leave the unprocessed residues here. So there are 5 albums more to add to the 'best of year' section. I totally missed these albums when I was in process of Top50 preparation but they shouldn't go along underappreciated.
05. Desperanza "El Tiempo Destruye Todo" (p)self-released
The hard-boiled indie rock that fits perfectly for the 90's indie rock lovers like me.
The frontman of DesperanzaEnrique Billy contacted me via Facebook mesenger in the very beginning of 2016 but the message was filtered off, and I found it almost over a year since the moment it was really sent...
04. El Imperio Del Perro "El Imperio Del Perro" (p)Green UFOs/ Lunar
First I noticed this name on the sleeves of Ninos Mutantes' tribute "Mutanciones" where El Imperio Del Perro masterfully revised one of the Mutantes' multiple hallmarks "Naufragos". This should make me eager for the releases of the band but somehow this intention was overshadowed by more urgent events, and it was only 2nd week of 2017 when I brought it back to mind. Better late than never.
03. Os Amigos Dos Musicos "Os Amigos Dos Musicos" (p)Gran Derby
The post-punk combo from Barcelona is obsessed with Serbia. Even the lyrics are Serbian. Cold and machinery-like at the first glance, "Obraz" evolves into something more soulful and warm with every consequent listen.
01. Cro! "Mounstros" (p)Metamovida/ Nooirax/ La Choza de Doe
The fourth album of the Vigo-based experimental rock band. A lot of genres - at times quite disparate - are mixed here, but the final result is the solid and cohesive blast of spazzcore in the vein of Unicornibot (mentioned here) and Betunizer.
Below you may find the links to the annual compilations of Foehn Records and El Hombre Bala Records. Both labels celebrate their anniversaries this year (15 years and 5 year, respectively), and for the frequent readers of these pages there's no secret these compilations are the delight for your ears.
Being the perfect mixture of high voltage screamo/metalcore and ethereal post rock, the sophomore LP of the Cordoba-born combo wears no signs of so called 'second album syndrome' at all. The sound of "Ulises" is gorgeous, I believe it sounds ten times richer its recording costs. Definitely one of the best releases of the year, it's stronger than "Flores, Carne" in every aspect. So if you like the first Viva Belgrado album - as well as records of This Will Destroy You and Bring Me The Horizon - you will surely embrace this one too.
Moreover, the next February Viva Belgrado will come to Russia to present this album in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Nice news for me.
The best tracks: Pleiades/Pasaportes, Aeropuertos, Cassiopeia/Contraluces
The Lazy Lies "The Lazy Lies" (p)2016 Right Here Right Now
First of all I should praise Facebook for its positive impact on my life. The huge part of the best moments in my life that occurred within the last 5 years period are strictly connected to the services Facebook provides to the people. But sometimes it really sucks. For example, the filtration of incoming messages really sucks. The reason why some messages appear in your messenger and some not, being stored in some non-apparent submenu is not clear. In the middle of this year I accidentally discovered some messages dated back prior to year 2015!
From that moment on I made a habit of checking the storage of the filtered-off messages at least weekly. And this Thursday I found out that Roger Gascon from the band The Lazy Lies has contacted me in the beginning of this week. The 4 days lag was not so crucial as 1.5 years ‘filtered/found’ lag for the message of Guillermo from Wilhelm (formerly Wilhelm and the Dancing Animals) whom I never replied because felt the momentum lost, so I quickly contacted him back and promised to listen to his band’s eponymous album that was released in January’2016.
Later that evening I came to the band’s bandcamp page and pressed the 'play' button. In seconds it became apparent that The Lazy Lies are harvesting the meadows of the indie pop – more precisely the branch of indie pop that pays homage to the 60’s legacy. Though I’m hardly the massive fan of the 60’s music but I truly like a lot of bands from the 90’s that had been treading the same path - such as mid-era Lilys or The Ladybug Transistor or the multiple bands from the spinART label’s roster. So I just let it flow over and in the middle of the second track ("Who's That Sally?") I started to feel embraced by the sound and by the warm atmosphere of the album. While listening to the very pleasant 'boy/girl' paired vocals of Roger and Montse Bernad this feeling progressed further, and when the last song came to the end I pressed the 'play' button again to listen to the album the second time in a row.
