Tucan Morgan "Moon Cabaret Rooms"

Tucan Morgan "Moon Cabaret Rooms" (p)2016 self-released

After two EPs (the first one was produced by Brian Hunt, the second was mastered by Manuel Cabezali) the metropolitan band Tucan Morgan has released their first longplay - this time produced by Charlie Bautista. With the creative efforts controlled/fine-tuned by such the renowned persons it's apparent that the band is worth a listen, and after I picked up this album once (quite occasionally) it became apparent to me that the band is worth more than just one occasional listen. 

Despite quite old school country/blues approach (at times it seems like Tucan Morgan would perfectly fit for some motorcycle gang saloons lost in the prairie) this music has a room for fantasy, there is enough space to think these songs further. A good feature for cinematography.

The best tracks: "Ghost", "Move On Fast", "All Is Going Well", "Plateau"

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Trinidad "Karma"

Trinidad "Karma" (p)2015 El Hombre Bala

The Replacements. Sebadoh in their rawest (more Eric Gaffney and Jake Loewenstein, less Lou Barlow), Zuzu's Petals (the long-forgotten 90's band of Paul Westerberg's ex-wife Laurie Lindeen), Scout Niblett on speed. Lo-fi? No, mostly it's no-fi. Fuck Wavves, fuck Hinds. It's the real spontaniety and the real honesty transmitted to this world through the mind and soul of the real riot grrrl. This album is mindblowingly fucking cool.

The best tracks: Puto Retrasado Emocional De Mierda, Autoengano A Terceros, Love Song #2, El Jardin Del Gatillazo

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The Best Of 2015. The One And Only #1

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11x11 (EP's and mini albums)

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With this last post of the year I'm going to tell you what album is on the top of the list. I could make some kind of secret, or a prank ("Hey! It's PXXR GVNG!!!") out of it, but it's apparent that the best album in Spanish rock music this year is Pumuky's "Justicia Poetica". According to this blog, it was on the very top since the day it was presented to public, and nothing in this world could put it down.

Pumuky "Justicia Poetica" (p)2015 Jabalina Musica Listen/Buy

The Best Of 2015. Editor's Pick

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11x11 (EP's and mini albums)

10x10

9x9

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2x2

Dorian "Diez Anos Y Un Dia" (p)I*M Records Buy Listen
Igloo "Igløø2" (p)Ernie Producciones Listen/Buy

Before the name of the one and only best album of the year 2015 is revealed I should declare two more albums that really made my year. In fact, for me and my small family these are the most played albums at home or in our car (or in a car rented while travelling by Spain). It is my decision to put them in the separate category as the songs they contain (mostly) aren't new. But these are not the compilations in the pure sense of the term because every old song is rethought, remade and refaced. In other words, both bands made some kind of the cover versions of their own songs in a way which was apparently different to these bands' modi operandi.  So I have no idea how to treat these albums in terms of categorization.
Anyway, this is not the most important thing about "Diez Anos Y Un Dia" and "Igløø2". The main thing is that Igloo and Dorian sound absolutely natural in the new found formats and it gives an additional dimension to their art. Which means that if they were already three-dimensional before this, then now they are the tesseracts.

The Best Of 2015. 2x2

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11x11 (EP's and mini albums)

10x10

9x9

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Cuzin "Problemas Epicos" (p)Gran Tigre Listen/Buy
Incendios "Las Sillas Voladoras" (p)Records Del Mundo Listen/Buy

This could be the top list of any Deep Elm Records junkie - a post-hardcore album and a post-rockily cinematic shoegaze album. The DIY-aesthetics and the massive sonic grandeur. Two monolith records you'd better not miss, because if you miss them - your year 2015 wouldn't be full. Just imagine you've spent the whole September in a coma.

The Best Of 2015. 3x3

See also:
11x11 (EP's and mini albums)
10x10
9x9
8x8
7x7
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5x5
4x4

Anni B Sweet "Chasing Illusions" (p)Subterfuge Buy

Zahara "Santa" (p)G.O.Z.Z. Listen/Buy

The Bright "Lineas Divisorias" (p)Subterfuge Buy

Is it a coincidence or a new trend? When Russian Red released her "Agent Copper" last year turning her face from mostly acoustic singer/songwriter folk to the vintage pop wrapped up in all these 70's sounds and the smoke of Nancy Sinatra's cigarettes - did any green light flash out somewhere as a sign? Or some ribbon was cut?
The three presented albums are standing in a line with "Agent Cooper", and, fortunately, still it doesn't look like a fashion trend because though these albums are pretty close in aesthetics, in details there are less similarities than differencies. The one thing is common anyway - these are the works of true beauty and overwhelming perfection.
One more common thing is that Ana Lopez, Zahara Gordillo Campos and the duo of Miryam Gutierrez and Anibal Sanchez considerably shifted their stylistic approach with the new albums. But what I'm really trying to say is that this shift means something more than a course correction or just the three great albums at a time. I mean, globally speaking, there is a larger sense to that: right now, right before our eyes something is happening - and it's the birth of Divas.

The Best Of 2015. 4x4

See also:
11x11 (EP's and mini albums)
10x10
9x9
8x8
7x7
6x6
5x5

Monte Del Oso "Esto Tiene Que Doler" (p)Farmway Listen/Buy

Los Ultimos Banistas "Expedicion" (p)Son Buenos Listen/Buy

Homeless "La Ciencia Lo Sabe" (p)Discos Del Rollo Listen/Buy
Clara Plath "Grand Battement" (p)RockCD Listen/Buy

Climbing higher and higher up the podium now I'm getting close to the pack of albums that surprised me the most. 12 months ago I wasn't learned about these 4 bands. Moreover, I had no idea about these 4 labels these bands were on.
Being nothing more just a devoted listener and music fan the main thing I like about music is when you suddenly get astonished by what you're listening to in this particular moment of time. I'm constantly seeking for the surprise, and when I got it from any certain song it makes the strongest emotion, it makes me shiver, it makes me go goosebumps, it gives me these good vibrations much talked about. So the most important thing I feel about these albums is that each of them - be it the true 90's indie rock (Monte Del Oso) or psychedelic pop brilliance (Los Ultimos Banistas), be it noise pop in its catchiest form (Homeless) or female-fronted guitar-driven rock charged with both emotion and sexuality (Clara Plath) - became a great astonishment for me. I hope they'll be the same for you.