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вторник, 22 декабря 2020 г.

The Best Of 2020. Top50. 01 - 10

In one of his recent posts in Facebook Guille Mostaza has raised the following issue: when we post something we like in social networks - we post it to show what? To show what we really like or to be liked for what we show we like? And then, what we show we listen to and what we really listen to - is it the same thing? Guille didn't clarify what audiences he was appealing to - regular users or his colleagues from music business, or his colleagues from music business as regular users of social networks. For me, I believe I have stepped over this period in my life when I had to stage my tastes up to be liked for it over 20 years ago. But what I'm really interested in is the flip side of Guille's question as applied to professional music reviewers' community. When they show they like something, do they really like it or just try to stay in line with the common opinion of the colleagues? I just feel like the universal praise of some artists looks like staged. I can't contradict the universal praise of Arca or FKA Twigs because it's not my kind of music, and I don't understand how it functions and how it impacts its fans. But look at Phoebe Bridgers, for instance. All the year through I'm reading how great her "Punisher" is, then I listen to it - and hear nothing exceptional. Ok, these are the songs. There are some good songs in there. But comparisons to Elliott Smith? Seriously? I hear nothing in "Punisher" that could relate to Smith's level of songwriting. This is surely my kind of music and I know how this music works, so I'm kind of forced to think: is this hype staged? Do all these reviewers really think it's that great, or they forced to show something they don't really think as the common opinion prevails? Or is something wrong with me? And then I look into the [Spanish national] annual polls and get concerned of what I don't see in there. Do you know what I don't see? I don't see my Best Album Of The Year in there. It is completely absent. It looks like my poll is the only poll where this album sits. And I'm forced to think again: is something wrong with me and my music tastes? But then I think: I don't care. For me, with thick sound, great melodies and perfect drive/emotion balance this album sparks brightly amongst tons of music released this year. And the next 9 albums spark brightly as well. 

10. Tierra Vertical "El Bosque Se Hizo Cancion" (p)self-released 

Slowly processed within 3 year span this album is worth every minute of waiting. It's such a pity this strongest pack of songs rooted within post-Vetusta indie rock context seems to be overlooked as the band is not from this pool of bands (some call it mafia, haha) whose names come to mind first you hear the words 'Spanish indie".

BNDCMP

9. Palo Alto "Self Defence" (p)self-released 

Read this 

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8. Jordi Farreras "L'home Sense Dits" (p)La Cova Del Congres 

The man formerly known as Ran Ran Ran drummer made an album where he did literally everything. It took some years for Ran Ran Ran to grow from obscure underground act to the local scene staple. "L'Home Sense Dits" is crafted so perfectly that his auteur jumps into the same category of 'local scene staples' with his only release. 

BNDCMP

7. Poomse "Les Gravacions de la Pandèmia Vol. 1" (p)Espora 

Read this 

BNDCMP

6. Campeon "Dios/ Naturaleza" (p)self-released 

Read this 

BNDCMP

5. Melenas "Los Dias Raros" (p)Snap! Clap! Club/ Trouble In Mind/ Elsa 

They've got groove, they've got vibe, they've got their own face in the post-garage jangle pop scene. Their second album is almost huge, and this 'almost' leaves them enough space for growing even bigger. And this is that moment when I can proudly declare: I loved them before they got famous. 

BNDCMP

4. Homeless "Youthful Ashes" (p)self-released 

Read this 

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3. Beladrone "Andevalo" (p)El Genio Equivocado 

Read this 

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2. Uniforms "Fantasia Moral" (p)Oso Polita 

Read this 

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1. Havoc "Espiritu" (p)Subterfuge 

Read this 

SPTF


пятница, 14 августа 2020 г.

