Oso Leone "Gallery Love"

Oso Leone "Gallery Love" (p)2019 Apollo Records

It’s been awhile since the Oso Leone’s previous effort – the magnificent “Mokragora” - was brought to light so I have never expected the Mallorcan band picking up right where they left off almost 6 years ago. But taking in mind the “Mokragora” undeniable perfection it’s impossible not to compare the new album with the previous one, and it goes like that. Instead of resuming the unhurried walks through the dewy forest undergrowth you are about to enter the sanitized vapourized and kinda sterile environment of the airport hi-class lounge. Its air tastes rich, it sounds vulnerable and trembling all around, and apparently its space is full of beautiful and intellectually gifted creatures but it’s nothing about a couple of cold waterdrops accidentally dripping at your cheek from a lacy spider’s web you shake while moving forward through the trees – unless it’s a drop of champagne on your tuxedo. 

The music is inventively constructed and perfectly crafted to include a lot of tiny details and hardly audible undertones. Focusing on the main melodic progressions you may let all these sonic subtleties that set “Gallery Love” aside from your average Buddha Bar comps go out unnoticed. So you still need to listen carefully to fully enjoy the record. Anyway, despite its own advantages, I can’t avoid admitting “Gallery Love” apparently lacks the predecessor’s true original feel.

FCBK

BNDCMP

Las Resenas Casuales. Oso Leone "Mokragora"

Oso Leone "Mokragora" (p)2013 Foehn Records

Now I regret purchasing the vinyl turntable a bit too late. I did it this year's May, but it was March when we (my couple Tanya & me) were visiting Barcelona. During this visit I purchased the CD version of this album right from the hands of Marc Campillo, the head of Foehn Records. I'd better think twice before as  this album is clearly of that 'sit and listen' kind that perfectly fits for the vinyl.

The Mallorcan band plays the structurally complicated cinematic sadcore that incorporates other genres like avant-pop, folk, acid jazz or psychedelia. The album's name corresponds (I don't know why) with the Serbian village of Mokra Gora while the songs are named after various species of plants - from well-known ficuses or cactuses to more obscure clivias and monsteras.

It may sound pretty strange, but from the first listen I had a feeling of "Mokragora" as of being fully instrumental. The songs have their lyrics but the vocals are here not for words and meanings - they're here for sounds and feelings. Just imagine yourself stepping into the forest at the dawn carefully moving the cold branches apart to pave your way, and occasionally touching the spider's web with the drops of water condensed at the corners of the web, and they fall over you... Oso Leone create such the ethereal constructions with their music, and the words are falling from above like the raindrops, so these hypnotic landascapes are rather rainy ones.
"Mokragora" washes over you leaving you covered by the thick morning fog. Inventive and truly original, this album is definitely one of the best albums of 2010's.

The best tracks: Ficus, Alcaria, Monstera

A Quick Guide To... Foehn Records

Recently we (me and my mujer Tanya) have spent a couple of days in Barcelona to celebrate Tanya's birthday. On the last day of our short trip we met Marc Campillo, the head of Barcelona-based indie label Foehn Records (before the viaje I contacted him via Facebook so our short encounter was not a surprise for both of us).

It took a small amount of time for us to find the place where Foehn is really based, and shortly after I pressed the button of the intercom and said "Hola! Soy Mikhail desde Rusia!" a man with the natural red-coloured hair appeared on the treshold. Also, he was in the I Am Dive (one of the definitive Foehn bands) t-shirt. He brought us four CDs that I'd ordered, and also 3 CDs additionally as un regalo for us. The Spanish people of music never cease to amaze me - they're all so amicable and welcoming, and Marc is not an exclusion at all.

Foehn Records is the home for the thinkful music. You won't find any pop-oriented moneymakers here.

From Marina Gallardo to Inigo Ugarteburu, from Ursula to Blacanova, from I Am Dive to Oso Leone, from Lucius Works Here to El Gos Binari - at least one common thing unites all these bands and artists as well as all other bands and artists on the label: you can't listen to them on a fly. To feel and to understand this music you should really dive into it. You should sit down and listen to. I said sit. Down.

The CDs I purchased:

Oso Leone "Mokragora"

Poomse "Vs. The Kingdom Of Death"

GAF y la Estrella de la Muerte "Sunriser"

Ursula "10 Anos Por Amigos"

The CDs Marc presented to us:

Blacanova "Blacanova"

tannhauser "Para Entonces Habras Muerto"

Lucius Works Here "Pequeno Almanaque Espacial"

All of them would be reviewed here pretty soon.