The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 87

Last weekend of January! The "warm-up" of the new year is nearly over, so music, gigs (a special one today, for example, with The New Raemon, check our winter-spring agenda of concerts!) and reads are starting to spread (don't you love when culture starts to blossom? oh! the wonders mankind can do). Many things to discover ahear. Like this weekend's TOP TEN Jukebox, full of bands that have never appeared here previously (with one exception). So please, have a listen and enjoy the weekend! Remember, all these songs are available at our Soundcloud.

Direct links to 2015 Jukebox playlists
Week 36  Week 37  Week 38   Week 39  Week 40  Week 41  Week 42 Week 43   Week 44  
Week 45  Week 46  Week 47   Week 48  Week 49   Week 50  Week 51   Week 52  Week 53   
Week 54   Week 55  Week 56   Week 57  Week 58  Week 59   Week 60 Week 61  Week 62 
Week 63  Week 64  Week 65  Week 66   Week 67   Week 68  Week 69   Week 70  Week 71  
Week 72   Week 73  Week 74   Week 75 Week 76   Week 77   Week 78  Week 79   Week 80
Week 81   Week 82   Week 83  Week 84  Week 85  Week 86

These Go to 11: interviewing Postal Blue

Keeping with our interview series, this time we the pleasure of having Adriano do Couto Ribeiro, the man behind Postal Blue responsible of, in our opinion, one of the best records of 2015, answering our questionnaire. Big pleasure, hope you like it and These Go to 11!

Adriano do Couto Ribeiro, Postal Blue

Pop postals in the sunlight

This Brazilian musician has been making pop waves since 1998, first leading a quartet which released two EPs on Drive-In Records and our dear Shelflife Records and. But then came changes, first with the bossanova tinged folk-pop debut LP 'International Breeze' in 2004, the EP 'Road to happiness' sung in Portuguese in 2006 and, finally, the band dismembering, Luckily, Adriano still got plenty to say, so kept the band's name, and after a couple of singles, 3" on Cloudberry Records and a 7" part of the Dufflecoat / Jigsaw Singles Club co-release, at the end of last year, he came out with sophomore album 'Of Love & Other Affections', also on Jigsaw. It might seem a slow ride, but when a career is flourished with so many memorable tunes of pure, elegant indiepop gems echoing legendary bands like The Byrds, The Smiths or our beloved Go-Betweens, you know it has been worth the wait. Adriano pens pop classics, folks! Here we go!

Devotional and controversial

1.First record that you bought (be honest)
I have no idea. My initial record collection was inherited from my parents, my mom mostly, as my dad has always had awful taste in music and doesn't care much for it. I remember there were some Elvis records, some horrible soap opera soundtracks, a Bill Haley live album, some Roberto Carlos and a 7" with George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord' that I played into oblivion.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

The first was some unknown punk band in high school. It was horrible. Does that count? Last was many years ago, it was a sort of local festival with many bands whose names I can't even recall. I'm not much of a concert goer and I have terrible memory, unfortunately.

Blogger's note: Neil Finn rules. A kiwi-pop legend

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

I really don't feel any guilt about liking or listening to anything as I have a pretty open mind about music. I had my metal phase when I was a teen, and I can still appreciate some of it from time to time, although I never listen to it on purpose. I like Neil Finn, who I think is an amazing songwriter. Is that uncool? I don't really know. I like some disco music, but again I don't usually listen to it.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

I'm not a big collector, but I have an old copy of Adrian Borland's 'Alexandria' that I've seen go on Ebay for a couple hundred bucks.

Brisbane's staples!

5.Favorite lyrics (not yours)
I recall a schoolboy coming home / Through fields of can / To a house of tin and timber /And in the sky a rain of falling cinders. /From time to time /The waste memory-wastes /I recall a boy in bigger pants /Like everyone /Just waiting for a chance /His father's watch /He left it in the showers / From time to time /The waste memory-wastes /I recall a bigger brighter world / A world of books /And silent times in thought /And then the railroad /The railroad takes him home /Through fields of cattle /Through fields of cane /From time to time /The waste memory-wastes /The waste memory-wastes / Further, longer, higher, older. 'Cattle and Cane', The Go-Betweens

O maestro du 'Saudade'

6.Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
I'd like to hang around with Johnny Marr sometime. On the dead front, probably Tom Jobim.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
I love Peter Saville, and a bunch of his pieces are not only beautiful but very iconic, like Joy Division's 'Closer' and 'Unknown Pleasures', OMD's first album, New Order's 'Brotherhood'. But you only wanted one, right? Sorry.