Poomse “Les Gravacions De La Pandemia Vol.1”

PoomseLes Gravacions De La Pandemia Vol.1” (p)2020 Espora Records


The fourth longplay of Mallorcans Poomse was created, recorded and mixed completely within the most severe phase of COVID19 outbreak in Spain, and it marks another shift in the band's convoluted trajectory: 'lo-fi - sadcore - indie - post-rock'. The band returns to show its potential to create overcompetent music within the frames of any given genre along with the ability to cross those frames if the situation needs this. Moreover, those changes seem neither like facelift nor like a halfway station in the desperate searches of its own way. Rather it's like another stage of constant progress, a slice of some unstoppable motion’s current phase.

P.S. The track “Confinament #5” uses a speech of a Russian politician (I can’t identify him via his voice) on a meeting with the president biggest liar in the history of Russia whose voice we can also hear in the very end of the track. I’m unaware of what it could mean, though.

BNDCMP


 

четверг, 22 декабря 2016 г.

Best of 2016. Albums 1-10

Today I've tried to count up the money I spent on purchasing the new music this year but quickly understood it was an impossible task. And what is more important - it was totally senseless. No matter how many Euros it took - it was the best investment ever. However many hours I spent listening - it was the best thing I could do. 

Previous entries:
Top50. Albums 11-20
Top50. Albums 21-30
Top50. Albums 31-40
Top50. Albums 41-50
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

10. Joan Colomo "Sistema" (p)BCore Disc
...Joan sounds absolutely organic and natural in every direction and every land he steps on...

09. Poomse "This Is How We Fail" (p)Espora
'Less dramatic, more Centro-matic' I wrote on "This Is How We Fail" 3 months ago, and I wrote it for the following reasons: 1) the new album doesn't contain such tragedy-filled tracks as "Daily Bread", and 2) the sound of the album is so perfectly shaped that you almost can imagine the room where it was recorded - the same thing as for Denton, TX uncrowned lo-fi kings' records (though Poomse are quite far from lo-fi now). I'd consider this album less obscure in comparison with "Poomse vs. the Kingdom of Death" and in many aspects more refined, so to speak.

08. Atencion Tsunami "Silencio En La Retaguardia" (p)Records Del Mundo
These men are the chameleons. If you ain't familiar with Records del Mundo family, I'm going to tell you they are same people who created the astonishing "Sillas Voladoras" under the name Incendios and "Pensamiento de Paz Durante Un Ataque Aereo" under the name Paracaidas last year. These projects differ considerably one from another in everything but the team. Different names, different genres - the band is the same. "Silencio En La Retaguardia" is the most unpredictable work of the troupe. Visually both legs in contemporary danceable indie rock, Atencion Tsunami manage to jump 3 miles higher what you may think about while seeing 'contemporary danceable indie rock' tag.
07. Lost Tapes. "Let's Get Lost" (p)Mushroom Pillow
I thought it could be just some good companion to La Habitacion Roja's "Sagrado Corazon" LP when I ordered the latter from the Mushroom Pillow online shop. I had a fear that the single LP might be damaged while travelling 4000 km alone and felt like I needed to choose something more to add some durability to the mail package. So I've chosen the debut album by LHR guitar player Pau Roca's side project LostTapes. All hail the small momentary decisions! This record doesn't even try to hide its influences but wears them proudly instead. Post-shoegaze Cool Britannia's (The Boo Radleys, Wedding Present), the 2000's indie pop (The Radio Dept.) along with the evergreen classics (New Order and Tears for Fears) are mixed in this palette to produce the colours of unique brightness and rare authenticity.

06. Sr. Chinarro "El Progreso" (p)El Segell De Primavera
...the melodic intuition of Antonio is flawless, and we can only pray for this perfection to be prolonged on the subsequent Sr. Chinarro releases...

05. Sorry Kate "Haven Hood" (p)Foehn
...during the first couple of tracks you have to adjust your mind and auditory nerve fibers to embrace the sound, and then sound embraces you...

04. Trinidad "Karma" (p)El Hombre Bala
...lo-fi? No, mostly it's no-fi. Fuck Wavves, fuck Hinds. It's the real spontaniety and the real sincerety transmitted to this world through the mind and soul of the real riot grrrl...

