пятница, 27 декабря 2013 г.

Los Treinta Principales. #23. Najwa "El Ultimo Primate"

#23. Najwa "El Ultimo Primate" (p)2010 WEA Spain


There is plenty of signs showing that 'girl with guitar/piano/whatever' rock tradition (t)here in Spain is full-blown. Just to name a few renowned female singers: Russian Red, Annie B Sweet, Eva Amaral, Zahara Gordillo Campos and, of course, Christina Rosenvinge, the foremother (and the role model) for the most of the domestic girls in rock.
And I suppose the best example of this sub-scene is neither pure acoustic emotions of Russian Red nor convoluted free-form pop vision of Anni B Sweet.
Najwa Nimri exist somewhere between two worlds neither being promoted to the major league (probably due to unconventionality of her music) nor fully involved in the world of indies (probably due to her successful movie career and following non-abligation to associate herself with any given sub-culture). There is a lot of influences both stylistical and personal - avant-garde guitar drones, trip-hop electronis passages, programmed ritual beats, Cocteau Twins, Shinead O'Connor, Kate Bush - all soldered into one perfect wrecking ball of true perfection slowly coiling down from your mind to your heart. And there is nothing more as frightening as the scary image of the cover art on this beautiful and bewitching album.

The best tracks: Dejame Pasar, Como Un Animal, El Ultimo Primate



вторник, 3 декабря 2013 г.

The Best Of 2013. Album #1

01. Leon Benavente "Leon Benavente" (p) Marxophone


Abraham Boba is a busy man. Formerly emerging as the member of Nacho Vegas' studio and touring team, later he became the anticipated session musician appearing on the albums by Julio De La Rosa, Pumuky, and tons of others as well as having three successful solo releases on Limbo Starr label. Now teamed up with old pal Luis Rodriguez (also of Nacho Vegas' team fame) on guitar along with Eduardo Baos from Tachenko (bass) and Cesar Verdu from Schwarz (drums) he started a new band (himself focusing on his 'Farfisa' and singing duties). Though this project hardly contradicts all what these well-trained men did before, but also it hardly coincides fully with their previous experiences, and the sound of their debut disc has little in common with Nacho Vegas or Tachenko. Loosely based on Joy Division-inspired branch of gloomy post-punk so many times reinterpreted by myriads of bands worldwide, the music on "Leon Benavente" is nevertheless deeper, smarter, and more emotionally charged (especially in the songs "La Palabra" or "Ser Brigada" with the inner tension escalated to the point where it could produce the spontaneous combustion) than the most of contemporaries. And the voice of Boba - warm but pretty detached - sticks all the parts together creating such the well-balanced and inward-looking state in you that you easily fall into to never come back. Until the music stops.




понедельник, 2 декабря 2013 г.

The Best Of 2013. Album #2

02. Mi Pequena Radio "Donde Esta Lo Que Un Dia Fuimos" (p) Bohemia Music


It took almost 4 years for David Tabuena to record the sophomore release of his alter ego Mi Pequena Radio. Like the 1st album "Esquiando Hacia Arriba" the new album is very energetic one, but unlike the previous release, "Donde Esta..." is much more diverse rhythmically, containing the trademark fast rockers along with danceable rock tunes and a couple of the perfect ballads.
Unfortunately, it's a pretty overlooked album, and even the casual help of Iker Casillas didn't work well. But it contains the best tunes this side of Miss Caffeina, and the songs like "La Reina Magnetica" or "Si No Me Has Matado" you'd never shake off your head even if you'd want to. So I don't have much words about this album except the following: if you haven't listened to it, then you haven't listened to year 2013 at all.



четверг, 28 ноября 2013 г.

The Best Of 2013. Album #3

03. L.A. "Dualize" (p) Marxophone


There's the simple term that fits "Dualize" the most - 'a grower'.
I'm not a big fan of the latest solo works of Richard Swift, american singer/songwriter who spends much time producing other musicians. So I was kinda afraid what kind of sound he might create for Luis Alberto Segura. "SLNT FLM", an EP released a year ago, have already shown the turn from the polished pop-rock sound of the great "Heavenly Hell" to visually simplified and stripped-down roots-rock tone. But what's with "Dualize"? I should admit that the things stay the same, and the album logically follows the same path as EP. However, the sound and instrumentation might seem pretty simple, but if you give the songs a bit more time to grow on you, you will see how perfectly the room is constructed and organized and structurized for each of them. Close your eyes at any moment of any song - and you almost get right there in the studio behind the shoulder of Luis playing...


P.S. The song which I disliked the most when listening to the album for the first time now I like the most. It's "Mirrorball", and it's absolutely gorgeous in its simplicity.

P.P.S. I should also admit that the label Marxophone seems to be the champion of all labels this year, especially if knowing what album would make it to the #1.

The Best Of 2013. Albums 10 - 4

10. Cyan “Delapso” (p) Sony/BMG
Under the wing of the international major label the Barcelonians Cyan have perfected their sound for the 3rd album, having now all the components in the right proportion and delivering the stark guitar/piano-pop melodies (both easily sing-alongable, as "Philippe Petit", and not so easily distinguishable, as "Solo Es Una Herida") brushed with ethereal strings and translucent electronica.

