"Veronica Falls", a debut fated to indie-pop heavens

Veronica Falls

Loved their firsts songs, adored "Bad Feeling" and "Come On Over", and enjoyed their performance at FIB Festival this summer. Anticipation for their album was huge. Now "Veronica Falls" is here and (for once) all expectations have been fulfilled.

The record is almost flawless, but what's more important, it is ridiculously addictive, vital and, despite all its dark imaginery (these lyrics), joyful. Twee, jangle-pop, C-86 revivalism, sixties devoted sound... I'll leave the comparisons to you and the critics. I don't want to ruin my listening with the "influences game", because I believe "Veronica Falls" is an album to enjoy and embrace unabashedly.

I had the fear a LP could be the sad demonstration the British were another singles band. And although 1/4 of the record was already heard (the two songs mentioned in the first paragraph plus oldies "Found Love in a Graveyard" and "Beachy Head"), that shadow disappears very quickly. "Veronica Falls" works as a cohesive and uplifting whole.

"Found Love in a Graveyard", amplified, with a more intrincated guitar work and resounding drums, and "Right Side of My Brain", with its incredible chorus and foot-stomping riffs, are unbeatable openers. Immediacy and catchiness, mixed with a somber twist. What's not to love? You will find yourself asking for more. And it comes instantly, in the form of an obscure, Gothic horror film that turns, in a slow-burning crescendo, into a gorgeous indie-pop burst. That's "The Fountain". What a powerful starting trio.

And without allowing you a single second to catch your breath, "Misery" appears, a pop gem where the dialogue/dueling between the boy/girl harmonies reaches heaven, that is topped by a couple of equally wonderful and rewarding tunes: the disarming and upbeat melody of "Bad Feeling" and The Pixies go straightforwardly pop that is the gentle, more paused, "Stephen". You'll be hopelessly in love with the band by now.

The second half of the album opens with another edgier, reverb-drenched one. "Beachy Head" sounds reinvigorated, almost surf-punk mixed with tortured lyrics. It is followed by "All Eyes On You", a poppier affair, that needs a while to knock you out, until the pause previous to the final chorus conquers you. The easy but supercute "The Box", with its irresistible harmonies, ends this round of tunes with a smile.

Because Veronica Falls reserves some of their best for the last trio of songs. "Wedding Day" puzzles you. Rockier and direct. So simple yet so infectious. One word? A classic. Next comes the more atmospheric, laid back (I wouldn't say ballad though) "Veronica Falls", where the band delivers a different pop approach, more suggestive. It works marvellously. And fits so right before "Come On Over", a slow burning number that wakes up into a raucous stampede of drumming and shimmering guitars. As the storm fades gracefully, you can't help but run for another spin of the record. 

What a fantastic debut album. Look for them among the best records of 2011.

SCORE: 8,25/10

FIB Festival 2011 Benicàssim: a personal overview

Back and alive from Benicàssim Festival. I let some time pass to make this overview, in order to be accurate and not say a couple of things without a second thought. Here it is:

The Good
Confirmations: Among the bands I love and had the occasion of seeing them before I have to mention, of course, Arcade Fire and The Joy Formidable, both delivering excellent shows (the lovely Welsh will be mentioned again later). And among the groups I never seen before, Veronica Falls showed there's a real band and a promising album just awaiting us in early autumn; while Russian Red and Elbow were great (so happy to see Guy Garvey and Co. finally). Looking forward to see both bands in their respective tours and more intimate venues. I wish I could say the same about Arctic Monkeys, but unfortunately other factors were in play during their gig (read the next section).

New discoverings: Weren't many if you consider FIB lasts four days, but at least this three names have to be highlighted. O Emperor, quality and intense folk-rock from Ireland that gave a solid, in crescendo gig; Los Ginkas, Spanish punk-pop, vital, joyous and really funny, smiles are granted with them; and Jane Joyd, the music name of Elba Fernández, a wonderful singer/songwriter from Galicia that captivated us with her rich folk (despite not being able of bringing her full band) and mesmerizing voice. One to follow closely.

