The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 200

Back to reality after a brief holiday break with the batteries recharged for what's coming next (promises of change in the horizon). And to return to form properly here's our flamboyant latest TOP TEN JUKEBOX. I(by the way, 200 Jukeboxes, that's a ton of great music), full of the usual new findings, plus a wonderful coincidence of having three Blog favourites and friends, The Tallest Man on Earth, Young Romance and Watoo Watoo, making their ace comebacks. All stars aligned to make you enjoy the weekend as it deserves. And remember, all the songs are available at our Soundcloud. (Join Us!)

Direct links to 2018 Jukebox playlists

Week 171  Week 172  Week 173  Week 174  Week 175 Week 176  Week 177  Week 178 
Week 179  Week 180  Week 181  Week 182  Week 183 Week 184  Week 185  Week 186
Week 187  Week 188  Week 189  Week 190  Week 191 Week 192  Week 193  Week 194
Week 195  Week 196  Week 197  Week 198  Week 199

Discoverer 146: new indie findings

Time for another trio of new proposals in our discoverer series! A pretty eclectic combination today, from singer-songwriter to synth-pop, so you have plenty and diverse music to enjoy with!

Twin River. Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, around 2009, the first incarnation of the band was the stripped-down folk duo of singer-songwriter Courtney Ewan Bromley and guitarist Andy Bishop. But changes were already evident with the self-release of debut EP 'Rough Gold' in early 2012, recorded with with the help of local guitarist Malcolm Jack and singer-keyboardist Rebecca Law Gray. A full band was born, being completed shortly with Dustin John Bromley on drums. The quintet locked into the studio the year later, giving form to the tunes (with Colin Stewart from The New Pornographers on mixing duties) that, after some changes in the line-up, would became their first LP 'Should the Light Go Out', out via Light Organ Records in February 2015. Now they're back with 'Passing Shade' sophomore album out since June, consolidating the shimmering blend of garage, jangle and dream pop of their sound. Think on The War On Drugs or DIIV meeting Neko Case or Jenny Lewis. Think on dark, cloudy hazes pierced by rays of light in the form of eternal guitar lines and upped drum paces. Think on the kind of music that haunts you before stays with you.  

Margaret Glaspy. Born in Red Bluff, California, but based in New York via Boston where she became part of the local folk scene, singer-songwriter career "officially" began in 2013 (although there's a 'Homeschool' EP from 2012, available digitally at her bandcamp, collecting some home-recorded songs) with debut release 'If & When' EP. Then came tours with Lucius, Rayland Baxter or Milk Carton Kids, the signature with ATO Records and the release of a 7" 'You and I b/w Somebody to Anybody' in January 2016, in advance of first LP 'Emotions and Math', out just now. With a very distinctive, explosive voice and a approach to songs where electric guitar lead the way, Glaspy is able to croon and bite, trap you with a melody or knock you out with a killer lyric hidden between an almost grunge riff. Expansive minimalism on an artist summoning Joni Mitchell, Feist and Josephine Baker. Fated for greatness...    

Featherfin. And we end in Tromso, Norway, to recommend you the music project of Knut Børre Lindbjør, a Bloodbuzzed beloved friend, the blogger behind Eardrums Music, a founder member of the GREAT label EardrumsPop (never praised enough) and musician since the 80s, now back with this fishy moniker blending his passion for electronic music and indiepop with his ability with visuals. Although the first Featherfin tune appeared in 2014 on the 'Between Two Waves- The Second Wave' lovely compilation album, his first proper release dates back from February 2015, with EP 'Butterfly Girl', followed by the single 'The Crimson Spill /Nananarama and 'Wintersongs' EP later that same year. Now he's back with 'Helen Richey' EP, out just now (don't miss the video for the title songs, a genius mini-documentary). And he's in superb company, alongside "usual suspects" from this Blog's Jeremy Jensen from The Very Most and Michaël Korchia from Watoo Watoo. Dreamy, organic, undeniably gorgeous tunes. Haunting music.  

Indiepop Shop Talk Vol. 1: making a difference

A special feature today instead of our regular Sunday Discoverer Series, in the form of an incredible compilation of songs from members of the Indiepop Shop Talk Facebook group. Solidarity and great indiepop in a wonderful initiative.

