The Best Of 2020. Top50. 31 - 40

40. Junco Y Mimbre "Junco Y Mimbre" (p)Hidden Track 

Call it jangle pop, call it college rock. What Junco Y Mimbre lack in ambition they compensate it in quality of songwriting.

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39. El Lobo En Tu Puerta "Santana Bendita" (p)Spinda 

One of the best metal releases of the year - I mean, one of the best worldwide. Quirky, heavy, inventive, sarcastic and ultra-melodic record whose creators should be proud of. 

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38. Arista Fiera "Cromatismo Domestico" (p)El Genio Equivocado 

The dreampop band from Malaga. There are songs where you think: "Wow, it's the best release of the year!" There is a couple of songs that leave you less enthusiastic. But the weighted average is undoubtedly high.

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37. Ana Bejar "Sahara Star" (p)Discos Belamarh 

What you see is what you get. Hot, dry, scorched like a world's most famous desert - that's what this music is.

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36. Llum "Los Anos Liquidos" (p)Discos De Paseo 

It took 8 years for indie pop singer/songwriter Jesus Saez to release the successor to "Limelight" (his previous LP) though he released some singles and EPs in the meantime. What could I say - for sure it was worth waiting for Llum's return.

SPTF

35. Nueva Vulcano "Ensayo" (p)La Castanya/ BCore Disc 

Read this 

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34. Kracauer "Diferencia Y Repeticion" (p)Subterfuge 

This name is abolutely new for me. I mean, I know that "kracauer" or "krakauer" means "from Krakow" in German. I know who Jon Krakauer is. But as a band, the name is new. This band is from Murcia, they successfully blend guitars with synths to get a pack of potential hits.

SPTF

33. Breis "On" (p)Sweet Song/ Producciones Acaraperro 

Read this 

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32. Atlantic "Volem Els Ponts" (p)self-released 

This is how to make Weezer's music better than Weezer themselves. The two-faced band (with Maria Lopez as frontwoman they perform as Moonflower) shows considerable progress against their debut record as Atlantic ("1976") which was good in its own right but sounded less concentrated.

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31. Nucli "Ephemeral Water Courses" (p)Hidden Track/ La Plana Sola 

With links to Nueva Vulcano, Bullitt, Cala Vento, Power Burkas and Bad Religion the Catalan band Nucli has created the ultimate punk rock album of the year.

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Breis "On"

Breis "On" (p)2020 Sweet Song/ Producciones Acaraperro

“M”, the previous release of Breis, apparently was Manolo’s attempt to create a ‘magnum opus’ of sorts, a career-defining record meant to demonstrate all of his skills at their fullest. I don’t think it turned out a success, honestly. While listening to that record I almost physically felt like one of my favourite Spanish singers/songwriters just tried too hard drowning himself into piles of details and overtones. There are some good news: fortunately, “On” is completely free of this flaw. It sounds like Manolo Breis returns to what he does best: the sincere and soulful roots-rock songs with touches of ‘classic’ rock-n-roll. It's way more streamlined. There's nothing extra here, at least nothing more than you need to. It showcases all the best strengths of its auteur with no palpable stress or tension, acting as a successor rather to 2013's "Invisibles" than to more recent "14 Pla De Palau" or "M". 

FCBK

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The Best Of 2015. 5x5

See also:
11x11 (EP's and mini albums)
10x10
9x9
8x8
7x7
6x6

La Maravillosa Orquesta Del Alcohol "La Primavera Del Invierno" (p)Mus Listen/Buy
Breis "14 Pla De Palau" (p)Sweet Song Free Download

