The Indie Anthology 81: essential songs

New year, new attempt to recover the pace of the Blog posts and revitalize some of its dearest sections, like the Indie Anthology. And to do so, here's one of my favourite post-punk tunes from a short-lived but pretty amazing band. Oh, their rapture, one of these nights!!

Song: Brother 
Artist: The Organ 
Year: 2004

Agreed, the post-punk revival was, mostly, a bunch of crap. But there were amazing exceptions to the rule, like Interpol's first albums, Editors' debut and the majestic 'Grab that gun', from Vancouver's quintet The Organ. Still sounding like an album resulting from the marriage of Morrissey (the meaningful one) and Joy Division and The Cure, with hints of Siouxsie, Patti Smith and Kristin Hersh on the arresting voice of Katie Sketch. Sadly, it was just a very short ride, with the band disbanding shortly after, but a striking one. I could choose among half of the record tunes, but I'm sticking with 'Brother', its bouncy immediacy coming out of nowhere, propelled to stratosphere thanks to the simple-yet-mind blowing melody-bearing bass before Jenny's Hammond organ embraces you while guitar lines and concise drumming bring you back to the late 80s now in sepia. I hear bands like beloved Desperate Journalist or even Savages here, and I wonder where The Organ could have achieved. Well, at least their testament was a hell of a record. It was exciting then. It is still exciting now...

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.

International Women's Day Playlist!

Today is the International Women's Day, and to celebrate this very special & important we have prepared a playlist with 41 songs created/performed by amazing female artists & female-leaded bands (all Blog favourites). Why 41? Because its the number of years the Day has been held (since 1975, when the United Nations proclaimed it). Of course, many many more superb women have been left out of the playlist. But do not worry, we have every day of any given year to celebrate, as everyday is Women's Day. Thanks for your wisdom, your talents and your songs!

These Go to 11: interviewing The Birkins

This week we are extremely happy at the Blog, because we recover the interview series after another hiatus and, to do the comeback in a proper way, we have one of our favourite national bands answering the questionnaire (can't deny we have a soft spot with them). We are referring to The Birkins! One of the funniest and sincerest interviews we have had, something logical considering how charming and good-natured are this folks, as nicer as their music. Thanks for your time and honesty, we laughed a lot! These Go to 11!

Canarias' finest: The Birkins, islanders of pop 

The Birkins

Daniel Machín, Sergio Miró, Alby Ramírez and Cristina Santana formed The Birkins in 2008 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. They quickly started to make some noise, as a year later they won the nationwide Heineken Greenspace contest, signing with our beloved label El Genio Equivocado in 2011. Then came their self titled debut album and instantly, we fell in love with their mix of British pop, French chanson, Americana and an intriguing experimental side. Two years later, in February 2013, they released 'Châteaux en Espagne' a new example of classy, diverse and colourful indie pop. Finally, this last September they have launched 'Souvenirs', another gem on a flawless career so far, one where each song shows their care, taste and scope of their idiosincratic way of understanding pop, something you can also see if you have the wisdom of watching them live. Here we go!

 Scarier than Nostradamus's profecies

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Alby: The first one I got with my own money (I saved for weeks!) was a vinyl of 'The Final Countdown', by Europe, I was 7. You asked me to be honest! (laughs).

Daniel: I was more or less the same age as Alby when I bought my first tapes (yes, I am that old). I bought 6 tapes by The Beatles looking for ‘Yesterday’ because I didn’t know its name at the time.
Cris: I believe I was eleven years old and my mother gave me some money… and I bought a copy of 'Nevermind' by Nirvana. I was in love with Kurt Cobain.
Sergio: My first recollection of a proofed purchase with my own Money is for a VHS, 'The synchronicity concert' by The Police. My player had a poor quality copy of it at home that had already made me decide that I wanted to play drums.

We had to choose the pic, but we'll keep the secret...  

