Discoverer 168: new indie findings

This week we triple the ante. Our latest installment in our discoverer series comes in the form of a trio of indie-rock bands. Because guitar rock is not dead. GUITAR ROCK is not dead. GUITAR ROCK IS NOT DEAD!

Woolen Men. We begin in Portland, Oregon, to meet the trio of Alex Geddes, Lawton Browning and Raf Spielman, who assembled around a decade ago after their members, intrinsic part of the Portland DIY punk community who had played in multiple bands (sometimes together), coalesced in their current outfit. A pretty active combo, they quickly began releasing a series of EPs and tapes (including the compilation album 'Dog Years'), with self-titled debut album arriving in 2012, initially self-released, but happily rescued by Woodsist label next year. Another string of releases followed until September 2015 marked the arrival of sophomore LP 'Temporary Monument'. Another round of EPs, 7" and their second compilation album, 'Lucky Box' (everything is available at their bandcamp, quite a feast for the listener) anticipated 'Post', their flamboyant new album, out this September 1st via their own label, Dog's Table. College rock in the XXI century? Woolen Men (sometimes with the The) sounds like the killer, idiosyncratic combination of The Feelies, The Clean, R.E.M., The Fall, Mission of Burma and several beloved acts from the 80s. There's a tension, a pulse, a sense of adventure and exploration without loosing the knack for the melody or a lyric with a bite in their blend of indie-rock and post-punk that sounds genuine and much needed today. Late to the party, we know, but folks, what a discovery!

Bad Sav. Big jump to our beloved Dunedin, New Zealand, in order to meet our second trio of the day, this time composed by "familiar names", as vocalist/guitarist Hope Robertson and bassist/vocalist Lucinda King are members of the highly recommendable Death and the Maiden, while drummer Mike McLeod also plays guitar with the great The Shifting Sands. They've been around for nearly 10 years, but the lack of releases, with an early song included on the Radio One compilation album 'A Century of Seasons' and four songs surfacing on their Bandcamp in 2014, was just appalling. Not anymore, as this September they finally unveil their self-titled debut album, out via our dear Fishrider Records (Occultation Records for our European needs). Shoegaze for David Lynch fans, turmoiled, disturbing guitar-pop, dark, intriguing psychedelia, Bad Sav sound stormy, nocturnal and cinematic... a lost soundtrack for the 'Twilight Zone'. Music to take a leap and dive in... 

Fontaines D.C..And we finish our trip in Dublin, Ireland, with this young quintet that met in college and assembled after their members had played individually in different outfits, bonded over their love for the same artists and poets (yes, another band with meaningful lyrics, there's still hope!). They have released three double A sided singles to date via Trigger Party Records, debuting with 'Liberty Bell/Rocket to Russia' in June of 2017, followed 'Hurricane Laughter/Winter in the Sun' that October, and 'Boys in the Better Land/Chequeless Reckless' on February 2018. Summoning the spirits of Mark E. Smith, Shane McGowan and Iggy Pop, these six tunes are raw, exciting, knockout slices of indie-rock flirting with punk and post-punk, infused with an undeniable Irish scent (that drawl from vocalist Grian Chatten, to begin with) and an "in-your-face" attitude that takes no prisoners. Instantly hooked by the soul, the swagger, the power. The promise... Press repeat!

Primavera Sound 2017 in brief, day 2

As promised, here's the second round of our quick chronicles of how it was Primavera Sound 2017 for us. After the first post devoted to Thursday 1st of June, here comes Friday 2nd, a day that seemed the weakest in paper, but still had several noteworthy moments to enjoy and highlight. Let the good times roll!

The Good

Lawrence Arabia: Charming pop music at the Hidden Stage courtesy of James Milne (what an amicable frontman) and his locally assembled band (Hi-jauh to the rescue!), putting out an impeccable, gentle and immediately lovable show to start the afternoon with a big smile.

Lawrence Arabia, Christchurch-Barcelona pop connection. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Mitski: Among the best album debuts of last year, Mitski Miyawaki stark, minimalist staging approach might make you think on a cold performer on a first impression. What a mistake that is. She lets the music do the talking, with the fury coming from the bursting guitars, the visceral screams and the blows of her melodic vocal turns. And soon you realize she is going to be in the same league of St. Vincent or Angel Olsen. She is untamable.

Mitski, static wonder. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Make-up: You might find the band very unsurprising, too classic in their attempt to recreate that "vintage" funk-soul-rock spirit. But NO ONE can't deny the power, joy and good vibes a night with Ian Svenonius can provide to any willing to listen & watch. Summoning the spirits of James Brown and Iggy Pop, giving everything he has and beyond to engage the audience, the wild frontman and his well-oiled band are a guarantee of fun (and a threat to that hipster self-absorption).

The Make-up, rock'n'roll suicide. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Bad

Queing for Auditori: There has to be a better way to organize this sort of massives events at Auditori. I mean, you waste a lot of time just queueing to buy the mandatory extra-tickets in advance... and then you spend another lifetime queueing again to enter the gig. The result? You have missed the four first tunes of the show. Frustrating.
Eating at Primavera: Rephrasing a famous Woody Allen quote "The food in this place is terrible. Yes, and it's so expensive one would expect not even the Brits will pay for it". Enough said...