Three quarters of the year are gone. The summer is gone. The vacation is gone. The creative spark is gone. Even the hope is partly gone. And it's raining out there for hours. But there's always something to keep you going.
40. Edui Bercedo "Historias De Calor" (p)Los 80 Pasan Factura
39. Parade "Demasiado Humano" (p)Jabalina Musica
38. Higinio Orduña "La Cuesta Del Recinto" (p)Discos Imaginarios
23. Murciano Total "Enquinias" (p)El Genio Equivocado
22. Delbosque "Interferencias" (p)self-released
21. Retirada! "Victoria Derrota" (p)self-released
20. Bestlife (Under Your Seat) "Invincible Anymore" (p)self-released
19. Cala Vento "Cala Vento" (p)BCore Disc
18. La Habitacion Roja "Sagrado Corazon" (p)Mushroom Pillow
17. Kasparov vs Deep Blue "Flare" (p)self-released
16. El Tercer Semestre "33 1/3" (p)Aloud Music
15. Leon Benavente "2" (p)Warner
14. Monte Del Oso "Existen Moscas Que Se Relajan Durante El Vuelo" (p)Farmway
13. LostTapes "Let's Get Lost" (p)Mushroom Pillow
12. Power Burkas "Llarga Vida Al Taranna" (p)BCore Disc
11. Big Summer "Trigger" (p)El Genio Equivocado
10. Poomse "This Is How We Fail" (p)Espora
09. Sorry Kate "Haven Hood" (p)Foehn
08. Pasavento "Tuvo Su Momento" (p)self-released
07. Sr. Chinarro "El Progreso" (p)El Segell De Primavera
06. Joan Colomo "Sistema" (p)BCore Disc
05. Trinidad "Karma" (p)El Hombre Bala
04. Viva Belgrado "Ulysses" (p)Aloud Music
03. Berlina "Desertico" (p)Grabaciones A Montones
02. Linda Guilala "Psiconautica" (p) Elefant
01. Viva Suecia "La Fuerza Mayor" (p)Subterfuge
The new list is twice as long as the previous [semi-annual] version. There's a lot of 'old friends' in there (and the leader is still intact), but some newcomers have made it to the top10 in the third quarter. The most unexpected of them is, without a doubt, Pasavento's mini album "Tuvo Su Momento". Produced by the men of many talents Marti Perarnau and Ramiro Nieto the debut release of Madrid-based combo fronted by Ignacio Quintero is the noise pop perfection in the vein of Teenage Funclub and their peers with the beautifully jangling guitars and sublime melodies. Never heard of them before the moment when this album suddenly appeared in one of my friend's Facebook post, but now Pasavento are in the forefront of my 'bands to watch' list.
Also I should point out "This Is How We Fail", the perfectly crafted new album of Poomse (this time on mallorcan indie label Espora Records). Less dramatic, more Centro-matic - and it seems like to-date this album received more reviews from international reviewers than from local ones. The song that you may find below fucken blows my mind.
There's still over 60 albums to come out up to the end of the year... A lot of stuff to listen to (and to choose the best from).
