Spanish Indie 25: suggesting the best national acts

This section has been hibernating for too long. Not anymore. Many exciting national discoveries are ready to blow your mind. Here are the first three!

Hazte Lapón. Born in Madrid en 2009, the band leaded by Manuel González Molinier and Saray Botella (that expands to a quintet-sextet live) started rolling a year later with first gigs and the recording of self-released debut EP 'Las fatigas del querer'. Single 'Romance en la oficina' and the song 'Bucles' appears in 2011, showing the initial noise sound was evolving into a much poppier sound, with another single, 'El baile de la medusa' and second EP 'Gentil colapso (broma privada)' arriving in 2012 anticipating their first album. 'Bromas privadas en lugares públicos' surfaced in late 2013, out via Discos del rollo, making a cult band of the combo, but the best was yet to come, with the magnificent EP 'El traje del emperador' released by our friends Discos de Kirlian a year later and, finally, with sophomore LP 'No son tu marido' via our beloved label El Genio Equivocado. The best national record of 2015 by far, they deliver pluperfect indiepop (noise, traditional Spanish music, electropop, post-punk, jangle), very diverse and with, arguably, the best lyrics out here in Spain, a mix between intimate confession, sardonic humour and witty social comment. Think Luke Haines meeting Manos de Topo, Raymond Carver partying with The Magnetic Fields, or Talking Heads discovering El Niño Gusano... Thinking on changing your nationality (we all know Trump, Cameron, Rajoy, long etc. embarrasses you to death)? Welcome to Laponia, the land of pop!   

Los Bonsáis. Hailing from Asturias (Gijón and Llanes) Helena Toraño and Nel González joined forces, at first a very casual affair, on April of 2010, recording homemade demo 'La Mecedora', in just a matter of months that circulated among friends. A year later they doubled the bet with the demos EP ' Ultramar' and single 'Es Mejor/ Un instante', recorded with our friends Linda Guilala and impressing the wise people at Elefant Records who quickly signed them and released the proper debut EP 'Ultramarinos' in January 2012, collecting four of their best initial tunes and following in at the start of 2013 first LP 'Martin Pescador'. A delightful punk-pop reality, the lovely duo appeared in Family and Los Planetas' tribute records during 2014, warming-up for 2015, on which they came out wit sophomore album 'Nordeste' in February and '¡Fanzine! EP in November, on which they cover The Pastels, Black Tambourine, Television Personalities and The Vaselines. Echoing the aforementioned bands as well as Marine Girls, Talulah Gosh or Shop Assistants, Los Bonsáis are one of our best kept secrets... revealed. Instant, shaky, irresistible love.

Selvática. Manu y Paula (formerly of the band Indómitos) migrated from Galizia to Río de Janeiro, Brasil, in 2012, coming out with the idea of a new music project a couple of years later. They quickly recorded the demos of what was going to be their debut album, channelling the vibes and energy of their new home with their music indierock tastes. They returned to Spain on early 2015 to assemble a proper band (they are a cohesive quintet live) and record LP 'Un Mundo Extraño', out since November through Discos de Kirlian and Mama Vynila. A stunning collection of fuzzy indiepop tunes, with post-punk, garage rock, surf and psych-pop vibes melting with vital tribal rhythms. Welcome to their rocking jungle!

These Go to 11: interviewing Minifestival

Our first interview of 2015 is a double, quite long (thanks, much appreciated) and special one. We have the bosses of the oldest and (inaguarbly) one of the best Festivals held in Barcelona. Of course, we are referring to the Minifestival de Música Independent de Barcelona,  which this February celebrates it's 20th edition. We are extremely proud to have Carles Lafuente and Xavier Guillaumes answering our questionnaire. These Go to 11! 

