Some time ago I contacted Manolo Breis, a singer/songwriter from Murcia, and purchased 3 of his CDs directly from him. Now they appeared in my postal box and made me happy. Why so happy? Just because. Because I like Manolo's music. Because I like this kind of singers/songwriters - not only Spanish (Josh Rouse, Graham Colton, David Gray, to name a few). Because this man really can pen A Song.
These three albums are "Siempe Es Manana", "Asuntos Pendientes" and "Verna", consequently 4th, 5th and 7th full-lenghts of this prolific musician's back catalogue. Since "Verna" was already reviewed here, there are some words about other two releases. "Asuntos Pendientes" definitely is the most rock-oriented of the three. It has some great slow-evolving songs like "Hasta El Final" or "La Vida" but mostly it's upbeat and driving. I suppose that this album can be considered the best Breis' album on par with 2013's "Invisibles" (which is unfortunately out of order on CD).
"Siempre Es Manana" is at times rocking as well, but overall its sound is considerably more stripped-down and subdued. And the classic Americana flavour (with all of its harmonicas, pedal steel vibratos and slide effects) is more than noticeable here - just switch the language and you'll get the Nashville-born record. So from today's point of view it could be described as the intermediate yet necessary step from who Breis was then to who he is as of now.
Most of the albums of this independent artist could be downloaded from his bandcamp page on 'name your price' basis.