Monte Del Oso "Existen Moscas Que Se Relajan Durante El Vuelo" (p)2016 Farmway
With the influences on their sleeves - early Superchunk, Sugar (for the advanced-level listeners I've got some more names: Edsel, Tsunami, Lotion) - Navarra's finest Monte Del Oso released the second album via the Farmway Records imprint. The first album was the pure delight, and the successor follows its way. I don't have much words in fact, as it's the kind of music where my heart really is, and when I listen to this music now I'm recalling alot of things like hanging out with my old music-oriented pals in university campus with tons of booze and completely no chicks, or collecting the compact cassettes with the handwritten credits and lyrics, or sticking the Henry Rollins and Dinosaur Jr. posters to the wall in my rented room (and you can't even imagine what it took to get Dinosaur Jr. poster in the deep suburbs of the 90's Russia)... We all know this emotion called nostalgia, and for me it turns into the bittersweet feeling when my youth is long lost and gone, but right now I've got something that relates Today's Me to these [not always] good old times.
Yet another brilliant album by Monte Del Oso. It's all you've got to know.
The best tracks: Las Personas Son Maravillosas Pero Yo No, Lo Nuestro Es Otra Cosa, Viva El Espiritu Deportivo
Sr. Chinarro "El Progreso" (p)2016 El Segell De Primavera
In the middle twenties of his fruitful career Antonio Luque found his new voice in melancholy. On the previous album "Perspectiva Caballera" he changed the direction from the vigorously paced and upbeat stride of the albums "¡Menos Samba!" and "Enhorabuena A Los Cuatro" to more subdued and sad semi-acoustic singer/songwriter rock. The new album should answer the question was it just the one-off excercise or a new trend for the renowned musician.
Fortunately, the new album is 100% perfect again. "Perspectiva Caballera" was [arguably] the best Sr. Chinarro's album in years, and "El Progreso" is at least on par with the predesessor. Produced by the longtime friend J (Los Planetas) it delivers mostly the same emotions but in the slightly different way. The arrangements here are definitely deeper, broader, lusher and sometimes edgier but melodically it can be considered the logical progression of the "Perspectiva..." ideas (which, in its turn, can be considered the logical progression of such songs as. for example, "Quiromantico" from "El Por Que De Mis Peinados" and "La Cruz Verde" from "El Fuego Amigo"). The quality of the songwriting and the melodic intuition of Antonio is flawless, and we can only pray for this perfection to be prolonged on the subsequent Sr. Chinarro releases.
The best tracks: La Fiebre Del Oro, El Castigo, Fase Lunatica, El Progreso, Efectos Especiales
The year is half over, so please find below the semi-annual results according to this blog.
20. Keiko "Within Keiko" (p)El Hombre Bala
19. Yes I M "Bora Bora" (p)Foehn
18. Biscuit "Biscuit" (p)La Castanya
17. Murciano Total "Enquinias" (p)El Genio Equivocado
16. Brian Hunt "Love", "Unlove" (p)self-released
15. Bestlife (Under Your Seat) "Invincible Anymore" (p)self-released
14. Leon Benavente "2" (p)Warner
13. Cala Vento "Cala Vento" (p)BCore Disc
12. Kasparov vs Deep Blue "Flare" (p)self-released
11. Monte Del Oso "Existen Moscas Que Se Relajan Durante El Vuelo" (p)Farmway
10. El Tercer Semestre "33 1/3" (p)Aloud Music
09. LostTapes "Let's Get Lost" (p)Mushroom Pillow
08. Power Burkas "Llarga Vida Al Taranna" (p)BCore Disc
07. Big Summer "Trigger" (p)El Genio Equivocado
06. Sorry Kate "Haven Hood" (p)Foehn
05. Linda Guilala "Psiconautica" (p) Elefant
04. Joan Colomo "Sistema" (p)BCore Disc
03. Trinidad "Karma" (p)El Hombre Bala
02. Berlina "Desertico" (p)Grabaciones A Montones
01. Viva Suecia "La Fuerza Mayor" (p)Subterfuge
I've never been a massive fan of shoegaze/dreampop movement embracing only pretty limited number of the fish (Slowdive, Ride, Catherine Wheel, early Lilys and Starflyer 59, to name a few) in the vast ocean. But this current top makes me feel like I've always been hiding the pack of Mazzy Star CDs under my pillow, as at least one third of this list can be [more or less directly] allocated to dreampop category.