The Queen
The Magnetic Fields: Another "first time" and a mandatory gig was seeing Stephen Merritt live presenting his new concept album '50 songs memoir'. Splitted in two shows (Friday and Saturday), of 25 songs each, The Magnetic Fields proposal was a serious threat to every PS17 line-up planning... but a lovely experience to be seen and heard. Cute and intimate stage setup (very nice visuals) a seven-piece band enveloping every single tune with grace and elegance. An entertaining story-biography (more engaging the first day, imo the songs were more diverse and less languid) to be told with that deadpan, offbeat sense of humour that is one of Merritt's trademark. But another of his "signatures", by far the more important one (and just in case you didn't know it), is that the man can write POP TUNES. At Primavera Sound we were lucky to hear a great bunch of them.

Special guests at Stephen Merritt's home. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Brief of the third and final "big day" of the PS17, Saturday 3rd, arriving very soon!

REMember Every Moment: the rarities playlist

Five years without these guys...

Back we're be belong. At Walter's Bar-B-Que, Athens, Ga. Photo: Laura Levine

Of course, I had to do something at the Blog, so the idea of a R.E.M.'s playlist seemed the easiest option (If I write about the band I would so emotional and most probably, couldn't finish). It will come shortly sure, but I decided to go for a different option as well. Offering you another kind of "best-of", with my favourite "rarities", plus a few Michael Stipe's collaborations (it's amazing how he can transform a pop song into something irresistibly haunting with so little (check his contribution to Patti Smith and Maria Taylor's tunes). Yes, I included the group cover of the silly yet lovely 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' and the even dumber 'Love Is All Around' because I just love Michael's yodelling and his "paa-parapapa" at the end.

I guess it's just a different way to go back and remember the times spent hunting for that hard-to-find single or that unofficial recording at the record shops of carrer Tallers (I swear there were music shops back then). Or waiting impatiently for the Fan Club Single to arrive each year. Or just getting frustrated in front of the computer for that never-ending shitty download (I'm talking about the pre-Internet and early web days, folks) of that live cover to be completed. So I guess this is not exactly a playlist about music "greatness" (although 'Photograph', 'Happiness' or their version of 'Wall of Death' are personal favourites). It's more an excuse to indulge myself into so many R.E.M. memories, which so frequently tend to be best-music-related memories... As Michael Stipe said, R.E.M. means Remember Every Moment. For so many people, luckily...

And here's the aforementioned 'Happiness', as it's not available on Spotify.

These Go to 11: interviewing Watoo Watoo

Oh! What a great band (well, half of it) is answering our questionnaire today. It took me a while to discover them, but thanks to their fantastic latest album (look for it at the blog Best Records of the Year list, and yes, I'm aware we are just ending March), now I'm a converted to the Watoo Watoo "cult". Would you like to join me? I'm pretty sure you will fall for them too. These Go to 11!

Michaël Korchia, Watoo Watoo

The Korchias, indiepop alchimistes

Hailing from Bordeaux, France, Pascale & Michaël Korchia have a extensive career on their backs as their first release, the EP Un Peu de Moi" from 1997, proves. Since then, the couple have released three albums, "Le Fumalin" & "Curiosites?" in 2001, and "Le Fuite" in 2007, plus two  EPs, "Picture of a Lost Friend" in 1999 & "Le Tourbillon" in 2011, that came out on Dufflecoat Records. This year they have returned to action with the release of their 4th album, the mind-blowing "Une Si Longue Attente", via Jigsaw Records since January. Pluperfect indiepop, sophisticated, rich (try to listen it with the lights out, with good headphones), like gathering their beloved Stereolab, Young Marble Giants or Gainsbourg on a private party, just to come out, like pop alchimistes, with something no one, NO ONE, should miss. Here we go!

Mr Gardner, pop-looking

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

I used to love tapes, so I didn’t buy a vinyl until I was 16 or so. Probably an obscure punk band. First CDs were a Russian new wave band called Kino (not very good) & Lou Reed’s "Rock & Roll Animal".

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
I saw “Le grand orchestre du Splendid” when I was 12. A mix of salsa, ska, jazz, French chanson & lots of humor. Last gig was 5 days ago, Jacco Gardner (excellent)

Ok, that's shocking

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

I like a lot the 1st Depeche Mode album a lot (I find this quite embarrassing) & also a couple of Black Sabbath albums!

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
My 1973 Fender Jazz Bass – best bass in the world!

Gainsbourg, a French legend

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
Probably from Gainsbourg – maybe the album «L’homme à la tête de chou».

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Dead: Gainsbourg, without a doubt. Preferably in the early 70s. I would love to meet Lawrence from Felt but I’m afraid I could be deceived… Or Iggy Pop, he’s fantastic & I know I would have fun with him!

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
I love Blue Notes records from the 50s/60s. Also some punk covers, such as "Never Mind the Bollocks", or also the first Stooges album: impressive photo & great band logo. The first Velvet album is also very striking.

Les 400 Coups

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
All the movies by François Truffaut, particularly the ones with Antoine Doinel: the "400 blows" & the others after. Unfortunatly I gave up reading books long years ago –music & photography take me too much time, & in my job (professor/researcher) I have lots of things to read (& I don’t, because I don’t have the time).

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
“Perdu”, maybe. It’s fast yet very melodic –some people think it sounds like Stereolab but I don’t think so. I still don’t know which is my favorite band in our new album, though.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Most of the time, It only means that big record companies just don’t want your band.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In front of my computer, like always!

Zillion thanks Michaël!