'Incognito': exploring the
limits of consciousness

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 

Both, definitely. I majored in English, so I had to read a lot, which I've always loved. Besides literary fiction, I'm a huge sci fi and fantasy fan. If you're looking for a recommendation, I could make you a list, but let's start with the last one I read which is Margaret Atwood's 'Oryx and Crake'. I have a thing for science books too, and one of the best I've ever read is David Eagleman's 'Incognito - The Secret Lives of the Brain'.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
Hm, that's really hard. On the last album, I suppose my favourite is 'I Always Knew'. Although 'Isn't It Funny' comes very close behind.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
To me it means DIY. It also means freedom to do whatever I please regardless of whether other people like it or not.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Pretty much the same, only better.

                                                                                                                             Zillion thanks Adriano!

Discoverer 132: new indie findings

For today's discoverer series we are traveling to one of the kingdoms of indiepop: our beloved Sweden, with a trio of most exciting bands. Njut av!

YAST. The origins of this band can be traced from the steel-producing town of Sandviken in 2007, when Carl Kolbaek-Jensen, Tobias Widman and Marcus Norberg joined forces before luring down to Malmö and, a couple of years later became a quintet with the additions of Markus Johansson and Niklas Wennerstrand. In February 2012 they began a trilogy of singles, 'Believes'. 'Strangelife' and 'Stupid', which anticipated their selt-titled debut album, out on January 2014 via Adrian Recordings. After the good reception of their music and tours supporting acts like TOY, The Drums, Tame Impala and DIIV, in October 2015 they doubled the bet with sophomore LP 'My Dreams Did Finally Come True'. A joyous collection of dream pop pieces, where melody stuns and melancholy haunts you. Check their music, YAST could be ready to soundtrack your seasons...  
 

Animal Daydream. We move North to Gothenburg to meet Daniel Fridlund Brandt and Alexander Wahl, a very enigmatic duo that appeared on the scene in 2014. They have released two EPs to date, both out thanks to the always reliable Jigsaw Records, first debut 'Easy Pleasures' in January 2015 and now, exactly a year later, 'Citrus'. Eight majestic tunes of psych-pop and sunshine pop, recalling The Byrds, the joyous side of CSNY and, looking forward in time, the poppier side of our dear Teenage Fanclub. Harmonies, chiming guitars and the smoothiest vibes from a band fated to make you smile. A pure delight.  

We. the Pigs. And we end once again in Malmö with a sextet that began their career at the beginning of this decade, working slowly on their songs while playing in a few European festivals. Our wise friends at Discos de Kirlian, who already included their song 'Too Young' in their 2012 digital compilation, now offers us their first proper release in the form of a 7" self-titled EP, out just now. Four arresting songs (plus some exclusive digital demos) of highly melodic shoegaze, channeling the intensity of killer guitars and charging drum beats with the irresistible vocals of Veronika. Heavy-fuelled beauty. More please!

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 86

Maybe the bands proposed at our weekly; TOP TEN Jukebox won't be at Primavera Sound but they all have extraordinary tunes and would have been great additions to the line-up! From the anger of our beloved The Coathangers (really looking forward for the album) to the talented Martha Ffion, or the exciting Antipopdean rhythms of Day Ravies, this playlist isn't going to let you down! As always, all these songs are available at our Soundcloud, so check it out and join us!

Direct links to 2015 Jukebox playlists
Week 36  Week 37  Week 38   Week 39  Week 40  Week 41  Week 42 Week 43   Week 44  
Week 45  Week 46  Week 47   Week 48  Week 49   Week 50  Week 51   Week 52  Week 53   
Week 54   Week 55  Week 56   Week 57  Week 58  Week 59   Week 60 Week 61  Week 62 
Week 63  Week 64  Week 65  Week 66   Week 67   Week 68  Week 69   Week 70  Week 71  
Week 72   Week 73  Week 74   Week 75 Week 76   Week 77   Week 78  Week 79   Week 80
Week 81   Week 82   Week 83  Week 84  Week 85

Primavera Sound 2016: first impressions

Primavera Sound Festival 2016's line-up unveiled! This time there was no gala, special show, not even a special announcement. Just a video (having said that, the clip is very cool, see below) on Youtube that this morning revealed the artists/bands performing, a day after it was originally posted (provoking some ridiculous complaints by people that need to get a life, seriously). But let’s focus on what matters: is the #PrimaveraAllStars hashtag deserved? Indeed, it's an impressive line-up again, one that for sure will make happy a vast majority of attendants to the Festival. Quite a lot to see if overlaps have mercy with us. But there are few (if any) surprises, many bands that also took part at Primavera Club, some others touring regularly Spain, and many national groups that I'll see during the year. On a first impression, there's a lack of indiepop bands (few Antipodean groups!) and, compared with last year, I'm dubious if we have as many unmissable acts. Anyway, a Festival with PJ Harvey, The Chills, Robert Forster, Savages and Protomartyr means excitement to come.

