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...

Premiere: 'Love is Love' with Skittle Alley

Thanks to our dear friends Discos de Kirlian we have a most pleasant premiere for you today. The return of Skittle Alley! In a match made in heaven, the now full band leaded by French (based in Limoges) music activist Stéphane (more than a decade crafting pop gems on labels like Dufflecoat, Anorak, Jigsaw, etc), responsible of is teaming with the wonderful Catalonian label for the release of his latest mini LP, entitled 'Love Is an Action', out on January 26th. Eight wonderful tunes (sort of a concept record about love) honouring the best indiepop tradition, in the vein of myths like The Field Mice of Another Sunny Day, and beautifully arranged by producer Carlos René, who also contributes with a song.

Ready for a first taste of the album? Here's the magnificent opening track 'Love is Love', a burst of blissful jangle, with twinkling guitars and an eternal chorus. What an honour to premiere this gem! Don't miss it!

“My Secret World”, one hundred Sarah Records

My Secret World. The Story of Sarah Records
Beefeater In-Edit 2014, Chapter II

Our second choice at this year’s Beefeater In-Edit was a no-brainer, a must-watch. I mean, a movie about the story of Sarah Records? On the first row without a doubt.

Why? Because every truly single indie-pop heart needs to know about the Sarah Records story, the referential label based in Bristol with an adamantium spirit of independence founded by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes. They created an immaculate, DIY label (oh my God, the story about the letters!), that overpassed it’s eight years of existence (1987-1995) to become a myth.

Director Lucy Dawkins chooses the most straightforward and didactic approach. She gathers with Clare and Matt and in a very logical order. The origins, the fanzines, the idiosyncrasy and attitude of the label... and every band that published with them in chronological order, covering the 100 7” limited releases Sarah put before going out with a bang. That choice proves to be a very coherent one, making “My Secret World” a very consistent documentary and a pleasant experience for fans, but also an excessively linear and, sorry to say, a bit boring film too, in particular for newcomers into the label’s world or for the ones that are not familiar with the bands.

What this rockumentary shows is that Sarah Records’ was a very small world. A relevant world full of indie-pop pleasures, but also shoegaze and punk flirts, twee music (funny how the interviewed bands refuse the adjective). A world with clear goals and a distinct way of understanding music. A world with a will to fight against the silly criticism (what a piece of shite were the music tabloids, I refuse to say magazines), sexism and misogyny, in my opinion the most interesting moment on the movie, would have loved that bit lasted much longer. But still a small world.

If you are a fan, you’re going to love seeing Blueboy, The Wake, Another Sunny Day, The Orchids, The Field Mice, Heavenly (awww Amelia Fletcher, why not a documentary about her), or “special” fans like music journalist Everett True or Jacob from The Drums, evoking their Sarah Records related memories, or just praising the label’s evolution. Not everything is wines and roses, but Dawkins is not interested on digging deeper on some of the “issues”. Something you have to respect seeing the direction of the movie. But if you’re not a fan, or if you’re not a die-hard fan, “My Secret World” can be just tiring. Whatever the case, a film that needed to exist. Plus a great excuse to listen several unmissable bands. At the end, that’s what makes a label memorable.

SCORE: 6/10

The Night of Fear of Men

 Signed copy of 'Early Fragments' 

Great first night at Primavera Club 2014!

Comfortable festival, nice new venues and, what's more important, really interesting bands. Proper chronicle will arrive shortly, but I couldn't help writing about Fear of Men's memorable night at Teatre Principal in Barcelona. Amazing gig from start to finish, upbeat, mostly danceable and absolutely irresistible. Gold jangle-pop propelled by Daniel Falvey chiming guitars and Jessica Weiss immaculate performance. I knew she had a fantastic voice, but what a dynamic and engaging frontwoman she also is!

