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

BANDCAMP

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

BANDCAMP

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

BANDCAMP

Read this.

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

BANDCAMP

Read this.

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

BANDCAMP

Read this.

15. Leon Benavente "II" (p)Warner

SPOTIFY

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

BANDCAMP

Read this.

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

BANDCAMP

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

BANDCAMP

Read this.

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

BANDCAMP

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.

Kasparov vs Deep Blue "Flare"

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

LISTEN/BUY/DOWNLOAD

Kasparov vs Deep Blue - Buzz Aldrin (Estreno MondoSonoro) from Kasparov vs Deep Blue on Vimeo.

Best of 2016. Top10 albums of Q1

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

09. Tucan Morgan "Moon Cabaret Rooms" (p)self-released

08. We Were Heading North "We Were Heading North" (p)El Hombre Bala

07. Odio Paris "Cenizas Y Flores" (p)Mushroom Pillow

06. Parade "Demasiado Humano" (p)Jabalina Musica

05. Kasparov vs Deep Blue "Flare" (p)self released

04. Power Burkas "Llarga Vida Al Taranna" (p)BCore Disc

03. Sorry Kate "Haven Hood" (p)Foehn

02. Trinidad "Karma" (p)El Hombre Bala

01. Viva Suecia "La Fuerza Mayor" (p)Subterfuge

Lo Mejor del Ano - EPes y mini-albumes/ Best of 2014 - EP's & mini-albums

Before I start revealing my annual Top30 list of the best Spanish albums I'd like to present to you the teaser. So please find below my list of Top10 EP's - in no particular order (with Karen Koltarne as winner anyway):

Karen Koltrane "Plantas De Interior" 
(p)Foehn Records
This is the classic Foehn album - intelligent, warm and thinkful. The say they play synth pop. I'd rather say Karen Koltrane (the name of this four piece only seems to be the name of a single person - and there are no females in the band either) play something like trip-hop for smartasses. The slow motion beats, the melodies that evolve in minutes, the pure electronica and lo-fi ambient. The album was recorded as a pack of demos. But if these songs are demos - what would be their high fidelity?
And as a classic Foehn record - "Plantas de Interior" is a piece of heaven for every vinyl junkie.

El Viejo Astra "Estudio Dos" 
(p)El Hombre Bala
The Canarians El Viejo Astra somehow call this album an EP. I don't know why cos it's 35 minutes long, and there are many albums of shorter lenghts which are long plays. But if they want to call it an EP - let it be. Who am I to argue with the creators? The music here is full of the layers of foggy psychedelia, and it also contains thick analogue noise and timeless melodies galore. The bastard child of ELO and Medicine (or Spacemen 3). 

Kasparov vs Deep Blue "E.P." 
self-released
The band whose name reminds the battle of the greatest Russian chess champion of Azerbaijan origin Garry Kasparov with one of the first chess-trained supercomputers named Deep Blue plays alternative rock that flows from post-rock to post-grunge with Dredg as a main transit hub.
The great guitar sound and depression flowing directly into your blood system. The song "Big Eyes" is one of the best songs of the year.

baden bah! "futuro/a"
self-released
I've already spread my opinion on this cool album HERE

Doctor Lobo "Reiniciar"
self-released
Honestly speaking, I know nothing about this band from Valencia. I have picked this mini album from their bandcamp at random and found it very interesting. Stylistically they have something in common with the band Neuman, I suppose - it seems like they also did not make the final decision on what exact genre to play. But despite the stylistic uncertainty the songs are good, and their singer really can sing.

Nixon "Alter Ego" 
self-released
The music of this a bit psychedelic indie rock band from Almeria can remind you of Second at times.
Nixon exist from 2006 and "Alter Ego" is not their first release (in fact it's second), so the issues of 'the first attempt at writing' are hardly present here - all 6 songs on this EP sound very professionally composed and recorded.

Dulce Pajara de Juventud "Faithful Songs"
(p)BCore Disc
The provocative cover hides only three songs on this EP - but all these tracks are great.
The first "Evelyn Fuck Machine" is a killer hit. The next "Faithful Song" contains at least six non-cycled melodic progressions in the range between noise rock and chamber pop. The closing song "Benjamin" is a calmer track that fits good for the purpose of a classic closing track. The great appetizer before the full lenght.

Apenino "Viravolta"
(p)Jabalina Musica
This is the classic Jabalina Musica release - intelligent, warm and thinkful - but not in the same way as Foehn's classic releases. The project of Marco Maril (who hides himself under Apenino moniker), one of the core artists of Jabalina, delivers the smooth and intimate electronica-based indie pop that fits best for the sad smiles and quiet minutes of the pairs newly in love.

Mi Pequena Radio "Mono"
(p)Audiomatic/Sony ATV/EMI Publishing

Another pack of great songs from David Tabuena. Recording now as a full band, my personal favourites Mi Pequena Radio show the signs of the creative growth and growing ambitions on this tiny EP. Godspeed you, chicos!

Walden Dos "La Distancia Indolora"
self-released
This Madrid-based formation plays music which is obscure, powerful, colourful, loud and melodic. It incorporates the elements of trip hop, old school psychedelia, shoegaze, and krautrock standing in a couple of steps from electro-industrial.