A mix of all with everything where nothing is what it seems. The fractured, the shattered, the strangely attractive and absolutely mindblowing release of Madrid-based experimental rock combo. Freak folk, dubstep, glitch, abstract hip hop, dreampop, psychedelic rock, kraut rock, etc. - all amalgamated into one strange brew which causes the hypnotic effect to the listener. An adventurous listening indeed. 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, and you feel like it's the greatest kind of music you've ever heard.
The best tracks: Slave Mistake, Playing Dead VHS, Lo Bueno se Termina
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
"Trigger" appears to be the dreampop guidebook that successfully showcases the different branches of the genre, from earlier 4AD efforts through the Yo La Tengo's subtle feedback-laden melodicism to the present day sonic experiments of, for instance, Autolux. Moreover, the album has the touches of tender neo-psychedelic breeze used just to tint the sound without creating that trippy stonehead atmosphere over there.
The first thing I should point out is that there are no unremarkable songs here at all.
Starting from the fragile Lush-flavoured track "Sprong" and up to the 'delicate verse/edgy chorus' closer named "Velvet" every song has its own taste.
The first half of "Poster Boys" is where the band gets closest to 'the hit' before the melody is drowned in the harsh noise rather been expected from someone like The Jesus & Mary Chain in the second half of the track. "Love & Alcohol" and "Gotta Get Better" are the ones where the Yo La Tengo DNA is the best determinable (you can almost hear the latter sung by Georgia Hubley). "Song For Los Muertos" is some kind of 'surf on sedatives' while the next track, the bass-driven "Mess" (probably the best track off the album) slowly evolves from trembling starlight nightsong to the 90's indie rock winner with the perfectly stirred-up guitars. And then "Space Invader" comes from L7/Babes In Toyland side of the world...
So here's what I'm trying to say: while it has a myriad of influences in itself, "Trigger" is not a set of separate and disjointed details that can't be aggregated into one entity but a tight well-constructed system where every piece is on its place and where the differences between the components are only proving their unity.
Best tracks: Poster Boys, Sprong, Mess, Gotta Get Better, Space Invader
Wild Animals "Basements: Music To Fight Hypocrisy" (p)2016 BCore Disc in collaboration with multiple labels
It's a punk rock record, and it's a damn good punk rock record. It's fresh, it's melodic, it's driving and cool. It could be easily comparable to the best moments of Descendents or Lagwagon (in their early incarnation, when Joey Cape's modus operandi in songwriting wasn't spoiled yet by the untimely passings of his close friends Derrick Plourde and Tony Sly), so it's the real pleasure to spend 25 minutes of your precious time in the company of these short fast and addictive tracks.
"Sistema" is the new album of Barcelonian singer/songwriter Joan Colomo (Zeidun, La Celula Durmiente, The Unfinished Sympathy) released via BCore Disc. There are 14 tracks mostly sung in Catalan. The tracks rarely exceed 3 minutes - but the relations either to lo-fi punk or to some kind of 'collection of sketches'-like album are not evident. The album - despite its mostly acoustic core - is quite eclectic (read: diversified and multifaceted). Fortunately, from pure acoustic strumming of "Nada" to tiny indie pop of "Un Nantes Y Un Despues" to pop grandeur "Enmienda A La Totalidad" (my favourite track on the album on par with Josh Rouse-inspired "Sentit Comun") to quiet fingerpicking of "Les Coses" to upbeat power pop of "Nucleo Duro" you won't find any trace of dissociation within this system. Joan sounds absolutely organic and natural in every direction and every land he steps on. Definitely one of the best albums of 2016 so far.