The setlist of a memorable night

Setlist prioritised the most energetic tunes, something that proved to be a superb choice. The beginning was terrific, with the quartet delivering flawless renditions of 'Alta/Waterfall', 'Green Sea', 'Mosaic', 'Doldrums' and 'Born' consecutively, but the highlights, at least for me, where the striking cover of masterpiece 'Pink Frost' from The Chills with Jess seeming to be possessed by the vibe of the tune, the incredible 'Ritual Confession', one of my favourite tunes from the quartet, where I almost crashed my voice trying to reach the highest notes before the spectacular chorus, and the epic climax of final tune 'Inside', where guitars (again Falvey, what a performance) exploded. Among the best shows of the year for sure. Just love them!

Such an excellent night deserved a final touch. It was very nice to meet the Brighton band, chat with them briefly and have my "fan moment", as you can see in the photos. A grace note and a huge payoff for an equally huge fan, thanks to a band no one should miss. Thanks Fear of Men!! 

More interesting promising music at the second day of the Festival! We'll keep you posted!

Meeting the band. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Indie Anthology 46: essential songs

What about celebrating the expanded reissue of the legendary C86 compilation cassette for the next chapter of our Indie Anthology? Here's our modest tribute to one of the most underrated bands (polite way to avoid saying completely neglected) that took part on that landmark release...

Song: Therese
Artist: The Bodines
Year: 1986

Mike Ryan, Paul Brotherton, Tim Burtonwood and Paul Lilley, like many others, seemed to have all aces in their hands. Formed just a year earlier, they quickly became one of the most promising upcoming of jangly indie combos spreading around that time. Debut 'God Bless' on Creation Records was followed by 'Therese', being included on the C86 album, allowing them to sign with major Magnet Records with extremely high expectations. That were never fulfilled, commercially speaking, making the band disband. A shame, because songs like 'Therese' are simply impossible to resist. Compulsive jangle-pop, that seems to be propelled by a rocket, inviting the listener to get lost and dance the humming guitar lines. Criminally forgotten gem.

Going to Meet the Man

Tomorrow begins a very special weekend ahead. Bloodbuzzed will meet the mastermind who created this masterpiece...

The guy who penned this deliciously wonderful tune... The amazing musician behind this gem... And many many others...

We are going to the spend the weekend with Jeremy Jensen, Bloodbuzzed meets The Very Most's man! Boise here we come!

Hipsters, sound issues & Veronica Falls' vital indiepop

Veronica Falls (+ Univers). Sala BeCool, January 31st

Indiepop action. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The first concert attended on this 2013 was to see Veronica Falls debuting its new album, "Waiting for Something to Happen", in Barcelona. It's quite shocking to realise it's my fourth time watching the band in not even two years, but at the same time, quite understandable: their songs are among the most recognisable, enjoyable and playful that has been released in the last couple of years. Their music is contagious, vital.

The whole night started unpromising. A notorious delay, several hipster-cliches, with a new "annoying factor": the wannabe-photographers who doesn't give a damn of the people ahead of them, just for the sake of taking picture 1.000.001 in order to add another folder to store (in their ultra expensive MacBook Pro of course)... Ahem.... let's just focus on the music.

Univers at BeCool. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The support act was a very good choice, not very far from the London combo in terms of style, and also a very young band. Univers, with just a proper EP released, has enough to show a lot of promise. Like a poppier, less "in-your-face" version of Mujeres (the lead singer and guitarist is a member of that band), this is garage-pop with a serious hint for melodies that invite you to shake your body. I know that mumbling vocals is part of their style, but unfortunately sounding was average at best, at least from the front row, and you could only hear guitars and drums. In any case, an interesting discovery. Pretty sure won't be the last time I write about them.

Roxanne Clifford. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

After a not very exciting last-minute soundcheck, it was finally the time for Veronica Falls. From the very beginning, with "Right Side of My Brain", it was obvious something wasn't quite right. Too much volume on the bass, not a lot of space for vocals to shine, when they are a fundamental part of the band's sound, quickly revealed as a problem to solve. Roxanne in particular suffered from that situation, trying to arise her voice among the noise, singing quite a few false notes as a consequence. But she managed (she wasn't shy to ask for changes to the sound engineers either) to improve the sound quality of the gig as it developed.

