Flor Y Nata Records, Part II

The 2nd part of Flor Y Nata Records' recent releases overview. The 1st one is HERE.

Vermú "Vermú" (p)2018

From the very beginning of this EP you can smell the flavors of – at least – Niños Mutantes, Nunatak, and flamenco (thanks to the implementation of the castanets) in the air. The tight melodies are flourished with the heroic vocals and the neat arrangements. The result is 22 minutes of soul-touching balladry that makes us want more from the band.

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Vuelacruz "Vuelacruz" (p)2018

The folk rock in the vein of The Lumineers that sporadically flushes into the neighboring genres, such as quite noisy indie rock (as evidenced by the track “No Hay Perdon”). The traces of the likes of Kodaline or Mumford & Sons’ more rock-oriented 3rd album are also evident. Thus, mostly this eponymous album consists of the tiny and quiet semi-acoustic songs orchestrated with winds and strings. The pleasant effort that’s got nothing you could turn your back on.

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Urtain "Manual De Supervivencia Para Ilustres Decadentes" (p)2017

They’ve got three albums released through 2009 to 2014, and now they return with the new record produced in syndication by Flor Y Nata and local Mallorca imprint Espora Records. The band represents the pop side of rock: Merseybeat, power pop, Fito & Fitipaldis, Sidecars, you name it. Sounds like not my kind of music. But I remember how I first listened to Buddy Guy. Blues had never been my kind of music but somehow I enjoyed the art of one particular bluesman. This time I enjoy the art of this particular band cos it’s funny, it’s melodic, it’s intended to make you feel better. It’s just hard to resist to its reckless optimism.

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Flor Y Nata Records, Part I

3 weeks ago I was surprised to find the mail receipt in my physical mailbox. It was the real surprise as I made no orders in the recent time. I walked down to the Post Office and received a small parcel revealed to be the Flor Y Nata Records promotional pack of CDs. Flor Y Nata Records is the Tarragona-based indie imprint. Once it appeared in my list of 20 most important Spanish labels. Later it managed to grow even more important on me as it signed one of my personal favorites Clara Plath. Now I am happy to be chosen as some kind of the blogger relevant enough to receive the promotional materials directly from the label.

Below is the first part of the coverage of what the current face of the label looks like.

Atticusfinch "Vacaciones En Shangri-La" (p)2018

Take the sweet pop melodies. Speed ’em up x1.3 times and then wrap ’em with the punk’y rock and roll arrangements. The result will satisfy the vast specter of music lovers whose tastes lay in - or around - indie pop/ power pop. I.e for those who love the bands in array from Aerolineas Federales to Los Fresones Rebeldes to When Nalda Became Punk, Atticusfinch will be the piece of pie.

FCBK
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Ambros Chapel "Portraits" (p)2017

Serious and tight indie rock with quite plaintive vocals (not so plaintive as ones of Manos Del Topo, though) and strong allusions to The Cure’sque post punk with some gothic aroma. The kinship with The National and other smile-less new millennium post punk-based acts is evident as well. I’ve learned of them only now but in fact it’s the fourth release by the band. They’re from Valencia, and the quality of their music may lead Ambros Chapel to grow into Your Second Favourite Band From Valencia.

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Sidderales "Canciones Urgentes" (p)2018

Sidderales are the ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of band. Just look at their photos and you’ll immediately get the idea what kind of music they play: it’s rock and roll. The only question that remains is what kind of rock and roll they play. Since I’ve listened to their previous LP (“Siete” (p)2016 Flor Y Nata) for me there’s no secret that the Badalona-born quartet plays this form of rock and roll that tends to power pop, alternative rock and hard rock simultaneously. The new EP follows the path of “Siete” and as an amusing trick contains the cover version The Cure’s “Boys Don’t Cry” (not listed on the sleeve).

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The 2nd part is HERE

Clara Plath "Yes' I'm Special" (p)2017 Flor Y Nata

I had an intention to take a break from listening to the new music cos the preparation of last year's Top50 (in fact Top105) has made me quite exhausted. But the begining of the year 2017 is filled with events, and it makes taking a break some kind of a crime.

My dearest murcianos Clara Plath have released the new album less than two years ago since "Grand Battement" LP that performed perfectly in my annual 2015 chart. Frankly, "Yes, I'm Special" sounds much more refined than their debut just the way "Celebrity Skin" sounded more refined than "Live Through This". The harsher production of the previous album has its own advantages but standing in the way of progress is rarely a good choice. So now one of the best guitar-driven acts of the Spanish 'classic indie' sub-world have perfected their methods to create the record more diverse melodically and more intricate soundwise. If you did yourself a favor and fell in love with "Grand Battement" (the thing you'd better do), you'll not gonna miss this one for sure.

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The best tracks: Inside You, This Lonely Boy, I'm Special

***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.