Indiepop Shop Talk is a Facebook group for indiepop/shoegaze/retro pop/dream pop musicians/labels/bloggers, etc. where we discuss about music (playing, recording) and its promotion. It's a very nice community (for a humble blogger like me a very nice way to chat with amazing musicians you admire). But this time Indiepop Shop Talk has gone much further. Coordinated by Michaël Korchia from our beloved Watoo Watoo and with the bandcamp tasks carried out by our friend Jeremy Jensen from The Very Most, here's a stunning, never-ending collection of 50 indiepop tunes in all its diversity. A sonic document of what's Indiepop Shop Talk but also a generous way to contribute to a good cause, as all the compilation proceeds will be donated to UNICEF.

Now you know. For a tiny, ridiculous amount of money you can get 50 tunes from amazing bands like The Hi-Life Companion, Bubblegum Lemonade, Aberdeen, The King in Mirrors, Franny & Zooey, Postal Blue, Souvenir Stand, Star Tropics, etc, etc, etc, while you help kids around the world. Indiepop goes strong when it goes together. Go have a listen and buy it HERE!

Best Records of the Year 2014

After EPs and Books, now it's time for the Best Records of 2014. As previous years, we have listed our favourite 30 LPs, the releases that we have enjoyed the most. Many of these bands have already appeared at our "Discoverer Section", others have been played at our "Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Series" and a bunch of them have done our "These Go to 11" questionnaire (thank you, thank you, thank you). Many tough decissions have been made, excluding many bands & records that we love, but finally, here it is. So many amazing music gathered here!

30. Our Years in the Wilderness - The Hi-Life Companion
29. Let You Go- Tape Waves
28. Mundo Fatal- Me and the Bees
27. Do What You Want To, It’s What You Should Do- Flowers
26. The Sea- Beach Beach
25. Une Longue Si Attente- Watoo Watoo
24. Seeds- TV on the Radio
23. Floristry- Trick Mammoth
22. Feel Not Bad- Sw/mm/ng
21. Too True- Dum Dum Girls
20. Fumes- Lily and Madeleine
19. Burn Your Fire For No Witness- Angel Olsen
18. Courting Strong- Martha
17. Before There Were Pictures- Pale Lights
16. Go Guitars- She Sir
15. Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave- The Twilight Sad
14. Fruits del Teu Bosc- Renaldo y Clara
13. Paperback Ghosts- Comet Gain
12. La Foto Fantasma- Cosmen Adelaida
11. Sealed with a Kiss- Alpaca Sports
10. Siesta- The Zebras
9. The Best Hunter- Boutade
8. Up at Lagrange- The Hobbes Fanclub
7. The Luxembourg Signal- The Luxembourg Signal
6. Are We There Yet?- Sharon Van Etten
5. Always- Alvvays
4. Honeyblood- Honeyblood
3. Atlas- Real Estate
2. Loom- Fear of Men
1. Rips- Ex Hex


Want to check last year's list? Then check here
And 2012's? Click here
And 2011's? Just click here

Indietracks 2014 in brief, day 3

Final chapter of our Indietracks Festival's summary with the quick chronicle of Sunday 27th of July!

The Good

Splendid day: Saw nine complete gigs! I think we beat the Primavera Sound mark! And seven of them were excellent shows. Particularly happy with a couple of recent discoveries, The Hobbes Fanclub and The Wendy Darlings, who were terrific live. Give them a listen, you'll thank me!

With The Swapsies, Liverpool's finest!
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Friends playing: In which universe can the stars align and allow us to watch The Swapsies, Watoo Watoo and The Very Most in less than five hours? The answer is Indietracks. First, the Liverpool band just confirmed us that if they don't put a smile in your face while hearing/watching them, you are in big trouble. They are not only a group to love, delivering a charming set where new tunes were as exciting as their classics (they are classics, at least for me), but also a bunch of the nicest people. What a pleasure to meet them! Later on, Watoo Watoo overcame some sound issues at the church stage and built a fine Stereolabsque show, with a charming cover of Young Marble Giants included. And finally, "our Boise man", Jeremy Jensen, aka The Very Most, and his assembled international super-band, put a slowly in crescendo concert at the outdoor stage, with lovely Vinnie Ransome in shared vocal duties and Pablo Valcárcel nailing it from his drum kit. Thank you friends!