The setlist. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

What about the new songs? As expected, Veronica Falls mixed their "young classics" with many of the tunes that comprise "Waiting for Something to Happen". "My Heart Beats" and "Broken Toy" suffered from the aforementioned "sound issues" but even despite that fact, we were listening perfect indiepop pills. The single "Teenage", played on the last section of the gig shone with pop grace. The same applies to the sweet "Buried Alive", reserved for the encore. But there were three new songs that, for me, were the stand-outs of the night. "Tell Me", with these chiming guitars, "Waiting for Something to Happen", the tune, and the mesmerizing "If You Still Want Me" (very careful with this song folks, very careful). So eager to listen fully and review the album.

The band in BCN. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Alongside newbies, the Londoners provided the audience the majority of winning cards they have (missed "The Fountain", personal favourite), like "Found Love in a Graveyard", "Bad Feeling", "Beachy Head", "Come On Over" or "Starry Eyes", that closed the gig. Overall, it wasn't the best of the live performances I have seen from them, but still. Seems that something, extremely good, is going to happen, with the new album from Veronica Falls. Again.

"Pretty Decent Swimmers", Northern Portrait, jangle-pop champions

Pretty Decent Swimmers EP

Understatements or modesty are frequently virtues when we are talking about music (usually musicians or critics have serious problems of incontinence, delusions of grandeur or extra-huge ambitions). But I do have to complain here. Our favourite Danish band (along with The Raveonettes), Northern Portrait, is happily back with a new EP (a new record on the horizon too) entitled "Pretty Decent Swimmers", already available on the amazing Matinée Recordings. What an inappropriate, bad title this is!
 
Because if we are using the swimming reference with indiepop, they are nothing but Olympic Swimmers, not just pretty decent ones. They are the responsible of an incredible, mind-blowing debut album, "Criminal Art Lovers", plus a little collection of delicious EPs. And after hearing their new gorgeous four songs, they should be nicknamed the "Michael Phelps of jangle-pop"!

Come on, how many bands could return to action after three years with such a shimmering, joyful tune like opener "Happy Nice Day"? It starts unremarkable, but after 30 seconds the real song unleashes into n irresistible jangle-pop "beast". Stefan Larsen romantic voice, guitars ringing, a pulse that slows and rises like your heartbeat, a disarming chorus... all the essence of Northern Portrait summarized and perfected into a pop gem. Sure it will be up there among the best songs of the year (and I know we haven't finished January yet).

With such a great initial song, “Greetings From Paris”, pales by comparison on first listening. But that's a very unfair judgement for a subtler, more oblique and intimate number. Give the tune it's time and space, and it will show all its wonders: Larsen's graceful vocals, that guitar breaking in its middle section before the singer strikes back, that ridiculously simple end turning into a ridiculously affecting climax...

“Bon Voyage!” accelerates the tempo a bit, helped by ever-present guitars (this is jangle-pop folks) and looks, smells and of course sounds like a pop classic. What made The Smiths so immortal was that passion they brought to all of his parts: Morrissey's drama, melodies so unforgettable, guitars chiming or evoking known situations. Northern Portrait are capable of injecting that sort of magic to their tunes. Hear how they close the song. That piano...

We reach the end of the EP with “I Feel Even Better”, on which Larsen seems to step back a bit to let the music be on the forefront of the tune. Melody, together with the delicate arrangements are the guide here. With lyrics that are somewhere in between melancholy and the "first day of a new era", it might be the less the surprising of the lot, but it leaves the listener longing for me. Which is exactly what the best bands do. Northern Portrait add another unmissable reference to an immaculate career so far, could we be in front of the champions of jangle-pop? Have to see them live at the Madrid PopFest!!

SCORE: 7,75/10

The Indie Anthology 25: essential songs

Another one for the Anthology today. The excuse is quite simple this time: I just found out this band is coming back (release on the great Elefant Records just out now)! So, let's celebrate with their wonderful music!

