Jay "Fuimos Nosotros"

Jay "Fuimos Nosotros" (p)2017 Matapadre

I recall listening to the previous Jay's disc (released via now defunct Discos Humeantes imprint) "Los Colegas No Te Olvidan". I recall finding that record lacking form and core and essence - the malfunction many neo-psych albums are suffering from. But, fortunately, the new album is much more concentrated effort where all components look neither like disjointed needless extras falling apart like the crumbs falling off the plate, nor like the aimless sonic porridge, a cock-a-hoop of sounds drowning in its own helplessness. Apparently "Fuimos Nosotros" was made with the clear vision what the final result should be. So the result is another strong addition to the faultless Matapadre catalogue with few weaknesses ("Potrera") and a lot of really enjoyable moments.

Best tracks: El Fondo Del Mar Esta Lleno De Valientes, Crisis de Indentidad, Si Te Desanime


MATAPADRE
Facebook

BALA "Human Flesh"

BALA "Human Flesh" (p)2015 Matapadre

The last aqcuisition to-date of the brilliant Galician indie imprint Matapadre is the female duo (Anxela: giutars and vocals, Violeta: drums and vocals) named BALA. 

Oh, really, the girls? TWO girls? Yes, only two girls are punching hard in the rage of fury making this highly energetic and overtly psychotic [yet never dissonant] mixture of grunge and stoner rock. The vocals are mostly the howling chants with the certain words almost undistinguishably drowned in the boiling meltown of the guitar squawk. The pulse of drums beats irregularly yet unceasingly, giving the music the nerve it demands. The tracks are short so the album rushes through your ears just like the fast cold-hearted bullet*.
These chicks are the Babes In Toyland of the post-industrial civilization.
The pure rapture.

* 'bala' means 'bullet' in Spanish

The best tracks: Tripas + Chained, A.S.A.B, Joan Vollmer

BUY/DOWNLOAD

20 Key Labels of Contemporary Spanish Indie Scene. Part II

This is the second part of my quick guide to the key indie labels of Spain. You can read the first part here: Part I

Grabaciones En El Mar (Zaragoza) El Nino Gusano, Bigott, La Costa Brava

The specialization of this Aragonese label is psychedelic indie pop. In 90's the label became famous in close indie world through producing the albums of the cult surrealist psycho pop band El Nino Gusano. When the band splintered onto Tachenko and Muy Poca Gente the label started to produce the latter keeping the close ties with El Nino Gusano's leader Sergio Algora who spearheaded Muy Poca Gente as well as his next band La Costa Brava. Meanwhile, some other noticeable bands like Carrots, Deneuve, and the current main star of the label's roster Bigott were taken onboard. And please don't forget about Josh Rouse.
One Album To Listen To: El Nino Gusano "Circo Luso"

Jabalina Musica (Madrid) Pumuky, Parade, Apenino

At the first glance you may call Jabalina Musica and its director Tanis Abellan 'the Spanish indie pop runners-up' taking in mind that this Madrid-based label has the visible inclination to indie pop - and we all know what label is the champion of the Spanish indie pop. But at the second glance you will notice that the bands under Jabalina's wing mostly are quirkier, darker, rougher, edgier than the ones from Elefant where some bands are the sweet like honey pure pop. Another strength of Jabalina is the ability to produce the fantastic compilations. And at last but not at least - Pumuky are here.
One Album To Listen To: Pumuky "El Bosque En Llamas"

Limbo Starr (Madrid) Tachenko, Ornamento Y Delito, Is

Limbo Starr is definitely not the cockiest label on the Spain's territory but it easily can be compared to any of the top indie labels in terms of average roster quality (if such index ever existed): Abraham Boba, Cuchillo, Reina Republicana, Tachenko, El Mato A Un Policia Motorizado, Is, Modelo de Respuesta Polar... As perfect as it gets.
One Album To Listen To: Is "Istochnikov"

Marxophone (Madrid) Nacho Vegas, Leon Benavente, Ricardo Vicente

More likely the loose association of like-minded musicians than the standard releasing/copyrighting entity within the music industry, Marxophone (the name is somewhat of the cross between Karl Marx and Parlophone) was launched five years ago by Nacho Vegas, Refree and Fernando Alfaro. The core trio gradually became surrounded by L.A., Mucho, Ricardo Vicente and Leon Benavente (the much-lauded band of Nacho Vegas' companions Abraham Boba and Luis Rodriguez) so the current back catalogue of this young imprint consists of 19 high-quality releases from the Spain's high profile indie musicians.
One Album To Listen To: Leon Benavente "Leon Benavente"

Matapadre (Santiago de Compostela) Unicornibot, Disco Las Palmeras!, Guerrera

The local Galician imprint visibly has no plans on conquering the Earth: only ten albums are released to this moment. But there is no weak link in this chain - all these releases are not just good, they're fucking cool. They're earthshaking ang groundbreaking. Some of them are truly great.
One Album To Listen To: Unicornibot "Mambotron"

Mushroom Pillow (Madrid) La Habitacion Roja, Deluxe, El Columpio Asesino

Arguably the most important indie label of those that were born in the new millenium has built the reputation upon releasing the albums of La Habitacion Roja, The Sunday Drivers and Deluxe. Now Mushroom Pillow is prolonging the magic with El Columpio Asesino, Delorean, Triangulo De Amor Bizarro, We Are Standard. And La Habitacion Roja are still there.
One Album To Listen To: La Habitacion Roja "Fue Electrico"

