Primavera Sound 2014 in brief, day 1

As you probably now, this is the Primavera Sound 2014' week so, which explains the lack of updates on the blog this week: yes, I'm abducted. But like we did on previous editions, here I'm going to start our quick chronicles of each day of the 2014 Festival. To begin with, our particular opening day!

The Good

Esther Margarit, the "Queen Bee"
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

La Castanya's pop vibes: One of my favourite national indie labels, on Wednesday 28th they gathered a wonderful trio of their impressive roster for a special showcase at Primavera Sound:Aries (look for her on the Spanish discoveries section very soon), Beach Beach, and my beloved Me and the Bees.Three ways of understanding pop. Three bands (and a label) to follow closely!
New records: The three bands have a pretty busy 2014 ahead. Aries is already on tour presenting her highly recommendable 'Mermelada Dorada'. My dear Bees just released their second album 'Mundo Fatal' that I reviewed at Indienauta on Thursday and YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING RIGHT NOW! And Beach Beach already unveiled their new single, advancing the new album. 2014 looks for a great year at La Castanya!

The Bad

Vocals: Regrettably, this is not the first time I write this with regards to La [2] de Apolo. Again, sound was so-so, and in particular, it affected the vocal performances of the three acts. Didn't ruin the shows, but it was frustrating to see (and not hear) the three bands suffering the same problem.

The Queen

Beach Beach under the guitar waves
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Beach Beach: Missed them playing at Primavera Sound 2012, soon after discovering them. But not anymore. Put The Feelies, Teenage Fanclub (they played with Gerard Love at Primera Persona), or any of your favourite 80s-90s indie rock guitar bands in the cocktail shaker and shake with some surf-tinged Mediterranean vibes. Even despite the aforementioned sound issues, at La [2] de Apolo they delivered a flawless show. Intense, joyous, full of guitar lines (seriously impressed with Pau Riutort) to explode in your head. Ace, ace band. Eagerly awaiting for their forthcoming sophomore album.

Brief of the first "big day" of the PS14, Thursday 29th, coming very soon here!

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 11

Here's our next round of our TOP TEN playlist, with the tunes I have been enjoying the most lately. In this eleventh Jukebox we come back with our dear Sharon Van Etten and also other bands listed before as Cosines or Nat Jonhson, as well as several new findings. And of course, this is also available at the blog's soundcloud (come on and Join Us!).

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6 
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9 
Week 10

Welcome to the Jukebox!

These go to 11: interviewing The Very Most

The time has arrived: this wouldn't be Bloodbuzzed without the wonderful musician, caring familiy man, gentle host and dear friend Jeremy Jensen taking part of in our interview series. Be careful: music genius answering questions. These Go to 11!

Jeremy Jensen, The Very Most

Imagine the pop benefits of cloning... 

Boise, Idaho is the land of potatoes, beautiful scenic views... and the place from where Jeremy Jensen, mastermind & only permanent member of TVM keeps creating his indiepop gems for 12 years now. In 2004 arrived the first album, 'Making the Case for Me', and since then the band status (and Jeremy's as pop composer) has only being reinforced once and again with every release, like 2008's golden LP 'Congratulations Forever', or the majestic 'A Year with The Very Most' in 2010, compiling the four EPs released a year before. Collaborations (he's quintessential part of Baffin Island, with my beloved Melanie Whittle of The Hermit Crabs), Christmas releases, several 7" & EPs, including their/his latest trio of wonders (go grab them!): 'Ununiversalizable Us', 'Just a Pup' and 2014's 'Things Too Obvious to Sing', out now on My Little Owl Records. Ladies & gents, Jeremy Jensen, crafting & honouring POP (in capital letters) with The Very Most. Here we go!

Stand! for GREAT records

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

The first record I bought was R.E.M.'s 'Green'. The first I was given as a gift (on cassette) was The Jets' 'Magic'. The Jets were a pop/R&B band from Tonga that had a few hits in the 80s. Lots of spandex. Pretty catchy though.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
The first concert I went to was probably The Jets! I didn't realize until now how many of my personal milestones they were involved in. You caught me at a really good time in terms of the last one I saw: Neutral Milk Hotel. They were so good. So intense. Spot on vibe. They somehow managed to recreate onstage the manic-depressive, fuzzy sound of their records. The whole crowd sang along to every word.