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
Alby: The first concert I recall attending to was Miguel Rios (big Spanish act back in the 80s) during his Rock ‘n’ Rios Tour, although I may have attended way more before that time and I just don’t remember them. My parents used to take me to concerts from a very early age. The last ones were U2 in Barcelona and Dave Matthews Band in Madrid, both during the same weekend.
Daniel: The first concert I attended to was Suede. The concert started at midnight but we were there by seven p.m. And the last one was Patti Smith, it was a great concert.
Cris: Dani is lying because I know that his first concert was Emilio Aragón, near his house (laughs). I don’t remember my first concert… maybe a concert by Los Sabandeños at Teatro Pérez Galdos’, here in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The last was one was a week ago: Japoneses Dos here in Las Palmas too.
Sergio: The first one was Luz Casal, and the last one was Asian Dub Foundation at WOMAD Fuerteventura. 

Ejem, ejem better not to comment!

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Alby: I guess I have quite a few guilty pleasures, such as Abba, The Bee Gees or ELO. Or maybe I shouldn’t feel that guilty about it, should I? (laughs).
Daniel: I’ve always wanted to make a tribute in one of my songs to the opening credits of “Deep throat”
Cris: I really couldn’t tell.
Sergio: Like Alby, I have plenty of time for Abba and the ELO; I´m also willing to defend a couple of songs by Lady Gaga, but only if you force me to.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Alby: I’m really proud -being a record collector- to have our last album 'Souvenirs' on vinyl as a part of my collection. But collector mode on it could be a copy of Queen’s 'A Night at the Opera' dedicated by Brian May or the box set reissue of Peter Gabriel’s 'So' also by the man himself.
Daniel: A 1966 Lp by The Beatles.
Sergio: I grew up as a proud member of the CD generation, so I don´t think that any of the ítems from my Collection has an Amazing value other than the music that it contains. The whole mono recordings by the Beatles are something to hold on tight to, and also the beautiful editions of  'The complete Motown Singles', of which I own seven volumes (now, if I were to find the long out of print Volume six, that would certainly be a valuable item)

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
Alby: 'Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see'. You just can’t fail with The Beatles, right?
Daniel: 'La cobardía es asunto de los hombres no de los amantes' by Silvio Rodriguez, which means 'Being coward is a matter of men, not lovers'. And another one is 'who wants to live forever, when love must die?', by Queen.

Yes indeed, everybody knows...

Cris: ‘True love will find you in the end, you'll find out just who was your friend, don’t be sad, I know you will, but don’t give up until, true love finds you in the end’ by Daniel Johnston. Easy and clear.
Sergio: 'Everybody knows that you've been faithful / give or take a night or two / Everybody knows you've been discreet / But there were so many people you just had to meet / Without your clothes / And everybody knows', by Leonard Cohen; in Spanish I could pick this one by Josele Santiago, from Los Enemigos: 'He debido llegar ya, he debido de llegar. Sí, porque al abrir la puerta allí estaba yo viendo la tele con mi mujer, conmigo y con mi mujer'.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Alby: I’d love to have the chance to speak to Nels Cline, guitarist of Wilco, because I’m a great fan of his playing and his approach to the instrument. But I’d love to have a nice conversation with Dave Grohl too. I think that guy has one of the most brilliant minds in music nowadays and he has such wide knowledge of music that it has to be awesome to share a coffee or something with him while chatting.
Daniel: I would like to have met Serge Gainsbourg and Lucio Battisti. I think they were very good song writers and I think we are like-minded.
Cris: I’d like to know Serge Gainsbourg, drink some whisky and smoke some Gitanes with him.
Sergio: I can´t think of anyone more huggable and interesting than Leonard Cohen.

Saints the great Aramburu painted 

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Alby: Spinal Tap’s 'Smell The Glove' (laughs) Nah, just kidding. I really loved Blur’s artwork for their last record. So cool! I don’t have a favorite though.
Daniel: 'Between the Buttons' by The Rolling Stones.
Cris: I really like the artworks of Javier Aramburu, especially the ones for Los Planetas: ‘Unidad de desplazamiento’ and ‘Encuentro con entidades’.
Sergio: I wouldn´t be able to pick a single favourite one. The one I´ve appreciated the most this year is 'Why make sense', by Hot Chip, and for some reason, while I was writing this I thought of 'Abbatoir blues/The lyre of Orpheus', by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

May the 'original' force be with you

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Alby: If books, the Game of Thrones saga (so much fun in those pages), if movies, Star Wars (the original one, aka Episode IV). I saw that movie on VHS when I was 5 and I’m still shocked!
Daniel: 'One hundred years of solitude', 'Cien años de soledad' by Gabriel García Márquez. It’s a book you should read at least eight times.
Cris: Books and movies!!! It’s very difficult to choose! A book: ‘Ensayo sobre la ceguera’ by José Saramago. A film: ‘Les 400 coups’ by François Truffaut.

