Pinpilinpussies "Fuerza 3"

Pinpilinpussies "Fuerza 3" (p)2020 Aloud Music

A nice fem punk record with cool melodies and the sound that's simultaneously elaborated enough for not to be considered 'underground lo-fi' and rough enough for not to be allocated into 'pop-punk' trashbin. "Noventas" is the 21st century's "Devil Came To Me".

BNDCMP

Viva Belgrado, 04/02/2017, Moscow

I thought it would be some kind of a sausage party, but there were some pretty chicks in there.

I came to Vermel Club not too late to see the first Russian band of this night performing. The band was called -1 (just try to google it). After I did a double pint of beer they started to sound much better than before. The next Russian band Mayak followed the path of -1. The only difference is that I never listened to them ‘before the beer’. For me them both sounded cool and, frankly, I expected less from Russian bands. Before the Viva Belgrado set I’ve managed to find myself some good place to stay at the right side of the stage (if I stayed at the center it could end up in hospital for me as the people moshed and slammed and crowdsurfed there – and I was not prepared physically for such actions).

On the way to wardrobes someone before me noticed that the wi-fi connection in Vermel Club was down, and this was commented sarcastically by a semi-drunken guy standing aside of the queue: “That’s because the Moscow hipsters just need to learn something about the band they’ve come to look at”. Anyway, though the audience was more familiar with the songs of Russian bands, Viva Belgrado were treated as the stars of the night ‘by default’. Songwise and soundwise it was predictable as the songs of Cordoba-based combo were definitely more detailed, more sophisticated, more spacious than those of their local peers. They presented the tracks from "Flores, Carne" and "Ulisses" in equal proportions. Throughout their gig I was all happy headbanging to the familiar sounds.

Right after Viva Belgrado finalized their set I came close to the stage to greet Candido (vocals, guitar) but when I started to talk to him he seemed like he didn’t even get that I spoke his native language. Maybe it’s because there were other persons speaking to him in English, and he never expected to meet Spanish-speaking guy amongst them. Or [more likely] I was just too tongue-tied. Later I met Alvaro (drums) in the hall and talked to him a bit more. He was really nice guy to talk to.

Viva Belgrado "Ulises"

Viva Belgrado "Ulises" (p)2016 Aloud Music

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

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(lo:muêso) "Hoidên Limother Petity Vefuckêr"

(lo:muêso) "Hoidên Limother Petity Vefuckêr" (p) 2015 Aloud Music

The new effort of (lo:muêso) starts with 11 minutes long "Katazome Falls" where it takes almost 4 minutes to desarrolar from quasi-ambient intro to powerful & melodic shoegaze explosion. The next "Amarillo Mortimer" is compulsive emo/screamo/post-hardcore track that can beat the shit out of anyone who isn't warned. The third track "Black Scissors" contains more than 17 minutes of creepy post-everything guitar noodling replaced by the bursts of A Place To Bury Strangers-like noise. So, how many bands do you know that can start the album with the tracks of 11, 6 and 17 minutes duration? It quickly becomes apparent that the members of this Barcelonian quartet do not want to fetter their creative visions - the compromise is not their aim, and to pleasure the occasional listener isn't one of their commitments.
The album's title consists of the words "hope", "identity", "live" and "motherfucker" mixed to relatively unpronounceable results. The strange creature on the cover also wants to tell you something. Possibly, his words are like these: "Beware! This album is the mindwrenching mixture of post-hardcore, metal and shoegaze. And it's so addictive anyway!" What should I add... the fresh air in the stagnated forests of guitar-driven indie rock can be quite addictive, yes.

The best tracks: Katazome Falls, The Swindle, DeadSeaHorses

BANDCAMP

20 Key Labels of Contemporary Spanish Indie Scene. Part I

A month ago I incidentally came across an article named "13 Labels That Define Spain's Indie Music History". It briefly covered some truly emblematic labels but also the list included the labels that, on my opinion, had pretty limited impact on the scene. So I decided to make my own list of the key labels of Spanish indie rock. Here below is the 1st part of this list (in alphabetical order). 

Acuarela (Madrid) Sr. Chinarro, Migala, Refree

One of the seminal indie labels of 90s and 00s is led by 'the man of many talents' Jesus Llorente. Formerly being responsible for producing such the 'high profile' artists as Sr. Chinarro and Migala, now the label releases the string of less-known musicians like Manu Ferron or A Veces Ciclon while Jesus tries to diversify the activities by releasing the books and creating the comic strips.
One album to listen to: Migala "La Increible Aventura"

Aloud Music (Barcelona) Fira Fem, The Last 3 Lines, Nothink

The relatively young Barcelona-based label with the roster that could make the Pitchfork reviewers tremble - the genre specialization of Aloud lies somewhere in the wide range between [adored by hipsters] electro, nugaze and so-called 'post-everything'. Pitchfork would definitely like many of the albums released by the label.
One album to listen to: Fira Fem "Fira Fem"

