Discoverer 148: new indie findings

Last Sunday of July, we have time for another round of new proposals in our discoverer series before holiday's break! We go quite psychedelic & ethereal today, get ready for the trip!

Zen Mantra. We begin in Christchurch, NZ, to introduce you to the music of Sam Perry's solo project, that he began around 2012, when he was just 17 years old. Perry, who is also member of pop band Yumi Zouma debuted in January 2013 with album 'How Many Padmes Hum', and now has a self-titled follow-up, created and recorded mostly by himself around the world whilst on tour, out since this April via mighty Flying Nun Records. A record that sees Perry going deep into that psychedelic pop territory that no one does as New Zealanders groups but widening the sonic palette to add all forms of pop music: from shoegaze bursts to reverb attacks, from atmospheric landscapes and occasional darker tones to blissful, immediate tunes full of hooks. Oh! The "warped" pop from down under is here again to haunt you...

Eerie Wanda. And let's move to Amsterdam, The Netherlands (first time?) to meet this indie pop quartet led by Croatian/Dutch singer-songwriter Marina Tadic. While she was the guitarist of local band Earth Mk. II after graduating from art school she decided to embark herself in writing her own material, citing Beat Happening,You Marble Giants and Daniel Johnston as influences. Early circulating demos reached Jacco Gardner’s bassist Jasper Verhulst, who agreed to help her assemble a band and produce its music. Bram Vervaet on lead guitar and Nic Niggebrugge (also in Jacco Gardner) on drums joined the then duo and, in 2015, they began rehearsing and recording debut LP, 'Hum', out since this February via Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Records. And what a record this is! Summery, evocative, gentle, extremely melodic, subtle yet elaborate, with Tadic's vocals recalling you the quiet powers of Angel Olsen doing joyful indiepop with hints of psych-folk. Look for Wanda at the best records of the year list! 

Manon Meurt. Very happy to feature a band from the Czech Republic at the Blog (sure it's the first time!). Hailing from Rakovnik, just outside of Prague, this quartet formed in 2010 but until 2013 they were known as Katie & The Accessories. With the adoption of their current, literary name, also came a solid status of "band to follow", playing alongside consecrated bands like The Raveonettes or the legendary My Bloody Valentine. In the fall of 2014 they self-released debut 12" mini-album, self-titled, which sold out shortly, becoming almost a collectors item. Now upstart Canadian imprint Label Obscura has reissued the vinyl this April. An unmissable chance to discover the highly melodic yet moody, sparse and dreamy sounds of the combo, clearly recalling Lush and Slowdive, combining with their full throttle shoegaze moments. Best of both worlds.

Spanish Indie 27: suggesting the best national acts

Back with the national bands in a section looking exciting, thanks to the amount of groups demanding our attention with incredible music. Like today's trio. You're going to love them!

Chicharrón. Hailing from Carballo (Galicia) and arousing in late 2013 from the ashes of bands Franc3s, Telephones Rouges and the memory of the disappeared friend and artist Alberto Gende. Initially formed by the trio of Alberto M. Vecino, Diego Gende and Rubén Dominguez, they debuted with a celebrated self-titled album in 2014 out via the artistic collective Prenom. But the band was ready to face important changes, expanding the combo into a quintet with the additions of Mar Catarina and Xurxo Meis and the shift in the language, from Spanish to Galizian. Changes for good, as 'Postal', sophomore LP out since this March, proofs. Intimacy and intensity turning into pop, lush, crystalline and moody, where electric guitars, keyboards and arresting, whispered vocals are just vehicles to reach the listener deep inside. Call it dreampop if you want. I would say this is not just a heavyweight contender for Spanish record of the year, but for staying close to you for ages and ages.

Star Trip. Let me introduce you to 'Vicente Prats and his Crazy Horse'. Hailing from Valencia, this musician penned a bunch of homemade, stunning powerpop tunes, around 2009, without caring much about self-promotion. But five years later, another music adventure, Pretty Olivia Records, was born thanks to the irrepressible love for music of founder Javier Abad, who turned those tunes into a proper debut album, first one of his label. Luckily, this revamped beginning was also the start of something bigger, as Vicente joined forces with a trio of talented musicians for live shows and, eventually, became a full band, which has a flamboyant self-titled LP, out since late October 2015. Summoning the spirit of Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, Matthew Sweet, the sweetest side of The Posies, this might be one of the best powerpop albums ever made in Spain. The guitars chiming, the soaring vocal harmonies, the knockout choruses. The Goosebumps, the goosebumps all over.  And the big smiles... A new classic.