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
Alby: Probably 'Toute cette lumière', from our second album. To me that’s the best example of co-writing we’ve had in the band so far.
Daniel: 'De profundis Clamavi'. I wrote it in 30 seconds.
Cris: 'Chloè'. A sound impact with three chords.
Sergio: In terms of how they ended up being arranged and recorded, all of the above, plus 'Chloè' and 'Arabian nights'.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Alby: This is not mine, I am copying from Sergio here, but to me it means “asking for favours”.
Daniel: It means creative freedom whichever the style is.
Cris: We do what we want, when we want, where we want… without conditions.
Sergio: There you go, Alby said it for me. To quote the great Kermit the frog, it´s not easy being green, and being indie is not much easier. It´s also good fun, though.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Alby: I’d love to be touring the world with The Birkins, still making records and hopefully reaching a wider audience with our music.

Daniel: if I knew it, I’d become a fortune teller and make millions. But I hope we will get better and better, time will tell.
Cris: Touring with The Birkins!!!!

                                                                                                                      Zillion thanks The Birkins!

'A Man Within', Burroughs, the alien

William S. Burroughs: a Man Within

I'm about to start reading 'Cursed from birth' (review coming soon at Indienauta), the memoirs of the unhappy and short life of William Burroughs Jr. and I remembered I had this documentary on the (long, overlong, infinite) movies-to-watch-list. Perfect timing, right?

'A man within' tries to offer an insight, based on archival footage (seems some never-seen-before) plus an impressive cast of interviewed people (Peter Weller, John Waters, Laurie Anderson, Gus Van Sant, Jello Biafra or Genesis Breyer P-Orridge to name a few), of William Burroughs, the writer, cultural-social activist and counterculture icon. It's an extremely difficult goal, as Burroughs might be one of the most elusive, contradictory and hermetic authors/human beings I can think of. Director Yony Leyser's does a nice job of assembling the movie, dividing it on a number of topics regarding "the man", as well as making it quite dynamic, with and engaging pace. But after the ending credits roll on, the mysteries surrounding Burroughs remain the same.

As entertaining 'A Man Within' is, revelations are few for the already converted. Ok, you have a point. With Burroughs you can pretend to have clear answers. But with the exception of a few remarks and memories from some of his most intimate friends and colleagues (not the bunch of famous admirers, with the exception of Patti Smith, who was really close to her and has a wonderful account on him near the end of the documentary), and the scenes on which we see him sharing the table with Allen Ginsberg or shooting cans outside his house, the promised insight on his work, life and times it doesn't go beyond the surface. More like an introduction, done with heart and wisdom, but just an introduction.    

In terms of structure, 'A Man Within' is a worthy attempt of gathering all the pieces that conform Burroughs' legend & complex puzzle: his role within the Beat movement; his subversive, rebellion against his time, against control & restrictions; drug addiction and experimentation (another of the most remarkable aspects of the film, he was a slave of drugs, not his defender); gun lover and main responsible of the death of his wife, something that tortured him for the rest of his life; absent father; punk godfather; and a revolutionary writer (a dubious painter too). But maybe Leyser's approach was too modest? It seems to me there's a lot more to dig in every chapter. For example: I'm not that interested in knowing that Iggy Pop wrote a song about him (despite the anecdote and how he explains is hilarious) or that Sonic Youth visited him in Kansas, but it would have been great to know why he collaborated with so many artists and what the artists were looking for with these collaborations. Besides I do miss a much deeper account on his books, having the impression 'The Naked Lunch' and 'Queer' are vindicated by many... but have been read by very few.