BCore Disc (Barcelona) The New Raemon, Betunizer, Eric Fuentes

Arguably the most important Spanish indie label of today. Launched 25 years ago as some kind of Spain's own Dischord and initially being concentrated on punk and hardcore/post-hardcore now BCore includes many stylistically different bands (let's just take four most recent albums by the label: Dulce Pajara de Juventud's "Triumph" is alternative rock with 'wall of sound' and soul music elements, Margarita's self-titled effort is pop-punk, The New Raemon's "Oh, Rompehielos" is singer/songwriter and Jupiter Lion's "Brighter" is electro).
Also the label maintains the enormous list of officially licensed albums from many of the key North American independent labels where you can easily be drown into for hours.
One album to listen to: Betunizer "Gran Veta"

Discos Humeantes (Oviedo) Fabuloso Combo Espectro, SraSrSra, Farniente

The quirky punky uncompromised Asturian label's releases include, for instance, lo-fi/no-fi garage duo SraSrSra, tight punk band Futuro Terror, mentally unstable post-punks Fabuloso Combo Especto, perfect IDM project Farniente. Getting into your hands any given album released by Discos Humeantes you'll never know beforehands what you're up to deal with. And this is not a bug, it's a feature.
One album to listen to: Futuro Terror "Futuro Terror"

El Genio Equivocado (Barcelona) Las Ruinas, Grushenka, Algora

The burgeoning Barcelonian imprint tends to be one of the most interesting labels of the current moment. Celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2015 the label spearheaded by Joan Casulleras and Rafa Piera has the perfect and potentially groundbreaking (at least in terms of indie world) roster that includes such names as Algora, Burrito Panza, Grushenka, Cosmen Adelaida, Como Vivir En El Campo, Hans Laguna, Las Ruinas... Should I tell you more? Probably no.
One album to listen to: Las Ruinas "Toni Bravo"

El Hombre Bala (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) Resonance, El Viejo Astra, Brutalizzed Kids

You may know nothing about Canarian indie scene but it's not because of the scene's poor conditions. Mostly it's because of the geographic remoteness and logistical issues caused by it. It's energetically and financially devastating to move your gear to and from the mainland, so only few bands from Canary Islands are able to do so. But if there is anything to prove the quality (and quantity as well) of the local bands that have limited live access to remote listener it's El Hombre Bala - the label, the bar, the eventplace.
One album to listen to: El Pilar Azul "La Constante Sin Nombre"

Elefant (Madrid) La Bien Querida, Cooper, La Casa Azul

To say "Spanish indie pop" is to mean "Elefant Records" and vice versa. Initially building its notoriety upon the 'donostia pop' phenomenon (Aventuras de Kirlian, Le Mans, etc) in the 1st half of 90s now Elefant remains one of the most notable and the most significant indie labels of Spain... not only Spain, in fact, but of all non-English speaking part of world being responsible for tons and tons of classics released all through these years.
One album to listen to: Family "Un Soplo En El Corazon"

Ernie Producciones (Vigo) Ninos Mutantes, Julio De La Rosa, Igloo

As I have already said it once, the balancing man stamp is the best confirmation of the quality. You can't deny the fact that Ernie Producciones/Records is one of the key indie labels as for Galicia as for Spain as a whole. Just look at these names: Ninos Mutantes, Julio de la Rosa, Igloo, Maryland, Nino Y Pistola, Napoleon Solo, Pasajero, Novedades Carminha, Holywater...It couldn't be any better.
One album to listen to: Igloo "La Transicion De Fase"

Flor Y Nata (Catalunya) Colorado, Lo Nunca Dicho, Carlos Siles

Having such the stylistically diversified bands as Colorado, Karenin, TanStuPids or Copo in the roster, another Catalan imprint Flor Y Nata has no inclination to any particular genre. But while the genre-based philosophy definitely is not one of the label's strenghts, the variety of supply truly is.
One album to listen to: Carlos Siles "Doce Maneras De Esperar El Final"

Foehn (Barcelona) I Am Dive, Oso Leone, Poomse

Led by red-haired Barcelonian Marc Campillo, Foehn Records is the label with distinct and well-shaped philosophy. If you're looking for the pure entertainment, please, walk away. There's nothing to entertain you but there's a lot to make you think over, make you feel deep emotions, make you drop with the raindrops upon the leaves in the hazy forests, make you see the world by the multifacet eye of the dragonfly.
One album to listen to: GAF & The Love Supreme Arkestra

The next part is HERE.

Las Resenas Casuales. Fira Fem "Fira Fem"

Fira Fem "Fira Fem" (p)2013 Aloud Music

The members of the metropolitan quartet Fira Fem explore the lands of modern 'electronica-meets-indie rock' cliche with their sophomore nameless release. I suppose that  there's a lot of international influences in there but I can't name one. So, there's the one that is not international: Delorean.

The band's music is the danceable mix of echoed vocals, trembling multitracked guitar lines and the neverending flow of evocative electronica. The songs mostly sound like they're remixes. Imagine how the Delorean's remixes on, dunno, The Shins could sound like. I don't think that Fira Fem discover some new horizons with this album but it's interesting enough for not to discard the band. Would try to catch their show on this year's edition of Sonorama.

The best tracks: I Fucked Fira Fem Before They Were Famous, Wrong Movements, Los Novios Son Los Nuevos Zombies