Song: Enlightened & Left-Wing Indeed
Artist: Speedmarket Avenue
Year: 2008

Awwww, Swedish indiepop... What would be life without your music? Your music bring us joy, melancholy, comes in cinematic, lushly atmospheric sounds and evokes dreamy landscapes. In many different ways, but always looking for the most unforgettable melody. I discovered Speedmarket Avenue thanks to the Slowdivesque wonder of "Sirens" but very soon their sophomore album, "Way Better Now" revealed to be much much more. A compilation of what indiepop can be. Sometimes urgent and energetic, others closer to twee-pop and, a few times entering shoegazing territory, others showing the influence of Belle and Sebastian with superb grace. Can't really say why, but "Enlightened & Left-Wing Indeed" might be my favourite. Maybe it has to do with the organ swirling. Maybe is the female-male vocals (I love Sibille Attar's voice). Maybe is the upbeat & upfront pulse. Or maybe the sense the tune is going to break through any second.... And probably is the drums rattling. And for sure, it has to do with the chorus arriving and making all explode. As the best pop songs do.

The Indie Anthology 24: essential songs

I'm on a roll, listening to hundreds of songs, from this year (preparing the best-of-the-year lists) and from my past (recent and not so recent). I guess change is around the corner (I know, cryptic mood I'm in). So here's another chapter of this personal music anthology. Jangle pop's perfection.

Song: Cabin Fever
Artist: The Liberty Ship
Year: 2004

Guitar pop, jangle pop, or just classic indie pop. It really doesn't matter how do you try to define that sort of style. Get perfect tunes like this wonderful "Cabin Fever" from this Nottingham's quartet ("Tide" the record on which this gem was included shouldn't be missed by any indie pop lover) instead, also a perfect example of the "Matinée Recordings' style" and the reason why we love that label so much. Is the melody revealing itself through every chord. Is that pulsing beat coming from the drums, a pulse awaiting for the chorus to emerge, looking for its latest assault when the tempo will push (just a little bit) in order to provide the climax to the tune. Is the clear and echoing voice of Marc Elston waving among the Rickenbackers (of course) cascades of sound. Is the passion. Put it simply, an instant classic tune.

Discoverer 47: new indie findings

Elections day this Sunday, but there's always time for great new bands to discover!

Guards. DNA matters. This trio formed in NY City in 2010 by Richie James Follin, brother of our beloved Madeline Follin of Cults. Initially wrote some tunes for her, but ended keeping them for himself, with the help of friends like Chairlift's Caroline Polachek, MGMT's James Richardson and Madeline, of course. Then came a series of 7" to keep the buzz going until the release of "In Guards We Trust", debut album expected for February 2013. Sure comparisons and expectations will be recurrent, because they certainly sound like Cults and that joyful bunch of retro-pop bands. But hey, while they deliver perfect indiepop pills like "Coming True" or "Silver Lining" who cares? Fated for big things, believe me.    
Guards - Coming True by Guards
Guards - Silver Lining by Guards

Cameras. Down to Sidney to meet this quartet (previously trio). Formed in 2008 by Eleanor Dunlop and Fraser Harvey due to their “mutual love for layering darker dirtier sounds with warmer delicate melodies”, on 2011 they released "In Your Room", very successful debut that now arrives the rest of the world. A bipolar band, when Dunlop sings they sound like the missed Broadcast or Chan Marshall on an M83 tune, while when Harvey leads its like discovering forgotten tunes from Interpol's "Turn On the Bright Lights". Atmospheric or aggressive, the album shares a haunting mood, a bleak vibe that gives it a unusual coherence. Fascinating music.
Bored Nothing. Still in Australia, we move to Melbourne to meet Fergus Miller, who under this pseudonym has just packed some of his best tunes, added a bunch of new ones and have released three weeks ago on a self-titled debut album that has to be seriously highlighted. Stylistically diverse, Fergus can make you think on Daniel Johnston, Sebadoh, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart or Real Estate from one song to another. You can say this is DIY lo-fi indierock very much devoted to the 90's. But to hell with labelling music. This is the sort of magic you can create with an electric guitar, good taste and tones of talent.
Bored Nothing

The Indie Anthology 23: essential songs

I know, I know. My previous post was already a chapter of this very particular indie Anthology . But while doing my research of new bands for tomorrow's "Discoverer" section, I've found the new release of a band I had completely forgotten. So it was a fantastic excuse to "clean the dust" of a lovely EP.