Lúa Gramer. And we end in Badajoz to meet this quintet formed in 2013 by members of other regional combos like Pequeño Tío, The Wish, Diva, Lich, etc. A year later they made a notable jump from local gigs and small festivals to being selected to play at Contempopránea Festival, reaching the semifinals of the Qfestival contest, and getting positive coverage and airplay from national media. On early 2015 they recorded first release with producer Paco Loco at el Puerto de Santa María. Now the results can be enjoyed at 'LG', debut EP out since January via Clifford Records. With a distinct 90s sound, devoted to dreampop and the warmest version of shoegaze, and echoing the spacey ambiences of Manta Ray, the guitar bursts of Los Planetas with the sweetest vocals recalling Nosoträsh. Vibrant and exciting. A lot of promise.

Discoverer 124: new indie findings

Dreampop dominates the sound of this week's trio of discoveries. Please dream out loud!

Kissing Party. Slop-pop is coming! Hailing from Denver, CO, this weirdly-sounding self-defined quintet began in 2005, first as a trio (although technically speaking band's founder Gregory Dolan released a self-titled LP featuring him and a drum machine), putting out first proper album 'Hold Your Hour and Have Another' in 2006. A year later came 'Rediscover Lovers' and between 2009's 'The Hate Album' and the follow-up 'Waster's Wall' the Kissing Party's line-up was completed. A very prolific combo, in 2013 arrived 'Winter in the Pub' and now (although it was originally released last year) we can enjoy their latest effort 'Looking Back It Was Romantic But At The Time I Was Suffocating' out since June via Fleeting Youth Records. Where power-pop meets twee, where jangle gets high on fuzz, where urgency and openess swallows C86. A real burst of great pop!

Day Wave. And now we move to Oakland, CA to meet Jackson Phillips and his solo project (which gets expanded live). Former jazz drummer and frontman of the electro-pop duo Carousel, since 2015 Philips has embarked in this delightful synth/dreampop incarnation, offering us self-released debut EP 'Headcase'  in July, which now is going to be followed ny new single 'You Are What You Are/Come Home Now' on House Arrest Records. Melodic and blisfful, like Wild Nothing staring at the sun, or New Order letting hooks guide a phenomenal short stride of contagious songs. Waves of regret, waves of joy... don't forget this name...
Talking Bush. And still into synths and dreampop sounds but now travelling to St.Petersburg, Russia, to meet the latest project of Nikita Bushmanov, with first irresistible tunes surfacing this year. Debut EP 'Ordinary Unusual' arrived in June thanks to our dear friends at Shelflife, and more recently (August and October) two more songs appeared on his social networks, serving as a four teaser track to a forthcoming album in 2016. Like Morrissey enveloped on synth textures, his ultra-melodic approach to gentle pop is hard to resist. Another newcomer to really follow closely!

Discoverer 119: new indie findings

Recovering the Blog's pace, here's a new trio of discoveries for your listening pleasure!

Blank Realm. Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, this quartet comprised by three siblings, Daniel, Luke and Sarah Spencer plus Luke Walsh, formed in 2004. First release arrived in 2007, with album 'You Don't Know the Devil Till You've Seen Him in a Flower'. A very prolific band, aside from touring with the likes of Wild Flag, The Clean or the great Robert Forster, they have released 9 albums, 3 EPs and several compilations and collaborative works. Now they are back with 'Illegals in Heaven', out on September 4th on Fire Records. An album where their trademark psych-pop channels Flying Nun's spirit with 90s American alternative rock, achieving new melodic, fierce and jangly peaks. The realm of pop is here folks!

Static Daydream. Among the most exciting bands reaching my mailbox is the latest project of Paul Baker (Skywave, Ceremony), alongside his girlfriend and musical partner Jamie Casey. Beginning in 2012, their highly praised debut EP, 'The Only One' came out on Moon Sounds Records in 2014. Now it's time for their first self-titled album, out at the end of August on Saint Marie Records. 11 blistering tunes between noise and dreampop, melting thunderous guitars, drenched in reverb and crunching distortion, with harmonies, a ton of melodic hooks and ethereal landscapes. All you have to do is embrace the (not so static) daydream...

