A Confinement's Soundtrack

WE'RE BACK! After more than three months we have decided to return. It has been a long hiatus, we know. It's not hard to understand the situation has been daunting out there (still is for half of the planet, take care friends) with the pandemic. And, in these circunstancies, we just didn't feel the logic of keep following the madness of new releases. Or, to put it simply, we weren't "in the mood" (that would require a much longer and complex explanation on culture vs consumism). But that doesn't mean we haven't been listening to music. And now that Europe is getting back to this "new normal", we feel the time has arrived to return to form and get back to our humble task of supporting independent labels (now more than ever) and bring you the most exciting music. To begin with, and in order to dust ourselves off after such a long time, here's a special playlist. One that doesn't take into consideration what's new. Just the albums, groups & artists we have been listening the most during this confinement. 

Best Songs of the Year 2019: 100-76

Happy New Year! We are back and, as we promised last week, after the lists of EPs and Records, we are ready to unveil our Best Songs of 2019! If you are a regular follower of the Blog you'll probably know our "rules", but let us remind you anyway. A) We divide our favourite 100 tunes in four different posts of 25 songs each. B)  We limit the maximum number of songs from the same group/artist to just two. C) Bands/artists can only have one tune per "round". And, of course, we compile the songs on playlists (see below), so you can enjoy them as many times as you like (follow us in Spotify!). Hope you enjoy our selection and stay tuned, next round coming very soon!

100. Kansas Plains- Future Silence

99. Gem- Daughter of Swords

98. I Will Never Let You Down- Whoa Melodic
97. Let Go- Angela Perley
96. Family Portrait Revisited- Kool Aid
95. Write Home- Rose Hotel
94. The Other Side of Midnight- Star Tropics
93. In the Dark- Summer Flake
92. New Reality- Patio
91. Eye 2 Eye- Witching Waves
90. Foot of Afrikka- Sambassadeur
89. Take the Journey- Molly Tuttle
88. 4AM- The Maureens
87. Un Bosque- Pauline en la Playa
86. Only a Traveler- Itasca
85. Fortune Teller- Night Flowers
84. Away- Molly Linen
83. Everyone Hides- Wilco
82. Love Keeps Kicking- Martha
81. Sicilian Crest- The Mountain Goats
80. Chasing a Feeling- Business of Dreams
79. No Bullets Spent- Spoon
78. Love in Lunacy (Saturn in Return)- Purple Pilgrims
77. Aspiring to Be a Bloke- Possible Humans
76. Used to Be Lonely- Whitney

These Go to 11: interviewing The Treasures of Mexico

And here comes another great musician answering our questionnaire. Today we have the pleasure of having Mark Matthews, formerly on the amazing The Dentists and now leading the terrific The Treasures of Mexico. A lot of indiepop, you'll see. These Go to 11!

The Treasures of Mexico, indiepop hunters

Mark Matthews, The Treasures of Mexico
Do you remember The Dentists? If not, write down the name and add it to your "things-to-do" list, because they were a great, shamefully underrated jangle-pop band from Chatham, UK, active from 1984 to 1995. The combo disbanded, but former founder members Mark Matthews and Bob Collins kept very active in bands like Coax, Fortress Madonna, The Great Lines, The Claim... involving themselves into side projects and contributions until Mark began The Treasures of Mexico alongside Bob and Russ Baxter from Secret Affair, coming out with one of favourite records of 2015, the magnificent 'Holding Pattern', an effervescent and hyper addictive jangle-pop treaty, out digitally via our dear friends from Shelflife. With a follow-up in the works while their members keep themselves busy (with Bob Collins and the Full Nelson, World Beginning With X, Stuart Turner and The Flat Earth Society) all we can say is: cheers to the great musicians who never give up! Here we go!

1.First record that you bought (be honest)

The Flinstones goes punk!

Ok so the first record I bought with my own money was an LP by The Rezillos called 'Can't Stand The Rezillos'. I saved up, and had to cycle twice to a very small shop in the housing estate that was Twydall, where they had to order it. I think they only usually carried the Top 20. I saw The Rezillos on Top of the Pops performing their song 'Top of the Pops' and I just thought they were incredible. They looked like the cast of the Flintstones and sounded like a cross between punk (which I was too young to appreciate really) and glam rock, and the band were just whizzing about on stage like demented puppets, singing 'everybody's on Top of the Pops' which I didn't understand but liked the sentiment of. The LP is a gem, full of hooky power pop and from that I discovered the previous singles including 'Can't Stand My Baby' which is probably my favourite Rezillos song. 