Among the most dangerous
(music) criminals

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I really like the Justin Beiber song 'Die in Your Arms'. If it were recorded by The Jackson Five it would have been a classic. Even today's ridiculous hip-hop/R&B production and stylistic touches didn't manage to ruin it.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
My signed copy of Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers. It's not my favorite album of theirs (that would be 'Rockin' and Romance') but, well, Jojo touched it.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

"And so I gave myself to God/There was a pregnant pause before he said OK" from 'The State That I Am In' by Belle and Sebastian. Everything about that song is perfect: the lyrics, the production, the way Stuart sung it, the guitar work. Might be my second favorite song ever (after 'God Only Knows').

Murdoch, the pop pursuit

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)

Stuart Murdoch. Since I met Jonathan Richman a couple months ago and TracyAnne Campbell a few months back, Stuart's the one. I'd say Brian Wilson, but it would have to be Brian Wilson in 1966.

 7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)

The Smiths' 'Louder Than Bombs'. I love the saturated monocolor, the look on Shelagh Delaney's face, and the typeface. Plus, this album seemed like it dropped from another planet when I first heard it in 1991 or so. The Smiths sounded like no one else and forever shaped my idea of what a band should be.

"Killer" Kane

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
Nothing else can combine so many artforms/disciplines like a movie does. When they're great, they move me like no other medium. That said, most commercially available movies are garbage and I'm not knowledgeable enough to find the best movies. In any case, one movie I'd like to recommend is called New York Doll. It's a documentary about Arthur "Killer" Kane of the New York Dolls. Greg Whitely does a great job of weaving together Arthur's amazing personal story with the rock history that he made with New York Dolls.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of:

Currently, the song I'm most pleased with is 'About Forgetting' from the new EP, though it's not necessarily my "favorite" song. Not sure if that makes sense. It's the closest a song has ever come to sounding like what I was imagining in my head before I started recording it. That's a really satisfying feeling, even if there are several of my songs that I enjoy listening to a little more.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)

At its best, indie music is melodic rock or pop music made according to the band's vision without regard for what will sell. At its worst, it's just another genre that can be bastardized and commercialized. It can devolve into self-parody.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I'll be almost 48. I think I'll probably still be making records, but I'll be a little surprised if it's at the same pace I'm going at now. Then again, my kids will probably be out of the house by then, so maybe I'll record like crazy to combat empty nest sadness.

Zillion thanks Jeremy!

The Indie Anthology 43: essential songs

The next episode on the Anthology was an easy one. I finally was able to publish the report on the new Dunedin scene for Indienauta, thanks to the patience and support of Fishrider Records and an ace trio of bands part of its hyper-addictive roster. Of course, being New Zealand, and specifically these city, the Flying Nun reference was mandatory. So back to listen all those memorable bands... This little tribute was bound to happen. Sure you'll enjoy...

Song: North by North
Artist: The Bats
Year: 1987 

'Daddy's Highway' is a majestic album, one that will never feel outdated and probably my favourite Flying Nun release. It's pure jangle pop, straight to the heart, with absolutely no filler (they even left out of the album the glorious tune 'Calm Before the Storm'), all pop gems. So why I have chosen 'North by North'? Might be the vocals from the distance. Might the slight touch of darkness in the lyrics. Pretty sure the cascade of shimmering guitars have something to say too. And what about Alastair Galbraith's dancing violin? Oh, that solo is a killer. The whole song has a unstoppable nerve, an irresistible edge, an infinite energy.

Discoverer 93: new indie findings

Sunday means new music proposals at Bloodbuzzed, and here's a trio as diverse as exciting!