Nino De Elche "Voces Del Extremo" (p)Telegrama Free Download

Reina Republicana "El Despertar" (p)Limbo Starr Buy Listen

Combray "Ullapool" (p)Foehn Listen/Buy

• I've never supported the idea of European bluegrass at all, but look now at Mumford & Sons who abandoned their bluegrass roots on their new album almost completely. They became one more band of 'quite interesting but nothing special' kind while La Maravillosa Orquesta del Alcohol just took a couple o' steps aside - but not outside - on "La Primavera Del Invierno" to the perfect results.
• To start the year with the new album of Manolo Breis becomes a good tradition. To start the year with the album such good should be the best tradition ever.
• The most unexpected cut in my top list. Built around the merger of spoken-word, flamenco and quirky noise pop the music of Nino De Elche is disturbing, invigorating, soul-scratching and irritating al in the same time. An adventurous but fascinating listening.
• The second longplay of Reina Republicana, a Pamplona-based duet of Israel Medina (Half Foot Outside) & Maite Rodriguez, is going to make absolutely happy those who are fond of such bands as Stereolab, Lush, Film School, Electrelane and, first of all, Broadcast. Just put your headphones on and give yourself a controlled dive into the dreampop soundscapes led by the voice of Maite.
• I consider "Ullapool" the best electronic release of the year. 6 perfect tracks of the masterfully crafted sound born in complexity, intelligence, tranquillity and cinematically visualized depths.

Breis "14 Pla de Palau"

Breis "14 Pla de Palau" (p)2015 Sweet Song

"The way was nothing more than an illusion..."

(c) Breis "El Camino"

This is the fourth album of Manolo Breis released four last years in a row - and the eighth overall. With such the considerable artistic background, the Murcian singer/songwriter returns with his most complex work to date.

The album starts with more than six minutes long "Olfato, Tacto y Gusto", a song that showcases the whole album the best with its dark mood, the changes in tempo, the internal suspense and the thick layers of synths. The song structures are visibly more convoluted here than on the previous efforts. The arrangements as well are the lushest in Breis' history. With the heavy use of vintage sounding keyboards, the influence of 70's pop progressive acts (Procol Harum is probably the first name that comes to mind) is one of the major dominants in "14 Pla de Palau" sound. Taking into account the fragile voice of Manolo, at times the album sounds pretty similar in tone and structure with the final Elliott Smith's release "From A Basement On The Hill" - like if Elliott wanted to record it as a "soft progressive"/art rock album.

In the release notes Manolo Breis says that "14 Pla de Palau" is the closing part of the three album concept that started with "Invisibles" two years ago. So, the new album is the perfect logical successor of "Invisibles" and "Verna" not only proving the musician's ability to progress with every subsequent release but also making him one of the Spainish indie rock's best kept secrets.

The best tracks: Si Pudiera, Contigo Que Sin Ti, Olfato, Tacto Y Gusto, 5 de Mayo, El Camino

14 Pla de Palau in Bandcamp - you can download the album for free.

The Best Of 2014. Albums 21 - 30

30. Yes I M "Vietnam"

(p)Foehn

The extremely catchy lo-fi 'bedroom indietronica' from Chinese Christmas Cards' singer Mario Gutierrez Brun.

29. Cosmen Adelaida "La Foto Fantasma"

(p)El Genio Equivocado

The young quintet from El Genio Equivocado's roster plays nugaze-oriented twee-tinged indie rock - a Spanish 'hi-five' to The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.

28. Breis "Verna"

(p)Sweet Song

The new album of Manolo Breis is a bit calmer than his two previous works "Asuntos Pendientes" and "Invisibles", but "Verna" definitely is a grower - and now I hardly can imagine my year 2014 without it.

27. Mourn "Mourn"

(p)Sones

The teen four-piece genetically related to Ramon "The New Raemon" Rodriguez (two chicks in Mourn are his daughters) plays homage to Sleater-Kinney and PJ Harvey with love and sincerety.

26. Bel Bee Bee "Still Unstirred"

(p)The Note Company

This debut disc of Belen Alvarez Doreste is detailed, deep and dreamy example of the intelligent mix of trip-hop and folk. A good pack of features to fit in this Top30.

25. Grises "Animal"

(p)Octubre/Sony

Grises go loud adding the elements of djent and rave to the standard electrorock plate.