Song: Ride My Star
Artist: The Girl With the Replaceable Head
Year: 2001

Ten years already since I received this extremely simple, b/w EP from the now defunct Bus Stop Label in my mailbox? Wow, time flies. And usually has no mercy. Except with great music. Wonderful tunes resist everything. It was 2002 when I discovered this hypnotic, marvellous trio of songs. Immediately grabbed a copy through the Internet (not that usual buying that way then). And the leading force of the three was "Ride My Star". That simple start with keyboards before the melody and mellow female vocals arrive were pure bliss. The whole song was enveloped on an aura of pure magic, slightly fuzzy despite its "bedroom style", and I guess, small budget for production. Yeah, it was lo-fi when lo-fi wasn't "cool". It was C86 when that was "yesterday's news". But guess what? Eleven years after, it still stops the time. At least for me. 

No youtube video this time, but here's the link of the EP

Discoverer 46: new indie findings

We're back with our Sunday dose of new bands proposals for you, enjoy!

The Holiday Crowd. Our first band comes from Toronto, but judging for how they sound, you would say they hail from a grey and rainy British borough, not very far from London, in the 80s. The foursome formed in 2010, describing themselves as "minimal and stripped-down" which is an incredibly wrong definition. Because if you listen to their debut mini-album "Over the Bluffs", out in Shelflife since January, or the forthcoming (next week) 7" "Sick Days" you won't find anything "minimal". On the contrary, this is an impressively beautiful, expansive and touching collection of tunes. A heartwarming, epic (the Morrisseysque voice, the chiming guitars) and vital dose of the best jangle-pop.
The Holiday Crowd - Over The Bluffs sampler

Sleeping Policemen. German bands are not very usual on this blog, sadly. That's why I'm specially happy introducing you to this Hamburg quintet. Discovered thanks to the infinite good taste of EardrumsPop, with whom they have just released a very nice EPop single. But I wasn't "that" convinced. I needed more songs. Something that I have found after checking their self-titled debut album, out since March. Gentle indie-pop, sometimes beautifully embellished and melancholic, others upbeat and straightforward, but always shiny, welcoming and full of irresistible melodies.

September Girls. And our third band comes from the haunting Dublin, thanks to another referential label, Matinee Recordings. The all-female five-piece band formed in September 2011, debuting with a limited cassette single on Soft Power Records in April 2012 (sold out within a week). More recording and touring followed, releasing a trio of 7 inch EPs this autumn. Eps that you should check out, as this band play the most absorbing and infectious garage pop tunes I have heard in a long while. Fuzzy and noisy yet harmonic (these girl group vocals are disarming) and melodic. Their music make no prisoners, comes like a rush of blood to your head and affects all your senses. You have been warned.  

September Girls sampler 

A night with Neil Hannon, the charming man

The Divine Comedy. An Evening With Neil Hannon. Auditori de Girona, November 2nd
  

The charming man
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Finally back online (Internet problems are crucifying us), and the first thing pending was, without a doubt, the chronicle of Mr. Neil Hannon, aka The Divine Comedy, in Girona. A very special, long expected, and gratifying evening alongside the music of the charming (and a bit worryingly thin) Irishman, as the universal song by The Smiths was unintentionally announcing.

We had our worries, sure. Would the audience listen him? We weren't sure if a gig in Girona (the city was having its autumn celebrations week), part of the Temporada Alta Festival, would be that successful, or if people would know his music. Some scary "ladies of certain age", with tones of make-up  on her faces, and kids among the public weren't the nicest signs. Then, as the quite beautiful auditorium was getting full, some of the public gathered behind the stage, which was a bit weird. Even with Neil appeared, he seemed shocked because of that strange location of a few concertgoers. But he quickly managed it, transforming it into an element to joke and make funny remarks about.