Gold-Bears. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, they formed in 2010 when Jeremy Underwood recruited a few friends to play the tunes he'd stockpiled since his former band, Plastic Mastery, called it a day, they quickly released 7" 'Tally' on Magic Marker Records. Another 7", 'Something to Think About' on Cloudberry Records followed in 2011, anticipating their addictive debut LP 'Are You Falling In Love?' on Slumberland. Now, after a split vinyl with Bracelettes on Odd Box Records in 2012 and a somewhat relaxed 2013 working on the studio, they are back with second album 'Dalliance', out this June. Noisy jangly pop with illustrious indie collaborators as Emma Kupa of Standard Fare or Black Tambourine's Pam Berry, full of stomping tunes and a sense of abrasive urgency without losing the melodic talent and catchiness. Pop anthems on the way!
Colin Clary. Known as “The Charming Smitten”, Mr. Clary comes from Burlington, Vermont, and judging by the number of bands he has played / plays with, including The Smittens and Let's Whisper, his work as producer, label and fanzine runner, we could easily say he is the perfect definition of a musicaholic. As tracing his complete discography would deserve a post on its own, I'll focus on his latest solo release, 'Twee Blues Vol.1', just out now on the adorable WeePOP! Records. One of the three final releases before the label says goodbye to all of us, Clary's LP is another immaculate example of why we are going to miss WeePOP! so much. Playful, joyful, tuneful. Beautiful pop music.

Flyying Colours. This Melbourne combo formed in 2011 and they quickly received the attention of the Australian media and audiences thanks to their explosive live shows. Then the tune 'Wavygravy' arrived in early 2013, being quite a radio hit and anticipating their self-titled debut EP, that thanks to the co-release of Club AC30 in the UK and our dear friends at Shelflife Records we can already enjoy worldwide since this March. Propulsive shoegaze and a layered, knockout psych-rock style. Five mind-blowing tunes inviting you to take a colourful, exciting ride... can't wait for their debut album. 

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 10

Here's our next round of our TOP TEN playlist, with the tunes I have been enjoying the most lately. As with previous sets, this is also available at the blog's soundcloud (come on and join us). In this tenth Jukebox we bring our dear Natalie Merchant, our usual new findings (some of them repeating in our playlist, keep going guys!) and of course excellent music to start the weekend. Enjoy!

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6 
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9 

Welcome to the Jukebox!

Spanish Indie 20: suggesting the best national acts

Our section devoted to national discoveries gets fuelled by guitars with this trio of bands. Not to miss!

Univers. I knew I was going to write about this band again. Coming from Barcelona, the quartet formed in 2011 and in January 2012 they came out with their first digital single, 'Paral·lel', but the first turning point arrived with EP ‘La Pedregada’, released that December on Famèlic. The 7" single ‘Cavall Daurat’, followed in October 2013 and finally, since past March we can enjoy their debut full length, 'L'Estat Natural'. Dreamy shoegaze and dark pop, on a band where noise sounds embraceable and lyrics hidden, infectious music without evidences. This universe awaits you with their unique & irresistible dance...

Linda Guilala. Born from the ashes of Juniper Moon in 2005, Iván y Eva began their new adventure with electricity and their freaky love for Japanese sci-fi movies from the 60-70s (Guilala is a giant odd bird arriving to the Earth from Mars in the film 'The X from Outer Space') as mandatory references. In 2006, band comes out with first self-produced demos and the buzz on Spanish radios begins. In 2009 arrived their debut album 'Bucles Infinitos' on Elefant Records, followed in 2011 with EP 'Paranormal', again with movies as motivation. Transformed into a trio, the group is now back with another EP, 'Xeristar', out since March. 6 tunes where the noisy, no-boundaries, shoegazing formula, is perfected to a mind-blowing extreme. Los Planetas, My Bloody Valentine, Pale Saints, the Reid Brothers... you can add your favourite names to the list... Linda Guilala soon will be among them.  
Boutade. Friends even before music's devil poisoned their bloods, Charlie, Aitor and Uri, have a shared path of glory roads & dusty, lonely avenues. The three musicians from Barcelona have been involved in local bands like Stormyclouds, The Rabo, Sexy Remake, Deus le Volt, Perennial Coventry... since 2003, but in the meantime, Charlie slowly shaped his own collection of songs, creating an album awaiting to be recorded. Finally, all the experiences along the way crystallised in 2011, with the trio reuniting again. Boutade was born, and the pieces Charlie penned finally saw the light of day through 2013. Still unsigned, we now have 'The Best Hunter', conceptual debut LP full of bursting alternative rock where passion roars in deep, introspective vocals, while demons are summoned into swirling guitars. Get ready. The haunt is about to begin.

