Spanish Indie 30: suggesting the best national acts

A veteran combo and two of the most promising bands coming from the south of Spain today in our latest trio of national bands. Pop gems!

Kiev Cuando Nieva. Behind the freezing cold name lies one of the most idiosyncratic, unique bands of the country. Hailing from Huesca, Aragón, the band origins can be traced around the end the 90s in a college radio program at Facultad de Bellas Artes de Cuenca. From there on, Antxon Corcuera and brothers Javier and Carlos Aquilué have built an almost flawless career. A lost debut EP, aptly titled 'First EP' in 2000, followed by three albums, 'S/T' (2006), 'Todos los Ademanes' (2009, year in which they also released the EP 'Edición Artesana'), 'De Tarima' (2013), plus the covers record 'Parece Doble' (2012), including versions of Daniel Johnston, Nick Drake, Beach Boys, Big Star, Ramones...). A refreshing music path that in March of 2016 saw their latest output with 'Los Bienes', out via Repetidor Discos. Risky, brave indiepop blended with folk and slices of psychedelia, strangely warm and familiar despite their experimental instrumentation and aloof first impressions. Persevere, and you'll quickly find yourself drowning into a peculiar universe of music and experience. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Apartamentos Acapulco. Hailing from Granada, Angelina Herrera and Ismael Cámara started making music together in Spring of 2015 without many expectations, the main being having fun with the process. But as tunes the duo decided to share them, debuting with a 'S/T' EP that September, first released with Discos Imaginarios. By December arrived the follow-up 'Siete', which fostered the buzz around them, making the homemade project to expand into a quintet live, playing an increasing number of shows and music contests (Planeta Demos, Contempopránea, SOS, PulPop). Now they are back with third EP 'Justo y Necesario' out since this September, anticipated by the shimmery single 'Scarlett'. Somewhere between shoegaze and dreampop, here's the Slowdive hazy, hypnotic spirit, or the quietest moments (some urgent tunes too), noisy yet deeply melodic and affecting, of The Jesus and Mary Chain. A band to fall for...

Terry vs. Tori. Close move to Seville to meet Manuel Jiménez and Erica Pender, who began this exciting project around March of 2016, quickly recruiting José Prieto on bass and, more recently, Rosa on drums, becoming a full band while rehearsals and demos began. And the first, most promising results, can be listened now, as since June we can enjoy their 'S/T' EP (name your price at their bandcamp). Mixed and mastered by our dear Cris Romero at Cherry Studios, this is infectious guitar-driven indiepop, making their own, summery run towards surf-pop, or adding the life-affirming, eternal Southern light to that trademark "English melancholy". Dreaming with eyes wide open, hoping for more very soon!

Discoverer 54: new indie findings

This Sunday we have a special edition on our "Discoverer series", as it has been "curated" by Jeremy Jensen from The Very Most. Two of the three proposals are wonderful bands that he highlighted on the amazing video interview posted on the blog earlier this week, plus a third band he recommended me by e-mail. What an impressive music taste he has. Hope you enjoy!

Silver Screen. Very hard to find info on this band, no much more aside this is the long-time project of Cris Miller, a one-man band from L.A. that has been around for virtually a decade. With just one album released in 2006, "The Greatest Story Never Told" references on him vanish until... now, with the announcement of a new record "When You and I Were Very Young" out in April on Plastilina Records. Please listen the bandcamp link and you will find a mind-blowing jangle-pop, an immediate timeless classic album. Where have you been hiding Mr.Miller? So glad you are back!

Souvenir Stand. When I asked Jeremy about a new band he had recently discovered she suggested the songs of Souvenir Stand. What a lovely choice. Let me introduce you to the music of Stephanie Cupo, this young singer songwriter from New Jersey, NJ, with just a small collection of demos and an EP, "Days I've Spent With You", released past summer. Quoting Jeremy "this is a great girl-group Beach Boys style-influenced, with really great songs, really great singing". Indeed great. Near perfection vintage tunes, 60s inspired retro pop with Ms. Cupo's voice flouring all over. We want more!

