Primavera Sound 2013 in brief, day 1

Like we did on previous editions, we start our quick chronicles of each day of the Primavera Sound Festival 2013. So here's a brief note of what our particular opening day was like!

The Good

Join The Bots!
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Much better at the Parc: I admit I wasn't very enthusiastic with the idea of going to the Fòrum for the opening day. It's far, every walking distance is huge and the thought of massification (the gigs there were free) at Ray-Ban was discouraging. But distances aside, it proved to be a much better choice than have it at very centre of the city, like last year.
Sound quality: In that sense, the four bands saw yesterday enjoyed a much better sound than on past edition. Hope that's a sign for the days to come.
The Bots: Wasn't mesmerized about the songs, in my opinion still to be polished, more defined as a whole, but I got seriously impressed by the performance and potential of this incredibly young duo. The reincarnation of The White Stripes from a very exciting couple. Band to follow closely.

The Bad

The Vaccines. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Night at Apolo: Terrible organization, or better said, suffered from the lack of it. We arrived early there (skipped Delorean to have enough time) asked security at the front door of the venue, who told people willing to go to La [2] de Apolo would enter at 23:30, while the cue for Apolo would do it at 00.00. So we had a speedy dinner and at 23:20 we were there... to see how the cue was gigantic, just one for the two venues, already cornering the whole block. Impossible to get into such a small place like la [2] de Apolo. The result: missed Cheatahs and Veronica Falls due to bad organization (or at least misinformation from security).

In Guards we trust. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Queen
Guards: It was a day without outstanding performances. I didn't enjoy Aliment, although I guess they did a solid gig. And I'm pretty sorry to confirm what I already after seeing them at past Primavera Club. The Vaccines have the songs, but with the exception of an relentless frontman, they are a quite limited band. So the "queen of the day" title has to go to Guards, who were, as expected, pretty good. Less poppier than on record, tunes gained weight, fitting perfectly for the festival format. Sadly, the gig was short and they choose a couple of noisy instrumental interludes that for me, weren't necessary, and not representative of their fantastic taste/talent for pop melodies. Nevertheless, a solid performance. I want them back on a small venue!

First "big day" this afternoon/night. It's brief coming very soon!

"A Writer's Life", a journalistic mess

A Writer's Life- Gay Talese

As much as I believe Gay Talese's prose is masterful and his ability to find and chronicle a story is unparalelled, I'm afraid to say that with "A Writer's Life" this amazing journalist has descended to Earth, revealing us the worst of his art, offering us a book that, contrary to "Honor Thy Father" or "Portraits and Encounters", amazingly absorbing reads, is quite mundane, even tedious to follow at times.

And that's a shame, because it could have worked. "A Writer's Life" aims to be a memoir of a veteran journalist looking back to some of his "adventures". But there’s very little of his personal life, and the book quickly evolves into something else, an unexpected account of Talese's failures, his shortcomings to find a story that his bosses would die to put in paper, or his inability to close his latest book. That could have been challenging and exciting, such a gifted writer showing us how hard it is to "wait for the click", as The National would say on personal favouite "City Middle".

But with few exceptions, this book is not capable of transmitting that doubt, weakness, lack of luck, bad timing or writer's block when facing a potentially good story. And it's because -and that's tough for me to say, as I admire Talese so much- of the author's ego and his self-indulgence. Instead Talese offers a monumental digression of 600 pages where he recapitulates and reworks pieces and bits of previous, unfinished or left behind stories, adding personal notes or wikipedia-like-facts. It's arbitrary, and despite at the end everything seems to connect, it's incoherent as a whole. As a book, it's simply weak. Again sorry to put my thoughts in words, but I believe this is just a packed compilation of material to fulfill a contract.

There are horrible passages. In particular I couldn't go on with the whole story of the restaurants, so pointless even Talese is incapable of not much more of accumulating notes for almost three decades -just a bunch of pages finished by 1999-. Others are much interesting, like the one in Selma regarding civil rights and liberties of the Afro-American people, the Lorena Bobbit trial or the one about the Chinese player Liu Ying. But this latest story is a clear example of the serious problem this book has with its structure. Talese clearly didn't think much about order his account of failed stories, so the trip to China appears quite early on the book, then vanishes for hundreds and hundreds of pages just to reappear at the very end. The effect is quite strange, to say the least.