PONY. And we end our trip in Toronto, Ontario, with a four-piece active since 2013, when we heard their first tune and with a proper debut, available since this June at their bandcamp (pay what you want) in the form on an EP entitled 'CRUSHED'. Sweet, straightforward, unabashed and fun garage pop, combining jangly guitars, sunny vibes and tones of carefree attitude (girl pop power, yay!). A most exciting first step for a band we are going to take a close care.

The Indie Anthology 61: essential songs

The next song in our anthology is another slice of glorious dreampop, but it also serves as a celebration. Seeing them live in less than a month. What a great, unexpected but long awaited surprise!

Song: Superfreaky Memories
Artist: Luna
Year: 1999

Unfortunately, I was never able to catch Luna live. I introduced myself into Dean Wareham's music through his latter incarnations, after getting hypnotised by 'L'Avventura'. Immediately looked for more. The now reactivated combo's greatest hits was like mana from heaven: 'Moon Palace', 'Chinatown', 'Lost in Space', 'Lovedust'... and 'Superfreaky Memories'. Oh what a song! Cathartic, carefully embellished with layers guitars, subtle orchestration, with Wareham's trademark nasal voice telling us glimpses of personal stories (he's a real storyteller) and then... the power surge of the chorus and the incredibly beautiful melody trespassing the blur after the 3.10 minute mark.
But if you allow me, I'm going personal this time (nothing related with drugs, luckily). Luna has always had a cinematic quality. Their tunes have some sort of coolness, a groove, an inner narrative, and incredible power to be associated with snapshots of life. Times, places, faces...memories. My 'Superfreaky' ones are related with two different times. Kind of a sad memory now, it was my most recurrent soundtrack after returning from Seville, a place I used to visit quite frequently during two years some time ago. But at the same time, a very happy one, it's also one of the songs I associate with Idaho and my dear friend & music genius Jeremy Jensen driving us to McCall. I really like the idea of that duality, of how a song shares a lifetime, including bad & good times, with you. Memories you know... Now will have another chapter this April, after (hopefully) hearing the tune live...

The Indie Anthology 60: essential songs

What about a slice of heavenly dreampop (ok, slightly noisy) for our next chapter of our anthology? Can't help it, I'm into guitars lately. Let's go to Leeds!

Song: Sight of You
Artist: Pale Saints
Year: 1990

Sure, it sounds like a sister of Jesus and Mary Chain's 'Just Like Honey', the immortal, legendary 'Just Like Honey', but there's nothing you can do about. And I know the lyrics of the tune are not the happiest ones. But 'Sight of You' is one of the finest examples of a song that is pure bliss, euphoria, an undeniable recharge of energy, an adrenaline shot. It's the opening 25 songs, the day awakening, the sun arising. It's the power of guitars: a bursting bass beating throughout the song while Graeme Naysmith draws the unforgettable relentless lines, both melting into the fuzzy sound of the stratosphere. It's Ian Masters' fragile, weak vocals, surprisingly able to make his way trough the sonic landscape, It's the pause and, just afterwards, the stomping attack around the 3.20 minutes mark. It's the flawed noise, the galloping horse running over the hills. Almost 6 minutes of adventure. Oh, what a trip music can be!

Spanish Indie 21: suggesting the best national acts

The section devoted to national discoveries returns! And as a every great comeback deserves, we do it in full form, thanks to our three favourite local labels and psychedelic vibes!

Aries. Pending for many months, after reviewing the record at Indienauta it became mandatory. Behind the zodiac name hides the solo project of Isabel Fernández Reviriego, hailing from Bilbao but based in Vigo. Part of Electrobikinis and the memorable Charades, when the band called it a day, Isa keep working on new music. In 2012 she released debut LP 'Magia Bruta' on Bcore, followed by the digital free download of 'Grabaciones Varias' that same year. The bet was doubled with her sophomore album, 'Mermelada Dorada', out early this year on our dear La Castanya. Psychedelic pop, sweet, sunny, sensual, and evocative. Don't miss the hypnosis session summoned by this adorable & talented witch.