Before 'Pirates of the Caribbean'... there were the Ants

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
First un-chaperoned concert was probably The Monochrome Set at the YMCA in Tottenham Court Rd, London. Andy Warren had just left Adam & the Ants to play bass in the MS, and loads of Ants punks turned up to chant 'Ants! Ants! Ants!' at him every time there was a break between songs. He remains a bass playing hero. Last concert I bought a ticket for was probably The Luxembourg Signal in Brighton, if you discount local bands.

Madonna gets electronic

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

Guiltiest is probably later Madonna - I especially like 'Ray of Light' and 'Music' but let's keep that to ourselves.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

Would be my 1978 Rickenbacker bass instrument wise, and record wise I would say Blueboy by Orange Juice 45 on the Postcard label.

5.Favorite lyrics (not yours)
So many....'I dreamt about you last night and I fell out of bed twice', (Smiths), heard for the first time on John Peel, but really anything from Morrissey. Or 'You and I' by Wilco. Or Teenage Kicks. Or The Doors....I could go on and on....the other lyric that always sticks with me is Edwyn Collins on 'Consolation Prize'; 'I wore my fringe like Roger McGuinn's, I was hoping to impress. So frightfully camp, it made you laugh, tomorrow I'll buy myself a dress - how ludicrous

Malkmus, living up the 90s

6.Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
I really wouldn't be overly keen to meet anyone really. I've had chances to meet Andy Warren but never taken them up. I think maybe if pushed I'd quite like to meet the guys from Pavement, Malkmus in particular but any of them really. They seem pretty grounded and I feel like it would be a productive conversation. I met Liam Gallagher once mind you and we had a good chat about football. He was absolutely lovely.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division. Love the Factory stuff.

Wes Anderson in the Republic of Zubrowka

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Any movie by Wes Anderson and I recommend 'Grand Budapest Hotel' if you haven't seen it. I love both but Wes takes it for movies and Douglas Coupland would take it for books.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
Well I think generally musicians are always most proud of the last thing they've done, otherwise there's not much point in going on. To that end, the song 'Let's Start At The Beginning' from the last Treasure album takes it, but obviously I'm most proud of the songs I'm working on right now.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
That's a good question. Personally, I think the concept of "indie" needs to be retired as it died a long time ago. I still think of the original definition which was music distributed independently, outside of the major labels, but that quickly got into difficulty when artists like Kylie Minogue -genuinely indie at the time- started to take over the Indie chart. Then they tried "alternative" as a category and everything became subjective. I think music is just music now and it's not indie v. majors anymore, it's all changed, but the real battle is going to be hard product v. downloads. I dread the day that you can't buy a physical CD or piece of vinyl. Personally, I'd like to go back to vinyl and downloads. CD as a format holds no real interest for me.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Still making music and sending it out on CD to about 6 interested friends!         

 Zillion thanks Mark!

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!

These Go to 11: interviewing The Luxembourg Signal

It's been a little while without our interview series at the Blog. But what a comeback you are about to read! A gifted, experimented musician and (not kidding) a paranormal activity finder: Beth Arzy from the legendary Aberdeen & Trembling Blue Stars, and more recently, part of the great Charlie Big Time and The Luxembourg Signal. So, let's talk about music, supernatural phenomena and guilty pleasures. These Go to 11!

Beth Arzy, The Luxembourg Signal

Beth Arzy, lady of indiepop
& paranormal activities

What a curriculum our guest has! A Sarah Records MUST-LISTEN and criminally underrated band? Check. She was the lead singer of Aberdeen. A wonderful cult group? Check. She was a core member of Trembling Blue Stars. A charming indiepop project, featured in our "discoverer series"? Check. Charlie Big Time. And a exciting, not to miss 2014 new adventure, also praised at Bloodbuzzed, with a flamboyant self-titled album courtesy of our dear friends at Shelflife Records about to see the light of day. Check, check, check. She is part of The Luxembourg Signal. Indiepop, dreampop, shoegaze... plus an investigator & team secretary at the Ghost Finder Paranormal Society, a professional organization reporting poltergeists and supernatural phenomena across the UK. Here we go!