The Indie Anthology 42: essential songs

We went to Primera Persona Festival past weekend and, among the most interesting acts I was lucky to listen & watch Green Gartside (Scritti Politti) and Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) talking about music, mainly the post-punk era and the meaning of indie music then and now. They also played some records... and made me remember the band I vindicate today on our Anthology. Hope you enjoy...

Song: Heaven Sent
Artist: Josef K
Year: 1987 (posthumous single release date, original tune from 1981)

Short-lived, unsuccessful and neglected by music history books, Scottish post-punk band Josef K were only active between 1979 and 1982, although some releases, including this powerful Heaven Sent single, appeared and received some buzz years after they group broke up. Often considered like a minor, obscure & doomed version of Orange Juice, I have always thought of them as being more aligned with Joy Division (don't forget to listen to It's Kinda Funny) but flirting with jangle and funky guitar lines instead of icy synths. Also blame me for loving bands influenced by literature (and have great lyrics). Post-punk meeting Kafka and Dostoevsky? Josef K were a band for me! What a shame they didn't have a longer career...

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 9

Here's our next round of our TOP TEN playlist, with the tunes I have been enjoying the most lately. As with previous sets, this is also available at the blog's soundcloud (come on and join us). With our usual new findings, in this ninth Jukebox we bring you veteran musicians returning to form, exciting bands that will see live tomorrow and a VERY VERY special project that you're going to see several times on this blog... all in all, superb tunes!

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6 
Week 7
Week 8

Welcome to the Jukebox!

These go to 11: interviewing The Hi-Life Companion

This wouldn't be Bloodbuzzed without my dear friends The Hi-Life Companion. Therefore, the time has arrived for one of their core members, Jonathan Troy, to take part in our interview series. Expect many indiepop wonders and even more "family issues". These Go to 11!

Jonathan Troy, The Hi-Life Companion

The Bros Companion

Our beloved indiepop band hails from Bristol and is based around brothers Matt and Jon Troy (the complete group is a septet). They debuted in 2008 with a single via Cloudberry Records, since then including their tunes on a number of compilations on Weepop!, Series Two and blog favourites EardrumsPop. The next step, better said a huge leap forward, arrived in 2011 with "Say Yes", mind-blowing first album, out on Plastilina Records. After a long wait, sophomore release "Our Years In The Wilderness" is about to see the light of day through the band’s own label "No Pudding Annie Records" this June. Expect a collection of indiepop gems, diverse, rich and heartful, like putting on a cocktail shaker all the pop bands we already love, agitate with some Bristol melancholia and a lot of music talent... Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

Pet Shop Boys "Disco". 

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
First, Pink Floyd at Wembley Stadium in 1988. Last, Euros Child at The Folk House in Bristol, 2014.

The Hair Life Companion!

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

Myself and my brother grew up largely listening to bad rock music/metal. I spent a lot of time around Heart, Cinderella, Extreme and Poison. There, I've admitted it. We both still have a soft spot for Van Halen and AC/DC. In fact, I think my brother would secretly much prefer to be in an AC/DC tribute band.

Hard rock hero in shorts

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Most of our gear is a bit cheap and crap. A Neuman TLM 113 microphone is probably the most precious I guess. Matt has proper "grown up" Martin acoustic guitar that only he's allowed to touch...

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

"Do you long for her, or for the way you were?" from Jonathan Richman's "That Summer Feeling".

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)

Matt would say Angus Young, I'm sure. I think I'd quite like to have gone for a drink with Townes Van Zandt.

 7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)

 Probably Smiths "Meat is Murder".

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
Books for me - I know there's a film coming out of it but Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief" is a great book. Also Matthew Kneale's "English Passengers".