24. Supersubmarina "Viento De Cara"

(p)Octubre/Sony

Far more catchy than "Santacruz", "Viento de Cara" puts indie-goes-major superstars Supersubmarina back on the "Electroviral" track.

23. Cuello "Modo Eterno"

(p)BCore Disc

The post-hardcore quartet's second effort in two years is a raw, fast and sarcastic fireball you can't stand against.

22. Modelo De Respuesta Polar "El Cariño"

(p)Limbo Starr

Less shoegaze and more folky than "Asi Pasen Cinco Anos", the sophomore release shows the wider spectre of this Valencian band's talents.

21. Havoc "Lo Saben Los Narvales"
(p)Subterfuge
The ideal pop music for the ideal world.

Ha Llegado. Manolo Breis

Some time ago I contacted Manolo Breis, a singer/songwriter from Murcia, and purchased 3 of his CDs directly from him. Now they appeared in my postal box and made me happy. Why so happy? Just because. Because I like Manolo's music. Because I like this kind of singers/songwriters - not only Spanish (Josh Rouse, Graham Colton, David Gray, to name a few). Because this man really can pen A Song. 

These three albums are "Siempe Es Manana", "Asuntos Pendientes" and "Verna", consequently 4th, 5th and 7th full-lenghts of this prolific musician's back catalogue. Since "Verna" was already reviewed here, there are some words about other two releases. "Asuntos Pendientes" definitely is the most rock-oriented of the three. It has some great slow-evolving songs like "Hasta El Final" or "La Vida" but mostly it's upbeat and driving. I suppose that this album can be considered the best Breis' album on par with 2013's "Invisibles" (which is unfortunately out of order on CD).

"Siempre Es Manana" is at times rocking as well, but overall its sound is considerably more stripped-down and subdued. And the classic Americana flavour (with all of its harmonicas, pedal steel vibratos and slide effects) is more than noticeable here - just switch the language and you'll get the Nashville-born record. So from today's point of view it could be described as the intermediate yet necessary step from who Breis was then to who he is as of now.

Most of the albums of this independent artist could be downloaded from his bandcamp page on 'name your price' basis.

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Las Resenas Casuales. Manolo Breis "Verna"

Breis "Verna" (p) 2014 Sweet Song Records

Today the singer/songwriter from Murcia Manolo Breis (who ususally appears in public using only his surname) releases his new album called "Verna" less than 10 months after his previous effort "Invisibles" was released.

Breis is not that widely bred in 2000 'detuned guitar/lo-fi sound/high-pitched voice'-kind of singer-songwriter. His songs are fully arranged, and while his musical pallette is not so wide but it is far from minimal as well. Exploring mostly slow-to-middetmpo dynamics, this album is calm and appeased. And from the first listen I get the feeling that the album lacks the song that can stuck in your head for hours and days. But the songs have their good features, like smartly structured "El Timon" or slowly growing up "Malos Tiempos" - and these two songs are definitely amongst the best ones here.

The best tracks: Dame Algo De Ti, Al Amanecer, El Timon, Malos Tiempos

The album can be officially downloaded from HERE for free.

The Best Of 2013. Albums 20 - 11

20. Extremoduro “Para Todos Los Publicos” (p) Warner Music Spain

19. Carlos Siles “Doce Maneras Para Esperar El Final” (p) Flor y Nata

18. Izal “Agujeros De Gusano” (p) HOOK

17. Breis “Invisibles” (p) Sweet Song

16. Grises “No Se Alarme Senora, Soy Sovietico” (p) Origami

15. El Pilar Azul “La Constante Sin Nombre” (p) El Hombre Bala

14. Delafe Y Las Flores Azules “De Ti Sin Mi – De Mi Sin Ti” (p) Music Bus

13. La Sonrisa De Julia “El Viaje Del Sonambulo” (p) Warner Music Spain

12. Buena Esperanza “Pacifica” (p) Gran Derby

11. Muy Fellini “Fragmentos De Una Explosion” (p) Clifford