Mr. Hannon on piano. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The gig started with him on piano playing tunes from his latest album "Bang Goes the Knighthood", like "Assume the Perpendicular", that opened the concert, "The Complete Banker" with its wise and so true lyrics or record title "Bang Goes the Knighthood". In between of them, the first classic, "Generation Sex". By then, we were certain than we didn't have to fear. The public was enthusiastic, and, at least on the front rows, knew his songs. 

And on guitar. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

As it happened two years ago, when I was lucky to saw Neil in this acoustic, intimate show format in Barcelona, songs on the piano were alternated with short breaks in which our beloved singer/composer/one-man band switches the instrument for a guitar. "Perfect Love Song", with a surreal guitar-tuning moment and the haunting "Lucy" (great rescue) were excellent choices to change the mood before "attacking some darker melodies again on piano.

"Geronimo", "Snowball in Negative", or the baroque "When the Lights Go Out All Over Europe", which I found more appealing in its live & "naked" version than recorded arrived at the central and more "dense" section of the gig. But fortunately, Neil has an outstanding presence live. A mixture between a mischievous kid (these looks) a goofy, theatrical comedian (fake cigarettes?) and some sort of a distant, subtle impersonation of Oscar Wilde singing songs about love, loss and human miseries.

Indie Piano Man. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

But in my opinion, you can only make fun, being a musician, if you have talent and songs to show it. Otherwise, you are a fraud. And Neil's weighs zillions of tones. How many could transform "Time to Pretend", the MGMT's ubiquitous tune into a perfectly suitable song from The Divine Comedy with such grace? Who can merge it with "National Express" and made them fit as if they were created on the same studio session? Or engage people with such a difficult tune, extremely wordy like "The Lost Art of Conversation"?

"Songs of Love". Photo: Bloodbuzzed

And most importantly, who can match such an immaculate indiepop banquet for the listener in the final stage of the concert and still exclude many amazing tunes (missed "Absent Friends")?  Let's name it. Just him and his guitar he played "Songs of Love" (funniest comments of the night for me regarding how "disgusting" the lyrics of the songs are, still smiling one week after when I remember) followed by "A Lady of Certain Age". And back on piano, "Our Mutual Friend" and the epic finale of "Tonight We Fly". Mind-blowing. With the public giving the Irishman a standing ovation, it was a matter of seconds he returned to the stage for an encore, playing "The Frog Princess" and "I Like", which, and on a personal note, was the perfect song to end the gig. Thanks for another evening to remember Neil.

Side note: Cheers for your 42nd birthday, dear Neil!!

The Indie Anthology 21: essential songs

The next chapter in our Anthology is reserved to a very special artist, very dear to me, who I'll be seeing live, for the third time (first in the best of possible companies), next Friday. A great singer, clever lyricist, smart observer of personal relations and social behaviours, capable of making you laugh or wallow on your own pain when you feel miserable (oops maybe I have said too much here). A composer and creator of wonderful pop songs.

Ladies and gentlemen, the indie-pop genius of Mr. Neil Hannon, The Divine Comedy.

Song: Absent Friends
Artist: The Divine Comedy
Year: 2004

"A Lady of Certain Age", "Our Mutual Friend", "Tonight We Fly", "Songs Of Love"... I could be arguing with myself for decades. I can't decide which is my favourite song of The Divine Comedy. So why I choose "Absent Friends"? It's not the first that brought me to his music either (the amusing "Alfie" or "Everybody Knows that I Love You" are the ones). But "Absent Friends" was the one that made "click" on me, the one that made me move from an occasional listener, waiting for a greatest hits compilation, to a devoted fan. There's something on his voice, always delicate but never more powerful than here, brilliantly accompanied by the orchestration (the chamber pop master at his finest hour?). There's something on the orchestration, upbeat, epic, and martial, but allowing every word to be heard. There's something on the words, heartfelt and honest. A song about long-gone, missing, somehow fallen heroes have never sounded so touching and uplifting.

See you in a week dear Neil!!   

The Indie Anthology 15: essential songs

If there's a Festival I would die to go, that's Indietracks. This weekend they will celebrate its 6th edition, again with a line-up that is an indie-pop dream. So the next chapter of our Anthology serves me also as a little homage to this fantastic Festival, recovering an amazing song from one of the bands, an unexpected return, that will be playing there!