Watoo Watoo, French's delight
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Afternoon with The Very Most
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Bad

Sweet Baboo/The Just Joans: Just a matter of taste, but after two songs at the Sweet Baboo's gig we just got bored, so we moved to the indoor stage to see what was all the fuzz about The Just Joans. At an overcrowded and loudly singing venue of the night... didn't get it. For me, very flat and unremarkable.
Headliner downer (again): 'Awoo' was a great album, but since then I lost track of The Hidden Cameras... until Indietracks. Dark disco? Tribal pop? Not my cup of tea, and a pretty weird choice to put an end to the Festival, imo.
Two painful misses: Couldn't make it into the church to see The Yearning, and Cosines clashed with The Very Most. Was so eager to see both bands. Best, and painful example of what an amazing line-up was arranged on Sunday.

The Queen

Withered Hand, with Pam Berry
on his right. I'm converted
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Withered Hand: Was really looking forward to hear Dan Willson live, as I believe their latest album, 'New Gods' is among the best of the year to date. Expectations only got higher when realised Pam Berry from mythic Black Tambourine was on stage on backing vocals duties. Soon, quite early on the set, masterpieces 'Horseshoe' and 'Black Tambourine' appeared, summoning the spirit of Alex Chilton and giving me goosebumps. Then I thought the gig could only get worse. But I was wrong. Tremendously wrong. The MOMENT, my moment at Indietracks arrived with 'Religious Songs'. First time I heard it, but what an immense, breathtaking, infinite tune and performance. A blast. A revelation.

Indietracks Festival 2014: Timetables

Indietracks 2014 timetables' were unveiled some days ago, so as we do with Primavera Sound, we wanted to post our "route" within the Festival. But completing our schedule (Saturday in particular) has been an incredibly tough task. Still have to figure out about distances between stages, but as a first attempt, this is what our Indietracks 2014 looks like:

Friday, July 25th, Outdoor Stage
17:50 Teen Canteen
18.50 Spearmint
19:50 The Chills
21:15 Allo Darlin'
No problems and zero doubts here, just four bands to enjoy...

Saturday, July 26th
14:40-15:20 The Royal Landscaping Society (Outdoor Stage)
15:40-16:20 Thee AHs (Outdoor)
16:40-17.20 Linda Guilala (Outdoor)
18:40-19:20 The Spook School (Outdoor)
19:20-20:00 Nat Johnson (Church Stage)
20:00-21:00 Dean Wareham (Indoor Stage)
21:15-22:15 Gruff Rhys (Outdoor)
Huge drama, even bigger than the ones we recurrently have at Primavera Sound. Nat Johnson clashing with The Popguns and Joanna Gruesome? Dean Wareham clashing The Popguns and The Proper Ornaments? Manhattan Love Suicides clashing with The Spook School? Needless to say, this day will see changes for sure...

Sunday, July 27th
13:00-13:40 The Swapsies (Indoor Stage)
14:20-15:00 Watoo Watoo (Church Stage)
15:00-15:40 The Wendy Darling (Indoor)
16:00-16:40 The Hobbes Fanclub (Indoor)

16:40-17:20 The Very Most (Outdoor Stage)

17:20-18:00 The Yearning (Church) 

18:00-18:40 Night Flowers (Indoor)

19:00-19:40 The Just Joans (Indoor)

20:00-21:00 Withered Hand (Indoor)

21:15-22:15 The Hidden Cameras (Outdoor)
Aiming to see ten bands, including our dear Swapsies, Watoo Watoo and of course, The Very Most... and you know what? We are still forced to miss some bands we would love to see Cosines & The Flatmates. What an impressive line-up this is, Indietracks.

Sure it won't be the final schedule!

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 14

Once again here's a new round of our TOP TEN playlist with several exciting tunes I'm enjoying the most lately. There are things that should last in time while others should NOT.  Luckily, not everything in life is politics and we are here to talk abount music, so let's go! This week we bring you some bands with a promising career, a new song from the never-ending ¡Between Two Waves' from our dear EardrumsPop, and some consecrated musicians. Do you want to know more about the playlist? Just listen it!  This is also available at the blog's soundcloud, so please Join Us!. 

