Rock Español A Través De Los Ojos De Un Ruso

воскресенье, 22 декабря 2019 г.

The Best Of 2019. TOP50. 11-20

20. Aitor Etxebarria «Nihilism Part 1»

(p)El Segell

SPTF

The music of irresistible beauty.

19. Selvatica «Macumba»

(p)Discos de Kirlian

BNDCMP

Read this

18. Crononauta «Dibujando Al Azar»

(p)Clifford

BNDCMP

The power pop duo whose name is absolutely new to me. The album was produced by Paco Roman so the sound of guitars is quite intricate.

17. Niña Coyote Eta Chico Tornado «Aitzstar»

(p)Pozoi

BNDCMP

Ursula Strong & Koldo Soret go a bit more experimental on their fourth longplay.

16. Almacenes Merida «Problemas»

(p)self-released

BNDCMP

The loud guitar rock album born in the very south of the state.

15. Retirada! «Son»

(p)El Segell

BNDCMP

The second in a row perfect release of the dreamy gazy duo from Catalonia.

14. Las Ruinas «Alucinaje»

(p)El Genio Equivocado

BNDCMP

The prolific Catalan trio announced their separation earlier this year, and it's so sad cos their last album is coincidentally their best.

13. Agoraphobia «Unaligned»

(p)DotMusic

BNDCMP

Though “Unaligned” mostly repeats the tricks of “Incoming Noise” it doesn’t make it any worse. The formula still works.

12. Exxasens «Revolution»

(p)self-released

BNDCMP

The best post rock album I listened to in a couple of years.

11. Leon Impala «El Plan»

(p)self-released

SPTF

Fortunately "El Plan" has nothing in common with those from down under whose name first come to mind when you see the word 'impala'.

21 - 30

суббота, 21 декабря 2019 г.

The Best Of 2019. TOP50. 21-30

30. La Linea Roja «Todo Esta Bien»

(p)Pikotako

SPTF

The band formerly known as Temas Incomodos - and more recently as simply Incomodos - underwent the second name change and released their strongest effort as La Linea Roja. Indie/alt rock at its best.

29. Apartamentos Acapulco «El Resto Del Mundo»

(p)El Ejercito Rojo/Volcan

BNDCMP

For the first time I tried to listen to it via the mobile phone speaker, and it just didn't work. The next time I used on-year headset to regain the better sound quality - and that's when that perfectly detailed shoegaze/space rock album started to shine.

28. Xavier Calvet «Crosswinds»

(p)BCore Disc

BNDCMP

The solo project by the Bullitt's mastermind who has already appeared in this list as 1/4 of Jamie 4 President. Xavier is a gifted singer/songwriter with a penchant for writing breezy folk songs with the light inside.

27. Ma Pogo «Pour Ceux Qui Ne Sont Plus La»

(p)El Hombre Bala

BNDCMP

The electro rock married with post punk and French chanson tradition to excellent results.

26. Espiritusanto «Exfuturo»

(p)Jabalina Musica

BNDCMP

This warm and sunny dreampop has grown out from "Just Like Heaven" and the sweetest moments of, dunno… Ride?

25. Side Chick «Side Chick»

(p)Foehn

BNDCMP

The rare bird in the Foehn Records' nest - a rock band. You know, when 'rock' means 'rock'.

24. El Tercer Semestre «四»

(p)Kame Hame

BNDCMP

I have no idea what the name of this album means but it doesn't matter. All that matters is the fact that eclectic post rock/math rock is gorgeous.

23. Pandorado «Seres»

(p)RockCD

SPTF

The debut album by the Leonese alt-rock quintet. Produced by Manuel Cabezali.

22. Parade «La Deriva Sentimental»

(p)Jabalina Musica

BNDCMP

The warmest effort by the longstanding indietronica project of Antonio Galvan. The beautiful songs to dive into and dream on.

21. Medalla «Medalla»

(p)El Segell

BNDCMP

The considerable step forward for the Barcelona-based loud rock combo.

31 - 40

41 - 50

HONORABLE MENTION

TOP10 EPs

пятница, 20 декабря 2019 г.

The Best Of 2019. TOP50. 31-40

40. Chaqueta de Chandal «Gimnasia Menor»

(p)Bankrobber

BNDCMP

One foot in Jonathan Fire*eater. Instead of guitars, the heavily distorted synths are the sonic dominant of this music that I'd describe as 'shamanistic'.

39. Honolulu «Honolulu»

(p)Foehn

BNDCMP

The album I would like to listen while seating alone on the edge of the abandoned bridge staring at the river that runs slowly underneath my feet.

38. Roig! «Disc Estrella»

(p)Bubota Discos

BNDCMP

You can imagine this band to be the third vertex of the triangle where the other two are Da Souza and Jorra I Gomorra.

