Rock Español A Través De Los Ojos De Un Ruso

понедельник, 21 декабря 2020 г.

The Best Of 2020. Top50. 11 - 20

20. Burrito Panza "Autosabotaje" (p)El Genio Equivocado

"Autosabotaje", the 4th LP of the Albacete-based quartet, is the logical progression of their previous work "El Nuevo Frente Frio". And just like its predecessor, this album is the gentle and intimate take on dreampop/shoegaze's most intelligent version.

19. Bay City Killers "Delivery Of Goods" (p)The Braves Records

18. Marcos Y Molduras "Te Espero En Casa" (p)Discos de Kirlian

The twee pop revivalist girl/boy duo sings odes to daily grind and troubled (or only allegedly troubled) relationships accompanied by drum machine and - surprisingly intense for this kind of music - guitars.

17. Maria Jaume "Fins A Maig No Revisc" (p)Bankrobber

The blueprint of Pau Vallve's production is evident on this LP by 20 years old singer/songwriter from Mallorca. But what amazes me the most is the fact that the songwriting is incredibly competent for a persont in her adolescent years. The bright and beautiful, this album is such a debut most of young songsmiths could only dream of.

16. Dena "Ezer Sentitzeko" (p)self-released

With Berri Txarrak calling it a day and Lisabo rarely coming up for air, I do believe the torch of the best 'loud rock' band from Basque Country #rightnow should be passed to these folks.

15. Matsu "Nosotros" (p)WeAreWolves

I've been using the tagline "trippy, druggy, atmospheric" with negative connotations for years. This time I proudly use it heaving in mind something good. The best electronic album this side of Combray's "Ullapool"

14. Not A Number "A Life Made Of Wood" (p)El Hombre Bala

13. Salina "Lava" (p)Saltamarges/ Discos Delejos/ Beauty Fool

Let's put it simple: the best post-hardcore album of the year.

12. Keep Out "Minimal Songs About The End Of The World" (p)Fakie

This is how the huge fuck you to the world should sound like: dirty, noisy, chaotic, emotionaly charged, oozing with angst and anger lo-fi (I'd rather say, no-fi) manifesto.

11. Super Gegant "Una Casa Als Aiguamolls" (p)The Indian Runners

This album was released in the end of the year 2019 so it didn't get a chance to enter the 2019's annual polls. But this well-balanced blend of jangle pop, post punk, Superchunk and present-day Catalan indie rock surely deserves it.

воскресенье, 20 декабря 2020 г.

The Best Of 2020. Top50. 21 - 30

30. DOM "Emergency" (p)Discos Delejos

29. Terry Vs. Tori "Heathers" (p)El Genio Equivocado

28. El Relevo Aleman "La Septima Invasion" (p)Repetidor

There's something in the music of El Relevo Aleman what I can't resist. Their proportions of grunge/ post-hardcore/ noise rock are almost ideal so everything what they do is my ear's delight.

27. Trau "33/45" (p)U98 Music

The 70's-tinged hook-filled slightly psychedelic indie pop from Catalonia produced by the Catalan indie pop's jack of all trades Roger Gascon.

26. Blusa "Resonance" (p)self-released

The Sevillians don't lower their standards with their most recent release remaining the most hidden gem of Spanish post-rock scene.

25. Ajeeb "Toss And Turn" (p)El Hombre Bala

24. Trial "La Nova Olada" (p)self-released

At the first glance this disc sounds pretty unambitious and nonchalant but when the album terminates you find yourself humming its melodic hooks, and I think it's a perfect feature.

23. Anna Andreu "Els Mals Costums" (p)Hidden Track

Anna Andreu, former one half of indie folk duo Cálido Home, has created this short album of exceptional beauty where space and silence is as important as words and melody.

22. Capitan Sunrise "Dramas del Primer Mundo" (p)Jabalina Musica

21. Da Souza "Salsa Agredolça" (p)Bubota Discos

пятница, 18 декабря 2020 г.

The Best Of 2020. Top50. 31 - 40

40. Junco Y Mimbre "Junco Y Mimbre" (p)Hidden Track

Call it jangle pop, call it college rock. What Junco Y Mimbre lack in ambition they compensate it in quality of songwriting.

39. El Lobo En Tu Puerta "Santana Bendita" (p)Spinda

One of the best metal releases of the year - I mean, one of the best worldwide. Quirky, heavy, inventive, sarcastic and ultra-melodic record whose creators should be proud of.

38. Arista Fiera "Cromatismo Domestico" (p)El Genio Equivocado

The dreampop band from Malaga. There are songs where you think: "Wow, it's the best release of the year!" There is a couple of songs that leave you less enthusiastic. But the weighted average is undoubtedly high.

37. Ana Bejar "Sahara Star" (p)Discos Belamarh

What you see is what you get. Hot, dry, scorched like a world's most famous desert - that's what this music is.

36. Llum "Los Anos Liquidos" (p)Discos De Paseo

It took 8 years for indie pop singer/songwriter Jesus Saez to release the successor to "Limelight" (his previous LP) though he released some singles and EPs in the meantime. What could I say - for sure it was worth waiting for Llum's return.

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

34. Kracauer "Diferencia Y Repeticion" (p)Subterfuge

This name is abolutely new for me. I mean, I know that "kracauer" or "krakauer" means "from Krakow" in German. I know who Jon Krakauer is. But as a band, the name is new. This band is from Murcia, they successfully blend guitars with synths to get a pack of potential hits.