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6 
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9 
Week 10
Week 11 
Week 12 
Week 13

Welcome to the Jukebox! 

Indietracks Festival 2014: line-up closed!

Indietracks Festival unveiled their latest additions to 2014's edition yesterday night, completing what looks like a truly amazing line-up. So, honouring the tradition of setting our (and colouring) personal agenda at the Festivals we take part, here's how now looks our (rough draft) schedule, without knowing when are the majority of bands playing and the timetables. I already want to see near half of the Festival (including several favourites that I'm dying to see live)... and I know I'll add many names after "hunting" for them. Counting down the days!.

FRIDAY 25 JULY
Allo Darlin’ │ The Chills │ Spearmint │ TeenCanteen

SATURDAY 26 JULY
Gruff Rhys │ Dean Wareham │ Joanna Gruesome
The Popguns │The Spook School

SUNDAY 27 JULY
The Hidden Cameras │ Withered Hand │ Sweet Baboo
The Just Joans │ Night Flowers

Plus the following playing over the weekend:
Thee AHs │ Axolotes Mexicanas │ Big Joanie │ Bill Botting │ The Blue Minkies │Cosines │ Dorotea │ Elopes │ The Flatmates │ The Hidden Horses │ The Hobbes Fanclub │ Laura J Martin │ Let’s Wrestle│Linda Guilala │ Lisa Bouvier │ Los Cripis│ Lost Tapes │ Marc and Graeme Elston │ MJ Hibbett and the Validators │ Nat Johnson │ No Ditching │ Okinawa Picture Show │ ONSIND │ The Proper Ornaments │ Ravioli Me Away │ The Royal Landscaping Society │ Slum of Legs │Skeletal Shakes │ The Swapsies │ The Thyme Machine │ Trust Fund │ The Very Most │ Watoo Watoo │ The Wellgreen │The Wendy Darlings │ Wolf Girl │ The Yawns │ The Yearning

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must
Yellow- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Orange- Curious about it/"on research mode"

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 3

Third round of our newest blog section, the Friday's TOP TEN playlist with the tunes I have been enjoying the most this week. Lots of wonders in this playlist, several coming from recent of very recent discoveries, plus some favourites and a classic band returning to form. As the previous sets, this is available at the blog's soundcloud. Hope you like it!

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2

Welcome to the Jukebox!

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!

Discoverer 85: new indie findings

Looking for new music? Here's a trio of amazing discoveries, enjoy!

Watoo Watoo. Fated to love this band. Hailing from Bordeaux, Pascale & Michaël Korchia began offering their majestic indiepop in 1997, with first EP "Un Peu de Moi". Since then, the duo have released 3 albums, "Le Fumalin" & "Curiosites?" in 2001, latest being a covers record, and "Le Fuite" in 2007, plus 2 more EPs, "Picture of a Lost Friend" in 1999 & "Le Tourbillon" in 2011, released on Dufflecoat Records. Luckily, this 2014 is going to be a Watoo Watoo year with the release of 4th album "Une Si Longue Attente", out now in Jigsaw Records. A delight from start to finish, their music is lush, warmly textured, a reincarnation of Stereolab willing to pen the perfect pop song... once and again!
Major Leagues. Back to Australia to meet this Brisbane quartet, formed in 2012, offering wonderful tastes of their pop talent in digital format since that September, until past December arrived their debut EP "Weird Season". Five tunes infused by the sun, armed with an arsenal of irresistible hooks and bigger-than-life melodies, fuelled by fuzzed-out guitar and a carefree, youth spirit. Best Coast, the poppier side of Bleached, I'll let the comparisons to you. Me, I prefer to focus just on the immediate joy and promise of this first batch of tunes. More soon, please!

Caténine. Another one thanks to the great February Records, folks. Caténine is the Massachusetts-based recording project of Dylan Connor, who began his career with a self titled (and self-released) EP in December 2012. Live shows (where he expands the project into a quartet) and a split release with Funeral Advantage on Disposable America Records followed in September 2013. And with the mind-blowing (oh, these guitar lines!) single "In Your Ruin" surfacing now courtesy of February Records we can certify Connor is an artist to follow closely. Classy jangle pop meeting hazy dreampop, with slight touches of synths and icy 80's post-punk. A mixture of wonders.