Even masters can fail.

SCORE: 4,75/10

Discoverer 62: new indie findings

More new band proposals for you, with a rockier vibe and an eye (or two) at Primavera Sound Festival!

Beaches. First stop in Melbourne, Australia, to meet this female quintet formed in 2007. Their debut album, "Beaches", came a year later, obtaining critical acclaim and allowing them to tour Australia, the States and had slots in Festivals like All Tomorrow's Parties or SXSW. An Ep, "Eternal Sphere", appeared on Mexican Summer label on late 2010, with extensive touring afterwards. Finally the time arrived for a second album, "She Beats" out since May 3 on Chapter Music. A blend of psych-rock, shoegaze and krautrock with a stunning knack for pop melodies. Think on my beloved Electrelane with a retro, sixties vibe. Rich, kaleidoscopic and utterly absorbing music.

Cheatahs. One of today's proposals playing at Primavera Sound comes from London, in the form of a quartet leaded & founded in 2009 by frontman Nathan Hewitt. After a few tapes and 7" on various labels, in June 2012 they released their first EP, "Coared", on Marshall Teller Records. After a gig supporting Milk Music, Wichita Recordings signed them, putting out a second EP "Sans", in October, and combining both references on "Extended Plays", out since February. Shoegaze meeting raw 90's indie-rock without missing melodies, there's something genuine, powerfully vital in Cheatahs that put them ahead most upcoming bands.

Peace. Not a hypes' follower, even less when its NME who creates it, but after checking them as part of the Primavera Sound line-up's I admit it; here's a hype with a reason. Coming from Worcester, UK, the quartet formed in 2009 and were originally named November And The Criminal. After releasing a self-titled debut EP in March 2010 they changed it to Peace that October. The buzz began thanks to their shows, heavily amplified after signing to Columbia Records and releasing their debut EP "Delicious", on September 2012, with first album, "In Love", out past March. Playful, fun indie-rock that doesn't reinvent the wheel, but is catchy as hell.

Spanish Indie 14: suggesting the best national acts

A new round of "made in Spain" music for your ears only, enjoy!

Pauline en la Playa. Sisters Mar and Alicia Álvarez hail from Gijón, and have quite a long story in their backs. Leaders of Undershakers, a seminal band in the middle-late 90s on the Spanish indie scene. While the band was still active, the two began to work in another direction by 1997, under the name of  “Enfants Terribles“, winning a local prize with their first demos that year. Two years later, in 1999, Pauline en la Playa was finally born, releasing six albums to date, the latest one being “El Mundo Se Va a Acabar“ out this March on Siesta. The last chapter of the exquisite, impossibly charming and warm music of the Álvarez sisters. A sweet, nostalgic and rich indiepop universe.

Les Sueques. Not the first time I write about this quartet and pretty sure it won't be the last either. Coming from Barcelona, they debuted in 2011 with Les Sueques EP on Repetidor Discos. After a replacement on drums with the arrival of Pau (ex Tokyo Sex Destruction) they recently signed with our friends from El Genio Equivocado, becoming one of its most exciting new acts. Something that their debut album, "Cremeu les Perles" out since March. Pop-punk with a twisted, dark, sardonic side, sharp guitar lines and loads of fun and promise. Carefree & homemade riot-girls with a bunch of addictive tunes and sense of humour.

Fighter Pillow. Few information on this yet unsigned act from Barcelona, discovered while searching the bands playing at Primavera als Parcs, one of the most peculiar parallel activities of the Festival. But this band, active since 2011 (at least is what their social networks says) is quite an underground supergroup: Eli Molina from the lovely Me and the Bees (new songs soon please!), Edu Chirinos from our beloved Las Ruinas, Dj Manu Rec and Eric Fuentes. They have an EP, aptly titled "EP#1", for free at their bandcamp. Four tunes that sound as vigorous as stylistically diverse, from urgent indie-rock to a sparse, folk gentle number. Solid music regardless of its form. Band to check. 