Adam and Darcie. "One of the most beautiful records ever made. Gorgeous from front to back. Beautiful folk, harmonies, just so good, I can't even tell you". If a gifted musician like Jeremy Jensen says this when asked about an underrated record he considers a classic, you instantly go through the Internet to search for it. He is referring to 2009' "California Trail", second album of this husband and wife duo from Provo, Utah. They debuted in 2007 with "The Valley Where I'm From", and their latest release (collaborations, contributions to coral LPs and Christmas EP aside) dates from 2011, with EP "Early in the Morning", both available on the infallible Indiecater Records. You don't need many songs to understand why the praise. This is highly emotional music, done with a care and honesty that sounds like pure magic, like if this lush, delicate and embellished folk-pop was created just for you. Warm and soaring intimate songs. 100% agreed Jeremy, "they deserve to be very well known".

Of course, thanks a million dear Jeremy!

Primavera Sound 2012, or how Mazzy Star saved me from heavy metal

Since my last post about the Primavera Sound Festival 2012, the line-up has changed quite a lot, some major and controversial surprises have been announced, such as a big headliner like Franz Ferdinand, and a pretty dramatic cancellation occurred, as unfortunately Guided By Voices won't be in Barcelona/Oporto this spring.

Sure, I'm among the ones that were hugely disappointed by the addition of several bands that doesn't have anything to do with alternative music but with heavy metal (black and death metal being specific). It is just my opinion, but I can't see where they fit at PS (the same applies to the hip-hop and rap acts I'm fearing will be at PS again this year). To be honest, everything was starting to look pretty bad regarding the Festival, with so many artists miles away from my tastes... until Mazzy Star was announced (and then followed by the also exciting Afghan Whigs). Finally a name to make me smile and be anxious about.

I'm still worried about how the line-up is shaping, and some facts like The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary tour scare the hell out of me. But at the same time, other arstists like The Shins or Cat Power have showed up, so let's have some well deserved faith on the PS' organization and their music wisdom. Fadeeeeee into you/ Strange you never knew.....

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR SAN MIGUEL PRIMAVERA SOUND 2012

30th May – 3rd June, Barcelona

A$AP Rocky» A.A. Bondy» AraabMUZIK» Archers Of Loaf » Baxter Dury» Beach House» Björk» Buffy Sainte-Marie» Codeine» Death Cab For Cutie» Death In Vegas» Franz Ferdinand» Godflesh» Grimes» Harvey Milk» Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel)» Josh T. Pearson» Justice» Lisabö» Liturgy» Mayhem» Mazzy Star» Melvins» Mudhoney» Napalm Death» Neon Indian» Numbers showcase: Jackmaster, Oneman, Deadboy, Spencer, Redinho» OFF!» Orthodox» Other Lives» Sandro Perri» SBTRKT» Shellac» Siskiyou»

Sleep» Spiritualized» The Afghan Whigs» The Dirty Three» The Drums» The Olivia Tremor Control» The XX» Veronica Falls» Washed Out» White Denim» Wilco» Wolves In The Throne Room» Yo La Tengo»

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must
Orange- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Yellow- Curious about seeing the artist, or "on research mode"

Discoverer 6: new indie findings

Sunday morning= new indie proposals. Here we go!

Cascadeur. Behind this artistic name and his masked face hides Alex Longo, a singular vocalist and songwriter. With three self-produced albums, he won the 2008 prestigious "CQFD" Prize awarded by French indie magazine Les Inrockuptibles, receiving a lot of attention since then in France. Music that recalls Antony and the Johnsons or the intensity of Jeff Buckley, that has an official debut album nowadays, with "The Human Octopus", ten songs, reworked and polished, from his first three albums and 18 new ones.



The Hi-Life Companion. This Bristol indiepop band debuted with a quickly sold out single in Cloudberry Records on 2008. Since then you can find them crafting gorgeous music. From The Beach Boys to Pavement, from Felt to the Velvet Underground, from Belle and Sebastian to The Go Betweens... harmonies, hand-clapping, jangling guitars, wonderful and dreamy instrumentals.... The DNA of perfect pop music flourishes on the diverse and  rich "Say Yes", their debut album, released last year. A record that should be in every shelf of all good music collector.

The Girl In The Gorilla Suit by The Hi-Life Companion

Night Comes Down by The Hi-Life Companion

The Ambience Affair. This Irish duo of vocalist/guitarist Jamie Clarke and drummer Marc Gallagher are responsible of a couple of great EPs, "Fragile Things" and "Patterns". Their music mixes some kind of dreamy landscapes, atmospheric textures with fierce playing and vocals, creating truly exceptional songs. After being mesmerized by "Patterns",  I was impatiently looking for more songs, and growing in frustration due to the lack of news. But now they are back, and after hearing "Weeds", the first taste of their debut album, with the help of a stomping cello and trumpets, it is going to be worth the waiting.