Discoverer 137: new indie findings

Sometimes, the stars align and the trio of bands proposed are just so good it's a no-brainer for our discoverer series. That's the case today, so we prepared to enjoy!

Witching Waves. Hailing from London, UK, the band is the creation of vocalist/drummer Emma Wigham (Weird Menace) and vocalist/guitarist Mark Jasper (Sound Savers Recording Studio), who joined forces in April 2013 with a first tape arriving at the end of that same year by Supplex Cassettes. Two more tapes followed, a split covers tape with band As Ondas in 2014, and the 'Concrete' single tape that September, which anticipated the release of their first LP, 'Fear of Falling Down', out in December, as well as the signature with the always recommendable Soft Power Records, and the addition of Ed Shellard at the bass expanding the band to a trio. A couple of limited cassettes, including another split, now with Rattle, whom with they toured, has now preceded the arrival of sophomore album 'Crystal Cafe', out just now on Soft Power and our dear friends HHBTM Records. You should check it immediately, because their music is a sonic blast. Early Cure, Wire, Sonic Youth, Buzzcocks, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pylon... you name it. Waves of noise, echoes of punk, a relentless urgency, a threatening edge, a fearless attitude, a mystery hiding in fuzz. An early MUST of 2016.

The High Violets. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, this unbeatable named band formed in 1998, from the ashes of the Bella Low breakup. Initially the trio of founder members Clint Sargent, Luke Strahota and Violet Bianca Grace, the line-up changed dramatically with Grace leaving very soon, while the remaining duo recruited Allen Davis of Echoplex and the amazing voice of Kaitlyn ni Donovan, self-releasing their first EP 'Dream Away' in 1999. In 2002 came out their mini-album '44 Down', followed by 'Invitation', another self-released EP, in 2005 and their debut album 'To Where You Are' a year later on Reverb Records. After a remixes album in 2007, the High Violets delivered 'Cinéma', sophomore LP in 2010, out via Comet Rock Records, probably their most celebrated release to date. Now, after another line-up change (Davis left, being replaced by Colin Sheridan) they are back with 'Heroes and Halos', scheduled for early April through Saint Marie Records. A record you shouldn't miss by any chance: a haunting collection of dreampop/shoegaze tunes recalling beloved ones like Slowdive, The Sundays or Soft Science, leaded by the magnetic vocals of Kaitlyn, the layered guitars and lush arrangements. Gorgeous sounds enveloped in haze.

Crescendo. And we end in L.A., California to meet the dreamgaze (half dreampop, half shoegaze) trio formed by Gregory Cole, Olive Kimoto and Jess Krichelle, expanded to a quintet in their latest incarnation (google cres·cen·do if you don't find enough info on them). They debuted in 2014 with self-released album 'Lost Thoughts' but now, with their sophomore release 'Unless', out now via our dear friends of the WWNBB collective, they are bound for greater things. A stomping yet ethereal collection of tunes, urgent and distant, melodic and fuelled by a very tight rhythm and light-years ahead vocals. Like a brighter and accelerated version of Wild Nothing or the Radio Dept, it's the sound of a collision, of a fast and enigmatic voyage, of adventure, rumble and endless excitement. It's the sound of the night, aiming to be lived. A crescendo of sonic wonders!

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 91

Just a bit delayed (pretty serious technical issues, let's hope finally resolved), but here's our TOP TEN Jukebox with the songs we have liked the most lately. A nice antidote for unstable, rainy weekend ahead, (but most welcomed and much needed), the playlist gathers many exciting new bands and a couple of happy returns in the form of Strawberry Whiplash and Major Leagues. As the great Dylan sings: "come here I'll give you shelter from the storm"... And remember, all this songs are listed at our Soundcloud page (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  Week 86   Week 87   Week 88  Week 89
Week 90

Discoverer 136: new indie findings

Today we offer a discoverer series focused in the most experimental side of music. Kraut, Stereloabesque and soundtrack sounds. Do not fear and let yourself go, There's a lot to enjoy!