But let's keep with the moments that endure, as a 'A Man Within' has plenty of them. Aside from the already mentioned relation between Ginsberg and Burroughs, there's the amazing 'Thanksgiving Day ' short film ("thanks for a Continent to despoil and poison"...), his suffering after the ill-fated, demented William Tell. And the lovely, surprisingly charming end. Even the alien, the iconoclast, the irreverent, the guru, the cut-up pioneer, futuristic visionary, needed the same we all strive for...

SCORE: 6,25/10

Primavera Sound 2015 in brief, days 4 & 5

And we arrive to the final chapter of our Primavera Sound chronicles, with the last day of concerts at Fòrum, plus the addition (and what an addition!) of a final gig seen yesterday at sala Barts.

The Good

Patti Smith: Not really a concert, but a celebration. The music legend was relaxed, friendly and willing to have fun with an audience eager to show their love, respect and appreciation. Even when the songs were so-so (the ones devoted to Amy Winehouse and her grandson) or when the covered tune (Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day') became a lovely piece of nonsense Patti's charisma and mythical presence did it all. And then came the brutal renditions of 'Because the Night' and 'Pissing in a River', one of the moments of the Festival for me. So when 'People Have the Power' (video below) appeared, with the audience leaving their seats to stay closer to the icon it all made sense. Patti has the power.

DIIV: I love 'Oshin', and got really frustrated when the band cancelled their participation at last year's Primavera. But the group leaded by Zachary Cole Smith came to Barcelona with a sole purpose: enlightening Pitchfork stage. Terrific performance, with new tunes sounding as exciting as the glorious dreampop gems of 'Oshin'. Wow.

Dreamy diving pop. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Interpol: Didn't have many expectations, as their last albums are far from their best moments... but that's exactly what they gave us at Heineken stage. A gig heavy on 'Turn on the Bright Lights' with seven tunes, all the hits from 'Antics', performed with energy and passion. And when electric system of the stage went down, the band yelled "if there's sound, we'll play" to finish their set in a splendid, unique way, with the audience providing the light with their mobile phones. Fantastic, powerful gig.

Paul Banks on screen. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Bad

The Strokes: From Interpol to Strokes, from pleasant surprise to utter disappointment. While one can say the musicians tried despite, as it happened with the Black Keys on Thursday, the sound was mediocre, Julian Casablancas simply wasn't there. Apathetic, disinterested, with the head miles away from Primavera stage (maybe still at Camp Nou?). Sad, very sad a headliner behaves that way.

The Queen

Torres: We reserved Mackenzie Scott's gig for Sunday at BARTS (she also played at Fòrum on Saturday but it clashed with some other options), and what great choice turned to be. Only six tunes, but we are 110% sure no one at the venue felt the gig was anything than mesmerizing. Wounded folk that mutes into unstoppable indie-rock, damaged lyrics and distorted, threatening guitar lines, a voice that breaks, whispers and screams, frightening and letting the audience speechless. What a superb concert to end our Primavera Sound Festival 2015.

Torres haunting BARTS. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Here are the links of the previous chapters!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Primavera Sound 2015: my draft schedule

And the day has come. It's time to, at least make the first attempt, and try to assemble the puzzle that the Primavera Sound Festival schedules' are. And also time to start digesting and make some painful choices due to the recurring, I guess they are inevitable, overlaps. So, are you ready to "play" with us? Pending on Primavera als Parcs' schedule this is what our PS 2015 looks like (initial impressions):  

  

Thursday, May 28th, Parc del Fòrum
18:35 Twerps (Pitchfork)
19:45 Viet Cong (Pitchfork)
21:10 The Replacements (Primavera)
22:20 Antony and the Johnsons (Heineken)* 
22:50 Spiritualized (ATP)
23:45 The Black Keys (Primavera)
The "easy" day, it goes quite smoothly, with the sole exception of missing Antony and the Johnsons (although I'm very far from being a fan, I was curious), and the clash between the highly recommendable Ought versus The Replacements.

