The Indie Anthology 70: essential songs

We're back from holidays & ready to propose you some more eternal songs (in our humble opinion) at our anthology section! It's about two geniuses today, Mark E. Smith and Damo Suzuki... or, more precisely, two of the weirdest, evasive, unreachable and underrated geniuses music has ever had. One of the greatest and most particular music tributes ever written or, at the very least, just a hell of a song!

Song: I Am Damo Suzuki
Artist: The Fall
Year: 1985

A couple of songs ago in this section, I was writing about The Wedding Present, The Posies and The Fall's early mixtapes made by a long lost friend with obvious great music taste. Of course, the less immediate of the trio were The Fall's compilation of tunes and albums. But there was something that always kept me listening. And still does. A funny and/or grotesque lyric, a mysterious bass line, an occasional pop hook hidden into the apparent reigning chaos. And the perennial sense of threat and surprise. It was post-punk, but also krautrock, literature, cinema, politics, vaudeville... Anything could happen while Mark E. Smith was singing (or reciting, or shouting, or spitting?). A whole universe packed in a tape. And then there was 'I Am Damo Suzuki', epitomizing the aforementioned "Fall's sound" while, at the same time, inviting me to discover another strange band (from Germany and fronted by a Japanese!). A decomposed riff arriving to the listener in semitones, the atmosphere of a horror movie, a drum beat between the frantic and the somber, and a singer making collide each of his words into the angles of the music lines, howling the chorus?, which still sounds like a mad mantra summoning the spirit of the Can's one-of-a-kind vocalist. I would learn later that lyrics and sound were an incredible marriage, the perfect blend of shape and content in the form of a music tribute. What a trip! Vitamin C for the ears and the soul!

Discoverer 136: new indie findings

Today we offer a discoverer series focused in the most experimental side of music. Kraut, Stereloabesque and soundtrack sounds. Do not fear and let yourself go, There's a lot to enjoy!

Cavern of Anti-Matter. Behind this sci-fi name lies the latest, Berlin-based project of (stand up please) Stereolab & McCarthy Tim Gane, alongside Joe Dilworth, also from the much revered experimental band, and German electronic master Holger Zapf. Launched in 2013, the trio came out with debut album 'Blood-Drums' that same year, followed by some very limited 7" and 12" releases within 2014 and 2015. Now they are back with sophomore record 'Void Beats / Invocation Trex', out now via Duophonic. The trio of sonic explorers, with the help of some illustrious collaborators like Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, Spacemen 3’s Sonic Boom, and Mouse on Mars’ Jan St. Werner, have delivered an intoxicating collection of driving, motorik rhythms and synth drones. A familiar, yet intricate and hazy future, abstract, hypnotic and surprisingly organic. Dive into the cavern.

LNZNDRF. Pronounced Lanzerdorf, behinds this impossible name lies another experimental trio, formed by Ben Lanz of Beirut and (stand up again, please) brothers Bryan and Scott Devendorf from The National. Formed around 2011 in New Zealand (out of a need for a supporting act last minute), the project acquired full shape when they recorded the eight-track LP over two and half days in a church in Cincinnati, Ohio. The songs, edited down from expansive jams, evoke the essence of their expansive, largely improvised live shows, are now gathered in their self-titled debut album, out now via 4AD. Forged around their common love for Neu! and the Krautrock original legion and propelled by the galloping pulse of our favourite drummer, LNZNDRF tunes are energetic, relentless, widescreen, yet delicate and atmospheric. Breathtaking debut.

Paolo Spaccamonti. Hailing from Torino, Italy, comes this experimental composer and guitarist, who debuted in 2009 with album 'Undici Pezzi Facili', that made him being celebrated as one of the most promising acts of the Italian experimental scene. Sophomore LP 'Buone Notizie' arrived in 2011, being followed a year later with Spaccamombu, his collaboration with the Rome-based band Mombu, starting a series of exciting parallel projects for an incredibly active and adventurous musician. To name just a few, in February 2013 he took part at the first edition of the Musica 90 Sessions, along with Julia Kent, Ivan Bert and Paolo Dellapiana (Larsen). He has played live with Damo Suzuki of legendary Can, Nick Cave, St. Vincent, Ana Calvi, Xiu Xiu and, more recently, provided a live accompaniment to the documentary 'Drifters' alongside Ben Chasny of Six Organs Of Admittance for Turin's Museo del Cinema. Near the end of 2015 he released his latest solo effort to date, the LP 'Rumors', out via Escape from Today & Santeria Records. A slowly-burned craftsmanship affair of shocking intensity and über appealing cinematic quality, Spaccamonti's music sounds like the perfect soundtrack for these dreamy, mysterious and haunting nights where the darkness seems to know all your secrets.