What Mozz Said...

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of:

"Cast You Down" of the new album, because it ended up sounding exactly like I imagined it, which is extremely rare. Usually I can't get very near how it sounds in my head - the reality is always compromised by our own lack of musical ability, time, over-playing it, the right equipment etc.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”

The spirit of individuality. Having grown up in the 80's it still means guitars, obscurity (and discovery) and non-mainstream. 

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully on our third album! We do have rather a slow work-rate. I'd like to feel that each time we make some music it ends up sounding better than the last effort and that we steadily improve the quality of what we make. Better songs, better lyrics, better played - and that the gap between how it sounds in my head and how it eventually tunrs out gets progressively smaller. I'm hopping one day I'll be totally proud of a piece of music we make in it's entirely and not embarrassed by little bits of it here and there. 

Zillion thanks Jonathan & all The Hi-Life Companion!

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, welcome back!

Pop is back!

I couldn't resist. The temptation was too big. Time to officially celebrate: Jacqui Abbott & Paul Heaton are back together with a new, flamboyant album (dying to hear it), "What Have We Become", out May 19th . So, to salute the comeback as the occasion deserves, I've prepared a collection of videos (extremely hard to choose only 10)... just to tell you a bit of this two pop geniuses backgrounds... and a nice excuse to get nostalgic and listen to wonderful tunes! Welcome back Paul & Jacqui!



So, the story goes: this ridiculously talented guy



Found this incredibly gifted voice



And together, they created many pop wonders...



And now they are back!

Discoverer 92: new indie findings

A guitar-driven Sunday today on our music proposals, hope you enjoy!

Burnt Palms. Back to Calfornia. From Seaside comes this trio, formed by Christina Riley and Clara Enkel with the help of Brian Dela Cruz, which in September of 2012 put out an extremely addictive self-titled record (distributed by Very Gun Records as a 12" or by our friends We Were Never Being Boring digitally) despite its short length (not even 20 minutes). While they announce the arrival of their sophomore album, they have just released a split tape with German punk band Gurr. A ridiculously lively collection of tunes, where pop meets punk, garage intensity coexists with shiny vocals, and grunge riffs share space with instant killer melodies. Addictive, addictive, addictive...
Ginnels. Let's move to our beloved Dublin to meet Mark Chester's (Grand Pocket Orchestra & No Monster Club guitarist/bassist) solo project, who is helped on stage by friends Paddy Hanna, Bobby Aherne, Roy Duffy and Ruan Van Vliet. In 2011 arrived their first releases with S/T LP "Ginnels" and the mini-album "Mountbatten Class" via Long Lost Records. A year later Chester recorded "Crowns", a 20-song double album, released on double cassette by Popical Island. The bold statement gave Chester a much deserved attention, fuelled in 2013 when Spanish label Tenorio Cotobade compiled "Plumes", 14 tunes from his previous 3 records plus several online exclusives on vinyl. Now Chester is back with "A Country Life", out since March. Defined as a more focused, less lo-fi, "pure-pop" LP, this is engaging music that combines jangle-pop irresistible melodies with the joyful chaos of Pavement or Elephant 6 bands. Pop jams & brightly loose indiepop.

Expert Alterations. And we end in Baltimore, Maryland, to introduce you to this exciting band formed in 2013, kind enough to approach me to show me their music (member Paul Krolian happens to be Baltimore Popfest's curator, so we love the guy already). They have a phenomenal S/T debut cassette out since February, five tunes where indiepop wonders are delivered with an immediacy & conviction you might think this is a forgotten band from the Flying Nun era. I even hear echoes of early R.E.M. so imagine how excited I am! The band is going on tour supporting The Flatmates and split releases with Wildhoney and Literature are in the works, so... this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 8

Here's our next round of our TOP TEN playlist, with the tunes I have been enjoying the most lately. As with previous sets, this is also available at the blog's soundcloud (come on and join us). A lot of new findings, as usual, the first single of the solo act of a former beloved band and...another masterpiece from my dear Sharon. Superb tunes!

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6 
Week 7

Welcome to the Jukebox!