Discoverer 163: new indie findings

Past Thursday, International Women's Day, was such a historic moment we had to celebrate somehow in our discoverer series and, besides, any excuse goes when it's about promoting and showing female's neverending talent, something this Blog is quite proud to have done since its beginning. So, here it comes, another trio of stunning "girls to the front" music proposals!

Amaya Laucirica. A well established presence in the Australian musical landscape, Amaya Laucirica was born in rural South Australia, but moved to Sydney and is now based in Melbourne, where, in 2008, debuted with the folkie-tinged album 'Sugar Lights'. But it was sophomore release, 'Early Summer', appeared in October 2010, the one that "opened the floodgates" for her, gaving her the chance of touring alongside Blonde Redhead, Mark Lanegan and national rock icon Adalita. The EP 'Anywhere There's You' followed in late 2011, with third album, 'Sway' coming out in 2014. Then Laucirica moved to Berlin, returning back home  two years later to form the band who helped her to create fourth LP, 'Rituals', out just now via Opposite Number and Kasumuen Records. Pop at its dreamiest and enthralling peak, somehow encapsulating the mysterious atmospheres and blurred lines of Cocteau Twins and the pensive wide-open-spaces of Mazzy Star without losing the knack for melodies, 'Rituals' is a warm and cinematic triumph. 

Mint Field. Happy to move (first time at the Blog) to Tijuana, Mexico, in order to meet Estrella Sánchez (vocals & guitar) and Amor Amezcua (drums & synths), a very young duo responsible of the most hypnotic and intriguing sounds to date in 2018. Formed around 2014, at high school, the tandem released homemade EP 'Primeras Salidas' a year later (they were a trio back then) and, in 2016, doubled the bet with singles 'Ciudad Satélite' via French label Cranes Records, 'Nada es estático y evoluciona' and 'Viceversa', material that gave them the chance to play in Coachella, SXSW, as well as extensively through both sides of the the non-existing wall (f*** you Mr. Trump). while at the same time they were anticipating a first album that took a bit longer to see the light but, since this late February, is finally here. 'Pasar de las Luces', out via LA-based Innovative Leisure Records, is a bewitching exploration of the most spacious, eerie and organic sounds, ranging from evocative dream-pop to fuzzy shoegaze, as well as flirting with krautrock rhythms and the darker face of psychedelia, giving nods to bands like Slowdive, Cocteau Twin or Grouper. Allow yourself to get haunted!

Cozy Slippers. And we end in Seattle, Washington, to meet this three-piece formed around 2015, when Barbara Barrilleaux (drums, keyboards, and vocals) and Sarah Engel (bass and vocals) met at music workshop Ladies Rock Camp, being completed with Steven Skelton (guitar) later on. The band debuted with EP 'Late Night in Summertime' in March of 2017, which now will have a follow-up with 'Postcards' out next April via our dear friends of Jigsaw Records. Immediately catchy guitar-driven indiepop, somewhere in between Marine Girls, the Go-Gos and Chastity Girls, propelled by the straightforward dual vocals of Sara and Barbara. A lot to love here...

Spanish Indie 22: suggesting the best national acts

It's about time to bring you more national discoveries. Today, pop, pop, and more wonderful pop! 

Fred i Son. Been meaning to write about them for ages! Hailing from Barcelona, Elisenda Daura, drummer at Las Dolores, and Xavi Rosés, the man behind Coach Station Reunion (author of one of our favourite records of 2013), guitarist at Epic Kind and occasional bassist at Veracruz, met in 2005, finding love and a shared passion for the best jangle-pop. Around 2007, the homemade music affair is transformed into a proper duo when a friend of Eli proposes the couple to participate at Minimúsica (a little indie Festival devoted for kids). In 2009, the couple gets married, and friend Xesc Cabot enters the band as bassist and lyricist. The trio keeps writing songs and making some buzz with gigs, contests and first demos collection 'En Pijama (Early Takes)', followed by their first album 'Diu que no sap què vol' released by Sones in September of 2010. 'Un altre temps' their second album to date arrived two years later via Sones-Warner, with the band now expanded to a quartet with the addition of their record producer, Cristian Pallejà. Their latest release to date, on December 2014, has been the lovely EP 'El Carter' out through our friends Discos de Kirlian. Intimate, disarming, delicate and joyous jangle-pop, honouring all the greatest: Go-Betweens, Aztec Camera, Pale Fountains, Lucksmiths, Ben Watt, Pastels, Marine Girls, Aventuras de Kirlian. Our best kept secret in pop now revealed to you. Go fall in love with them!

Montserrat. Hailing from Madrid, this quartet formed with musicians from bands like El Hijo, Litoral, Julio de la Rosa or Abraham Boba, initially was the solo project of Javier Montserrat in 2007, not becoming the band they are now until early 2011. On September of 2012 they self-released their first EP. At the end of 2013 they achieve the needed economic resources in order to release their self-titled debut album through a crowdfunding campaign, which was published past April of 2014. Gentle, humming pop-folk with a sixties vibe and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Songs to intimately sing-along. Don't miss them!
Neleonard. I thought I already wrote about them (I reviewed their debut EP at Indienauta) because they were one of my biggest crushes from 2014. Formed around the Barcelona artistic collective HiJauhUSB?, this sextet leaded by Manuel Navío (Nele) was born in 2012 as his personal project, but he quickly started to recruit people in order to create the best POP tunes. The first 6 gems arrived past October with debut EP 'Agosto', out through our dear Elefant Records. One of the best EPs from 2014, this is indeed music in capital letters, magnetic, powerful, emotional, sometimes lightweight, others melodramatic, always honest and heartfelt. Pluperfect POP.