Origami (Madrid) Havalina, Fuckaine, Rufus T. Firefly

Origami was the home for Grises. Origami was the home for Rufus T. Firefly. Origami remains the home for Havalina. For Wilhelm (with or without the dancing animals). For Fuckaine. For me there are enough reasons to take Miguel Goni-led label up in this list.
One Album To Listen To: Havalina "Las Hojas Secas"

Sello Salvaje (Sevilla) Kenedy, Blusa, Soledad Velez

Another five years old label in my list. The brainchild of Alejandro Masferron and David Facenda does not strive for notoriety but delivers some fine music like the intelligent post rock of Blusa (whose last year's effort "Toca Breakbeat, Perro!" was noticed in the rooms of the King of Spain Felipe VI) or slowly drifting from americana to indie rock Valencians Moonflower whose new album "Round Trip" is a killer from the first note to the last.
One Album To Listen To: Blusa "Toca Breakbeat, Perro!"

Sones (Barcelona) Mourn, Manos De Topo, Templeton

Sones successfully unites such the stylistically detached entites as hip/hop avant garde three-piece Delafe Y Las Flores Azules or noisy experimental duo Za! or young riot grrrl newcomers Mourn. One might call it the absence of genre policy - but in this particular case no one would call it a fault.
One Album To Listen To: Mujeres "Soft Gems"

Subterfuge (Madrid) Sexy Sadie, Mercromina, Anni B Sweet

Just like pink elephant calf of Elephant or the balancing trapeze artist of Ernie, the young hipster devil of Subterfige is the perfect confirmation of 100% quality guaranteed. Having selebrated its 25th anniversary a year ago, the label that formerly came to prominence in the middle of 90's with the release of "The Devil Came To Me", the second album of Dover, now feels fine having the renovated roster that includes Joe La Reina, Viento Smith, Vinila Von Bismark, Havoc and tons of other great bands and musicians.
One Album To Listen To: McEnroe "Tu Nunca Moriras"

P.S. While preparing this two-part document I've noticed that some remarkable labels just fell off the plate. To name a few:
Gramaciones Grabofonicas whose releases include the albums from Los Punsetes and Juventud Juche.
Two more Canary Islands-based imprints - Ruin Records and Kalma Records, both are there to explore the experimental sides of music.
Gran Derby with one of my favourite albums of Y2013 - Buena Esperanza's "Pacifica".
Underhill Records, led by two ex-members of Half Foot Outside Hans Kruger and Edu Ugarte.
Astro Discos who recently released the albums of Ninos Mutantes, Australian Blonde and Estereotypo but whose current status is not fully clear for me (they are alive, but do they release any new music as of now?).
The former music shop turned into the label Discos De Kirlian.
Tiny but lovable Andalusians Clifford Records.
The recently mentioned Records del Mundo.
So this list could last and last and last.

Las Resenas Casuales. Guerrera "Mauna Loa"

Guerrera "Mauna Loa" (p)2014 Matapadre Discografica

Krautrock and "Farfisa" from the Galician supergroup.

This album delivers the audio collages where the vintage ritual psichedelia meets black voodoo happening soundtracks. Hitting Birth, TchKung! - these names came into my mind first of all, and while Guerrera definitely did not aim to distinguish the drug-infused primal angst of the first mentioned as well as the shattered semi-unconcious state of mind of the second (I suppose los componentes de la banda have never heard about TchKung! at all) the music is convoluted and adventurous enough to be pretty uneasy listening even for the ones prepared. 

The album is divided into two parts of 18 and a half minutes long compositions consisting of the deep instrumental layers of endless guitar passages, sound effects, spasmatic octopus drumming and rare reverbed vocals all shaken but not stirred.

It is absolutely impossible to mark out the best tracks in here due to the fact that there are only two tracks and both are amazing.

You may grab the album on the 'name your price' basis FROM HERE (Matapadres's bandcamp page) if you'd want to.

Las Resenas Casuales. Lendrone "Uno"

Lendrone "Uno" (p)2013 Matapadre Discografica

This is the first full lenght from the Galician experimental rock combo. In the world where Chileans Mostro are the highest extremum of experimentation, and the old 'american underground' pre-post-rock instrumental band Pell Mell is the lowest one, Lendrone with their mixture of complicated with simple and banal with inventing could be some kind of semantic middle.

"Uno" is divided onto two parts by the intermediate segue called "La Mecanique Moderne" which is considerably shorter and quieter than any other track on the album. Before and after the aforementioned track we have the captiously built-up instrumental krautrock-tinged math-rock where the heavy use of syntesizers meets the occasional bursts of noise, overloaded bass lines are beaded on the convoluted rhythmical patterns, and where the plain canvas of a composition can all of a sudden explode with the guitar overdrive.

'The heavy use of synthesizers', 'convoluted rhythmical patterns', 'overloaded bass lines' - these features are the common place for the most of 'experimental-math-noise-jazz-everything else'-fusion bands, and the main thing lays in the surface of the proportions. In case of Lendrone the proportions are definitely right. The trio from La Coruna gives the listener the fascinating trip without taking away the time to rest and breath easily from him.

The best tracks: Don Balon, La Marcha Solar, Methavolante

The digital version of the album you can download from the Matapadre bancamp page or Lendrone BC on the 'name your price' basis.