Song: Tara Mascara
Artist: Language of Flowers
Year: 2004

"Songs About You" was a delicious record, a kaleidoscope of everything that makes indie-pop irresistible. Tara Simpson's adorable, fragile voice, jangly guitars, a touch of psychedelia here, a glimpse of twee-pop there, several upbeat tunes, ready to make you dance, a few others to feel nostalgic... I fell in love with the Northern Ireland band from the very first moment I heard "Tara Mascara", with its 12-string rickenbackers shimmering, just before Simpson's appears with her sweet voice. Think on The Smiths meeting Lush. Yes, that good. In hiatus since 2007, they are back for a special performance at Indietracks. What a great comeback (hope its for long). Lucky indietrackers!!   

EardrumsPop & Young Romance= glorious indie-pop

ePop022- Young Romance

Any indie-pop lover knows that each time EardrumsPop announces a new release, it's time to go to their website and let your ears celebrate their (nearly immaculate) taste. But in this occasion, there was even more anticipation than usual, as the band featured in their ePop022 is Young Romance, a band already discovered on this blog, and one that got me completely haunted with just a bunch of songs. I was anxiously looking for their next step, and here it is, in the form of an  EardrumsPop EP. What a wonderful combination!

Previous tunes like "Swollen Hearts, Bitter Tongues" or "She, Me, Him and You" proved this London duo had a very special talent to inject a burst of real emotion and passion to their sweetest, utterly romantic indie-pop tunes. It seemed impossible to achieve, but with this EP they have reached a new level, Paolo and Claire have penned a couple of perfect songs.  

"Follow on Your Own" is sublime: slow burning verses, killer chorus where Claire's voice is disarming, a background of layers and fuzziness. Definitely one to rank among the best-songs-of-the-year list. And is followed closely by "Break My Heart By Morning". Listening Young Romance's tunes one has to believe Paolo's words (you can read them on the digital booklet also included on the EP) of "wanting their songs to capture the rush of feeling something for the very first time". Indeed.

Unfortunately, "Rose Tint", the song Young Romance chose to cover (the tradition of the EardrumsPop EPs is to cover a song the featured group considers it deserves more attention), from the group Lulu and the Lampshades (now just Landshapes), passes almost unnoticed. An ok song nevertheless, but pales by comparison with the couple of terrific songs. Oh! And if I may add another little complaint: unfortunately, the artwork doesn't do any justice to the beauty of this EP. Being completely honest, it is very close to be on the next Stop Awful Covers post. 

But let's concentrate on the positive. EardrumsPop did it again. A stunning free!!!! EP from Young Romance, a lovely duo that makes gorgeous indie-pop. Run (virtually) and grab it (Odd box Records will release a physical, limited edition of the single, cheers for that too!).

SCORE: 7,5/10

Listen them!!

Young Romance by Young Romance

"Hospitality", indie-pop debut of the year

Hospitality- Hospitality

Yeah, I know, a big statement on the title, but Hospitality's fun, hyper-addictive, catchy as hell and quite peculiar, quirky indie-pop, deserves that sort of title for a post. If there's a better debut album this year, then 2012 should be one to be musically remembered.

The start of "Hospitality", the album, is unbeatable, terrific. "Eight Avenue", "Friends of Friends" and "Betty Wang". Upbeat, intricate indie-pop that makes you smile and "charge batteries". Full of melodies that stuck in your head, this is the sort of music that fits perfectly to walk/wander around the city on a sunny day. It will be a matter of time you'll find yourself humming along one of its irresistible choruses ("But I've got friends that are new friends"), or some of the one-liners where Amber Papini's shines. "If you leave New York/ I don't care, I don't care!" 

Because Papini's voice is one of the "miracles" of Hospitality. Kind of funny and strange (on Merge Records website, their label, they explain she learnt to sing with the English accent of Bernard Butler while listening to Psychedelic Fur's "Talk Talk Talk"), but also sweet, she will amuse you first, and then, once you have been disarmed, it will haunt you. Her peculiar vocal range and tone quickly becomes a trademark of the band, allowing to distance them from indie-pop standards. And Papini is a fine lyricist too, explaining stories in the songs that are not that unfamiliar for a whole generation of of twentysomething's-thirties trying to figure out what's next in their life, always with a refreshing wit and humour, not taking things too seriously.