Friday, May 29th, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 The Pastels (Heineken Hidden Stage) 
17:45 Núria Graham (Pitchfork)
19:00 Ex Hex (Pitchfork)
20:35 The Julie Ruin (Ray-Ban)
22:20 Sleater-Kinney (Heineken) 
23:45 Ride (Primavera)
The "big day" it's a pretty excruciating one. Getting into the Pastels' gig will be tough (as you have to grab the tickets well in advance that same day). There's not a lot to choose among until Ex Hex... and then overlaps all over until. Will see The Julie Ruin so bye to The New Pornographers, Patti Smith, Tobias Jesso Jr.. and also to Damien Rice and Belle and Sebastian, 'cause the important gig of the day is, of course, Sleater-Kinney. Then Ride and over? What an incredible day could have been...

Saturday, May 30th, Parc del Fòrum
16:00 Patti Smith (Auditori Rockdelux)
17:30 Ben Watt (Auditori Rockdelux) 
18:55 The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Primavera)
20:30 Tori Amos (Ray-Ban)
21:40 DIIV (Pitchfork)
22.20 Interpol Heineken)*
23:00 Flyying Colours (H & M Pro)
23:45 The Strokes  (Primavera)
Same sad song. Nice start with Patti and Ben Watt, then a sort of a wasteland (although we'll manage) and more clashes. DIIV will be the chosen band and then, whatever happens...

Sunday, May 31th, Apolo/Sala BARTS
19:40 Soledad Vélez (BARTS) 
20:45 Torres (BARTS) 
A very relaxed day with just one gig that we really want to attend, but what a gig. We love Torres... Sure (and also hope) there will be more changes and adds to this schedule as the Festival approaches. We'll see!

* Incomplete, or depending on the distances between stages

Primavera Sound 2015: first impressions

Primavera Sound Festival 2015's line-up unveiled! The show was quick and the videogame used to reveal the band names was a funny idea, (although a bit too easy?).Hipsters/posers were quite ok compared with previous years (except when the food arrived, the animal instincts appeared no matter how cool you dress) and the overall feeling was a pleasant one. Thanks to the organisers. 

But let’s go to key question. What an impressive line-up they have gathered! We are extremely happy they have followed our advice (kidding of course) and prepared an almost riot grrrl stage (by the sea perhaps?) on Friday with The Julie Ruin, Ex Hex and Sleater-Kinney. Amazing. Now please no overlaps, at least on Friday.

As happened last year, we’ll focus on the “middle class”, although my better half will strongly push for seeing The Black Keys and The Strokes (huge question marks on the latest one), which looks, as always, interesting, diverse, and with a lot of potential. DIIV, Eels (finally!), Spiritualized, Patti Smith, Torres (YEEES!) and a huge list of well-known (like Belle and Sebastian) and recently discovered names (Twerps to name one)… If we are lucky with the overlaps, this edition could be simply spectacular.

So, honouring the Blog’s tradition, here’s our traditional rough (we don't have the timetables yet) “paint & colour” version of the line-up with our first impressions on the bands we are willing to see. Promising, right?

