New Wave & Post-Punk (1978-1984). From Depeche Mode to Franz Ferdinand (de Depeche Mode a Franz Ferdinand, Spanish original title)- Juan M. Corral (editor)
Here comes a very interesting and needed book. Well, music books are desperately needed in general in Spain, as the
production is so small. So "
New Wave & Post-Punk" has to be praised even if just as an attempt of covering such a music period. So thanks Juan Manuel Corral and the rest of music specialists (six different writers trying to dissect those times in several individual chapters) for the work.
Having said that, the book has many attractions, from just being informed about those years, who were the leading bands and artists of the different "movements" or "scenes" (whether the real existence or non-existence of the scenes are one of these perennial debates), their connections and relations, and maybe discover some of them, to bringing to the table, or at least explore, the origins and direct influences of many bands that are referential today. As the book clearly exposes, and I don't think its arguable,
80s are "on fashion" today.
To present such a vast and complex (it evolved very quickly) music panorama is not an easy task, so for sure, the scope of the book has limitations and the list of groups/artists included is, by no means (that's almost impossible) exhaustive, but the overall feeling after reading it is that the most relevant scenes have been covered and documented. Therefore, prepare yourself to embark on a
quite challenging ride: from "
England's Dreaming" to
Joy Division fatalism, from American Hardcore to Gary Numan, from German industrial sounds to The Specials, from Morrisey & Marr to Diamanda Galas.
As I said before, the book tries to analyse the most relevant bands and milestones of the different music scenes (plus a chapter on music labels, not that usual and highly absorbing, another positive point). I like the fact the writers doesn't hide their criticisms and opinions on albums and attitudes and that the focus is not reproducing what the chroniclers from USA and United Kingdom have vastly documented: the perspective is a more local one, about what and how we received these bands and styles here in Spain, and how we can value them. In that sense, the final chapters of "New Wave & Post-Punk" are particularly relevant despite its length constraints. One is dedicated to the "legacy", where music specialist Daniel Cabezas tries to summarize the influences of some of the most celebrated artists of the new millennium. A titanic, incomplete, but great chapter. The second is a brief (too short) but valuable view of how new wave and post-punk arrived and influenced national music, in a pivotal moment of change in Spain, after the dictatorship regime.
But there's a big, and a bit surprising, "issue" with this book: the unacceptable number of misspellings and typos. There's virtually no page without it. Just the back cover has half a dozen of them. Don't know which has been the problem (edition, lack of correction) but it makes the work look bad, not very professional. Sad, because despite its limitations, this book should be quite recommendable.
SCORE: 6,5/10
Bubblegum Lemonade. You know I love Strawberry Whiplash, the Glaswegian duo formed by Sandra and Lawrence "Laz" McCluskey. Today I want to introduce you the other Laz's band, something I've been postponing waiting for a new release. The wait is finally over. Almost a one-man-affair until now, Laz's has already given us three EPs and two albums, all in our beloved Matinée Recordings, between 2007 and 2010. And now he is back with more. "Have You Seen Faith?", out now is a flamboyant 7" of perfect jangle pop pills, full of killing guitars lines and choruses, that previews a forthcoming third album, "Some Like It Pop", set for release this autumn. Welcome back Laz!
Night Flowers. Our last stop is in East London with a 2013 project product of Chris Hardy and Greg Ullyart, quickly expanded with Film Director Ryan Haysom, singers Hester Ullyart and Emma Stewart and drummer Zeb Budworth. That's all in terms of info available, but enough to embrace their first two songs (freely yours if you want it at their bandcamp) "Night Beds/North" unabashedly. A fragile 90's affair, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart immediately comes to mind on the first tune, while the female vocals on the second recalls on the dreamiest side of C-86 before guitars arrive. Here's a promising start.