So, honouring the Blog’s tradition, here’s our traditional rough (we don't have the timetables yet) “paint & colour” version of the line-up with our first impressions on the bands we are willing to see. Promising, right?

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2016

1-5 June

+++ • A.R. KANE • ACTION BRONSON • AIR • ALBERTO MONTERO • ALESSANDRO CORTINI • ALEX G • ALGIERS • ALIMENT • ANDY SHAUF • ANGEL WITCH • ANIMAL COLLECTIVE • AUTOLUX • AUTUMN COMETS • BABY DEE • BARDO POND • BARRY HOGAN DJ • BATTLES • BAYWAVES • BEACH HOUSE • BEACH SLANG • BEAK> • BEAROID • BEIRUT • BEN WATT BAND FEAT. BERNARD BUTLER • BIG SUMMER • BLACK LIPS • BOREDOMS • BRADFORD COX • BRIAN WILSON PERFORMING PET SOUNDS • C+C=MAXIGROSS • C. TANGANA • CABARET VOLTAIRE • CADENA • CALA VENTO • CAR SEAT HEADREST • CARLA • CASS MCCOMBS • CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER • CHAIRLIFT • THE CHILLS • DJ COCO • CURRENT 93 • DÂM-FUNK • DANIEL GON • DAUGHTER • DAVE P • DEERHUNTER • DERADOORIAN • DESTROYER • DIE KATAPULT • DINOSAUR JR. • DOBLE PLETINA • DOWNTOWN BOYS • DRIVE LIKE JEHU • DUNGEN • EL ÚLTIMO VECINO • EMPRESS OF • ESPERIT! • EVIAN CHRIST • EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY • FASENUOVA • FLOATING POINTS • FREDDIE GIBBS • GOAT • GRUPO DE EXPERTOS SOLYNIEVE • THE HANDCLAPPERS • HAR MAR SUPERSTAR • HO99O9 • HOLLY HERNDON • HOLÖGRAMA • HUDSON MOHAWKE (DJSET) • INSPIRA • INVISIBLE HARVEY • ISLAM CHIPSY & EEK • THE JAMES HUNTER SIX • JAY ROCK • JENNY HVAL • JESSY LANZA • JOANA SERRAT • JOHN CARPENTER • JULIA HOLTER • JULIEN BAKER • KAMASI WASHINGTON • KIASMOS • DJ KOZE •THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS • LCD SOUNDSYSTEM • LOOP • LOS CHICHOS • LUBOMYR MELNYK • MACEO PLEX • MANEL • MAR OTRA VEZ • MBONGWANA STAR • MODERAT • MOSES SUMNEY • MUDHONEY • MUERAN HUMANOS • MY EXPANSIVE AWARENESS • NAO • NEIL MICHAEL HAGERTY & THE HOWLING HEX • NEON INDIAN • NOTHING PLACES • OLD KING COLE YOUNGER • OPTIMO (ESPACIO) • ORCHESTRA BAOBAB • PACOSAN • PÁJARO JACK • PANTHA DU PRINCE • PARQUET COURTS • PJ HARVEY • POWER BURKAS • PROTOMARTYR • PSYCHIC TV/ PTV3 • PUMUKY • PUSHA T • PXXR GVNG • RADIOHEAD • RAN RAN RAN •REDTHREAD • DJ RICHARD • RICHARD DAWSON • RICHARD HAWLEY • ROBERT FORSTER • ROOSEVELT • ROYAL HEADACHE • THE SAURS • SAVAGES • SELDA FEAT. BOOM PAM • SG LEWIS • SHEER MAG • SHELLAC • SHINKIRO • SHURA • SIBERIAN WOLVES • SIGUR RÓS • SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE • STEVE GUNN • SUEDE • SUEDE “NIGHT THOUGHTS” • SUUNS • TAME IMPALA • THEE OH SEES • TITUS ANDRONICUS• TORTOISE • TWIN DRAMA • TY SEGALL AND THE MUGGERS • U.S. GIRLS • UNIVERS • UNSANE • VENOM • VINCE STAPLES • VIVA BELGRADO • WHITE FENCE • WHITE REAPER • WILD NOTHING • WIND ATLAS • YOUNGHUSBAND