The working staff: From the staff taking care of first rows, giving water and being aware of the people asking to be taken out of there, to the ones located in the middle/separation wall, who had a incredibly hard task, and suffered the brutal behaviour of some during The Strokes concert. And on a personal level, to the ones in charge of security at the Maravillas stage and the bar, who kindly helped us after we were crushed during the Arctic Monkeys gig. Thanks.

The Bad
Massification: I remember blaming the Primavera Sound Festival because of the massification problems, in particular on Friday 27th of May, during the Pulp concert. I apologise. It was nothing compared with what we suffered at FIB 2011. Friday and Saturday at the Maravillas stage and surroundings was just horrible. And excuse me, but Vince Power, FIB director, saying he saw a normal function of that stage, just means either he has no shame, or that he wasn't there.


The Brits: Should say the "hooligans" instead. Of course, I'm not saying every British citizen behaved like that. The majority we met were sympathetic, friendly and happy people. But unfortunately, a huge amount of them are just wild beasts that are not interested in the music at all, and are just coming to have a permanent, out of control party. No problem with that, but you know. Seeing you naked is not nice. Throwing drinks (or whatever it is) to the people, the same applies for your rubbish, is not nice. Trying to advance by the use of force to get a closer view of the stage is not nice. Crushing people is not nice. Peeing in front of a bar is not nice. Putting a fire or lighting a flare in the middle of the main stage is not nice (is insane). You might think this is "your Festival" (after all you are the target of the organization) but you know the venue is not yours and there are more people trying to enjoy FIB. The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys were frustrating gigs because of them.

The FIB Organization: Paolo Nutini, Chase and Status, Plan B, The Streets, Pendulum, The Coronas (from Ireland), Tinie Tempah and a long etc. We could discuss (endlessly) if these and many more fill into the music style that supposedly FIB used to cover. But I don't think it makes sense to debate about the repercussion these groups have in Spain, which is zero. So, it is clear, the Festival's target are the Brits. Fine. that's their commercial strategy. Linked with that, and again just commercial strategy, was the decision of announcing big, incontestable, headliners well in advance, and since then (with exceptions) complete the line-up with fillers. Anyway, the line-up on Thursday was terribly weak, and without headliners (something the organization admitted). Then we have the timetable thing (pathetic). Or the parking facilities. Or the overlaps. I could go on, but you get my point. The general feeling is clear: this is about the money for the organization, not about the music.

The Queen
The sound: The only aspect where FIB has been superior to Primavera Sound. Without very few exceptions (and one has to do with the overlaps, other with the wind on Sunday's afternoon, not with the sound quality of the stages), during all four days of the Festival the sound has been surprisingly good.

The fan moment: We had the pleasure of chatting for a second and take a picture with Layabouts, probably the best concert of Thursday, and (a personal triumph) with the gentle people of The Joy Formidable. Ritzy promised me they will go back to Barcelona soon (probably October). So great!

The music, after all: I could have titled this bands I don't like but were outstanding. Because that's what happened five times on this FIB 2011. Jerry Fish and The Mudbug Club, with his funny and engaging gig; Lori Meyers, that gave a phenomenal concert to an enthusiastic crowd, gathering an unanimous praise from their national fans as well as foreigners; And I Watch You From Afar, who did a brutal, thunderous show; Layabouts, who did the same with their more classic rock; and Portishead, with the amazing Beth Gibbons making the Maravillas stage hold their breath. They exemplify what music, and playing live should be. They enjoyed and made the audience enjoy every second of their gigs. Even the ones that are not fan of their music or style (like me) got pleased or mind-blowed by their performances. A matter of attitude and passion.

My FIB Festival 2011: we have timetables!