03. Berlina "Desertico" (p)Grabaciones A Montones
"Desertico" made me to dive into the dreampop whirlpoop this year. It may remind you of Catherine Wheel, it may remind you of Rufus T. Firefly, it may remind you of Havalina (it's no surprise it is co-produced by Manuel Cabezali) - with all components in right proportions and right places. "Desertico" is about the textures and thin atmospheres, about slow moves and 'where would they cruise at within the next seconds?' wonderings. "Desertico" is like the puzzle. Just try to solve it.

02. Linda Guilala "Psiconautica" (p)Elefant
With the shiny melodies and a lot of segues that interconnect these shiny melodies into one solid blast of noise pop/shoegaze majesty, with the stunning hooks you will be humming for months, with the wall of sound and the intricate guitar work the Galician band took a giant leap ahead on the new release. It's a conceptual album, and its name probably relates to drug consumption (I don't really know, but for me the word 'psychonaut' is a romantisized synonym for 'junkie'). Initially I wasn't up to listen to it because I thought it might be some kind of psychedelic indie pop. But then I decided to listen to literally EVERYTHING, and it turned out to be really great with all these aforementioned shiny melodies, stunning hooks and the wall of sound that could make Kevin Shields proud.

01. Viva Suecia "La Fuerza Mayor" (p)Subterfuge
The last night of Sonorama'2016 I placed my feet at the first line before the Carson Сamping stage, and from my left side there were three cheeks who looked like, you know, classic teenage Love Of Lesbian fans. For my eyes and ears Viva Suecia were far from overwhelming popularity due to the fact the music of Murcia-based quartet is introspective and slow-burning and visually has no connections with the pop side of the world. And it was kinda real surprise for me to see these gurls beside me knew all the verses and all the names of bandmembers. And they were not alone! It was a real surprise to see this band ready for crowds as I thought Viva Suecia could be just the subject of a small cult following. Now the band is seemingly one step before the indie sub-world stardom, and I hope they'll take this step without making concessions and the major pitch, roll and yaw corrections.


пятница, 30 сентября 2016 г.

Top40 albums of 2016 so far. 9 months report

Three quarters of the year are gone. The summer is gone. The vacation is gone. The creative spark is gone. Even the hope is partly gone. And it's raining out there for hours. But there's always something to keep you going.

40. Edui Bercedo "Historias De Calor" (p)Los 80 Pasan Factura
39. Parade "Demasiado Humano" (p)Jabalina Musica
38. Higinio Orduña "La Cuesta Del Recinto" (p)Discos Imaginarios
37. Nocturnos "Hemos Visto Lobos" (p)self-released
36. Kill Kill "Reacciones A Distancia" (p)Miel de Moscas
35. Stay "The Mean Solar Times" (p)Rock Indiana
34. Fira Fem "Vida Nueva" (p)Subterfuge
33. Postman "Life Can Change In A Moment" (p)Keroxen
32. The Levitants "Coimbra" (p)self-released
31. Apartamentos Acapulco "Justo Y Necesario" (p)Discos Imaginarios
30. Disciplina Atlantico "Disciplina Atlantico" (p)Limbo Starr
29. San Borondon "POP!" (p)self-released
28. Fiera "Aljarafe" (p)Humo
27. Escuelas Pias "Nuevas Degeneraciones" (p)El Genio Equivocado
26. Keep Out "Spicy Mud Cake" (p)self-released
25. The Prussians "Kerala" (p)Green Ufos
24. Biscuit "Biscuit" (p)La Castanya
23. Murciano Total "Enquinias" (p)El Genio Equivocado
22. Delbosque "Interferencias" (p)self-released
21. Retirada! "Victoria Derrota" (p)self-released
20. Bestlife (Under Your Seat) "Invincible Anymore" (p)self-released
19. Cala Vento "Cala Vento" (p)BCore Disc
18. La Habitacion Roja "Sagrado Corazon" (p)Mushroom Pillow
17. Kasparov vs Deep Blue "Flare" (p)self-released
16. El Tercer Semestre "33 1/3" (p)Aloud Music
15. Leon Benavente "2" (p)Warner
14. Monte Del Oso "Existen Moscas Que Se Relajan Durante El Vuelo" (p)Farmway
13. LostTapes "Let's Get Lost" (p)Mushroom Pillow
12. Power Burkas "Llarga Vida Al Taranna" (p)BCore Disc
11. Big Summer "Trigger" (p)El Genio Equivocado
10. Poomse "This Is How We Fail" (p)Espora
09. Sorry Kate "Haven Hood" (p)Foehn
08. Pasavento "Tuvo Su Momento" (p)self-released
07. Sr. Chinarro "El Progreso" (p)El Segell De Primavera
06. Joan Colomo "Sistema" (p)BCore Disc
05. Trinidad "Karma" (p)El Hombre Bala
04. Viva Belgrado "Ulysses" (p)Aloud Music
03. Berlina "Desertico" (p)Grabaciones A Montones
02. Linda Guilala "Psiconautica" (p) Elefant
01. Viva Suecia "La Fuerza Mayor" (p)Subterfuge