Bowie does Jerry Lee Lewis

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Well, I guess technically it would be a Leif Garrett best of, 8 track tape that I won at the fair. I paid 10 cents to throw a ping pong ball into a fish bowl so I got the fish and Leif Garrett. The first time I bought records with my pocket money, I bought 3 singles at the mall: 'Queen of Hearts' by Juice Newton, 'Modern Love' by David Bowie and 'Sail On' by The Commodores.

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

First concert I went to (my Father took me) to a little festival in Florida to see The Monkees (1985-6?). My last concert was seeing the German band To Rococco Rot here in London. It was AWESOME.

The most beautiful (and shared)
guilty pleasure

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

At the moment, Bobby is saying 'The Beautiful South' to me, but I’m not really embarrassed about any of the bands I love. People make fun of me for liking The Wonderstuff and Pop Will Eat Itself and Jesus Jones, but I tell you what… I went to see them (all 3) last year, by myself, and had a whale of a time!! I love Helen Reddy and I love Skinny Puppy. No pleasure is guilty, just pleasure.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
That’s easy. I have a maraca signed by Mickey Dolenz! Bobby played them on his new record! I’ve never let a single soul touch them before.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

“And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time.” (From 'Wichita Lineman' by Glen Campbell)

Mr. Tweedy, the "coffee guy"

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

I think I’ve met most of my favourites (some good, some BAD). I’d have to say Jeff Tweedy, as he’s such a great songwriter and seems like a good guy to have a coffee with. If we’re talking dead… I’d love to meet Florian Fricke. WHAT a talent. OH GOD… David Bowie. Nearly forgot. I would DIE, but not before snogging his face off.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Oingo Boingo’s 'Only a Lad' EP. It’s one of the Louis Wain cats. I’d love to have it as a tattoo but that’s a lot of scraping.

Sebald's on Saturn

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Depends on the mood. I just saw 'Boyhood', which was great, but I’m reading Sebald’s 'The Rings of Saturn' at the moment, which I’m enjoying very much. I’m normally reading books on high strangeness but need to break away from that every once in a while.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
I’d have to say the Robert Hampson remix of 'The Light Outside' by Trembling Blue Stars. It’s a remix of a TBS song called 'Half-Light' and an instrumental called 'Outside'. He deconstructed the actual song and put it back together with Hampson aplomb. Every sound/note he used, he took from our original track, but put his stamp all over it when he put it back together. It’s beautiful. I cried the first time I played it. He told me “it’s like Big Star in space”. I’m so proud to have something out there that he’s touched.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
I suppose I think of independent labels. Small labels like Touch Records that do everything themselves and have never sold up to a major.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Living in Shetland. Surrounded by sheep and sea and quiet.

Zillion thanks Beth!

Discoverer 88: new indie findings

It's been an non-desired hiatus, but here we are, back with a trio of great discoveries, enjoy!

Angel Olsen. Raised in St. Louis, Missouri but relocated to Chicago, Illinois, as a teenager Olsen began performing in local coffee shops and becoming part of a network of like-minded artists, being part of the Cairo Gang collective, or joining Bonnie "Prince" Billy's band in 2010 and 2011. After self-releasing 2010's "Strange Cacti", a cassette of original Americana songs later reissued as a 12", her proper solo debut arrived in 2012 with "Half Way Home", a unique, personal folkie affair via Bathetic Records. In early 2013, while she worked with Tim Kinsella (Cap'n Jazz) and LeRoy Bach (Wilco), she formed a full band, signed with Jagjaguwar and released single "Sweet Dreams" announcing her new electric, punchier, music direction. As a trio, she has just released sophomore LP "Burn Your Fire for No Witness", a powerful, defiant affair, crowned by Olsen's arresting, singular voice. Dying to see her live at Primavera Sound...   