Two days before leaving for Benicassim Festival and despite the shameful decission of the FIB organization of not the giving the timetables for free, the information has leaked (everybody knew it would happen), so here's how it looks (bold indicates the preferred option), in principle, My FIB Festival. Harder than expected, the amount of overlaps is dramatic and confirms Thursday as a pretty ridiculous day. 

18:00-18:45 The Spires

19:00-19:45 Layabouts

19:45-20:45 Anna Calvi / 20:15-21:15 Russian Red  

From 21:15 I don't mind going home. What a horrible (and overlapped) day!


18:00-18:45 Jane Joyd 

19:00-19:45 O Emperor

19:45-20:45 Ainara Legardon / 20:30-21:15 The Marzipan Man

21:15-21:45 The Paris Riots

21:45-22:45 The Undertones

23:15-00:15 Elbow

00:45-02:15 The Strokes / 1:30-3:30 James Murphy
The only day when schedule fits and has some logic...

18:00-18:45 Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club / 18:30-19:00 Los Ginkas
19:30-20:15 Nadadora / 20:00-21:00 Tame Impala
21:30-22:30 Lori Meyers / 22:00-22:30 The Dandies
23:00-00:00 Mumford & Sons
00:30-02:00 Arctic Monkeys
02:30-04:00 Primal Scream
Already a seriously overlapped day, to decide between Beirut or the Monkeys is something to blame the organization for.


18:30-19:00 Indienella
19:00-19:45 The Coronas
19:45-20:30 And So I Watch You From Above
20:45-21:30 The Joy Formidable / 21:15-22:00 Veronica Falls
23:00-00:30 Portishead
01:15-02:45 Arcade Fire / 1:45-3:45 Chris Geddes
And the final, triple overlap, that will probably make me miss Noah and the Whale (sic).

Well, in any case, see you at the FIB Festival, come on over!
Come On Over by Veronica Falls

FIB Festival, the feeling of being cheated

More than two months after the last confirmations, and less than a month for Benicassim Festival to start, the organization has announced, finally, some more names, almost(?) closing their line-up. It's true, though, that there were some informations in advance, a couple of interviews to important members of the organization, including Vince Power, main responsible of the veteran international music event. In both interviews, you could easily understand there was a sense of failure, acknowleding that in their task towards recruiting some more "big names" there had been underachievements, so hopes were not high.

Well, now that the last names are public, it is fair to say that feeling has been confirmed. But now, it's even worse. Now the feeling is that we have been cheated. This are my reasons why: 

1. FIB 2011 announcements begun in an amazing way. Arcade Fire, Portishead, Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes. Impressive. It was clear this was a commercial strategy to create a huge anticipated demand and big expectations. Seems they will have their desired sold out, so in terms of marketing, I admit the success of their strategy. But in what regards to expectations.....If they sold that many tickets in early 2011, it is hard to imagine what took them so long to close the line-up, considering the final names. 
2. The communication with the public has been, to say it politely, questionable. The programmed chats were a total failure, and the lack of information regarding new announcements has been a regular feature of the organization, sadly.
3. In what regards to the line-up itself, and of course, just being my opinion, I have to say this is a poor Festival.With the very welcomed addition of Russian Red, there are only 9-10 names that qualify as "must see", and only 5-7 that I'm "interested on". That, for a Festival that takes place during 4 days and has years of history behind, is quite unremarkable, and pales in comparison to Primavera Sound Festival, where I ended watching nearly 30 artists (and missing no less than other 10 names that I would have liked to see). Thursday, absence of headliners aside, is the paradigm of that decadence. A really weak day.
4. Money, money and more money. Prior to the last announcements we were informed that FIB's hand programme, including timetables and useful information, would be able on July 11th....for 5 euros! I'm going to the Festival because of the bands, the music, and I have paid a considerable amount of money for that, so having to add another 5 euros just to know when and where the artists I paid to see are going to play is miserable.
5. It's going to be my first FIB Festival, and the last one. I don't think it resists the comparison with other Festivals, and particularly with Primavera Festival, that proposes a lot more in terms of music (that's my main goal on a Festival, not a comedy club, sorry), is way cheaper and better organised. Of course, its a matter of making profit of a business, but even during the worst moments in that Festival (massification, electronic card, etc.) I didn't have the feeling they were interested just in the economic benefit. And now I do with FIB. 