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!

Pegasvs, machines going pop in Barcelona

Pegasvs (+ Y). Music Hall, Barcelona, April 12th

Pegasvs in action. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

This concert review is going to be quite biased, as electronic and krautrock music are not my field of (modest) expertise. So me being part of the audience can only be explained by three factors: someone "pushing" me to go, a ridiculously cheap price (reasonable prices, more tickets sold, see?), and of course, the highly addictive Pegasvs homonym debut album. 

Y, support act of the night.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

On a quite full Music Hall (is a very small venue, but still quite remarkable considering there were many concerts going on in Barcelona), showing the considerable buzz Pegasvs are making with their record, the night started with the (gig, performance, session?, sorry for my lack of knowledge) of the support act Y (seems it was their debut live). During a set that lasted more than 30 minutes, this local duo sounded like a mixture between Kraftwerk and the annoyingly ubiquitous Chromatics, thanks to the also annoying "Drive", to me. But again, electronic is not an area where I can make a lot of comparisons.

Luciana della Villa
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

After Y, the turn arrived for Pegasvs, officially presenting their LP live. But for a show advertised as an special occasion, Sergio Pérez and Luciana della Villa their performance wasn't that special. Songs were executed with precision, sounding very close to the album versions. For a non-electronic music fan, that was great, because what makes "Pegasvs" a fantastic album is that behind the Motorik rhythms and machines, the tunes sound pop, with explosive and fascinating melodies like "La Melodía del Afilador" (amazing), "Sobre las Olas" or "Atlántico". But it was also a bit disappointing, as their technically irreproachable performance was quite flat in terms of connection with the audience, giving credit to the ones saying electronic is cold. But that's something that can be corrected, experience will solve it. And it's way more easier when, like Pegasvs, you have the songs. See you again pretty soon!

Spanish Indie 8: suggesting the best national acts

Stunning new proposals of Spanish alternative bands for you! Hope you like them!

Pegasvs. One of the best records I have heard this year so far comes from Barcelona. Their authors are Sergio Pérez and Luciana della Villa, veterans of the Spanish alternative/underground, that finally have the attention of the (indie) media as a duo with this homonym debut. And with a reason. Motorik rhythms and hyperbolic, cascading melodies, between Neu! and Stereolab, this is addictive krautrock with pop ambitions, propelling the listener to a unique place. A spot among the national best albums at the end of 2012 lists is granted.
Pegasvs by Pegasvs

Jane Joyd. I warned you. Hailing from A Coruña, Elba Fernández, aka Ms. Jane Joyd, was fated for great things. She only needed an EP on 2010 to become a must-see promise. Then she won the Proyecto Demo 2011, having the chance of showing her talents at festivals like Benicàssim (where I discovered her). Now she presents "Shy Little Jane Presents: The Dramatic Tale of Her Animals", second EP and the debut at Origami Records. Long title for an immense, hazy, rich and rewarding work. Folk, jazz, a haunting voice... and the confirmation that here's a talent that MUST be followed.

Juanita y Los Feos. Shall we (indie) dance? I have found the perfect soundtrack for it. A killing cocktail of punk-pop, new wave, garage, synths, bursts of guitars, surreal lyrics and an immediate feeling of fun. All comprised in 12 doses of 2:30 minutes' tunes, the perfect recipe to keep you moving. Hailing from Madrid, and with a quite a long history behind their backs, the band formed in 2004, published several EPs until "Juanita y Los Feos", their first LP in 2007. More EPs followed before "Pesadilla adulta", at the end of 2011. A second album that you should listen... and dance!