The best tracks: "Enmienda A La Totalidad", "Tristesa", "Les Coses", "Sentit Comu", "Eclipse De Sol"
Power Burkas "Llarga Vida Al Taranna" (p)2016 BCore Disc
A couple of weeks ago we were sitting on a couch in the hotel room in Barcelona. We were drinking wine and listening to the local radio station iCat.cat via the plasma TV set giving ourselves the rest after daylong walk through the streets of the beautiful city. There was a program called Songhunt on the radio, and there was some band presented in this program. This band caught my attention but I couldn't realize the name so I shazamed a track and discovered that the band's name was Power Burkas. Then I searched for the name in facebook and it was revealed to me that Power Burkas had just released their new album through the BCore Disc label. I was like 'Holy fuck, we've just visited BCore store, we've just visited Ultra-Local record store - I remember this sleeve, I saw this album in both stores! If I only knew, if I only learned of them before!'
The band delivers highly energetic and overtly melodic amalgamation of punk, power pop, hardcore and 1st wave emo. The full-throttle shout-outs ("Potser", "Atzucac" and "20") befriend slower tracks ("Senat", "Gerard Quintana") here along with growndbreaking numbers ("Miracles del Passat", "Pares Fills I Nets"). At their funnier side they remind me of the 90's independent combos such as Camber and Knapsack while at the most hard-punching moments you may recall Melvins or even Fudge Tunnel.
Overall, Power Burkas have managed to absorb the best features of the labelmates Cuello and Nueva Vulcano in adition to fellow countrymen Las Ruinas and Juventud Juche. The first contender to the Banda Revelacion prize of this year.
The best tracks: Sangoneres, Ferralla, La Missio De L'home Es Ser Patro, Miracles Del Passat
Kasparov vs Deep Blue "Flare" (p)2015 self-released
The post-rock band Kasparov vs Deep Blue made its debut two years ago with the nameless EP that contained the track that almost made my year 2014 - "Big Eyes", the song with the catchy tune, massive guitar sound and the athmosphere that brings you somewhere in between the first album of A Jealous Sound and Trail Of Dead's "Worlds Apart". Now the Buraglese post-rockers return with their first full lenght release to show their abilities in the broader format.
To put it short, it doesn't contain the hit comparable to "Big Eyes" - but it's the only complaint to "Flare". The more important is that Kasparov vs Deep Blue evidently get quite close to my all-time international faves Failure in terms of sound pallette and controls over it. The album sounds really great, the well-balanced and perfectly nuanced guitars interact with the touches of the 'message-from-the-outer-space'-sounding synths to the wonderful results, and it can bring your head far away from where you are. So please don't listen to this album in the headphones while travelling if your way to the certain point implies multiple junctions or connection stations, cos in the end you may find yourself somewhere in the place you've never intended to arrive to.
The best tracks: Buzz Aldrin, Cold Distance, Same Moon, Wish
The 1st trimester of 2016 is gone, so it's time to prepare the first top list of the year, isn't it?! Exactly! Now, while we're still waiting for the new slabs by Leon Benavente, La Habitacion Roja and Sr. Chinarro, there's enough to embrace apart of them. The new albums of Belako, Triangulo de Amor Bizarro, Full, Miss Caffeina, Grises, Hinds, Love Of Lesbian are already out - and you know what? None of them is in my list!
10. Niño Burbuja "El Futuro No Existe" (p)self released
Tucan Morgan "Moon Cabaret Rooms" (p)2016 self-released
After two EPs (the first one was produced by Brian Hunt, the second was mastered by Manuel Cabezali) the metropolitan band Tucan Morgan has released their first longplay - this time produced by Charlie Bautista. With the creative efforts controlled/fine-tuned by such the renowned persons it's apparent that the band is worth a listen, and after I picked up this album once (quite occasionally) it became apparent to me that the band is worth more than just one occasional listen.
Despite quite old school country/blues approach (at times it seems like Tucan Morgan would perfectly fit for some motorcycle gang saloons lost in the prairie) this music has a room for fantasy, there is enough space to think these songs further. A good feature for cinematography.
The best tracks: "Ghost", "Move On Fast", "All Is Going Well", "Plateau"