Having said that, now its time to check among the unknown and relatively unknown names in order to find a new promising discovery and add more artists to "my personal" line-up. Well, and enjoying the sun, if they don't charge us also for that....

"Reckless Serenade", good news from Arctic Monkeys

Today I have had the chance of listening the third song unveiled so far from "Suck it and See", the forthcoming album from the Arctic Monkeys, to be released on June 6th. And finally, after a horrible title, a pathetic artwork for the record (on the next Please No More Awful Covers post it will have a well deserved spot, for sure) and two so-so songs (in my opinion, of course), we have a reason to be excited about the new collection of tunes from Alex Turner and co. "Reckless Serenade" is great. Hope the record has plenty of this. Looking forward to hear this one live along with so many other classics at FIB Festival this summer.

Here it is
Arctic Monkeys- Reckless Serenade

And the previous songs, so you can make your own judgements. Enjoy!
Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
Brick By Brick

My (first) FIB (Benicassim Festival) so far

Since my last post about the Festival, more than a month ago, FIB has announced a few new acts, the latest bunch of them, today. I'm not going to insist/pledge for the lack of names from my wishlist, because I'm not really counting I'll get one of them* (sadly).

Anyway, adding today's acts to the previous bunch of names announced in the last couple of months, this is how "my" FIB looks now. Hoping for more though, especially on Thursday, still a day in need of a vast improvement!

+ The Streets + Paolo Nutini + Pendulum +Plan B + Chase & Status + Congotronics Vs Rockers + Crystal Fighters + Dorian + Julieta Venegas + Aldo Linares + Anna Calvi + Grupo Salvaje + Henry Saiz + Jack Beats +Layabouts + Violens +

The Strokes + Brandon Flowers + Elbow +James Murphy + Friendly Fires + The Stranglers + Atom Rhumba + Herman Dune +The Juan MacLean + nudozurdo + The 1945 +Ainara LeGardon + The Marzipan Man + The Morning Benders + O Emperor + The Paris Riots + Zombie Zombie +


Arctic Monkeys + Mumford & Sons + Primal Scream + Beirut + Big Audio Dynamite +Bombay Bicycle Club + Amable + Astrud & Col·lectiu Brossa + Lori Meyers + Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club + Logo + McEnroe +Nadadora + Smile + Spectrals + Tame Impala +


+ Arcade Fire + Portishead + Tinie Tempah +Noah & The Whale + Professor Green +Antònia Font + CatPeople + The Go! Team +The Joy Formidable + And So I Watch You From Afar + Anika + The Coronas from Ireland + Indienella + Hidrogenesse +Veronica Falls

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 it/"on research mode"

*Happy note: I'm going to see The Pains of Being Pure at Heart anyway this June in Barcelona, so I can cross off that name from the list 

New announcements for Benicassim (FIB Festival). Second disappointment

FIB Festival has announced today a few more names to add to their 2011 line-up. Only 7 new proposals, and sadly, not much to be excited about (Brandon Flowers, arrghh!). Sure, its not as disappointing as the previous announcements of February were, but this is, again, very far from my wishlist. Just my opinion of course. And well, at least there's a very promising act among today's confirmations, ms. Anna Calvi.

New confirmations for Benicassim (FIB Festival) tomorrow. A wishlist

After too many days without news, Benicassim has announced that tomorrow they will reveal more names of their 2011 line-up.

My (short) wishlist for tomorrow 
(R.E.M.'s impossible dream aside)
The Decemberists 
The Divine Comedy: someone else would agree :)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Dum Dum Girls
The Mynabirds 
Doves
Northern Portrait
Motorama
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Electrelane: they just announced they are back to play some summer gigs and festivals after three years!!


Let's see what happens tomorrow!