The new list is twice as long as the previous [semi-annual] version. There's a lot of 'old friends' in there (and the leader is still intact), but some newcomers have made it to the top10 in the third quarter. The most unexpected of them is, without a doubt, Pasavento's mini album "Tuvo Su Momento". Produced by the men of many talents Marti Perarnau and Ramiro Nieto the debut release of Madrid-based combo fronted by Ignacio Quintero is the noise pop perfection in the vein of Teenage Funclub and their peers with the beautifully jangling guitars and sublime melodies. Never heard of them before the moment when this album suddenly appeared in one of my friend's Facebook post, but now Pasavento are in the forefront of my 'bands to watch' list. 
Also I should point out "This Is How We Fail", the perfectly crafted new album of Poomse (this time on mallorcan indie label Espora Records). Less dramatic, more Centro-matic - and it seems like to-date this album received more reviews from international reviewers than from local ones. The song that you may find below fucken blows my mind. 

There's still over 60 albums to come out up to the end of the year... A lot of stuff to listen to (and to choose the best from).

понедельник, 22 июня 2015 г.

Maicalles "DSPRXR"

Maicalles "DSPRXR" (p)2015 self-released
The solo project of Poomse leader Llorenç Rossello delivers the intelligent and slowly evolving kind of lo-fi music that could be represented by the term 'folktronica'. Most of the songs are so suave and quiet that it sounds like they are afraid of breaking the silence and disturbing the homeostasis of the spheres ("Pla B", "Millor", "Civilitzacio", most of others). But sometimes ("Desapareixer", "Sendak") they dare to get more straightforward approach that leads them somewhere into the territories of Lou Barlow's solo work "EMOH".
The album also includes the track named "Bill Callahan" probably intended to showcase one of the main influence for "DSPRXR". As I don't understand Catalan at all I can't tell you if Llorenç addresses directly to Bill in this song or the name of American lo-fi pioneer is just some kind of lyrical allegory.

The best tracks: Desapareixer, Branques Primes, Bill Callahan, Sendak

Maicalles BANDCAMP

пятница, 12 декабря 2014 г.

The Best Of 2014. Albums 4 - 10

10. Acuario "Cassette Para Los Niños"
(p)Marxophone
The solo analogue electronica project of Nudozurdo's Leo Mateos. These great tunes (imagine something between Depeche Mode's "Some Great Reward" and Dorian's "La Ciudad Subterranea") accompanied by the familiar plaintive vocals of Leo should be the good intermediate POI for the one who's waiting for the next Nudozurdo release - but it's not good, in fact. It appears to be fucking good.
09. Guerrera "Mauna Loa"
(p)Matapadre
A supergroup of sorts (Guerrera represents the members of the local Galician indie bands - such diverse as melodic indie/grunge-oriented Holywater or blackened crust/hardcore Ictus, for example), this band is the energy, the fury and the rampage all incapsulated and wrapped up in psychedelic/ sludge/ progressive thunderstorm.