Making Marks. Formed in Oslo in 2012, the Norwegian quartet arose from the ashes of band My Little Pony, who recorded two charming albums between 2007 and  2011. Under their new incarnation, they have toured Europe and the US before releasing debut 7" single “Ticket Machine/Like Spinning” on Fika Recordings in October 2012, with follow-up “Barcodes” arriving in July 2013. On December 2013 they came out with another single, “Uten en tråd”, sung in Norwegian, via Snertingdal Records, before offering us debut album “A Thousand Half Truths” in February 2nd 2014 on Fika Recordings. Warm, melancholic indiepop songs honouring the eternal Scandinavian tradition, with a folkie, eerie touch, arousing male-female vocals, jangling guitars and lushy instrumentation. Lovable.
Cosines. Self-defined as a mathematical pop band from north London, Simon Nelson and Alice Hubley met on the City's underground after a Stereo Totale gig in 2009. The couple started doing music together helped by Alice's former The Loves bandmates Daniel Chapman and The Late Jonny Drums and A Smile and A Ribbon's Kajsa Tretow. The group debuted live in April 2012, since then playing with Comet Gain, Shrag and at Indietracks. Cosines' first single, the irresistible “Hey Sailor Boy!” came out in May 2013 on Fika Recordings, with "Commuter Love" arriving this forthcoming May, in anticipation of a full release. Bits of Camera Obscura, Stereolab, hints of krautrock... a lot to be excited about!

"I Am Trying to Break Your Heart", Wilco at the crossroads

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. A Film About Wilco
Beefeater In-Edit 2012, Chapter II

The nice and great people of Beefeater In-Edit elaborated (collecting the opinions of "many experts") the 100 music documentaries best-of-list in occasion of its 10 birthday, including the top ten among the films that can be seen in this edition of the Festival. Needless to say, it was a great opportunity to enjoy some of them. I’m not a fan of Wilco, but its a band I’m quite curious about and I respect a lot, so their story in its hardest hour, their battle against music corporations, sounded pretty exciting to me.

Unfortunately, “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” suffers, quite a lot, from “too high expectations”. Interesting and I assume, really addictive for Wilco fans thanks to the amount of live songs included, I have to say this is not the promised revealing take on a band struggling, internally and against their record label (Warner- Reprise Records). How to define it? The documentary is (hope that’s understandable) reflective. We don’t really see the band in these turbulent, tense times. We see the band (and manager Tony Margherita, plus other few people) telling us there was conflict and tension then. But that’s giving us their opinion, something that can be interesting, but its far from being the outstanding, unmissable documentary we expected.

That brings directly me to my other concern, or better said, main question: is this documentary controlled, approved by the band? The insight on the group seems quite biased, in my opinion. You spent a third of the movie length before any of the “issues” arise. There’s only one scene in which you can see the obvious tensions between Jay Bennett and Jeff Tweedy. Then there’s a little take on Tweedy doesn’t wanting to say much about it, and the rest of band showing their relief the former member was fired, while Bennett suggests a much bigger problem within the band. There’s only one phone conversation in which we can see the label and the band are going to crash. The rest is merely the thoughts and opinions of Tweedy and Co. (Margherita opinions are brutally biased, he’s a pretty annoying character I have to say). I expected a lot more on the clash between artist independence vs. commercial/music label greediness.

So what’s “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” offering? A bit of the band on the studio creating Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, tones of live music (Tweedy alone & the full band) looking cool (surely will amaze fans), and just a little bit of what was supposed to be a very troubled period for Wilco. I can’t help but keep thinking director Sam Jones didn’t want to or wasn’t allowed to show us all the stuff he had. Maybe the band (or some members) wouldn’t look so heroic if he had shown us the whole picture? Being honest, after watching the documentary, my impression is that Wilco is Jeff Tweedy's band (look who signs the new contract). For the good, but also for the bad.

I think the most definitive comments on this film came from Rolling Stone’s journalist David Fricke (an opinion that, if you think about it, shouldn’t be particularly relevant for the development of the story) who establishes Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as a landmark within their time, because of its painful process of recording and then fighting against media monster corporations, but in particular due to the music, a creative attempt to challenge themselves musically. What Fricke says is that all that matters is the music. I guess he’s right with this documentary. Must-see for fans, but occasional Wilco listeners or people without a clue about the band might find it quite flat in terms of storytelling. So it will all depend on how much the music appeals you.

5,75/10

Primavera Sound 2012 in brief, day 3

Ms Laura Marling.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

With Sharon Van Etten.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

More Primavera Sound Festival, here's Friday's June 1st quick review!

The Good

The "fan" moment: Before leaving the Fòrum, I had the chance of saying hi to Sharon Van Etten, who was very gentle and kind. Great way to end the night. Here's the pic to prove it!