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2015

27th-31st May

ALBERT HAMMOND JR. • ALT-J • AMERICAN FOOTBALL • ANDREW WEATHERALL ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS • ARIEL PINK • ARTHUR RUSSELL INSTRUMENTALS BABES IN TOYLAND • BAXTER DURY • BELLE & SEBASTIAN • BEN WATT • BENJAMIN BOOKER • THE BLACK KEYS • THE BOHICAS • BOREALS • BRAND NEW • CARIBOU • CHEATAHS • CHET FAKER • CHILDHOOD • CHRISTINA ROSENVINGE • THE CHURCH • CINERAMA • DJ COCO • D.D DUMBO • DAMIEN RICE • DAN DEACON • DAVE P. • DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 • DER PANTHER • DIIV • DISAPPEARS • DIXON • DULCE PAJARA DE JUVENTUD • EARTH • EARTHLESS • EELS • EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN • ELECTRIC WIZARD • EX HEX • EXXASENS • FERRAN PALAU • FOXYGEN • FUCKED UP • FUMACA PRETA • GERMA AIRE • THE GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER • GIANT SAND • GREYLAG • GÚDAR • GUI BORATTO • HANS-JOACHIM ROEDELIUS • HAR MAR SUPERSTAR (dj set) • HEALTH • HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER • HOOKWORMS • THE HOTELIER • IBEYI • ICEAGE • INTERPOL • JAMBINAI • JAMES BLAKE • JESSICA & THE FLETCHERS • JOAN MIQUEL OLIVER • JON HOPKINS • JOSE GONZALEZ • THE JUAN MACLEAN • JULIAN CASABLANCAS+THE VOIDZ • THE JULIE RUIN • JUNGLE • KELELA KEVIN MORBY • THE KVB • LAS RUINAS • LES AMBASSADEURS • LES SUEQUES • LOS PUNSETES • LOST TAPES • MAC DEMARCO • MARC PIÑOL • MARC RIBOT'S CERAMIC DOG • MDOU MOCTAR • MIKAL CRONIN • MIKE SIMONETTI • MINERAL • MIQUEL SERRA • MOURN • MOVEMENT • MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND • NANCY WHANG (dj set) NELEONARD • THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS • NUEVA VOLCANO • NÚRIA GRAHAM • OCELLOT • OMD • OUGHT • PALLBEARER • PANAMA • PANDA BEAR • PATTI SMITH & BAND perform HORSES • PERFUME GENIUS • PERRO • PHARMAKON • RATKING • THE REPLACEMENTS • RICHIE HAWTIN • RIDE • ROCIO MARQUEZ • ROMAN FLOGEL • RUN THE JEWELS • SALVAJE MONTOYA • THE SAURS • SHABAZZ PALACES • SHELLAC SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO • SINGLE MOTHERS • SLEAFORD MODS • SLEATER-KINNEY • SOAK • THE SOFT MOON • SPIRITUALIZED • SR. CHINARRO • STRAND OF OAKS • THE STROKES • THE SUICIDE OF WESTERN CULTURE • SUN KIL MOON • SUNN 0))) • SWANS • THEE OH SEES • THE THURSTON MOORE BAND • TOBIAS JESSO JR.• TONY ALLEN • TORRES • TUNE-YARDS • TWERPS • TWIN SHADOW • TYLER THE CREATOR • UMBERTO & ANTONI MAIOVVI • UNDERWORLD dubnobasswithmyheadman live • UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA • VIET CONG • VOIVOD • WHITE HILLS • YASMINE HAMDAN • YOUNGHUSBAND • THE ZEPHYR BONES

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"

These Go to 11: interviewing Wild Balbina

Keeping Galizian indie power! Second time in a row interviewing a great band from that region (coincidence or signal there's something going on there?). This week we have the pleasure to count with the answers, riot grrrl style, of Marta González from our dear Wild Balbina. These Go to 11! 

Marta González, Wild Balbina

Wild-teen-riot-surf

If you are a regular follower of this blog you already know that we are fans of Elefant Records. So, last year, in one of our regular checks of their always exciting roster we had the pleasure to discover Wild Balbina. Coming from Vigo, they formed in 2010 when Antía Figueiras and Marta González moved on from their initial covers combo to a real band after recruiting V. Zapata. Local buzz followed until 2012, when they released the EP 'Eat Tacos' and became a most promising act to follow. In 2013 the group became a quartet with Miguel Binachi and now, with this year's release of the excellent mini-LP 'Sisters Before Misters' they are a complete reality, something also showed live, as we recently saw them supporting the fundamental Comet Gain. Youthfulness, energy, electricity, freshness and an addictive mix of garage, riot grrrl (they also run the feminist-cultural fanzine Typical Girls), surf, C86 and noise-pop sounds. Here we go!

When riot grrrl went danceable

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Talking in general maybe a Laura Pausini’s cassette, I don’t know! Talking about vinyls the first one was 'Feminist Sweepstakes' by Le Tigre.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
The first one was when I was a child because my family and I used to go to some free shows that in summer are still celebrated in our town, Vigo, at a spectacular natural-concert hall, Castrelos. There we could see Depeche Mode, Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, Emir Kusturica, etc, and yes! some glories of the spanish’s pop as Sabina, that maybe was the first one. The last one was in London in October, Acrobat + Brain Washington + The Mvp’s at Buffalo Bar which we have read that maybe will be closed :(. Sorry for the length of the answer!

