As usual, the main list of the best albums is prefaced by the Honorable Mention list.
This time the list consists of 20 albums that are too good to be abandoned but there are some reasons why they are not included into the main list. I’m still feeling sad I can’t write something about every album mentioned below due to time restrictions (as I would like to think) or the horrible truth about deterioration of my English skills (something I’d prefer to avoid thinking of).
Anyway, there are two bands that have decided to call it a day this year. The first one is Tom Boyle. “Mar De Fondo” was intended to be the first in the series of EPs set to release in 2019 but the band abruptly split instead. The next one is Tourmalet. IMHO, “Fausto” is not their strongest effort – but the band was great and it’s sad they ceased to continue.
Clara Plath is back from the maternity leave with the album that set the new direction for the band. If you can imagine acoustic goth rock – that’s what it sounds like. The material of “Oscura” is 50% old/ 50% new and that’s why this album is not in the main list.
Regarding Delafe’s “Hay Un Lugar”, melodically it’s a great album but it’s too subdued. You know, the music sounds like all the main parts were deleted from the mix during the mixing process, and now you can listen only to the echoes and secondary undertones of what was initially intended to be music.
The Birkins’ “You Are Not Alone” is a true gem. When I first listened to this 2-disc tribute to Bowie’s immortal masterpiece “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” my only emotion could be best expressed by that Futurama's Fry-starred “Shut up and take my money“ old meme. Look, they’ve got Jonathan Donahue in the mix!
And yes - Leon Benavente is in this section.
En Septiembre «En La Constante Hay Un Bosque» (p)self-released BNDCMP
Grande Days «A Way To Collapse» (p)Elsa Records BNDCMP
Karabash «Societat Accidental» (p)Au! Records BNDCMP
Pauline En La Playa «El Salto» (p)self-released BNDCMP
The Night Animal «La Nocion del Impacto» (p)Orchard SPTF
Latigo Mantra «Diseccion» (p)Delia Records BNDCMP
Los Buges «Rendezvouz» (p)Discos Furia SPTF
Mad Robot «Punch Me, Kiss Me, Fuck You» (p)Endoftheworld/ Borx BNDCMP
Delafe «Hay Un Lugar» (p)self-released SPTF
Leon Benavente «Vamos A Volvernos Locos» (p)Warner SPTF
Tom Boyle «Mar de Fondo» (p)self-released BNDCMP
Tourmalet «Fausto» (p)self-released BNDCMP
Power Burkas «Mai Nego L'Oci» (p)BCore Disc/ Famelic BNDCMP
Villanueva «Cuarto De Invitados» (p)Son Buenos SPTF
Clara Plath «Oscura» (p)Flor Y Nata BNDCMP
Birkins «You Are Not Alone» (p)El Genio Equivocado BNDCMP
Tucan «Maniacs, Fools & Jaguars» (p)MCR SPTF
Serpiente «Krizanteilu» (p)Humo BNDCMP
Tiger And Milk «Popular» (p)self-released BNDCMP
