The Indie Anthology 68: essential songs

Told you this section was going to be revitalized and, before we take a holiday break for about ten days here's another mesmerizing tune to add to our anthology. Well, as a matter of fact it is way more than just a tune. In my opinion, it's one of the best jangle pop melodies ever penned.

Song: I Had an Excellent Dream
Artist: The Dentists
Year: 1985

This past April, we had the pleasure to count with Mark Matthews from the amazing The Treasures of Mexico, answering our questions in the 'These Go to 11' section. But, Matthews, as we pointed extensively on that interview, has a jangle-pop pedigree that goes back to the middle 80s, as he was a permanent member of the The Dentists, a terribly underrated combo that gave us a bunch of gems, among them this mind-blowing 'I Had and Excellent Dream', an epitome of what an eternal jangle-pop tune is, and part of a truly masterful album, 'Some People Are on the Pitch They Think It's All Over It Is Now' (reminder: have to grab a copy, damn it!). Second one: a guitar starts ringing (thanks Bob Collins, also playing now at the Treasures, you are genius guitarist). Seconds five to-eight: you are irrepressibly hooked by that chiming guitar riff (it resonates, vibrates, hums and keeps going further, relentlessly), propelled by that groovy rhythm section. Second thirty: Michael Murphy starts singing and you, providing an fragility and melancholy to the otherwise blasting tune. Second one hundred and eighty: the chorus keeping exploding and you know you'll get stuck to the song forever. 31 years have passed and still sounds raw, exciting, slightly psychedelic, immediate and classic at the same time. Guitar pop as its best.

Discoverer 132: new indie findings

For today's discoverer series we are traveling to one of the kingdoms of indiepop: our beloved Sweden, with a trio of most exciting bands. Njut av!

YAST. The origins of this band can be traced from the steel-producing town of Sandviken in 2007, when Carl Kolbaek-Jensen, Tobias Widman and Marcus Norberg joined forces before luring down to Malmö and, a couple of years later became a quintet with the additions of Markus Johansson and Niklas Wennerstrand. In February 2012 they began a trilogy of singles, 'Believes'. 'Strangelife' and 'Stupid', which anticipated their selt-titled debut album, out on January 2014 via Adrian Recordings. After the good reception of their music and tours supporting acts like TOY, The Drums, Tame Impala and DIIV, in October 2015 they doubled the bet with sophomore LP 'My Dreams Did Finally Come True'. A joyous collection of dream pop pieces, where melody stuns and melancholy haunts you. Check their music, YAST could be ready to soundtrack your seasons...  
 

Animal Daydream. We move North to Gothenburg to meet Daniel Fridlund Brandt and Alexander Wahl, a very enigmatic duo that appeared on the scene in 2014. They have released two EPs to date, both out thanks to the always reliable Jigsaw Records, first debut 'Easy Pleasures' in January 2015 and now, exactly a year later, 'Citrus'. Eight majestic tunes of psych-pop and sunshine pop, recalling The Byrds, the joyous side of CSNY and, looking forward in time, the poppier side of our dear Teenage Fanclub. Harmonies, chiming guitars and the smoothiest vibes from a band fated to make you smile. A pure delight.  

We. the Pigs. And we end once again in Malmö with a sextet that began their career at the beginning of this decade, working slowly on their songs while playing in a few European festivals. Our wise friends at Discos de Kirlian, who already included their song 'Too Young' in their 2012 digital compilation, now offers us their first proper release in the form of a 7" self-titled EP, out just now. Four arresting songs (plus some exclusive digital demos) of highly melodic shoegaze, channeling the intensity of killer guitars and charging drum beats with the irresistible vocals of Veronika. Heavy-fuelled beauty. More please!

Discoverer 130: new indie findings

Back with our discoverer series! Three late finds gems of past year we had to share with you to open 2016 as it deserves. Sure you'll enjoy!

Postal Blue. Hailing from Brasilia, Brazil, today I'm happy to bring you the story of Adriano do Couto, the man behind one of the best records of 2015. The project started out in 1998, as a full-fledged quartet on search of the perfect pop tune (Byrds, Smiths, Go-Betweens). American label Drive-In Records quickly reached them to release their self-titled debut EP released in 2000, with our dear Shelflife Records coming second to release sophomore EP 'Weather Sensitive' two years later. In 2004 arrived debut LP 'International Breeze', with the band shifting their sound from guitar indiepop to a subdued and adventurous bossanova-infused folk pop. Another EP, the moody and sung in Portuguese 'Road to happiness' came next in 2006 on Canadian label Humblebee Recordings. But then the band entered into a hiatus that became final, so singer and lead songwriter Adriano, keeping Postal Blue's name, released a 3" single on Cloudberry Records in 2008 and a 7" as part of the Dufflecoat / Jigsaw Singles Club co-release. Finally, at the end of past November, after 11 years, the band's sophomore album 'Of Love & Other Affections' arrived via Jigsaw. Gorgeous indiepop from start to finish, dreamiest, melancholic, elegant, classic, always arresting. Been a long way, but the reward is priceless.

Lusts. Let me introduce you the Stone brothers, James and Andy, hailing from Leicester, UK. Couldn't find the exact date when the band formed, but it seems very very recent (2014 probably) Debut single 'Temptation' arrived past March, followed by ‘Mouthwash’ and their full album 'Iluminations', out in October via 1965 Records. And what a debut! Irresistibly catchy and expansive indie-rock soaked in reverb and noise, channeling shoegaze, post-punk and bits of psychdelia and krautrock, but also some of the inmediacy of britpop straightforward hymns. Immediately enjoyable and fun. Band to follow closely this New Year.