Cavern of Anti-Matter. Behind this sci-fi name lies the latest, Berlin-based project of (stand up please) Stereolab & McCarthy Tim Gane, alongside Joe Dilworth, also from the much revered experimental band, and German electronic master Holger Zapf. Launched in 2013, the trio came out with debut album 'Blood-Drums' that same year, followed by some very limited 7" and 12" releases within 2014 and 2015. Now they are back with sophomore record 'Void Beats / Invocation Trex', out now via Duophonic. The trio of sonic explorers, with the help of some illustrious collaborators like Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, Spacemen 3’s Sonic Boom, and Mouse on Mars’ Jan St. Werner, have delivered an intoxicating collection of driving, motorik rhythms and synth drones. A familiar, yet intricate and hazy future, abstract, hypnotic and surprisingly organic. Dive into the cavern.

LNZNDRF. Pronounced Lanzerdorf, behinds this impossible name lies another experimental trio, formed by Ben Lanz of Beirut and (stand up again, please) brothers Bryan and Scott Devendorf from The National. Formed around 2011 in New Zealand (out of a need for a supporting act last minute), the project acquired full shape when they recorded the eight-track LP over two and half days in a church in Cincinnati, Ohio. The songs, edited down from expansive jams, evoke the essence of their expansive, largely improvised live shows, are now gathered in their self-titled debut album, out now via 4AD. Forged around their common love for Neu! and the Krautrock original legion and propelled by the galloping pulse of our favourite drummer, LNZNDRF tunes are energetic, relentless, widescreen, yet delicate and atmospheric. Breathtaking debut.

Paolo Spaccamonti. Hailing from Torino, Italy, comes this experimental composer and guitarist, who debuted in 2009 with album 'Undici Pezzi Facili', that made him being celebrated as one of the most promising acts of the Italian experimental scene. Sophomore LP 'Buone Notizie' arrived in 2011, being followed a year later with Spaccamombu, his collaboration with the Rome-based band Mombu, starting a series of exciting parallel projects for an incredibly active and adventurous musician. To name just a few, in February 2013 he took part at the first edition of the Musica 90 Sessions, along with Julia Kent, Ivan Bert and Paolo Dellapiana (Larsen). He has played live with Damo Suzuki of legendary Can, Nick Cave, St. Vincent, Ana Calvi, Xiu Xiu and, more recently, provided a live accompaniment to the documentary 'Drifters' alongside Ben Chasny of Six Organs Of Admittance for Turin's Museo del Cinema. Near the end of 2015 he released his latest solo effort to date, the LP 'Rumors', out via Escape from Today & Santeria Records. A slowly-burned craftsmanship affair of shocking intensity and über appealing cinematic quality, Spaccamonti's music sounds like the perfect soundtrack for these dreamy, mysterious and haunting nights where the darkness seems to know all your secrets.

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 90

90 weeks! Quite an impressive number, don't you think? Our TOP TEN Jukebox comes full of new & great proposals, starting with dreampop, thanks to Crecendo and The High Violets, moving smoothly to indiepop and bright melodies thanks to Boys Forever and getting heavier with the powerful indierock of The Coathangers. All in all, plenty for you to discover with a really ethereal and evocative playlist. Have fun and remember, all this songs are listed at our Soundcloud page (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  Week 86   Week 87   Week 88  Week 89

Spanish Indie 26: suggesting the best national acts

Told you this section was going to be revitalised. These are two artists and a young band responsible of my favourite national releases of the year so far. Sure you'll enjoy!

Nacho Vegas. I could summarise this brief on the artist/band in just a solemn sentence: one of our most important artists of the last 20 years. But he deserves a longer account for such a strong career. Hailing from Xixón, Asturas, Vegas began playing at Eliminator Jr. a local noise band before founding the much revered post-rock combo Manta Ray, an adventure that lasted from 1994 to 1999, when he opted to began a solo career. Since then, he has released four albums and several singles, EPs and collaborative works alongside well-known musicians like Christina Rosenvinge or Bunbury, as well as lesser popular like the EP with Irene Tremblay (Aroah), or participating in soundtracks, setting music to the poems of Ramón Lluis Bande for the project Diariu, being part of Lucas 15, band that revisits the Asturian folklore. But that wasn't enough for him, so in 2010 he founded Marxophone, his own label/a musicians cooperative for self-releasing projects. Plus he also became part of Fundación Robo, collaborative platform where political activism and popular music join forces (yes, it can happen, luckily). His latest record to date 'Resituación' was released in Spring of 2014, but this January, Vegas came out with its companion, an immense EP entitled 'Canciones populistas'. Shifting gracefully between folk and rock, between humour and dark realism, between autobiography and post-modern references, always social and politically committed. One of our wittiest commentators. Our Phil Ochs. Our Ken Loach picking a guitar. Not just a celebrated songwriter or a big artist. Also a much needed one.