Blonde ambition, take 47...

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
'What you waiting for?', Gwen Stefani, a diva.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
The Spanish edition of 'If You Knew Suzi' by Suzi Quatro (1978).

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
So many but I may choose only one, 'Disarm' by Smashing Pumpkins.

Kat & Kurt, smelling like teen spirits...

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Kathleen Hanna and Kurt Cobain.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
'I love Delaware' by Drop Nineteens.

The Riot Grrrl's  "Bible"

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

Both! A book: 'Riot Grrrl Collection' by Lisa Darms, a good brief of the contents of the fanzines belonging to the movement. The film: 'Hausu' by Nobuhiko Obayashi.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
'Spit your love'.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Indie is something pure that come up of somebody without the influence of a third person (that obviously can offer money in return of); and that’s done for not only satisfying other people as well. Any music style can be indie.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I’m not sure of the answer of this one, I don’t usually think about that kind of stuff!

Zillion thanks Wild Balbina!

These Go to 11: interviewing Go Violets

For our next interview we go back to the bands/musicians. This time with Alice Rezende, guitarist and 1/4 of the band that, imo, released the best EP of 2013, the amazing Australian band Go Violets. These Go to 11!

Alice Rezende, Go Violets

Go Violets, hyper-addictive quartet.

Formed in 2011, this all-female quartet hailing from Brisbane debuted with the digital EP "^​-​.​-​^" in March 2012. Terrific tunes "Teenager" in August 2012, "Josie" in May 2013, and "Wanted" in August 2013 followed, anticipating their proper first release, the irresistible EP "Heart Slice", out past October on label Create Control. Six extremely infectious, killer tunes, armed with enough infallible hooks & harmonic vocals to win any war, melting garage with sweetest pop. Please keep Going Violets!

Surreal writers: Mmm bop, ba duba dop x3 

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

Hanson’s “Middle of Nowhere”, on CD (it was the ‘90s). But the first record I actually bought was for my boyfriend, and it was Brisbane’s No Anchor LP “Real Pain Supernova”, which is solid.

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

First – Hanson (duh). Last concert was Future of the Left’s show in Brisbane, but I only went to see the opener band Damn Terran from Melbourne, whom we’re friends with.

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

The man... and  the glasses.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
I WISH I had the Eddy Current discography on vinyl. That would be precious.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

Any song by Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Patti Smith, Bono.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Kind of love Day Ravies’ cover for their new album “Tussle”.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
Well up in my list of must watch is the original “Clerks” black and white movie, and must read, I dunno, currently I’m reading Nietzche’s “Thus Spoke Zarathustra”. So yeah.

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
All of them. Specially the first ones.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
I guess it means staying true to your independent format and to not letting outside influences dictate what you release or how you release it and when, although that can sometimes be pretty unrealistic. I guess having your own vision is important, though, so we strive for that.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Making music, still being friends, having rad jobs, travelling the world.

Zillion thanks Alice!

These Go to 11: Interviewing Fear of Men

Our fifth interview is to the Fear of Men's lead singer, Jessica Weiss, a band that, if you follow this blog (thank you, thank you) is simply one of my biggest crushes... since... since I first hear The National's "Fake Empire". So imagine how happy I am to bring you her answers. These Go to 11!

Jessica Weiss, Fear of Men

Jess Weiss, fearless indiepop

This very young quartet from London-Brighton stole my heart a year ago and, luckily, they don't seem to be willing to give it back to me. Their first tunes arrived in 2011, and it was already obvious here was a very special band, something that mind blowing pieces like "Green Sea", "Mosaic" and "Your Side", appeared in 2012, confirmed. Earlier this year their flawless singles compilation "Early Fragments" (look for it at the blog's best EPs of the year), came out, with debut album expected for Spring 2014. Incredibly catchy yet substantial, dreamy indiepop with traces of post-punk, full of jangly chords and explosive hooks hiding gloomy lyrics, and with the killer voice of Jessica Weiss, our interviewed, on top. Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

The first album is probably something like Destiny’s Child. Nothing wrong with a good pop song!