There's a particular groove going on during the whole album, giving it a cohesion. Despite finding more languid numbers in its "middle section" like "Julie" (maybe the less impressive of the lot), the delicate "Sleepover", or "Argonauts" and "Liberal Arts" with its wonderful harmonies, towards the end, there's also space for some more fast-paced tunes, where guitars keep shimmering, intertwined with trotting drums and keyboards on "The Right Profession", "The Birthday" or the closer "All Day Today". Songs are wisely combined throughout the record, helping to make it a joyous, very fluent one. Like the good albums, "Hospitality" gives the listener the impression it ends too soon. So there's no other option that going for another "spin". Da-da-da-da-da-da/da-da-da-da.....

SCORE: 8,25

Primavera Sound 2012 in brief, day 5

Last report of the Primavera Sound. Here's Sunday's quick review!

The Good
At Ciutadella: A relaxed way of enjoying music. The line-up for Sunday at Parc of Ciutadella was very attractive, and despite the amount of people was notorious, the atmosphere and vibe was nice and inviting. Cosmen Adelaida (friendly people), Girl Names gave nice performances, and the always exuberant tunes (so happy to see the impressive audience they gathered) of Veronica Falls was indeed a fantastic closure of the gigs at such an original venue.

Veronica Falls. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

With Cosmen Adelaida. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Nacho Vegas on screen.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Nacho Vegas: Not a fan, but was intrigued with the chance of seeing him live at Arc de Triomf. Probably in front of the wrong crowd, and not with the best vocal performance I'm sure, but what a tremendous lyricist he is. "Cómo Hacer Crac" is terrific (and necessary).

The Bad
Joe Crepúsculo: Being this a personal blog this is of course just my opinion, but I don't understand what is he doing at Primavera Sound. Well, as a matter of fact, I don't think he deserves any of the credit he has. Terrible terrible music. Cheap, derivative electronic sounds with atrocious vocals. Hard to forget, like nightmares.
Weird Arc de Triomf: I already said that, regarding what happened on Wednesday, the massification at Arc de Triomf has been one of the few negative things of the Festival. Masses aside, to me, the order in which the artists played yesterday was also quite weird, with three singer-songwriters on the afternoon-night slots, while the more danceable/playful one (tastes aside) performed earlier in the afternoon. That arguable line-up, mixed with the rain, and a vast amount of crowd just worried about the conversation or the next drink/cigarette, made me decide on missing Richard Hawley.

Music under the rain at PS12.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Queen

In order not to make an overlong post, please allow me to reserve the final remarks for another post: a personal overview of the whole Primavera Sound. Find it here.

The Indie Anthology 12: essential songs

Back with the Anthology after some weeks, focused on hearing as many bands as possible from the Primavera Sound 2012 line-up. But on the last days a much needed Spanish band has returned: I'm referring to Los Punsetes with "Una Montaña es una Montaña", their third album, so they made me remember their very peculiar hymn. Very appropriate in the current "state of affairs"...

Song: Tus Amigos
Artist: Los Punsetes
Year: 2010

You know when you would really like to say things openly, but circumstances, fear, doesn't allow you to do so? Yeah, its better to keep relations in a diplomatic, politically correct way. But how liberating is being able to express your frustration, discomfort with how life is treating you and your partner lately. Many times, a song can help, become the vehicle for letting these sort of feelings go out. Los Punsetes condensed all their proverbial nastiness into a straightforward, crystal clear, and in that sense relieving lyric singing what we all think but we don't dare to say when we are fed up with people/work, and we just want to hide away with our beloved one. Behind an indie-pop tune with crispy guitar lines you'll find lines like "Que le den por culo a tus amigos" or "Tu trabajo me toca las pelotas". Sing it out, loud and clear and give yourself a break.