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must

Orange- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Yellow- Curious about it/on "research mode"/nice option if there's no overlap

These Go to 11: interviewing Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records & Crashing Through Publicity

Our first interview of the year is a very special one, thanks to the incredible curriculum of our guest, a real renaissance man, an incomparable music activist (record store manager, record label owner, and concert promoter). Here are the answers to our questionnaire of Mike Turner, the man behind the label Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records (HBBTM), Crashing Through Publicity, the Athens Popfest and many more. These Go to 11 (but it could possibly go to 40 with him)! 

Mike Turner, HHBTM Records, Crashing Through Publicity, Athens Popfest...

Mike Turner, your go-to-music guy

Mike Turner breathes music 24 hours a day 365 days a year. After a brief stint studying graphic design, Mike returned home and started publishing The Bee’s Knees, an influential magazine than ran from 1995-2005 and featured some of the earliest interviews with Suede, Olivia Tremor Control or the Shins, among others. In its 4th anniversary, Mike released a compilation CD that sold so well he decided to take all the money and started a label called Happy Happy Birthday To Me records (HHBTM). With a label to promote, Mike formed Yum Yum publicity, a small firm that worked some of the earliest records for Dirty Projectors, Yacht, Bearsuit, and many more. Since most of his friends & his label’s roster were already living there, Mike decided to move to Athens, Georgia, in 2004. To celebrate, he threw a four-day party that soon became an annual event: the Athens Popfest, that has featured artists like Daniel Johnston, Throwing Muses, Rory Erickson, Mission of Burma and Of Montreal, just to name a few. He also became manager at Wuxtry Records, one of the top indie record stores in the country & the place where R.E.M.'s legend began. As the day only has 24 hours, he quit working on The Bee’s Knees and the publicity firm to focus on HHBTM, experiencing great success for a label with such a DIY scope. But friends in bands and labels kept asking for his help and advice, so Mike decided to get back into the publicity business with Crashing Through. As you can see, a MAN OF MUSIC. Here we go!

Christmas presents, a risky affair... 

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Well the first record I ever had was actually a cassette and it was a Christmas gift of Duran Duran's 'Rio', but I also received Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' on cassette as well. The first cassette I ever bought might have been Weird Al Yankovic's '3-D' or Devo's 'Freedom of Choice'. I really don't remember which one I got first.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

This is a bit more tricky of a question cause I went to local high school band shows through high school which would be held at practice spaces, abandoned buildings, rented out VFW Halls, etc. The first like, real concert where I had to buy tickets and so on would have been a triple bill of Nirvana, The Breeders, and Come. The most recent show I went to see was one I put on which was Marshmallow Coast, Nightblonde, and Mind Brains.

The Throwing Muses in high school 

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

Not sure I really have one. I used to be super snobby about music, but years of working in a record store did the opposite to me to where now it's all just whatever. I've always had a soft spot of pre-gangster era hip-hop, and to be honest I don't see why everyone is so anti-Phil Collins. I guess if anything I could probably say Vampire Weekend would be a guilty pleasure.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

I have a bunch of records, but I'm not really a collector. I guess I have to say the item it took me the longest to find maybe which would be the self-released 7" by Throwing Muses. Took me over 10 years to find a copy, so I guess that would be it.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
Lately, I love these two lines by this band Ought which just makes me laugh:
'Tell me what the weather's like/so I don't have to go outside' and 'Wave your hands in the air/that is the universal sign for not having a care.'

The Godmother of Goth

6.Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
I never like meeting heroes really. It can always just go wrong so easily. I guess it depends. I've met most of the bands that mean the most to me and 90% of them have been great, but that other 10%... well, I don't go out of my way, is all. I guess I should find an answer though, so let's just say Siouxsie Sioux or Colin Newman.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Almost anything by V23 or 23 Envelope. Pretty much everything by the Pixies.