37. Sen Senra «Sensaciones»

(p)Sonido Muchacho

BNDCMP

Post-all cross-everything male cousin of Amaia's "Pero No Pasa Nada". The ideal pop muisc of a world better than ours.

36. Berlina «Regresiones»

(p)Ciudad Oasis

BNDCMP

"Desiertico", the Manuel Cabezali-produced previous album of Berlina was a runner-up in my 2016's Top50 list. 3,5 years ago the band returns with equally strong set of songs.

35. No Fucks «No Fucks»

(p)Discos de Kirlian

BNDCMP

Pop/punk indie pop with lo-fi sound, slacker approach and great melodies. Surely a band to follow.

34. Da Loma «El Espejo»

(p)Limbo Starr

SPTF

I can only repeat the same thing I wrote yesterday on Basurita's "Primer Juramento": 'The band I know absolutely nothing about. I just pressed play to check it out and then all of a sudden found myself captured'

33. Jamie 4 President «Consolation Prize»

(p)BCore Disc

BNDCMP

"Nada Surf on speed" kind of music performed by the all-star punk band. Madrid - Sant Feliu de Guixols connection rules!

32. Rombo «Clara Montse Nuria»

(p)Indian Runners

BNDCMP

All-female trio delivers the fragile and naive indie pop given the fact that these fragile melodies are often covered with the fuzzed-out lo-fi guitars.

31. Bifannah «Danças Liquidas»

(p)The John Colby Sect

BNDCMP

The Galician band successfully tries to step over the frontiers set by their 'maiden trip' release "Maresia".

41 - 50

HONORABLE MENTION

TOP10 EPs

четверг, 19 декабря 2019 г.

The Best Of 2019. TOP50. 41-50

Let's start with the main list.

50. Les Cruet «Cervols, Astres»

(p)Bankrobber

BNDCMP

The new album of the Catalan band treads the same path as its predecessor: the noisy hardcore/punk rock spiced with the sandpaper voice of Laura Crehuet.

49. Break the Senses «Future, Love & Chaos»

(p)Made In Universe

BNDCMP

A pack of loud alt-rock songs in the vein of Biffy Clyro (my favorite is "Magical Things").

48. Trial «El Nou Estirabot»

(p)Microscopi

SPTF

The genre-bending art-punk with [as long as I can see] dadaist approach in lyrics.

47. El Lado Oscuro De La Broca «Salvaje Oeste»

(p)El Genio Equivocado

BNDCMP

Musically the band from Zamora doesn't cheat on itself providing us with a bunch of strong melodies covered with the constant buzz of guitars.

46. Kaskezur «Ihesi Doaz Animalak»

(p)Mukuru

BNDCMP

The music of the post punk quartet from Navarra resembles the middle-era Sonic Youth ("Experimental Jet Set, Trash & No Star", in particular).

45. Cruz Perro Maldito self-titled

(p)Discos Delejos

BNDCMP

This kind of music usually is not my piece of pie but this particular release from the newborn Canarian indie label convinced me into being a fan.

44. Ultim Cavall «Alaska»

(p)Discos de Kirlian

BNDCMP

"Alaska", as the logical progression of the perfect "Records De Kyoto", still obtains this foggy atmosphere and fragile melodies.

43. Basurita «Primer Juramento»

(p)Subterfuge

SPTF

The band I know absolutely nothing about. I just pressed play to check it out and then all of a sudden found myself captured.

42. Mazoni «Decig Imbecil»

(p)Bankrobber

BNDCMP

Mazoni's new album is loud, harsh and edgy - thus, it's the complete opposite to his 2017's "Carn, Os I Tots Inclos".

41. Julieta 21 «Contacto»

(p)El Planeta Sonoro

SPTF

You may call it 'commercialized indie' but I'm not so highbrow, and I like it. These songs are perfectly composed, perfectly performed and perfectly recorded.

TOP10 EPs

HONORABLE MENTION

среда, 18 декабря 2019 г.

The Best Of 2019. Honorable Mention

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

Blue Rodeo «Universo»/ «Vespertinos» (p)El Hombre Bala/ Los 80 Pasan Factura BND/CMP

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

TOP10 EPs

вторник, 17 декабря 2019 г.

The Best Of 2019. Top10 EPs and mini-albums

Starting this I don't feel good cos for the most part of the year I was pretty silent here. Was it the writer's block or any kind of fatigue (or I was just too lazy) - I didn't manage to maintain the frequency of the posting set by the previous years' experience. But it's the end of the year, and there's a tradition I can't avoid. So please find below 10 amazing albums too small to make it into the main list. I'm not pretty sure about the certain order so let's put it like this: these are the best short form releases of the year with neither particular order nor one and only number one. All of these are great.