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

Las Resenas Casuales. Cabeza Borradora "The Jack Nance EP"

Cabeza Borradora "The Jack Nance EP" (p)2014 no label defined at the moment

The former alternative dance Canarian outfit Cabeza Borradora returned to activity with the series of concerts that took place the last year, and now their return is marked by the new release: "The Jack Nance EP" named after the late actor starred in the David Lynch first feature-lenght movie that gave name to the band (Spanish 'cabeza borradora' means 'eraserhead' in English). So gone is the mix of danceable Jesus Jones-like post-Cool Britrannia as well as the trippy left-field electronica the band was known for previously in their active years before almost 15 years long hiatus. Here we have the music as quiet as nervous, creepy, noisy and scary. These four tracks of total 30 minutes long could be the perfect soundtrack to any of the convoluted and frightening Lynch's masterpiece. 

"The Jack Nance EP" on bandcamp

Las Resenas Casuales. Dulce Pájara de Juventud "Dulce Pájara de Juventud", "Faithful Songs EP"

Dulce Pajara De Juventud "Dulce Pajara De Juventud" (p)2012 BCore Disc
Dulce Pajara De Juventud "Faithful Songs" (p)2014 BCore Disc

Another band from the brilliant #BCore roster. 

On their 1st full lenght [initially it seems like] these young Barcelonians play driving indie rock in the vein of Superchunk or Sebadoh. From the first glance it might seem to be not so original now in the second decade of 21st century, but their juvenile passion and honest attitude could make you fall for them. The first three songs are (or rather could be) the potential smash hits but then the canvas of the album is somehow torn in pieces by the tracks like segue-like "Nacer 3" or almost speechless "The Fear" or 'Blur-meets-any californian punk' "Junior VS Death". What follows this rather unexpected consequense is another Superchunk-inspired song "Dulce Pajara", and you may think that it rails the album back on the track that was drawn by the initial songs. But this disc is not about obvious decisions, so you'll surely get some surprises until the end.

The new 3-song EP is a bit more experimental in terms of song structures and dynamics (with the latter sometimes travelling somewhere in the fruitful meadows of the post-hardcore rhythmical textures). The lead track "Evelyn Fuck Machine" (I suppose the name of the song should somehow relate to the EP's sardonic cover) is a killer track. The  next "Faithful Songs" consists of the sequence of at least six non-cyclic melodic progressions that combine such the different styles of indie rock as noise or chamber pop. The last song "Benjamin" is a relaxed one but it also contains some twists and turns in itself. Under the bottom line, this EP is a great appetizer. I hope that the sophomore full lenght release of Dulce Pajara De Juventud is underway.

The best tracks:

from "Dulce Pajara De Juventud" - Feel, Gigalove, We'll Fight Them On The Peaches

from "Faithfyl Songs" - Evelyn Fuck Machine

To listen and/or buy please HAZ CLICK AQUI.
Or AQUI.

Las Resenas Casuales. Cuello "Modo Eterno"

Cuello "Modo Eterno" (p)2014 BCore Disc

Cuello have produced the second LP in last two years, the 10 songs of the fast melodic punk rock. Unusually for punk rock, these songs are not of 1.5 - 2 minutes long. The band has the close ties with the avant garde hardcore reformators and labelmates Betunizer, and through some moments you could see this fact clearly: the members of Cuello are experimenting with the rhythms and dynamics sometimes stepping into the convoluted sonic fields of post-hardcore but never falling off the major course. The best track on the album is probably "San Balon" which can remind you of the best moments in the life of Portland, OR band Pond - one of the most harshly underrated bands of the grunge era. But the furious "Tu Fuego De Luces" or simple but catchy "Campeon" could equally challenge this. Finally, I'd like to prevent you from messing the 'melodic punk rock' and 'pop punk rock' terms: "Modo Eterno" is by all means melodic, but it's definitely not pop.

The best tracks: San Balon, Campeon, Tren De Poder, Tu Fuego De Luces

Los Treinta Principales. #18. Nudozurdo "Tara Motor Hembra"

#18. Nudozurdo "Tara Motor Hembra" (p)2011 Everlasting Records

This album stands in the crossroads of post-rock, hardcore/post-hardcore and Los Planestas. The Madrid-based band successfully mixed fractured rhythmical structures with the energetic but smooth guitar work and plaintive vocals. While the first three songs are the best ones on the album in terms of memorability and accessibility (especially "Prometo Hacerte Dano" which was arguably the creative peak of Nudozurdo at that moment) the rest of the 10-song album is the most interesting part because of the band's experimentation with tempos, dynamics and the methods of expression. There are no two similar songs on the disc, and its emotional flowchart is fluctuating like a rollercoaster between bulldozer-fighting almost seven minutes long "Conoci El Amor" and even longer yet much more melodic violin-flavoured "Dosis Modernas".

The band was sparkling with ideas on "Tara Motor Hembra" and it should not be overlooked.

The best tracks: Prometo Hacerte Dano, Golden Gotele, No Me Toqueis, Dosis Modernas

Los Treinta Principales. #19. Sidonie "El Fluido Garcia"

#19. Sidonie "El Fluido Garcia" (p)2011 Octubre/ Sony Music

The Catalan rock chameleons took another turn of their career on "El Fluido Garcia", a space psychedelic retro rock album. The thick fuzzy sound wraps around the best songs the band ever wrote. For the first time the Hospitalet de Llobregat trio consiting of Marc, Jesus & Axel made a pack of melodies you would not want to fine-tune a bit. So, with all of its twists and turns, noisy guitar solos, Ringo Starr-ian drums and smoke-drenched athmosphere "El Fluido Garcia" transfers you 40 years back, like the 2010's are the new 70's, without ever sounding dated.

The best tracks: La Huida, Perros, A Mil Anos Luz

Las Resenas Casuales. Grises "Animal"

Grises "Animal" (p)2014 Sony Music

When any tiny indie band travels from tiny indie label to the international money-making machine one day, usually you can expect them to go more 'pop' on their nex release. Grises simultaneously follow this template and follow it not. Jumping from Origami Records to Spanish division of Sony Music this band of Pais Vasco origin (yes, another band of Pais Vasco origin that mixes synthetizers with 2000's danceable indie rock) have created the album which is considerably more distinct in comparison to two previous releases - it is louder, richer, and overall juicier than its predecessors. But despite of being [only] the polished and well-produced pop record, it also shows the band's intention to develop and to continue experimenting. Now Grises flirt with alternative metal sounds:  really, "Animal" even got a couple of guitar solos, and when this fuzzed-to-the-max bassline steps in the second half of "Impares" it sounds like some of the 'djent' band's trade. For the band that is treading the same path as a bunch of like-minded contemporaries who were there before Grises (Delorean and Dorian, in the first place) it's not a bad choice to set themselves apart from the common thread. 

The best tracks: Lopan, Impares, Aprieta Los Dientes, Alienigenas