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

First concert would be some DIY show put on by friends when I was about 14 or 15. And the last- we played with Dismemberment Plan for ATP a couple of days ago, that was pretty great. The last show I bought tickets to was maybe Merchandise, also really good. I was depressed by the number of people watching through camera phones though.

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Katy Perry- Roar. It has some incredible hooks.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
I’m not a collector in the way that I would freak out over a first edition of a Beatles vinyl or something, but the most precious record to me is ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’. It is so sincere and honest and unapologetic that I feel like it’s a rhetoric on how to live and feel.

The National, the BAND in capital letters. And a classic below

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

I am a total lyrics fiend, forever writing down phrases I enjoy in a little notebook, but then not being able to chose a specific part so I just write out the whole song… The Smiths, The National, PJ Harvey, Neutral Milk Hotel are my favourites.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Kate Bush- a very inspiring person with complete faith in her vision and so much original thought. The National- I really admire how patient they have been. They just kept making brilliant records, and have achieved success as a result of that, they’ve grown very naturally. Patti Smith.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Patti Smith, ‘Horses’. All of Robert Mappelthorpe's photos of Patti Smith are really striking and confrontational, and I love that.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
I prefer to read. I am reading a biography of Samuel Beckett at the moment by Diedre Bair which is very good.

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
There are a lot of songs on the new album I’m really proud of for different reasons. I’m very excited for people to hear our new songs.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
However people view the genre of our music, I believe in a very punk, ethical sensibility of not compromising on artistic integrity or taking the easy way out, which I suppose is akin to ‘indie’. There have been times when we’ve made things harder for ourselves by sticking to our own agenda, and I think we’re a stronger, better band for it. Basically to me being indie is being smart, independent and not being taken advantage of.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Living on my own having traveled the world playing music and making the records I want to make. Maybe having gone back to university.

Zillion thanks Jess!

These Go To 11: Interviewing Big Summer

Second interview after debuting this section with the lovely Astrid Wiezell, aka, Northern Spies, this time with Vasco Batista, a musician fated for big things. These Go to 11!

Vasco Batista, aka Big Summer

Vasco Batista, much better than CR7.

The mastermind behind this project based in Barcelona, but with a fully international idiosincracy is a young Portuguese with a fascinating ability to blend all indie styles, with a special devotion for American sounds and make them his own. Whether on the fascinating debut "Bone and Arrow" EP, or in the recently released full album "Everything Is Going to Be Ok", both courtesy of the wise wizards from El Genio Equivocado, Vasco and his colleagues are showing an undeniable freshness, melodic flair and talent encapsulated on a bunch of exciting songs that you're going to find pretty high on my best-of-the-year lists. 

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

One of the first I bought with my own money was "The Sound of Music" OST.

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

The first was probably Skunk Anansie at a festival in Porto. Last one was Eleanor Friedberger, we opened for her recently (interviewer's note: indeed they did, great night).

Girls Aloud".... ejem

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

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on) My vintage Electro Harmonix Big Muff (they don’t make them anymore).

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

Zero 7 - "Distractions"

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Graham Coxon

Neoangin- "Scratchbook"

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Neoangin - "Scratchbook". An album with 26 songs and a 100 page boolket filled with amazing illlustrations.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
Both! I’ll recommend the latest book and movie I’ve read/watched. Patti Smith - "Just Kids" is truly beautiful.
Latest movie is actually a musical by Cy Coleman: "Sweet Charity", with unbelievable coreography by Bob Fosse.

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of Maybe not a crowd pleaser, but I’m really happy with "Real Thing" (off our first EP).

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)I think nowadays its meaning is getting lost… people always try to put everything in boxes (we’re human, that’s what we do). So I guess for me indie is anything you’re not exactly sure which box it belongs in; or maybe it belongs in more than one.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully touring with my 4 bands!

Zillion thanks Vasco!