Muñeco. Hailing from Barcelona, Albert, Raül, Raúl (excellent taste, kudos to the families), Manel and Xoán started their instrumental project around 2010, first as a trio, then as a quintet since 2012, when they self-released 'Muñeco EP'. Well-received by critics, they toured Spain and got the attention of our most beloved label El Genio Equivocado, with whom released their debut album, 'Ocurre', this April. A kaleidoscopic feast of psychedelic, krautrock, space-rock and Manchester sounds. A sonic universe of their own that achieves genuine levels of greatness live, where their adventurous songs invites, impacts and overwhelms the listener.
The Hills Around. Coming from Castelldefels, Barcelona, the band, built by Luis González & Thierry Agulló formed around 2012, with first demos being heard in early 2013. This year, after being recruited by the perennial good taste of Discos de Kirlian, their proper first release, a self-titled 7" has just arrived this autumn. Three songs that sound, smell and feel like old-school guitar-pop. Melancholic, delicate, elegant, melodic to a quiet catharsis. Hear the echoes of the 70s and 80s, speculate with influences of the Go-Betweens or Roxy Music. But most importantly, let yourself drown on this trio of golden, eternal pop. More soon please!

Discoverer 101: new indie findings

Our 101 post in our discoverer series is a special one: another trip "down under", but this time to Melbourne, Australia, where three exciting bands are ready to blow you away!

The Zebras. Pop veterans that started their career in Brisbane in 2001 when Jeremy Cole, Edwina Ewins, Matt Jones and Leon Dufficy made the move from Cairns and shoegaze, quickly supporting bands like Lambchop and The Shins, a most promising fact fuelled by the airwaves love of first single 'Car of Idiots'. In 2004 arrived their eponymous debut album on Lost and Lonesome, with sophomore LP 'Worry a Lot' coming in 2007, to much of acclaim from fans and critics. But then came frustration with Brisbane's pop scene, which provoked the group's disband. Although there was an EP in 2008, 'New Ways of Risking Our Lives' with Cole and Ewins introduced assembling a new line-up, The Zebras got in some sort of hibernation... until now, with the arrival of flamboyant new album 'Siesta', out since June on Jigsaw Records and Lost and Lonesome. POP in big capital letters, sumptuous, jangling, endearing, sun-soaked, with Edwina Ewins melting hearts vocals. Serious contender for the best-of-the-year albums lists...

Twerps. Formed in late 2008, this quartet were already supporting big names like Deerhunter, The Bats, Black Lips, Yo La Tengo and Thee Oh Sees within a few months of their first show. Their debut EP, 'Good Advice', arrived on Chapter Music a year later in late 2009 (also released on cassette at US by Night People label). Hype became a fact when Uncut magazine called them “best new band in Australia”, fostered in 2011 when they released single 'She Didn't Know' and 'Black Eyes', followed by self-titled debut album co-released by Chapter Music and Underwater Peoples. A new single, 'Work It Out/He's In Stock', and a tour with Real Estate came in 2012. Now, after a line-up change on drums, Twerps return to action with eight song EP 'Underlay', out this August on Chapter Music and Merge Records. Immediate pop, playful and unaffected. Lazy voices, crystalline guitars, killer melodies, lo-fi scent... Honouring their own tradition (hard not to hear echoes from The Bats or The Clean) while giving us an irresistible dose of immaculate guitar-pop.

Lowtide. Although technically, they began in 2008 as Three Month Sunset, built around the solo workings of Gabriel Lewis, the band's rebirth as Lowtide in 2010 was more than just a name change, becoming a full and expansive sounding quartet. That same year the group released debut EP 'You Are My Good Light'. Shows with A Place To Bury Strangers and Festivals with names like Caribou, My Disco and Toro Y Moi followed. 2011 seem the band releasing a two-track single entitled 'Underneath Tonight' on Departed Sounds, with more shows alongside bands such as Royal Baths, The Laurels or Beaches. On 2012 and 2013 Lowtide focused on playing and preparing their self-titled first album, which was anticipated this May by the mind-blowing single 'Blue Movie', and its out since middle July on Lost and Lonesome. Somewhere in between the lovely Ride and celestial Slowdive (yes, talking big here), Lowtide have created and extraordinary record, full of reverb and dreamy layered guitars, air-suspended vocals and lush textures. A dreampop classic in 2014.

Discoverer 100: new indie findings

Who made the 100 post in our discoverer series? The last three bands to reach the landmark of 300 music proposals for your ears only!

