Discoverer 145: new indie findings

Back with another trio of new proposals in our discoverer series. And again, and it's becoming a very nice tradition, conformed by three amazing female musicians, the best example women rule the indiepop world right now. Always girls to the front!

Mitski. Born in Japan, 25 year-old musician Mitski Miyawaki has moved with her family very frequently around the world, living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malaysia, China and Turkey among other countries before getting settled in New York to study composition at SUNY Purchase. After digital, self-released albums 'Lush' and 'Retired from Sad, New Career in Business' in 2012 and 2013, in 2014 arrived her first proper debut record with ' Bury Me at Make Out Creek' out via Double Double Whammy and Dead Oceans. Now she's back with 'Puberty 2', recorded with the help of her accomplice Patrick Hyland, out since June by Dead Oceans, an album fated to transform Mitski in one of the alternative artists to follow closely. Inventive and sonically rich, risky, brave, tense and meaningful, like summoning the Pixies and St.Vincent's altogether. Among the frontrunners for best album of the year... A must.

Japanese Breakfast. And we end with a very personal story between Eugene, Oregon, and Philadelphia, PA, to meet Michelle Zauner. Singer and guitarist of Philly indie rock quartet Little Big League, in late 2014 she moved back home to the Oregon after her mother was diagnosed with cancer. While she was there, she revamped songs from her previous lo-fi releases (there's a pretty bunch of music you can check at her bandcamp from 2013-2014) under the name Japanese Breakfast in collaboration with musician Ned Eisenberg. The result is 'Psychopomp', a stunning album out now via Yellow K Records, where the mourn of the loss collides with a bursting celebration of love and life enveloped in a collection of arresting tunes, ranging from bright indiepop to hazy shoegaze. Music as the guide for the souls to the afterlife and the comfort of the ones who remain here.

Lucy Dacus. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Lucy Dacus is a ridiculously talented musician for such a young age (just started to count her twenties!). She dropped out film school at Virginia Commonwealth University, worked at a photography lab before deciding to focus solely on music, with first tunes appearing online in 2015 and igniting the buzz on the blogosphere. Debut album 'No Burden', recorded in Nashville in just a couple of days, appeared on February 2016 via EggHunt Records (now reissued by Matador who just signed her to overwhelming response, thanks to her powerful, distinct voice, her witty (and funny, darkly funny) lyrics and her knack for melodies, between rock and folk. Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett... take her on tour with you!  

These Go to 11: interviewing The Hermit Crabs

Here comes another These Go to 11 interview series! This time I'm extremely honoured and happy to have the questionnaire completed by a wonderful musician, Melanie Whittle from the adorable The Hermit Crabs and Baffin Island, two personal favourites that make each of their (too few) releases an indiepop celebration. Enjoy!

Queen of the Indiepop Hermits

Melanie Whittle 
The Hermit Crabs / Baffin Island

After California Snow Story was put on hold, where she played drums, Melanie Whittle formed The Hermit Crabs in 2003. The Glaswegian band (Scottland of course, couldn't be any other way?) have released three flawless EPs to date, all available at the infallible Matinée Records; the debut "Feel Good Factor" (2006), "Correspondence Course" (2008), "Time Relentless" (2012), and one full-length; "Saw You Dancing" (2007). But Mel indiepop talents can also be found on the loveliest transcontinental collaboration ever: Baffin Island, where she joins forces with "our man", Jeremy Jensen, and Jake Hite from The Very Most. Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest
Nena, "99 Red Balloons".

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

First: Madness at the age of 13. Last: Scottish proms in the park, Glasgow green

The "other" Michael

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Oo, er….Michael Bublé!?

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Precious to me: Signed copy of Scottish band Win album. Perhaps precious to other people: Signed "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" B&S CD, promo copy of ‘Jonathan David’ by B&S.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours) You told me everything by saying nothing (Bloodbuzzed's note: maybe from Tuxedomoon's "In a Manner of Speaking"?, thanks for that Knut!!)

The real "Deal".

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too) 
I’ve met Kim Deal but would like to meet her again, the guy from Magnetic Fields (Stephen Merrit), Joey Santiago from The Pixies.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Dead Kennedys’ album, "Frankenchrist"

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
I know it’s perhaps an indie cliche but I love Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar", it’s so good on so many levels. Also Wally Lamb's "She’s come undone" and Salinger's "Franny and Zooey". Film: John Cassavettes, "A woman under the influence".

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

"Closet Fan" from "Saw Your Dancing".

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Oh dear, I don’t know, the eternal question. Alternative, shoe-gazing.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Musically Speaking? – playing a bit of everything in a covers band – weddings, barmitzvahs etc. Hopefully playing the violin to a decent standard.

Zillion thanks Mel!

These Go to 11: Interviewing Wiggum

Fourth interview, and we go back to a musician, one to came from the cold (and imo from one of the best countries of the planet, Iceland, at least one where the word democracy has a real meaning) to join one of the most exciting indie-rock bands of the Spanish scene, Wiggum. These Go to 11!

Halldór Már Stefánsson, Wiggum

Halldór, man on fire

2013 for me is the year (hope it's just the first one & more will follow) of label El Genio Equivocado. And one of the first, most exciting discoveries among their roster has been this quartet from Barcelona. Formed in 2009, and with just two records, one has the feeling they should be on the verge of "becoming big". Otherwise it will be the confirmation this country is deaf (and dumb). Their sophomore album, "La Guerra Mundial", released this year, is a blast full of guitar-driven 90s alternative-rock anthems without losing their melodics talents (these intertwined harmonies). Halldór Már is 1/4 of the band, fuelling the combo with his vocals, guitars and contagious passion live. Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

Honestly, I don’t remember. But it’s possible that it was a Duran Duran album...

Abba... glups (in different colours) 

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

First, must have been some local Icelandic group (Sugarcubes included) but I’m pretty sure that first international group I saw was Whitesnake! Last concert: Seeing Austin TV in The Arenal Festival.

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
That would have to be ABBA or The Carpenters, but it’s not very embarrassing for me since I listen to a wide range of music.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
My made in U.S.A. Telecaster.

Mr. Vedder

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

I’m always fascinated by The Beatles' “I Am The Walrus” and Bowie's “Space Oddity”. “Mother” by Lennon and “Blue Valentines” by Tom Waits make me cry but my favorite has to be Pink Floyd's “Wish You Were Here”.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Eddie Vedder (again), David Bowie and, last but not least, Prince! Yet a supper with Tom Waits might be interesting...

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Surfer Rosa by The Pixies (these questions are hard!!)

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

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
I like to think that my best is yet to come but the first song I wrote for my debut album is somewhat special to me: "Twisted Minds".

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Indie means being independent. Means you can do whatever, as they say in Spain, comes out of your balls. Not having to change anything for market reasons. It also means, in most cases, little money...

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
10 years older and hopefully still here.

Zillion thanks Halldór!

"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