Spanish Indie 10: suggesting the best national acts

It's been ages since I wrote the last chapter of this section devoted to the alternative music made in Spain. Luckily, I have been receiving/checking several new bands that deserve to be discovered. Hope you enjoy them!

When Nalda Became Punk. Started in 2006 as the solo project of Galician (Vigo) Elena Sestelo, under the name of Nalda, but after a first demo came a long break, until summer of 2010. A second demo, “Time to meet your family”, followed by the arrival of Roberto Cibeira in 2011 certified that When Nalda Became Punk was a reality. A 7” single out on Pebble Records on August anticipated, thanks to the infallible Shelflife Records, their debut album out now, "A Farewell To Youth". Fresh but instantly classic C-86, jangle-pop...pure pop joy. Think of Heavenly, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Helen Love... Yes, that good, just follow Nalda!

Coffee&wine. Ana Franco, the modest artist behind that (why?) lower case nickname, hails from Madrid. Creator of Manderley, a company provider/promoter of cultural services, in 2004 started her own music career. After a first single in 2009, a proper debut arrived with the self-produced EP "From the Roofs", out in August 2010. Past October she presented her first album "From The Ground", wonderful collection of folk and americana tunes with a melodic, pop taste. Like a crossover of Gillian Welch with Aimee Mann, Ms. Franco is a refreshing voice on Spanish scene. Looking forward to her gig at Minifestival de Música Independent!

Stand Up Against Heart Crime. This was pending since December, when I discovered them at Primavera Club. The once struggling project of Josep Xorto and Arnau Obiols finally took form in 2010 when they came up with “A Hundred Lovers”, a song selected for an ad campaign. The buzz had started. After an EP came their homonym full-length debut, last year, receiving the unanimous critics praise. And deservedly so, because their synth-pop, post-punk, or as they self-define, kraut-wave is shining despite its glooming touches, swooning despite the threatening atmospheres, and addictive as only good music can be.