Invisible Harvey. Hiding behind this curious name borrowed from the classic movie starred by James Stewart and his giant bunny lies Barcelonian Dimas Rodríguez Gallego, screenwriter, film director and guitarist in La Banda Municipal del Polo Norte. But he didn't have enough, so a few years ago started a solo music project. One that, appeared from out of the blue on late December 2015 with digital single 'La Puerta Giratoria', and now has a flamboyant debut album, of the same title, thanks to our beloved El Genio Equivocado. Recorded last year, Dimas blends charming indiepop with skilled songwriting, with a heavy presence of lush and unique instrumentation, including his inseparable string duet (Joan Gerard Torredeflot "Joange" and Núria Maynou). Surreal (check his lyrics), romantic and dreamy. A haunting record honoring the tradition of El Niño Gusano. Pop in Wonderland.

VLIVM. Hailing from Tortosa, Tarragona, the band (that you can pronounce as Valium) is the project of two brothers, Nacho and Estebi Romero, who started playing during the summer of 2014 and put a couple of demos at their bandcamp. But at the beginning of 2015 things got more serious, with bros getting into the studio to record their debut album and, once finished, recruit friends Aleix and Blai to become a real band and be able to play gigs and properly defend the songs of 'Sailing Forever', out now via the much needed Discos de Kirlian. Between jangle-pop and dreampop, there are familiar places (the Sarah Records vibe, the lo-fi spirit, the magnetic use of the twelve string guitar) but a genuine, honest essence completely of their own. One to watch closely.

Discoverer 135: new indie findings

A most deserved, unstoppable hype, a veteran songwriter showing his neverending talents and a most promising band from down under. What a trio of proposals we have for you in our discoverer series, today. A lot to enjoy!

Sunflower Bean.  Born in Brooklyn, New York, during August 2013, this trio comprised by Julia Cumming, Nick Kivlen and Jacob Faber is fated for greatness. With first songs appearing online throughout 2014, with tune 'Tame Impala', a tribute to the Australian band, leading their first digital single and making some Internet noise, the group began 2015 with EP 'Show Me Your Seven Secrets' that January, out via Fat Possum Records. The expectations rocketed, fuelled by 7" 'I Hear Voices/ The Stalker', released on July, and now, with their debut album 'Human Ceremony', out just now, they are one of the most . Completely understandable, as the album is a surprisingly diverse, mostly brilliant, and always addictive blend of psychedelia, lo-fi sounds, dark rock and indiepop that sounds fresh and captivating to anyone willing to listen. The future is all theirs, and I'm sure it looks like a fun ride for all of us.

Pete Astor. Technically speaking, far from a discovery, but I had to write about it. The latest incarnation, under his own name, of a real auteur, a SONGWRITER in big capital letters: Pete Astor, formerly quintessential part of The Loft, The Weather Prophets, The Wisdom of Harry and Ellis Island Sound. A huge career that now has a flamboyant, stunning new chapter in the form of album 'Split Milk', out now on Fortuna Pop/ Slumberland. The 80s British legend, an indiepop pioneer, with the crucial help of his pupil James Hoare (Astor is also a music lecturer and taught the member of Ultimate Painting, The Proper Ornaments and Veronica Falls), who convinced his teacher to make another record, and later produced and became his one-man back at the studio, has delivered a modern guitar pop classic. Instantly catchy yet full of wry lyrics, humming melodies, endearing tunes. What a return to form! One of the first MUSTS of 2016!