The Auditorium day: In 2011's edition I didn't get into the Auditorium, so I was really looking forward to do it. As recommended by Jeremy Jensen from The Very Most, Nick Garrie was ace (except one song near the end, when the sound, literally, faded for a long while). Following him came Laura Marling, who also gave a solid show, although being a bit cold with the audience. And the best was yet to come...

The Chameleons. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Chameleons: Sure, the looks are not the same (time takes its toll in all of us) but Mark Burgess and Co. played a very solid show. Was nice to hear such epic tunes live.

The Bad

I Break Horses: Awful sound, the gig was totally ruined for me and we decided to leave cause our ears were hurting. Shame because their record is so wonderful.
Overlaps again: On this day I missed Lower Dens, The War On Drugs and and hour of The Cure. Not the worst day, but still.
The Cure: Nothing bad to say about their gig. I was among the ones that didn't watch in its entirety, but I have the feeling, judging from the area where I was sitting, that many many people got tired of such a long performance. Sure devoted fans won't say the same. Just my impression..
Ray-Ban Unplugged: It's a very nice idea, but in such a huge Festival, I doubt you can really enjoy this sort of intimate performances. I couldn't enjoy Beach Beach's show due to the amount of people and heat.

All-stars playing Big Star tunes.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Queen
Big Star's Third/Sister Lovers: One of the most haunting music experiences of my life. I admit I was going because the idea of watching a 3 hours gig from The Cure was too much for me (like them, but not such a devoted fan) and because R.E.M.'s Mike Mills was one of the guest stars playing. But from the very beginning (I arrived while they were at soundcheck/arranging things) I could feel something was going to happen. It was fun, emotional, sincere, passionate. Wilco's Jeff Tweedy enjoying himself singing "Kizza Me", Teenage's Fanclub's Norman Blake teaming with Mills for the joyous "Jesus Christ" and Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor making an irresistible rendition of "Femme Fatale", Sharon Van Etten and Django Haskins doing "Holocaust", and many many more... I was a privileged witness of an unforgettable music session, played by incredible musicians celebrating the songs of Alex Chilton and his superb band. Thank You Primavera Sound for introducing me into Big Star in such a unique way. Thank You Friends.

Saturday's report following very soon!

Primavera Sound 2012 in brief, day 2

Doble Pletina. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

And following the first post on the Primavera Sound Festival development here's the second part about what happened on Thursday 31st, now at the Parc del Fòrum.

The Good

Mr Dury. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Spanish twee-pop: I was looking for Doble Pletina's gig, and they didn't disappoint me. On the contrary, I ended their show with the feeling I finally found a band that does justice to twee-pop in Spain. Lovely.
Sound quality: All stages sounded really well. Cheers for that!
Great afternoon: Doble Pletina, Baxter Dury (another nice discovery, they reminded me Blur, and Baxter is a charismatic frontman), Archers of Loaf (I was just making time) and Lee Ranaldo. Diversity, with great sounding and seen in a comfortable way. That offer is what makes the PS unbeatable.
Beirut: A music obligation that I finally saw live. It wasn't a completely satisfying gig, but still, debt paid.
The Bad

Massification: I know that compared with last year's edition this problem has improved, but moving from or to the Mini stage (named Llevant in 2011) is a nightmare when the headliners gigs start. I'm sure I'm not the only who is deciding about the "overlaps" having in mind distances, and in particular, avoiding that stage.
So-so night: Linked with the previous one and what I wrote on the post about the first day. Too much people is just at PS just for the sake of "being there" and is annoying for the ones that are there for the music. Beirut's and Franz Ferdinand's gigs (although for latest one we were keen with the idea of watching it from the distance, in a more relaxed way) were a bit dull due to the combination of masses, tolerable levels of discomfort but many annoying people, constantly chatting or moving around when the song was unknown/known for them.

Hope Sandoval. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

No mercy for the press: That long and very slow queue under the criminal sun was the worst thing ever. Wouldn't be easier to allow the press to pick our accreditation during the previous days, as the rest of the attending public?
Overlaps: Missed The Afghan Whigs, Wilco, Spiritualized due to overlaps. That hurts.
Mazzy Star: Really awaiting for this gig, and it was a complete disappointment. Just my opinion, but to me Hope Sandoval sounded tired and cold. Lifeless gig.

