Gonzalo Fuster "Almacenero Marx"

Gonzalo Fuster "Almacenero Marx" (p)2020 Discos Belamarh

Have you ever noticed that the most simple sounding music is often the hardest to describe? This is the case of “Almacenero Marx”. It sounds like it’s 60% silence or indistinct homemade ambient noises but how would you describe the other 40%? Free-form minimal no-wave neo-classical musique concrete acid jazz with sporadic laughter, interfamilial dialogues or a toddler's mutter used as vocals? Ok, let's put it like that's the real thing. Do you get the idea? Chances are you don't. It needs to listen to the record to get the idea of it. One-take spontaneity mixed with bedroom pop techniques mixed with avant-garde mind of the former El Ser Humano mastermind.

BNDCMP

Venezia Rojo Shocking "Playful EP"

Venezia Rojo Shocking "Playful EP" (p)2020 

It's good cuz the songs are damn good.

It's bad cuz it's only three song long.

For the fans of James, Idlewild, Galaxie 500. Mostly James.

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Sr. Chinarro "El Bando Bueno"

Sr. Chinarro "El Bando Bueno" (p)2020 Mushroom Pillow

I do believe "El Bando Bueno" might easily be considered the career's best for Sr. Chinarro as it's got everything for that. It's ideal, undoubtedly. Regarding his earlier legacy (let’s say, every album up to “Enhorabuena A Los Cuatro”), I mostly like all these albums but there always are the songs that I don’t like. This is the album where I like every particular song. I insist on there is no weak song on "El Bando Bueno". But for me personally, I still love his saddest, bleakest, most brooding releases (namely "Perspectiva Caballera" and "El Progreso") more than this one because this one sounds a bit too comfortable. It sounds like the man is... happy?

SPTF

Noné Gómez "La Edad De Otro Mundo"

Nonė Gómez “La Edad De Otro Mundo” (p)2019 Clifford Records

I’ve tried to dissect this short album multiple times but every time I tried the only conclusion I got was that short forms didn't fit the genre perfectly. 

These are the four songs with simple and distinct melodies that can be allocated to power pop category. A melody a song. No drastic rhythm changes. No complicated arrangements. No considerable shifts in dynamics. Neither polished nor lo-fi. Maybe an Echo And The Bunnymen influence. And I can’t escape the feeling it all might work much better if the supply wasn’t so scarce.

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Ballena "Odisea Ballena"

 Ballena "Odisea Ballena" (p)2020 Subterfuge

Their previous longplay sounded like the recording studio was haunted by Santiago Motorizado during the process. I don't speak about direct borrowings - it's rather like Ballena and The Band From The Other Side Of The Pond aka El Mato A Un Policia Motorizado shared the same atmosphere or the common mood. "Odisea Ballena", while following nearly the same path, is way more diverse than "Navarone". The band sounds like trying to push every boundary in every direction so some songs get wider, bigger, louder while the other ones get more poppy and lightweight. Looks like the law of the expansion of the universe in miniature and it's as cool as it gets because it's always cool when the music itself gets more sophisticated without making you into studying rocket science. 

SPTF

Nueva Vulcano "Ensayo"

Nueva Vulcano "Ensayo" (p)2020 BCore Disc/ La Castanya 

It's been five years since critically acclaimed "Noveleria" was brought to light. In the times of streaming such the long span of dormancy (though they’ve never been completely silent during this time) could be detrimental for any career in music but it’s obviously not the case of Nueva Vulcano. It's time to declare the following: despite the significant time gap between records little has changed for the leaders of Catalan post-hardcore scene. Picking up right where they left off back in the year 2015 they are stepping into the new decade with another piece of solid gold full of off-key vocals, angular bass lines and guitars that flow freewillingly around the rhythm section. You're not gonna confuse it with anyone else's. As far as I can see, in terms of critical acclaim "Ensayo" is destined to follow the path of its predecessors marking one more milestone in the career of the Barcelona underground kingpins.

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Fanaticos "Resiliencia"

 Fanaticos "Resiliencia" (p)2020 Flor Y Nata

While not the most original and authentic entity in the world, this album is an enjoyable set of songs for those who appreciates the melodicism and hit potential rather than the mere experimentation. Despite the presence of Ivan Ferreiro (with the different take on his own "Años 80" implanted into the album's best track "Todo") this is not the kind of record destined for hype and heavy rotation. So you could listen to the good pop song kinda embracing your own exclusiveness.

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