Carles & Xavir, doyens of indie in Barcelona

Carles Lafuente & Xavier Guillaumes, Minifestival de Música Independent de Barcelona
The Primitives, Amor de Días, Standard Fare, Nick Garrie, Luke Haines, Mark Gardener from Ride, Antonio Arias, Damien Jurado, Dot Allison, Chris Brokaw, Damon and Naomi, Clem Snide, Darren Hayman, The Trash Can Sinatras, The Clientele, Tender Trap, Sing Sing. We're just naming a few. What do they have in common, aside from being great artists/bands? They have formed part of the Minifestival de Música Indepdendent de Barcelona, a music institution not just in Barcelona but in the whole country organizing, for 20 years now, an indiepop festival with an incredible good taste and an incorruptible independent ethic. The gigantic task of promoters and music activists Carles and Xavier has to be vindicated and celebrated, that's why having them answering the questionnaire is so special for us. Oh! And needless to say, we'll be there this February, eager to see bands like The Close Lobsters, The School or Linda Guilala, among others and congratulate them for one of the most impressive labours of love with regards to music done in our country. Here we go!

Technicolour pop

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Carles Lafuente: The LP of Rocky Sharpe & The Replays with the song 'Rama Lam Ding Dong', followed by Tino Casal.
Xavier Guillaumes: At 8th grade I bought 'ET' OS by John Williams with the money given to me for my birthday... but if we are talking about pop music, it was the 'Urbi et Orbi' by Duble Buble, on cassette.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

Carles: My first concert? I guess that it was one by the high school band which I declared myself manager and line-up designer (high school parties...great times!): Teo & The Pipos. The last has been Morrissey's concert in Barcelona. A dream come true.
Xavier: First, Duble Buble, at Torre de Les Aigües' inauguration party, around 1987. Last, the jam session that ended the reopening party of LA CAPSA at el Prat. Regrettably, I don't attend many gigs... Last one I sadly missed was Fear Of Men at Primavera Club.

Ms. Imbruglia, the girl with the "Torn" on her side

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Carles: The truth is that I'm not ashamed about my musical tastes, they are quite diverse. I grew up listening music that my father or my aunt listened, and I recognize the value of songwriters like Serrat, Lluís Llach or Raimon, and also I enjoy like a child with (Nino) Bravo or Camilo Sexto. We have to keep in mind that I'm almost 50 years old.
Xavier: Natalie Imbruglia.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Carles: I'm incapable of choosing one specific thing. My house is full of magazines, books, CDs, LPS, videos, DVDs....and fanzines, lots of fanzines. And many of them with a sentimental meaning...
Xavier: The single 'Beattles and Stones' by The House of Love with a precious poster inside.

Joan Miquel Oliver, Balearic Islands' surrealism

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
Carles: My favourite lyrics are the ones by The Smiths... Back then, and after a tough task of translation with the Collins dictionary, they seemed written for me.
Xavier:  Most of the songs of Joan Oliver with Antonia Font. Also Nacho Umbert lyrics. I remember his record 'Adiós' with Paperhouse reingratiated with lyrics written in Spanish on a period of time on which I much preferred songs written in English although many of them I didn't understand. Talking about the present edition of the Minifestival, I like the effective simplicity of 'Lo Siento Mucho' by Linda Guilala.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Carles: There are plenty of artists that I would like to meet. Obviously, Morrissey. Also I have to say that thanks to the Minifestival I was able to meet another one of my idols: German Coppini.
Xavier: LUSH, although the drummer is dead.

Hatful of Hollow

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Carles: I know that I can be a little bit repetitive but I have to say the 'Manchester quartet' again. 'Hatful of Hollow', with that picture of the group inside. I got the black glasses, the stripped shirt and... I even copied the hairstyle too.
Xavier: 'Lovelife' of  LUSH, especialy the singles of ''500 (Shake, baby shake)... in fact almost all albums published by 4AD during the 90s.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 

Carles: As it happens with music, my movie tastes are very heterogeneous. From auteur cinema to the most truculent Z series. And although I know that I shouldn't say it, this Emule thing makes everything reachable. Unfortunately, there is not enough time to see as many films and now there are also several interesting tv shows to see. My favourite literary authors are Paul Auster, Boris Vian, Oscar Wilde (wow, what a coincidence!). I have to admit that I don't read many books lately (when I was young I devoured all that passed through my hands). The main problem is time and magazines (of music and cinema). Also, the evil invention of Internet and tablets have also stolen time to the cinema and the literature.
Xavier: A classic, 'The Apartment' by Billy Wilder, and a indie film of 90s, 'Simple Men' by Hal Hartley.

