Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Spanish Indie 19: suggesting the best national acts

More Spanish bands that I highly recommend you. Sensitive hearts, beware, listen and enjoy!


Renaldo & Clara. Behind their dylanesque name lies one of my latest biggest crushes, 'though I admit first time I saw them, supporting my beloved Basia Bulat in 2011, wasn't that impressed. My bad. Hailing from Lleida, and initially as a trio, in 2009 debuted with a self-titled Mini-Lp out on jazz label Quadrant. Several live shows followed until their second release, "Lilà" Ep arrived on Elefant Records. After several changes in the line-up, the band finally found a stable quintet formation, recording their debut EP in 2013, which has just been released past month on Bankrobber. "Fruits del Teu Bosc" is morose, epidermic, serene and warm music that embraces the listener in all its quiet intimacy. Slow-burning whispered folk-pop, Donosti Sound echoes and pieces of disarming twee-pop with the fragile, arresting voice & lyrics of  Clara Viñals. What a crush.
Hans Laguna. Based in Barcelona, Hans began his career in 2006 with the demo "El Hombre Teórico". Since then, he has formed a band, performed at a geriatric, released the EP “Hans Laguna y la Sintaxis”, composed music for various plays, had an experimental project with poet Albert Balasch, organized an acoustic music festival and became part in the tribute to singer-songwriter Julio Bustamante. “Primeras Marcas”, his debut LP, came out in the summer of 2012 on our dear El Genio Equivocado, followed late last year with “Oteiza”, another sonic experiment honoring the Basque sculptor. The hiper-active Hans has just released his second album, "Deletrea", where he shows it's possible to experiment within the singer-songwriter tradition, using all sorts of instrumentation without losing any bit of emotional honesty, closeness or knack for the melody. Cult artist on the making.
Las Desnortadas. Ari, Ruth, Tania, Isa y Anna come from Barcelona and could be one of the best kept secrets of the local scene. They formed, as a duo initially, in 2011, releasing digitally their first EP, "Tal y Cual" that year, followed in 2012 by "Lista de Espera" EP. After signing with Discos de Kirlian, a year later came out their third EP, "Gallinas con Cuello", rising the bar high and rocketing the expectations while we await eagerly for their first LP, which are currently finishing. Naif, twee indiepop, minimalistic, humorous and charming. Lo-fi ready to conquer your heart. Don't forget their name!

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