Best of 2017. Albums 11-20

Step by step we are getting closer to the very top of the list.

<<< 41 - 50

<<< 31 - 40

<<< 21 - 30

20. Nudozurdo "Voyeur Amateur" (p)Mushroom Pillow

After beautiful but too calm "Rojo Es Peligro" the metropolitan trio returns with the album full of  emotions and bursts of guitar noise where Leo Mateos and his pals are swimming like fish in the pond.

SPTF

19. Les Sueques "Moviment" (p)El Genio Equivocado

Read the full review

18. Cala Vento "Fruto Panorama" (p)BCore Disc

The last year's eponimous album of Catalan duo sounded more like the step onto Nueva Vulcano territory, the new one is the major step forward in terms of finding their own way. Sonically and melodically it is more refined record, the sound is thicker and the songs are catchier.

BNDCMP                       

17. Karabash "D'Humans I Essers" (p)self-released

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

Read the full review

15. Niños Mutantes "Diez" (p)Ernie Producciones

The recordings of the jubilee album (produced by Leon Benavente's Cesar Verdu) almost killed the band but resulted in the band's best effort to date.

SPTF

14. Exquirla "Para Quienes Aun Viven" (p)Superball Music

Read the full review  

13. Ran Ran Ran "L'Hereu" (p)Bankrobber

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12. Los Planetas "Zona Temporalmente Autonoma" (p)El Volcan/El Ejercito Rojo    

I should admit I've never got into "Una Opera Egipcia". So for me the waiting period was even longer than for those who embraced Los Planetas' 2010 LP. And now I declare it was worth it to wait for it: the long brooding record that can easily take you away from wherever you are now.

SPTF             

11. Arista Fiera "Arista Fiera" (p)Elefant

Welcome to my convoluted world where the 7 song long debut album by a young dreampop band may stand atop the brilliant long-awaited double LP by the Spanish indie rock definitive band.

BNDCMP

Les Sueques "Moviment"

Les Sueques "Moviment" (p)2017 El Genio Equivocado

"Educacio Fisica" was the pretty nice album, but in comparison to the new effort it sounds just like a try, like an attempt at writing. "Moviment" is denser, louder, catchier and more multilayered. It is more refined almost in every possible way (it was partially recorded in London - maybe this fact affected the final result. Maybe not). While the songs improved this didn't affect the fact the band's still got the vibe that could cause unintentional dancing while listening to the album. And I can't help but feel this is how 'the next step' should sound like.

P.S. Just to remind you: "Educacio Fisica" itself was really nice album, and the superiority of the new record doesn't make it any worse. 

The best tracks: Accio, Tu Em Caus Molt Be, Dones Antigues, Res, Tu Parles Molt

BANDCAMP

A Pack Of New Videos #1

Please find below some videos that appeared on air during the first months of the year. Enjoy!

1. Clara Plath "American Do"


2. Les Suecues "Faldilles I Soroll"


3. Paciente Cero "Solsticio"


4. Nocturnos "Rey Absolutista"


5. Cumbia Ebria "Baila Conmigo"

The Best Of 2015. 9x9

The previous entry: 10x10

Les Sueques "Educacio Fisica" (p)El Genio Equivocado Buy/Listen

Maronda "Vibraciones" (p)self-released Buy/Listen

Christina Rosenvinge "Lo Nuestro" (p)El Segell Del Primavera Buy Listen

Tachenko "El Comportamiento Privado" (p)Limbo Starr Buy Listen

Isasa "Las Cosas" (p)La Castanya Buy/Listen

Nothing Places "Tidal Love" (p)Foehn Buy/Listen

The Birkins "Souvenirs" (p)El Genio Equivocado Buy/Listen

MOR "The Magic Boooooom!!!" (p)Familia Palmer/Discos Del Rollo Listen

Morenas "Tres" (p)Discos Humeantes Buy/Listen

• They're from Barcelona, and they got vibe. Meet Les Sueques, a post-punk quartet with Dadaist attitude!
• La Habitacion Roja's "Fue Electrico" is the great album by all means. "Vibraciones", which was created much in the vein of "Fue Electrico", is great too. And it's no surprise that Marc Greenwood who plays bass in LHR is also the co-leader of Maronda.
• The Spanish indie rock's most renowned woman has added another remarkable album to her back catalogue. Nuff said.
• Without applying any major changes to their core sound Tachenko have recorded the albumful of their tightest and the most consistent songs to date.
• The completely wordless and extremely beautiful album from the former A Room With A View guitar player.
• The moody dreamy psychedelic band Nothing Places is alter ego of the constant Ivan Ferreiro collaborator Emilio Saiz here backed by such the relevant personas as Marti Perarnau (Mucho) and Ricky Falkner (you know, he's a man of many talents). If you think these names are setting the coordinates or frames for what you could expect as the final result - that's a complete mistake. There's something you couldn't have expected at all.
• One of the most prominent Canarian bands has returned with the new album. 10 songs with the lyrics in English and French (as usual) and the great potential of growing up on you. One more El Genio Equivocado's album in my list - this label is responsible for the large part of this year's great music, I swear.
• The space rock from Cadiz (that seems to be this year's most musically burgeoning town). Spearheaded by Juan Antonio Mateos (Homeless, Grabaciones Sumergidas recording studio), the band MOR delivers the multy-layered and breezy psychedelia that for these days is probably the most cutting-edge genre in the rock world. Being not so flamboyant and dazed as one that Kevin Parker has made us familiar with, the music on "The Magic Booooom!!!" is well-nuanced and cohesive enough to really hear the songs here, not these free-form compositions the most of the top psych contemporaries are well-known for.
• One of the last releases by now-defunct Oviedo-based garage/punk-oriented indie label Discos Humeantes. The creative source of "Tres" lies somewhere in between Biznaga and labelmates Futuro Terror, definitely it's not that fast short and shiny guitar pop music you might now associate with the term 'punk'.

Les Sueques "Educació Física"

It's only the middle of February but there already are not less than six releases from the burgeoning Barcelonian label El Genio Equivocado. So let's start with Les Sueques.

Les Sueques "Educacio Fisica" (p)2015 El Genio Equivocado

The band consists of three chicks and a guy. They're together for at least 4 years (dunno how much time they spent before releasing their first eponymous EP in 2011), and "Educacio Fisica" is their sophomore LP.
The songs here rarely exceed 3 minutes, and the rhythmical patterns on the most tracks are simplified enough, what - in addition to repetetive lyrics (my hands upon the notebook's keyboard want to use the term "cryptic" - I really feel so but I hardly understand a single word here cos the singer/bass player Blanca sings in Catalan, so I'm not sure) and angular guitar riffs - makes you feel like this band got vibe. It's nothing about some druggy conditions, it's about you got your chin nodding and your feet stomping without your intention to most of the songs.

In fact, for the person who seeks for a singalong the longest two tracks are the best ones here, especially the potential indie hit "I Apologize" - amongst these dadaist minimalist and surrealistic post-punk pieces this song with the catchy chorus is by all means the true gem. But the rest o' the tracks are anyway pleasant and satisfying.

The best tracks: I Apologize, Tot S'havia Acabat, Bromes, Ara Es Aqui

To listen/buy: Bandcamp