The Luxembourg Signal. LA-based, this fantastic new project means the birth of a super-band, featuring members from the great Aberdeen or, most recently, Fonda and Trembling Blue Stars. The origins of the group can be traced almost ten years before, but only after several reunions Johnny Joyner, Beth Arzy and Brian Espinosa started The Luxembourg Signal with Betsy Moyer and Ginny Pitchford, recording the tunes each time Beth visited the States. After the 7" single 'Distant Drive' released in April 2014 by our dear friends of Shelflife Records, on September 30th their debut, self-titled album, will arrive. 10 rich tunes combining dreampop, glimmering pop with a darker twist, shoegazing textures and a talent to knack unbeatable melodies within the noise and guitar drones. Spectacular.
Minipop. Hailing from San Francisco, this group formed a decade ago, when Matthew Swanson joined forces with Tricia Kanne the duo began composing music with a clear '90s vibe like Slowdive or Lush, completing the band shortly afterwards with the addition of Lauren Grubb and Nick Forte. They self-produced debut EP, 'Precious', in late 2005, signing with Take Root Records and releasing their only album to date, 'A New Hope', a year later. Despite the great press and successful tours along with bands like Stellastarr, Film School or Cursive, Minipop has always taken their own path and rhythm to do things. Another EP, 'Automatic Love' arrived in 2010. With the band becoming a trio, now they are back with another EP, 'Chances' out since July. Starry-eyed dreampop, always fuelled with Kanne's irresistible voice. Melodic, spacey and ethereal sounds. The band's name is ironic, for sure. This is huge pop, not mini at all.

WORKING. Hailing from Rhode Island, here's an extremely exciting new group, with a quartet formed by John and Catherine Kolodij, whose previous projects include Aura'd and The Best Wishes, joined by friends Matthew Derby and Mary-Kim Arnold. They just released a debut, digital single on Shelflife Records entitled 'More Weight', announcing they are currently preparing a full length album scheduled for 2015. Three promising tunes of noise pop, C-86 style, recalling Black Tambourine or Velocity Girl, as addictive as the summer season. Great, huge expectations, keep WORKING that good!  

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.

Discoverer 75: new indie findings

The first Sunday of November arrives with three great new indie proposals, enjoy !

Minor Alps. A new collaborative project with an undeniable indie rock pedigree. Bostonian Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies, The Juliana Hatfield Three, Some Girls, and solo) and Newyorker Nada Surf frontman Matthew Caws met in early 90s at a Nada Surf show). They forged a friendship that has been flirting with the idea of working together (aside some contributing vocals on each other's songs) until the timing fitted this year, and the result is "Get There", out since past week. A couple of stunning rockier numbers recalling their solid individual careers along with moody and experimental tracks on a mature, intense, rich and inviting record where lead vocals, writing credit and emotional weight are equally shared. 

Post Modern Team. Found thanks to the unmissable reference that is Indie Pop Saved My Life, I believe this is the first time we feature a band from Osaka, Japan, on this series. With little info available out there, all we know is that the group was formed in 2012, and they have released two EPs, "Never Let You Down", and "By the Sea", including some covers of The Go-Betweens, My Bloody Valentine and The Smiths last year, before Ano(t)raks compiled their tunes on a self-titled debut album, out right now. Extremely catchy and urgent music, between jangle and dream pop, a delicious, stirring discovery from the land of the rising sun.
 
Shady Elders. Back to the US with this Denver quartet. Although initially a duo in 2011, soon they became a full band that is also something of a local supergroup with members of former groups like Spires, Tulip Wars and Don'ts and Be Carefuls. Their only release to date arrived in April of 2013 with "No Favors" EP (name your price at their bandcamp), five tunes where everything fits: dream pop, shoegaze, vintage doo-wop, some darker vibes, crisply guitars and the sounding vocals of Britt Rodemich. What a surprising, peculiar, exciting band.

Hypnotized by Beach House

Beach House (+ Marquis Tolliver). Sala Apolo, March 13th.

Beach House at Apolo. Photo: Bloodbuzzed 

It was my second time watching Beach House live, but to me is like I have been in front of two completely different bands. The Fly Me To The Moon gig on July 2011 wasn't a bad gig. On the contrary, the place, the open air location without massification on a pleasant summer night was quite special. I also remember the visuals and the magnetic atmosphere created. But this past Wednesday at Apolo was something else. Something more.