Miracles for Sale fanzine

9. Band you have brought to the Minifestival that you are most proud of

Carles: All the bands that act at the Minifestival provide us a great joy. We always count with a band of 'our time', from when we actively began to be involved with music. This year, we could highlight Close Lobsters, a mythical indie band that have been insisting several years until finally they have gotten away with it and they will play at the 20th edition of the Minifestival. That the bands are willing to play considering how little we can offer them in return make us so proud.
Xavier: Buffff...Luke Haines or The Trash Can Sinatras or...

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Carles: To me indie is a type of music that in my case has become a way of life. Because it was as consequence of listening this music, 'rare, unknown for the majority', that I met my partner Xavi collaborating in his fanzine Miracles For Sale. Then we launched Marca Acme and finally we embarked in the adventure of Minifestival.
Xavier: The chance of being wrong but no businessman or investor tells you that you are wrong an how you should do things.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Carles: In ten years, maybe we will continue as now... Trying to attract some brand to our project, so they give us carte blanche to sign (as Florentino*, referring to F. Pérez, president of Real Madrid Football Club), whoever we might want, but without any success... Being more realistic, we'll be working all the year to be able to add another edition to our track record...While we have health and the public respond we will stand up. Oh, and maybe in ten years we can bring some of those bands that now fill magazine pages...and that one day were an important part of the soundtrack of a few lives.
Xavier: Trying to organize the 30th Minifestival... and hoping to help that my daughter or someone else can begin projects like ours. And I would like to write again a fanzine when I retire!

Zillion thanks Carles & Xavier, thanks Minifestival!

These Go to 11: interviewing Fighter Pillow

Back from Primavera Club, we return to our regular interview series with Manu Herrero, Fighter Pillow and Black Islands' guitarist answering our questionnaire. These Go to 11!

Manu Herrero, Fighter Pillow 

The "warriors" of  indie-pop

After discovering them two years ago, when they only had four demos available at their bandcamp, the mysteriously titled 'EP1', while they were enlisted to play at Primavera als Parcs' 2012. The band was born a year before crystallising in a real local underground supergroup with Eli Molina from our beloved Me and the Bees, Manu "Rec" Herrero from Black Islands, Rubén Martínez from Maika Makowski & Ainara LeGardon and Afonso "Pocho" Méndez from lo:muêso (Eric Fuentes or our friend Edu Chirinos from Las Ruinas also took part on the initial first stages of the band). Their debut, self-titled album arrived this October on Hang The DJ Records, confirming the promise of those earlier songs and following digital singles. Diverse indie-rock with a knack for melodies and a deep love for fuzzy guitars, that you shouldn't miss live if you can, as proved at Primavera Club 2014. Here we go!

'Holidays in the sun' going punk

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

'Nevermind The Bollocks' by Sex Pistols, on CD. I bought it while I was on holidays with my parents. I was 15 years old and at that time I didn’t have a CD player. I know it sounds so cool but it’s true. My brother, who was present, can testify on my behalf.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
I can’t remember the first one. One of the first was a German indie pop band called Bazooka Cain, at the social center of my town. I spent all my money buying their 7". I was 16. The latest has been Morrissey in Barcelona.

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
I don't understand the concept of "guilty pleasure" in matters of art. Either you like it, enjoy it or not. Is all that matters.

Mr. Haines, artitst saving the world

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Maybe my Vox AC30, which was used on a tour by The Wedding Present or a vinyl autographed by Luke Haines.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

'Don't forget the songs that made you cry and the songs that saved your life. Yes you're older now and you're clever swine but they were the only ones who ever stood by you'.
All the Morrissey work on The Smiths.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
I'm afraid of meeting my idols. I don’t like that idea. It can be very disappointing.

Domestic still life, by The Cure

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
'Three Imaginary Boys' by The Cure. I find it very funny and arty at the same time.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Book: 'The Nightingale and the Rose' by Oscar Wilde
Movie: 'Sunset Boulevard' by Billy Wilder.

Twilight and fall

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of

Choosing one would despise the others. I don’t want to regret it tomorrow when I read my answer.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)

Nothing. Sometimes it's a matter of money and other of ethics. So it makes no sense to talk seriously about it, because every step you take in order to grow as a band can betray the other.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I don't know. I just hope to be alive and happy. If that involves music, fine, if not, fine too.

Zillion thanks Manu & Fighter Pillow!