'Rat Girl', the muse tells her story

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 

Book is easy 'Rat Girl' by Kristin Hersh which might be the best music book ever.
Movie isn't as easy, maybe 'Bling Ring', 'Spring Breakers', anything by Todd Solondz.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
Each record means something different. I really can't choose the one that means the most. I think I might be the most proud of the leap between albums of Tunabunny, yet I'm proud of Eureka California from how they have grown as a touring act and professional band, and the one I am most blown away by is getting to release a record with Throwing Muses, which is one of my favorite bands of all time. Honestly, each record and band means something different, so almost each record I am proud of or have been proud of for different reasons.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
I think it means doing things on your own terms without help or money from major labels or the system that supports them.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Probably looking at a catalog of 300+ releases, still doing the label, and still doing publicity. I might start another label imprint with a focus on packaging or maybe a reissue imprint, but pretty much I'll be 50 and still going to shows, putting on shows, putting out records, designing records, and doing press. I'd like to maybe get more involved doing videos, or possibly sitting in on a recording and producing a record, but for the most part I'll still be doing the same thing more than likely. I'm a lifer.

                                                                                                                                  Zillion thanks Mike!

Discoverer 131: new indie findings

Great, exciting new bands keep coming to our discoverer series! Three more late finds with a trio of amazing women (another dose of girl power, yay!) and their fantastic music, enjoy!

Faith Healer. Allow me to introduce you to Jessica Jalbert, a musician from Edmonton, Alberta, who after playing in a bunch of bands over the past ten-ish years. put out a solo album in 2011 called 'Brother Loyola' with the help of great friends and musicians. One of those friends, which also engineered the LP was Renny Wilson, another veteran musician involved in several local acts (some with Jessica). The idea of teaming with Wilson on a new band was there but it never happened. Nevertheless, Jessica had had a bunch of new tunes and after dubbing herself Faith Healer called Wilson and the two created 'Cosmic Troubles', which came out past March via Mint Records. Heavily influenced by ’60s and ’70s psych rock, the LP is pure magic: classic pop with beautiful harmonies and warm vibes, packed with an inventive, adventurous, eclectic sparkle. Discovered late, but here's one of the records of 2015.

Jay Som. From Canada to San Francisco to meet Melina Duterte, member of Summer Peaks but who has been offering tunes at their bandcamp since 2011. On late November 2015 she delivered 'Untitled', an album she describes as a collection of finished and unfinished songs. That's something quite shocking, considering how impressive the whole affair (don't know if I should call it record) is. Ranging from stark bedroom pop to instantly catchy power-pop and dream-pop landscapes it's clear Melina's capable of crafting very diverse kinds of pop wonders. So, while we await impatiently for her first, official release in 2016, you have plenty to listen and fall in love with. Don't forget her name!
  

Try the Pie. Quick trip from SF to San Jose, California to meet Bean Tupou and her songwriting solo project. Tupou, an incredible active woman who is also member of bands as Sourpatch, Salt Flat, Crabapple and Plume, as well as the coordinator of the art program at San Jose's Chromatic Coffee, plus the founding member of the Think and Die Thinking booking collective, has been penning tunes on her own since early 2000s. She has been offering us her tunes at her bandcamp, collecting them in EPs and records. But we can say that 2015 was the year when Try the Pie became with the release of her first full-length record with a full band, 'Domestication' out on Salinas Records in April, followed with 'Rest', a collection of early recordings wrote between 2005 and 2008, out since late November by our friends at HHBTM records. Tupou can do everything: sound lush, dreamy, evocative, moody, fragile, intimate, overtly poppie, arrestingly folkie, openly lo-fi. But always haunting. Try this pie, you'll never get enough.

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 85

It's been a strange, emotional and pretty intense week: (un)expected political movements in Catalonia (more absurd days awaiting us, folks), the terribly sad news of David Bowie's death, Robert Forster's gig plus important personal decisions to be made. A lot to digest. But there's always a soundtrack to our days, and we love to share it with you, so here's a new round of our TOP TEN Jukebox. This week with two Blog favourites, Basia Bulat and Courtney Barnett, as well as exciting new finds courtesy of indispensable labels like Discos de Kirlian or Cloudberry Records. And, for those who understand Spanish, we strongly recommend to enjoy the ace tune and check the lyrics of Nacho Vegas' 'Canción Para la PAH', accurate description of what's in stake in Spain. Remember, all these songs are available at our Soundcloud, so check it out (and follow us, if you feel inclined)!