Tuff Love. And we end in Glasgow, Scotland to meet Julie Eisenstein (guitar, vocals) and Suse Bear (bass, vocals) plus live drummer Iain Stewart (also a member of The Phantom Band). They debuted in May 2014 with 'Junk' EP via Lost Map Records, embarking afterwards on Festivals and European tour where they had the chance of supporting reformed shoegaze legends Ride. Adored by media, in November they offered another EP, 'Dross', followed by the split 7" single with Lazy Day on Record Store Day 2015. And since past November we can also enjoy their third EP, 'Dregs', five wonderful tunes of jangly surf-pop, dreamy and sunny and a DIY ethos. What's not to love?

Guitar lessons with Lee Ranaldo

Lee Ranaldo (+ Murnau B).  La [2] de Apolo, Barcelona, April 24th.

Ranaldo in BCN. Photo: Bloobuzzed

Spring is always the best time for live music. April its been a month  pretty full of gigs and May looks, happily, even busier in that sense (Primavera Sound is just around the corner, folks). Past Wednesday it was my second chance watching live a veteran stage legend, that to me is a recent discovery. I'm referring to Lee Ranaldo, Sonic Youth's guitarist, responsible of one of my favourite records from last year, "Between the Times and the Tides".

Murnau B. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Ranaldo's gig was supported by local band Murnau B, an instrumental trio aiming to create dense, cinematic and dark no-wave tunes. They sounded solid and fierce, but this is just a matter of taste I guess. To me every tune was too similar to the previous one (only exceptions the couple helped by keyboards), a bit grunge, and sorry to say, pretty boring. In my opinion.

But then Lee Ranaldo took the stage. It wasn't going to be a surprising gig, and we quickly realise that, once again La [2] de Apolo was going to frustrate our aspirations of enjoying a great sounding performance. Instruments were crystal clear, but Ranaldo's vocals were pretty average. I can't really understand why there's such a huge difference in what regards to sound quality between the two Apolo rooms.

Steve Shelley. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Guitar heroes. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Having complained about that, the gig was almost flawless. Ranaldo and his band were amazing, and the whole place vibed with the heavily-charged electric tension propelled by guitars (Ranaldo was backed by Alan Licht and Tim Luntzel) and Sonic Youth Steve Shelley's relentless drumming. Songs like the shiny "Off the Wall" or "Lost" are priceless, and played with that level of intensity live, they inoculated euphoria on the listener. The veteran musician combined this more straightforward pieces with angular, longer and more oblique rock pieces, like "Xtina As I Knew Her" or "Shout". Ranaldo makes me think about R.E.M.'s "Document" era or their most abrasive, rockier tunes. I even hear traces of Stipe vocals on Ranaldo's way of singing. That, combined with his skills, a gentle little chat there, and a a bit of show with his guitars (that couple of moments destroying the strings playing the instrument as if it was a violin) made the night absolutely remarkable. Guitar lessons with a maestro.

Up & close. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Ranaldo and his band weren't shy to offer new tunes (a couple of them sounded really exciting) plus a cover of The Byrds "Everybody's Been Burned", written by David Crosby, and when the time came for the end, with the majestic finale of "Waiting On a Dream", after a generous hour and half gig, the overall feeling was easy to define: total satisfaction. Even despite not having the best sounding.    

Spanish Indie 12: suggesting the best national acts

More Spanish "alternative sounds" for your listening pleasure!

The Birkins. Can you mix British pop with French chanson, Americana and some experimentation and not being indigestible? Can you recall bands like The Beautiful South and Stereolab at the same time? This impressive quartet hailing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria can, gracefully. Formed in 2008, after winning, in 2009, the nationwide Heineken Greenspace contest, they signed with our recurrent friends from El Genio Equivocado and released their S/T debut album in 2011. Now they are back with their sophomore release, "Châteaux en Espagne", out since Feburary. Classy and diverse indiepop. One final advice: don't miss the chance of seeing them live if you can.

Niño y Pistola. Veteran band from Baiona, Galizia, for our second proposal. After two demos (2003 & 2004) they released "Como un Maldito Guisante" in 2006, recorded fully live. Hailed by critics as the "Galizian from Liverpool", they returned with "Culebra" in 2008. Then came their band reinvention, releasing under a new alter ego "Niño y Pistola as Arthur & The Writers" in 2010. And out now we have "There's a Man With a Gun Over There" as Niño y Pistola again. A conceptual album that is a superb homage to all the American music heroes: Neil Young, The Band, Dylan, Byrds, Buffalo Springfield... FOLK-ROCK in big capital letters.

Les Atxes. Discovered at the Minifestival de Música Independent, this band from Barcelona was born in 2008, first as the shared project of guitarists and singers Marc A. and Marc M., and then as a powerful full group after recruiting three more members. After many gigs and rehearsing, in 2011 they came out with a self-titled mini-album, when they combine their passion for the 70s' NYC scene with the more primitive elements of garage, as well of little hints of post-punk and traces of Spanish folk-rock. An eclectic combination that turns out to be incredibly fun, particularly live.