Camera Obscura + The Very Most: double feature

Of indiepop giants! Isn't a wonderful coincidence that Camera Obscura and The Very Most have chosen the same day to unveil their new songs? Today is a legitimate indiepop day!

"Fifth In Line to the Throne" is the second tune revealed from the "Desire Lines", the new album from our beloved Glaswegian band and a radical change in style from the cheerful, immediate first single ‘Do It Again’. A gentle and magnificent ballad featuring backing vocals from Neko Case, and precisely the sort of song that proves how much the world needs to have Tracyanne Campbell back. And I just bought tickets to see them live in San Francisco, yessss!
 

And our beloved The Very Most just came out with the title track of their forthcoming EP "Just A Pup", available on Manic Pop Records this June. You can accuse me of favouritism, but folks, this song has indiepop C-L-A-S-S-I-C written all over. What an elegant and charming tune. Jeremy Jensen and co (hear the wonderful female vocals by Gia Trotter joining him please!) are just perfecting their craftsmanship, each new song seems to be more enduring and rich. Can't wait for the rest!

Stop Awful Covers 11

The eleventh chapter of the Awful Covers Series is here... in all its glorious bad taste. Another round of atrocious sleeves to show you how a musician can ruin and disrespect his/her work. Please stop...

ARTWORK ATROCITIES

 Wampire:  Curiosity

The only curiosity is knowing which kind of drug they took when they decided to this sleeve.

Jai Paul: Jai Paul

Definition of kitsch or tacky? Poor animals, is not their fault.

Shannon and the Clams: Dreams in the Rat House

There's at least one hobbit missing here... plus some good taste.

Guided By Voices: Noble Insect

More about animals from a band that repeats here. The insect can be noble, but the sleeve designer...

Brooke Waggoner: Originator

More on Lord of the Rings. This must be an homage to Galadriel without the 281 million $.

  Niagara: Otto

Or regular dose of zero work comes punctual to its date. Now in pink.

Pintandwefall: Be My Baby

What the hell is that? Wouldn't be your baby even if there would be the only chance to mankind to survive.

Deep Purple: Now What?!
Now what? My advice is retirement.. or at least change the artwork, please (this one is dedicated to my dad).  

Discoverer 61: new indie findings

Back from one of the most intense weeks of the year with a new dose of great findings!

The Mantles. We begin in Frisco/Oakland with a band active since 2007. Shows and early singles followed until 2009, when they released their self-titled debut album on Siltbreeze. A follow-up came out next year with "Pink Information" EP on Mexican Summer. But their proper comeback will arrive this June with sophomore release "Long Enough to Leave", out on the infallible Slumberland Records. Janglepop with sweet vocals but also rumbling guitars, infectiously bright garage of immediate effect, paired with pop harmonies, echoes of the Paisley Underground mixed with joyous, classic indiepop, The Mantles offer a relentless collection of ridiculously catchy tunes.

Without Feathers. Back to the UK. Blog followers know I adore Nat Johnson. I'm sure that if she records herself just singing the entire Sheffield phonebook, I'd love it. But the former songstress of beloved Monkey Swallows the Universe, currently a Figurehead, now has another project with Emma Kupa, ex Standard Fare currently in Ely, and solo artist Rory McVicar, now in IT. The trio began their adventure this March, but recently made available (name your price) their first three demos. Three guitars creating an instantly lovable stripped down affair, three harmonious voices intertwined. A gentle music supergroup on the works, folks!

Beach Vacation. And we our week proposals end going back to the States, with a quartet from Oak Harbor, Washington, formed after playing a high school talent show. They quickly got signed to Dufflecoat Records, and debuting with "Maritime" EP, out since April (digitally and physically). Fresh and undeniably attractive, this four tunes are hard to resist. In the league of bands under the "surf pop label", think on the happiest Wild Nothing version, Craft Spells or Beach Fossils, but with a bigger scope, that also makes you recall C86 bands or the most upbeat Swedish indiepop. Definitions aside, the promise of this first batch of songs is exciting, Beach Vacation are a name to follow closely from now on.