33. Breis "On" (p)Sweet Song/ Producciones Acaraperro

32. Atlantic "Volem Els Ponts" (p)self-released

This is how to make Weezer's music better than Weezer themselves. The two-faced band (with Maria Lopez as frontwoman they perform as Moonflower) shows considerable progress against their debut record as Atlantic ("1976") which was good in its own right but sounded less concentrated.

31. Nucli "Ephemeral Water Courses" (p)Hidden Track/ La Plana Sola

With links to Nueva Vulcano, Bullitt, Cala Vento, Power Burkas and Bad Religion the Catalan band Nucli has created the ultimate punk rock album of the year.

четверг, 17 декабря 2020 г.

The Best Of 2020. Top50. 41 - 50

Sounds fun but the music reviewers are the only persons whose activities weren’t spoiled by the covid19 pandemic. All other parties of the business were affected: musicians, clubs, festivals, promoters, labels, record stores etc. – everyone but reviewers. Nevertheless, my own activities were affected by my laptop’s hard disk crash that ruined the list of 400 albums I had listened to up to that moment (along with my whole iTunes collection). Moreover, I was totally crashed by the untimely passing of my best friend due to post-covid19 complications. That fact derailed me and switched me off the process to the point where I wanted to stop doing it this year. But at the end of the day the music appeared to be the best cure, the best painkiller, the best kind of helper to cope with the loss.

I think, the list you are about to find below - well, one fifth of the list - in no way is the list of anything 'best'. This is the list of impressions. I only hope this music will find its way to impress you as much as it impressed me.

50. Nestor Mir "Un Immens I Infinit Continent" (p)Malatesta

The best choice for those who, like me, have found the latest Pau Vallve's effort a bit too slow and/or sleepy.

49. El Columpio Asesino "Ataque Celeste" (p)Oso Polita

The Basque electro/post punks get warmer and mellower on their sixth LP.

48. Cementeri "Asma, Corte, Afonia, Pisoton" (p)Nooirax/ Spinda/ The Braves

For me, it seems like this music has its roots in Motorhead - but these roots, before reaching the surface of the ground, apparently came through the Betunizer-filled soils.

47. Gessamí Boada "On Començo Jo" (p)Segell Microscopi

It’s so beautiful that my rock-oriented soul can't stand falling in love with it.

46. Lluis Paloma, 'Patinet' "Els Somnis Del Futur S'Escriuran Amb Acer!" (p)El Mamut Traçut

I don't know what it is. I pushed play button to taste it and then just found myself in the end of the last track. But I don't know how to describe it, and what to say more than "It's music".

45. Kohatu "Oskolak" (p)self-released

The metal factory of Basque Country never stops. Berri Txarrak may leave the stage for good but they've got some great heirs in there.

44. Somos La Herencia "Dolo" (p)Humo Intl.

As uncategorizable as the most part of Humo Intl. releases are, this goth/electro/art/punk music is strange, gutwrenching and evocative. And a bit frightening at times.

43. Pinpilinpussies "Fuerza 3" (p)Aloud Music

42. Diego Hdez "Paisajes Confinados" (p)Discos Delejos/ Foehn

41. Gyoza "Early Bird" (p)The Braves Records

среда, 16 декабря 2020 г.

The Best Of 2020. EP's and mini-albums

Top10 EP's and mini-albums (in alphabetical order)

Bullitt "Drawer Sessions" (p)BCore Disc

This is the proof of the simple fact: Bullitt don't make weak songs at all. Even their outtakes are great. I really can't understand how and why they could put such delicious track as "Opening Harbours" aside.

Calibra "Okavango" (p)Polar

The first song contains a guitar line that sounds like a Two Door Cinema Club guitar line. Actually, I hate the sound of TDCC's guitars. In the light of this fact to get into this list looks like even more significant achievement than it really is. What's the answer? The songs. At the end of the day, the answer is always the songs.

Detergente Liquido "Tu Tampoco Eres Como Antes" (p)self-released

Future Ark "John" (p)Leonora

Starting with ethereal IDM at some point the music ascends to Alcest-like post-black only to return to fragile electronica in the end. Finland-born Tero Heikkinen (also of Kindata) has been residing in Sevilla for years where he managed to position himself successfully as an active contributor to the local indie music community. This is his second solo EP under Future Ark moniker.

Honolulu "Gold" (p)Foehn

Honolulu is a perfect example of today's world. The siblings of French origin, Lea & Quentin Mevel, reside in Barcelona and release their songs with lyrics in English and French via Catalan indie label Foehn Records.

Madee "Under The Sun" (p)BCore Disc

The Catalan cult favourites return to activity with this 4-song teaser for the forthcoming LP (to be released in the beginning of 2021).

Margarita Quebrada "Luces" (p)Jabalina Musica

The minimalistic Neue Deutche Wellesque synth-driven gothic rock meets The Pains Of Being Pure At Hearts'y naïve nugaze on this mini album created by Valencia-based trio under the wing of renowned indie label Jabalina Musica.

Pumuky "Castillo Interior" (p)Keroxen

Scoff "City Lights" (p)self-released

This EP is such a cool cocktail of Hole, Sonic Youth and obscure Canadian band Sully (highly recommended) prepared by the band from tiny Andalucian town Utrera (for me personally this town is best remebered for the perfect solomillo con salsa pimienta in La Brasa restaurant).

Verkeren "ellllla" (p)Right Here Right Now

The Barcelona-based five-piece returns after 4 years of hiatus with a pack of beautiful electro rock songs in the vein of The Killers or Dorian.

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