08. I Am Dive "Wolves"
(p)Foehn
A total opposite to Guerrera, I Am Dive's new album is the quiet slowcore mixed with ambient IDM and dreampop, a perfect soundtrack to the lonely hours spent on the thin border between the reality and the dream.
07. Sr. Chinarro "Perspectiva Caballera"
(p)VEEMMM
In the 2010's Antonio Luque has come to the 'album per year' schedule. But despite the short interims between albums the last one contains some visible changes to the renowned musician's usual template. On his most recent work Antonio sounds like he was bitten by Bill Callahan. So, "Perspectiva Caballera" is the most cohesive album in Sr. Chinarro's history - and probably the saddest one.
06. Niños Mutantes "El Futuro"
(p)Ernie Producciones
Though "Las Noches de Insomnio" and "Naufragos" contained some truly great songs, but they did not work for me as albums. So "El Futuro" is their first album in years which contains some great songs and works very well as a whole.
05. Sidonie "Sierra Y Canada"
(p)Sony/Octubre
The best bittersweet pop album of the year. "These songs surely will make sing and dance along and get stuck in your head for [at least] months", I wrote 8 months ago. And now I must admit that it works just like I predicted.
04. Poomse "Vs.The Kingdom Of Death"
(p)Foehn
With two albums in Top10 and absolutely fantastic Karen Koltrane short album, Barcelona-based Foehn Records is the 'Champion of All Indie Labels' in 2014. The Poomse's album was the first released by Foehn this year - in the very beginning of February, so this album follows me all the year through. With the songs like "Empty Sea", "August, 2011" and especially "Daily Bread" it's the best companion for the old school indie rock fan like me. 

понедельник, 31 марта 2014 г.

Las Resenas Casuales. Poomse "Vs. The Kingdom Of Death"

Poomse "Vs. The Kingdom Of Death" (p)2014 Foehn Records


All the Mallorcan bands that I'm known of... Well they're not so numerous though - I know only three Mallorcan bands: Sexy Sadie, L.A. and Poomse (I don't know exactly what the word 'poomse' means - maybe it's something out of taekwondo vocabulary). They all sing in English, and English of all of them is perfect. From the beginning of this review I should admit that the mere use of English is Poomse's weakest feature (well again - it's all about my own cockroaches in the attic, as I prefer Spanish or Catalan to English). Their best feature anyway is... everything the rest.
"Vs. The Kingdom Of Death" is the second full lenght work of Poomse. While the first one - "Tomorrow Will Come & It Will Be Fine" - was mostly 'one man stand' of Llorenc Rossello who played almost all instruments himself, the new album was recorded as a band.
Poomse play sadcore. Or slow indie rock mixed with americana. Or... Ok, I'm enough with these stylistical measurements now. Let's put it in the way of facts and/or comparisons.
The third number on the disc,seven minutes long "Ronette", plays a homage to titular "Twin Peaks" theme.
"Still Sharks" is the slowest song on the album. Oh no, the next song - "Song For Roberta Sparrow" where Llorenc Rossello sounds like Lou Barlow in the most quiet numbers of his Folk Implosion project - is the slower one. On "August, 2011" Llorenc starts to sound like Robert Pollard (despite the fact that Robert Pollard has never penned such a slow song neither in Guided By Voices nor within zillion of his solo projects). One of the numbers is titled "Tomorrow Will Come" making a bridge to the previous effort. And the closing "The Kingdom Of Death" begins as [seemingly un]controlled destroy but when the first minute is over it turns into the beautiful song which evokes again the reminiscences of Sebadoh/Folk Implosion... at least until the moment when the trumpets are on.
Overall, it's the beautiful album sometimes gloomy sometimes meditative but never boring or sleepy. And "Daily Bread" is the best song that I've listened to in the year of 2014 so far.

The best tracks: Daily Bread, Empty Sea, August 2011, Ronette

вторник, 25 марта 2014 г.

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.