Hideous Towns. And we end in Melbourne with this young quartet which assembled through friendship and the Internet (that's the way they recruited singer Alana) becoming a proper band around 2013, when first songs and gigs started to take shape. First digital release arrived in February 2014 with tune 'Joy', followed by 'Don't Look Up'. That same year, in October they put their first proper release, the self-recorded, self-released and self-titled EP. Finally, their last release to date, arrived in June 2015, in the form of glorious 7" 'Heart Attack/ Skin', out via Lost and Lonesome Records, with the band promising on Facebook debut album is on the works for this year. We can't wait to hear it, because their personal blend of post-punk, dreampop and shoegaze is hard to resist. Haunting melodies enveloped in haze, pulsating drum rhythms, driving guitars and captivating vocals. Don't forget their name.

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 89

Despite being a shorter one (Barcelona has invented a holiday today) this week has been a really stressful and rare one, so the break comes in a very opportune moment. And so does a stunning collection of new tunes and releases, comprised for you in our TOP TEN Jukebox. Familiar names and friends of the Blog like Beverly, The King in Mirrors, Night Flowers or Britta Phillips, (mesmerizing) with new promising acts like Phosphene or Family Hahas. Lots to listen and enjoy. 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   Week 87   Week 88

Discoverer 134: new indie findings

And here's another round of our discoverer series, this time devoted to three stunning indie rock proposals. Getting heavy, getting awesome, let's hear!

Cayetana. We begin our music trip in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with this trio formed in the fall of 2011 by Augusta Koch, Allegra Anka and Kelly Olsen. Their first release came in the form of a self-titled EP at the end of 2012. Two years later, after signing with Tiny Engines they came out with 7" 'Hot Dad Calendar', which was followed by debut album 'Nervous Like Me', that appeared in September 2014. Now they are back with stunning 7" 'Tired Eyes', out via Asian Man Records, featuring two new tracks: the original 'Freedom 1313' and a cover of New Order’s 'Age Of Consent'. Please hurry and check their music, intense and affecting indie rock with traces of punk, heavy in guitars and stomping rhythms without losing the knack for melodies, but even heavier in something much more important that any genre label: the honesty, the energy, the undeniable feeling here's a real great band with a lot to say. A lot to say to you. Not to be missed. 

Halfsour. Ian Gustafson, Matthew Mara and Zoë Wyner hail from Boston, Massachusetts, and the legend says they started playing together as a Guided By Voices cover band for a Halloween party in 2013. A self-titled, short-run demo tape that May and digital single in December was followed by split 12" EP with Reports, out on Ride The Snake Records in September 2014. All steps towards 'Tuesday Night Live', debut album just released by our friends at Jigsaw Records. Instant indie rock echoing Mr.Pollard, of course, but also a bit of Replacements or New Grenada, quick, effervescent songs full of punch, melody and lasting fun. Winning combination, band to watch for!

WALL. And we end in New York City to introduce you a hype that really deserves all the attention is getting. A four-piece leaded by the fierce vocals and presence of Sam York and literally coming out from nowhere, that doesn't have much information available on the Internet. Yet. Because with the release of their self-titled EP, just now via Wharf Cat Records, this is about to change. Immediately. Pylon, Mission of Burma, The Fall, an uncanny, mind-blowing and energetic blend of post-punk and no-wave, where urgency and rawness, delivered in the frantic vocals, the loping bass or the machine-gun guitar lines collide with an in-your-face melodic power. All in all, such an impressive debut to keep you thrilled with what comes next. All eyes (and ears) on WALL.

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 88

Once again we are here to bring you our TOP TEN Jukebox, full of tunes that we have liked most lately. This time we have mixed playlist, with a consecrated artist, Father John Misty, new exciting bands like VLIVM (from our beloved Discos de Kirlian) or Jawbreaker Reunion, and rising acts like Flowers. Great songs to begin this Carnival weekend with a very good mood despite all the craziness surrounding us, starting from a weather as dry as the Sahara (three months without rain in Barcelona) and a state of political affairs that is fated to drive everyone insane. So, let's take shelter in the music, try to relax and have fun and 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   Week 87