Direct links to 2015 Jukebox playlists
Week 36  Week 37  Week 38   Week 39  Week 40  Week 41  Week 42 Week 43   Week 44  
Week 45  Week 46  Week 47   Week 48  Week 49   Week 50  Week 51   Week 52  Week 53   
Week 54   Week 55  Week 56   Week 57  Week 58  Week 59   Week 60 Week 61  Week 62 
Week 63  Week 64  Week 65  Week 66   Week 67   Week 68  Week 69   Week 70  Week 71  
Week 72   Week 73  Week 74   Week 75 Week 76   Week 77   Week 78  Week 79   Week 80
Week 81   Week 82   Week 83  Week 84

Starman's gone: Bye David Bowie

Never been any sort of a regular or loyal fan (that's my brother) but the amount of legendary songs (from 1969 to 1980 at least, his career is simply immense, almost unbeatable), his ability to keep reinventing himself, pushing himself towards new challenges, his incomparable charisma... I feel strangely disturbed by his loss. One of the finest examples of what the word ARTIST means has gone. Well, let me correct. He has returned to Mars or whatever planet or star he was from. Thanks to his songs, he'll be forever with us here on Earth.

LAZARUS (What a swansong, so revealing, with lyrics and video are incredible!)

Look up here, I’m in heaven
I’ve got scars that can’t be seen
I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen
Everybody knows me now

Look up here, man, I’m in danger
I’ve got nothing left to lose
I’m so high it makes my brain whirl
Dropped my cell phone down below

Ain’t that just like me

By the time I got to New York
I was living like a king
Then I used up all my money
I was looking for your ass

This way or no way
You know, I’ll be free
Just like that bluebird
Now ain’t that just like me

Oh I’ll be free
Just like that bluebird
Oh I’ll be free
Ain’t that just like me

And my favourite Bowie's tune (well, very close to 'Rebel Rebel', 'Space Oddity', 'Young Americans', 'Suffragette City', 'Heroes', ' Ziggy Stardust', 'Life on Mars' and the list goes on)

 HAVE A SAFE TRAVEL BACK HOME. MANY THANKS FOR THE VISIT, 

WE'LL MISS YOU!!

Discoverer 130: new indie findings

Back with our discoverer series! Three late finds gems of past year we had to share with you to open 2016 as it deserves. Sure you'll enjoy!

Postal Blue. Hailing from Brasilia, Brazil, today I'm happy to bring you the story of Adriano do Couto, the man behind one of the best records of 2015. The project started out in 1998, as a full-fledged quartet on search of the perfect pop tune (Byrds, Smiths, Go-Betweens). American label Drive-In Records quickly reached them to release their self-titled debut EP released in 2000, with our dear Shelflife Records coming second to release sophomore EP 'Weather Sensitive' two years later. In 2004 arrived debut LP 'International Breeze', with the band shifting their sound from guitar indiepop to a subdued and adventurous bossanova-infused folk pop. Another EP, the moody and sung in Portuguese 'Road to happiness' came next in 2006 on Canadian label Humblebee Recordings. But then the band entered into a hiatus that became final, so singer and lead songwriter Adriano, keeping Postal Blue's name, released a 3" single on Cloudberry Records in 2008 and a 7" as part of the Dufflecoat / Jigsaw Singles Club co-release. Finally, at the end of past November, after 11 years, the band's sophomore album 'Of Love & Other Affections' arrived via Jigsaw. Gorgeous indiepop from start to finish, dreamiest, melancholic, elegant, classic, always arresting. Been a long way, but the reward is priceless.

Lusts. Let me introduce you the Stone brothers, James and Andy, hailing from Leicester, UK. Couldn't find the exact date when the band formed, but it seems very very recent (2014 probably) Debut single 'Temptation' arrived past March, followed by ‘Mouthwash’ and their full album 'Iluminations', out in October via 1965 Records. And what a debut! Irresistibly catchy and expansive indie-rock soaked in reverb and noise, channeling shoegaze, post-punk and bits of psychdelia and krautrock, but also some of the inmediacy of britpop straightforward hymns. Immediately enjoyable and fun. Band to follow closely this New Year.

Tuff Love. And we end in Glasgow, Scotland to meet Julie Eisenstein (guitar, vocals) and Suse Bear (bass, vocals) plus live drummer Iain Stewart (also a member of The Phantom Band). They debuted in May 2014 with 'Junk' EP via Lost Map Records, embarking afterwards on Festivals and European tour where they had the chance of supporting reformed shoegaze legends Ride. Adored by media, in November they offered another EP, 'Dross', followed by the split 7" single with Lazy Day on Record Store Day 2015. And since past November we can also enjoy their third EP, 'Dregs', five wonderful tunes of jangly surf-pop, dreamy and sunny and a DIY ethos. What's not to love?