Not A Number "A Life Made Of Wood"

 Not A Number "A Life Made Of Wood" (p)2000 El Hombre Bala Records

The ideal emo-rock of the 21st century as it should be if it only skipped its appalling third wave and jumped from Braid, Rainer Maria & "Clarity" straightaway to the fourth one – the rough, spiny and disheveled as a canary pinetree pictured on the disc’s front cover. With greater exposure this band and this album could rival this year's heatseekers like Sorry or Retirement Party on an equal.

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Ajeeb "Toss And Turn"

 Ajeeb "Toss And Turn" (p)2020 El Hombre Bala Records

This album by a Lanzarote-based threesome is the inflammable – and highly enjoyable – alternative rock seasoned with the lesser amounts of psychedelic rock, post-hardcore and alt-metal much in the vein of the British rockers Pulled Away By Horses and a bunch of American bands that single out Husker Du as their main influence. Genre-wise it’s not the most apparent entry for El Hombre Bala's back catalogue – but this imprint never (and when I say ‘never’ I mean exactly ‘never’) submerges below ‘very good’ notch.

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Hinds "The Prettiest Curse"

Hinds "The Prettiest Curse" (p)2020 Mom + Pop Music

Like any 'brat pack' movie this album is a perfect coming-of-age showcase. When the initial intoxication of hype has mostly come down with the badge of 'the hottest Spanish band' passing to Mourn and then to Melenas it was the best moment to move away from the disheveled pattern of the first two slabs. And the girls just did it right. While "The Prettiest Curse" is not a winner in its entirety (arguably, "Boy", "Come back And Love Me <3" and "This Moment Forever" are the weakest points) the potential of the album's highlights ("Riding Solo", "Good Bad Times") makes me considering them something more than once-overhyped one trick ponys.

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FCBK

Magick Brother & Mystic Sister "Magick Brother & Mystic Sister"

Magick Brother & Mystic Sister "Magick Brother & Mystic Sister" (p)2020 The John Colby Sect/ Sound Effect Records

This should be the first time I managed to coin a completely new term - 'hypnofolk'. But I googled it beforehands and it appeared that it existed already (who the fuck is Pietro Russino???) So my triumph was postponed indefinitely. Then I started to think it over cuz, you know, that feeling when you've got something in your hands and then it's gone - it's embarassing.

Spacefolk? Already exists.

Krautfolk? Exists.

Dreampsych. Yep (out of musical context but anyway...)

Quasipsych? Fuck, how come?! Even 'quasipsych' already exists. I can't believe it!

I give up. Sorry. Not today.

***

I know it seems like the most stupid review ever but I do insist it's not cuz you've got enough information now to consider the subject correctly.

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FCBK

THE JOHN COLBY SECT

Detergente Liquido "Tu Tampoco Eres Como Antes"

Detergente Liquido "Tu Tampoco Eres Como Antes" (p)2020 

This is my seventh review in the times of crisis (for those who are reading this in the year 2230: these are the months of 2020's coronavirus outbreak and as of now while we're still somewhere in the middle of the process we have no idea where for the god's sake it all may lead us) and previously I rarely managed to sustain such density of production. Well, if not now, when?
"Tu Tampoco Eres Como Antes" ("You Are Not Who You Used To Be, Too") is a tiny record, a 4 song EP - and the fact I'm translating the title is important cos the substantial part of the band's charm lies within their lyrical content. "The One Who Thinks About Leaving Is Not Aready Here" is the name of the first track. What do you think? Sounds great, right? I myself think it's great. Moreover, the things are not so lopsided as the most sceptical of you may consider, and the phrase "substantial part" doesn't mean "to the extent where you have to take a microscope to discover any other advantages". On the previuos release "Con Miedo Al Amor Por Las Personas Sin Tiempo" the band reached the point where the importance of the lyrics is harmonized completely with the competence of instrumental part - and they're still working on it trying to evolve further. I believe, as of now Detergente Liquido is the most musically intriguing indie pop band of Spain what is evidenced perfectly by this EP.

FCBK

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Atalaya Roja "Quemad Las Naves!"

Atalaya Roja "Quemad Las Naves!" (p)2020 self-released

If I finally managed to start a band to play the songs I had been writing for my entire life, for good or bad that band supposedly would play something like this: the guitar-driven lyrics-centered rock music that sounded pretty 90's. And if I only worked up the courage to enter a studio to record an album the result most likely would be like this: a pack of songs (half in my native language, half in English) that bear some DIY aesthetics avoiding excessive studio trickery, sound experiments or flirtations with today's fashion trends. Neither pretty clean nor quite hook-heavy - but it would be very 'right in your face'. Love it or leave it - the former is ok but the latter's not gonna kill me. Would it be gorgeous, or ideal, or perfect? I suppose, no. Besides, it wouldn't be targeted at gaining much attention. It would rather be about trying to find like-minded persons to connect to. Just like "Quemad Las Naves!" probably - at least from my point of view - is.

P.S. As revealed once in an interview, the name of the band is traced back to one of best places in the world for me personally: El Medano's Montana Roja, TF. You know, when driving down by TF-64 from Granadilla de Abona it fucking makes me shiver every time I see that piece of coastal area that lies directly below - always lit by the sun and stroked with the seashore ripples...

FCBK
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Palo Alto "Self Defense"

Palo Alto "Self Defense" (p)2020 self-released

Hey, what a hidden gem they are! Unclassifiable Sevilla-based quartet crerates a strange amalgam of Hood, Blonde Redhead, Kodaline and "m b v"-era My Bloody Valentine. Though the abovementioned referential names could hardly be considered a breakthrough in contemporary indie music, the introspective southerners - under surveillance of Tero Heikkinen (Kindata) - have managed to create something fascinating. These are the new fresh sounds of intellectual pop music with plenty of hooks and the aftertaste of innovation.

FCBK

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