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

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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

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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

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Read this.

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

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Read this.

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

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Read this.

15. Leon Benavente "II" (p)Warner

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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

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Read this.

13. Las Ruinas "100% Maximum Heavy Pop" (p)El Genio Equivocado

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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

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Read this.

11. Homeless "Solidos Platonicos" (p)self-release

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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.

Top40 albums of 2016 so far. 9 months report

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

37. Nocturnos "Hemos Visto Lobos" (p)self-released

36. Kill Kill "Reacciones A Distancia" (p)Miel de Moscas

35. Stay "The Mean Solar Times" (p)Rock Indiana

34. Fira Fem "Vida Nueva" (p)Subterfuge

33. Postman "Life Can Change In A Moment" (p)Keroxen

32. The Levitants "Coimbra" (p)self-released

31. Apartamentos Acapulco "Justo Y Necesario" (p)Discos Imaginarios

30. Disciplina Atlantico "Disciplina Atlantico" (p)Limbo Starr

29. San Borondon "POP!" (p)self-released

28. Fiera "Aljarafe" (p)Humo

27. Escuelas Pias "Nuevas Degeneraciones" (p)El Genio Equivocado

26. Keep Out "Spicy Mud Cake" (p)self-released

25. The Prussians "Kerala" (p)Green Ufos

24. Biscuit "Biscuit" (p)La Castanya

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).

Top20 albums of 2016 so far. Half-yearly report

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. 

Big Summer "Trigger"

Big Summer "Trigger" (p)2016 El Genio Equivocado

"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


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