Mr. Tolliver. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

And the start wasn't that promising. Beach House is now a "hipster" band without discussion. So occasional fans or people that just "have to be there" abounded at a extremely packed Apolo (sold out both nights). Of course, that means annoying people worried about their Iphone not about the music, and a usually pretty and comfortable venue transformed into an unreasonable sauna.

Besides, we have the issue of the support act, Marques Tolliver. Curious? Yes. Intriguing? Sure, for a little while, a guy that shows up with just a violin and his voice in front of an audience that doesn't have a clue about your music was something. But it quickly felt flat, seriously flat at least for me... and extremely short! 5-6 tunes and over! I can see his talents... but the songs didn't sound that impressive or even original. Let's concede the doubt of how a gifted musician like Marques might improve backed by a full band.

Scally & Legrand. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Anyway, after an extremely long wait on which hipsters... sorry, people, fought to have the best possible position, Beach House appeared on stage. It was immediate communion with the audience, and the Baltimore duo, a trio live, didn't waste a second to focus exclusively in the music. And on a much more intimate distance, you can see the band really lost themselves into their songs. Victoria Legrand bursts of energy, with its shaking mane of hair, is one of the most iconic images music has given in latest years.

Setlist was nearly flawless, although that's not that surprising considering it was virtually reduced to “Teen Dream” and “Bloom” tunes. Arguably the only low points of the gig were oldies "Gila” and "Apple Orchard", but the rest of the was a succession of dream pop hits, wonderfully played. Scally's guitar lines perfectly drawing melody lines in between the keyboards haze, and Legrand's voice, sometimes subtle, sometimes thunderous, always intense and emotional.

Magic band live. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Many songs stood out.“The Hours”, "Silver Soul", Zebra”, "Wishes" or the immense "Take Care" under the starry night created by the stage visuals (less striking that the ones used two years ago, but wonderfully merged with the songs). But it wouldn't be fair to just highlight some tunes. From opener "Wild" to closing "Irene", Beach House's gig has to be celebrated as a whole, as a unique cohesive experience, like a collective hypnosis session. Hypnotized by music. A wonderful way to escape from ourselves for a while.

With Beach House tonight!

Big concert tonight, a rainy day with Beach House in Barcelona at Sala Apolo, presenting "Bloom", it couldn't be more approppiate (can't say really why but to me Beach House music and rain fits together incredibly well). Review on the gig coming very soon. To celebrate the concert, here's the wonderful short film recently released by the band and Pitchfork, entitled "Forever Still". Four tunes "Wild", "The Hours", "Wishes", and "Irene" filmed with the dreamy and isolated  landscapes of Tornillo, Texas, as a unique, haunting background. An intriguing, cinematic and captivating work. Really worth the watch, enjoy!

Discoverer 51: new indie findings

Sunday again, time for new music discoveries, enjoy!

Savages. Checking the Primavera Sound 2013 line-up I discovered this all-female band from London. Despite formed in October 2011 and just active live since January 2012 they are already quite a hype, with NME saluting them as the "next big thing", so question marks quickly raised. But after checking their June 2012 first release, the double A-side "Flying To Berlin" and "Husbands", doubts vanished. Post-punk that breathes and beats, menacing, angular, challenging, anthemic, fire powered by singer Jehnny Beth (Ian Curtis meeting Siouxsie Sioux). A live EP, "I Am Here", followed past autumn, adding more munition for a band that sounds fated for very big things. What a wild ride is expecting us!  

The Rosie Taylor Project. Change of style, on a discovery made after checking the line-up of the Madrid PopFest.  Coming from Leeds but now based in London, the sextet origins' date back from 2007, when, after signing with Bad Sneakers Records (label now defuncted) they released a first single, followed by their debut min-album, "This City Draws Maps" a year later. Many shows followed until their sophomore release "Twin Beds" on Oddbox Recordings appeared in February 2012. Sophisticated and mature chamber pop with different sides and high caliber gems, a band not to miss.

Weird. And with our third proposal we return to more obscure sounds. A trio born in Rome in the second half of 2011, they spent 2012 in the studio, which resulted in the band’s first album “Desert Love For Lonely Graves” out since January 15 (that you can download for free here). Seven gloomy tracks, between dreampop and experimental rock, singular, moody and strangely fascinating. Music with a cinematic quality, that evokes impossible landscapes and unravels buried emotions on each song. Slow-burning tunes that sounds ridiculously cohesive for such a young band. Hear & have on eye on them.