The Queen

Lee Ranaldo: If on Wednesday the "indie myth" I discovered was The Wedding Present, on Thursday I was blown out by Lee Ranaldo. I started checking his album "Between the Times and the Tides" just a couple of weeks before the start of Primavera, and my addiction was growing steadily. But after seeing him playing now I'm totally converted. What a guitar maestro, what a stunning performance. What a great record, to me a crossover between R.E.M's and the softened version of  Sonic Youth's guitar style. Mesmerizing.

Friday's brief coming next!

More Primavera Sound als Bars with Partido!

Few days before the Primavera Sound Festival begins! Here's another taste of some the previous gigs coming next week!

Partido. Absenta Bar, Barcelona, May 22nd

Partido at Absenta Bar.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Among the names listed for the Primavera als Bars, a great parallel activity prior to the start of the Festival, I was looking forward to this gig, as the impression they gave me live at Festival Plaça Odissea last year was terrific. Then I checked what was available in their web and confirmed the feeling of having discovered a "real band", with a solid music proposal in their hands/mind. On Tuesday, Víctor Partido and company reinforced that impression.

Close-up of Victor Partido.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Absenta Bar, a very tiny venue for the amount of crowd gathered for the gig (can't imagine the level of discomfort and sweat of the people in the corridor) become something comparable to a sauna. But Partido were capable of making us focus just in the music. Sure, their proposal is not going to shake the foundations of music in terms of originality, but their folk-rock, deeply rooted into the Americana style, is not that frequent in Spain, and most importantly, it is played with an honesty and passion that makes the band stand out from the majority of their peers.

Another pic of the gig.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The most rewarding for me was realising how much care and work there's on the songs. In particular on melodies, which their new album, "Leaving All Behind", just out now, is plenty. Thanks to that, tunes like "Jesus" or "Not Full of Anger" or the great "Carnival", can mute, evolve, go in many directions, amplifying their folk-rock ground. Traces of Wilco, The Jayhawks, Neil Young, but also from Big Star ("Happy Birthday" is a colossal song) or Mojave3. Great referral names, I know. But the comparisons are deserved. Partido is an excellent band. Go check "Leaving All Behind" as soon as you can. And watch them live if you have the chance. You'll thank me.

Primavera Sound 2012, or how Mazzy Star saved me from heavy metal

Since my last post about the Primavera Sound Festival 2012, the line-up has changed quite a lot, some major and controversial surprises have been announced, such as a big headliner like Franz Ferdinand, and a pretty dramatic cancellation occurred, as unfortunately Guided By Voices won't be in Barcelona/Oporto this spring.

Sure, I'm among the ones that were hugely disappointed by the addition of several bands that doesn't have anything to do with alternative music but with heavy metal (black and death metal being specific). It is just my opinion, but I can't see where they fit at PS (the same applies to the hip-hop and rap acts I'm fearing will be at PS again this year). To be honest, everything was starting to look pretty bad regarding the Festival, with so many artists miles away from my tastes... until Mazzy Star was announced (and then followed by the also exciting Afghan Whigs). Finally a name to make me smile and be anxious about.

I'm still worried about how the line-up is shaping, and some facts like The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary tour scare the hell out of me. But at the same time, other arstists like The Shins or Cat Power have showed up, so let's have some well deserved faith on the PS' organization and their music wisdom. Fadeeeeee into you/ Strange you never knew.....

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR SAN MIGUEL PRIMAVERA SOUND 2012

30th May – 3rd June, Barcelona

A$AP Rocky» A.A. Bondy» AraabMUZIK» Archers Of Loaf » Baxter Dury» Beach House» Björk» Buffy Sainte-Marie» Codeine» Death Cab For Cutie» Death In Vegas» Franz Ferdinand» Godflesh» Grimes» Harvey Milk» Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel)» Josh T. Pearson» Justice» Lisabö» Liturgy» Mayhem» Mazzy Star» Melvins» Mudhoney» Napalm Death» Neon Indian» Numbers showcase: Jackmaster, Oneman, Deadboy, Spencer, Redinho» OFF!» Orthodox» Other Lives» Sandro Perri» SBTRKT» Shellac» Siskiyou»

Sleep» Spiritualized» The Afghan Whigs» The Dirty Three» The Drums» The Olivia Tremor Control» The XX» Veronica Falls» Washed Out» White Denim» Wilco» Wolves In The Throne Room» Yo La Tengo»

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 seeing the artist, or "on research mode"