09. Maryland “Los Anos Muertos” (p) Ernie Producciones
From the very beginning of their 3rd album the band do it full-throttle: the drums are banging, the guitars are ringing and buzzing, and overall picture makes me recalling the international punk-rock acts such as Alkaline Trio, for instance, or the 1st album of the fellow countrymen Mi Pequena Radio
It seems to me that the Galician indie-label Ernie Producciones, who are also the home of such the renowned musicians as Julio De La Rosa or Ninos Mutantes, make no faults at all in selection of the artists they promote. Really, I haven't ever listened to the bad album with the 'balancing man' stamp on it.

08. Dorian “La Velocidad Del Vacio” (p) PIAS
The first impression: Dorian started to move towards the Great Britain islands, so it's no surprise that "La Velocidad Del Vacio" was recorded with Phil Vinall (the british producer who worked with Elastica, Black Box Recorder and Placebo, to name a few) behind the dashboard. But the experience of the band prevented them from being another Bastille or someone like that, and Marc Gil and his companeros got no problems with self-determination. The sound of the album is a bit colder in comparison with the previous effort "La Ciudad Subterrania" but their electronica truly have the heart. And the small amount of guitar noise.

07. Igloo “04. El Conjunto Vacio” (p) Ernie Producciones

The previous album of the Galicians (yes, they're also on Ernie Producciones) Igloo was much more straightforward rock, but the band is inclined to improve the sound with every subsequent release, and in terms of the sound palette "El Conjunto Vacio" is the major step forward. This album isn't easy, it doesn't wear all its insides on its sleeves. You should listen to it deeper and deeper, and then even much deeper to reach the comprehension of what Beni Ferreiro ans his pals have created for us. Gone is the sheer post-punk of the previous releases, let's meet the best rock band of Gattaca.
And don't forget the best cover of the year!

06. Mucho “El Apocalipsis Segun Mucho” (p) Marxophone
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away there was the band who almost reached international success, and the band was The Sunday Drivers. After the dismissal of the band in 2009 the leader Jero Romero launched successful solo career, and the other members teamed up with Martin Perarnau from Underwater Tea Party and started Mucho“El Apocalipsis Segun Mucho” is the second full lenght work of the band. It's the concept album dedicated, as you might see from the title, to the end of the world. 'The end of the world according to Mucho' is accompanied by the pleasant melodies you can easily sing along with. What really makes this album so good is the Mucho's ability to create the song that is lightbodied enough to attract listeners while being not too conventional at the same time - in the wide pallette of rhythms, tempos, dynamics etc.

05. Ivan Ferreiro “Val-Miñor – Madrid. Historia Y Cronologia Del Mundo” (p) Warner Music Spain
“Val-Miñor – Madrid. Historia Y Cronologia Del Mundo” is also the concept album of sorts. It was conceived as the vehicle to transfer the solipsist vision of its auteur to the grateful listeners. So it is probably the most personal album of Ivan Ferreiro. The good thing about "Val-Minor..." is that Ivan rejected the sound and rhythms of cheap cabaret ballroom which was usual on two of his previous works: "Mentiroso Mentiroso" and "Picnic Extraterrestre". The bad thing - the album doesn't contain the direct hit of "Cancion Humeda" or "Fahrenheit 451"-like grandeur. Despite this fact, the album has shown that creative form of today's Ivan Ferreiro is somewhere between 'mighty' and 'omnipotent'. You can't resist to the atmosphere of his travel, and you simply fall into - and it doesn't matter whether or not (or how) you relate to the world named 'Ivan Ferreiro'.

04. Miss Caffeina “De Polvo Y Flores” (p) Warner Music Spain
Luckily I can just repeat something I have said previously: "With the new album "De Polvo Y Flores" ("Of Dust And Flowers") Miss Caffeina distinguished almost unbelievable level of melodicism. The songs 'Gigantes', 'Venimos', 'San Francisco', 'MM' and especially 'Hielo T' got such the armour-crashing choruses that it seemed like the band had written them for the pan-universal song contest where Miss Caffeina would be the only contestant from planet Earth". 
Vertigo, sparkles and the pack of melodies any given renowned hitmaker would kill for.

среда, 27 ноября 2013 г.

The Best Of 2013. Albums 20 - 11

20. Extremoduro “Para Todos Los Publicos” (p) Warner Music Spain

19. Carlos Siles “Doce Maneras Para Esperar El Final” (p) Flor y Nata

18. Izal “Agujeros De Gusano” (p) HOOK

17. Breis “Invisibles” (p) Sweet Song

16. Grises “No Se Alarme Senora, Soy Sovietico” (p) Origami

15. El Pilar Azul “La Constante Sin Nombre” (p) El Hombre Bala

14. Delafe Y Las Flores Azules “De Ti Sin Mi – De Mi Sin Ti” (p) Music Bus

13. La Sonrisa De Julia “El Viaje Del Sonambulo” (p) Warner Music Spain

12. Buena Esperanza “Pacifica” (p) Gran Derby


11. Muy Fellini “Fragmentos De Una Explosion” (p) Clifford

The Best Of 2013. Albums 30 - 21

30. Julio De La Rosa “Pequenos Trastornos Sin Importancia” (p) Ernie Producciones

29. Sr. Chinarro “Enhorabuena A Los Quatro” (p) Mushroom Pillow

28. Animic “Hannibal” (p) BCore Disc

27. Second “Montana Rusa” (p) Warner Music Spain 

26. Capsula “Solar Secrets” (p) Krian Music Group

25. Lecciones De Vuelo “El Giro Immelmann” Self-released

24. Zico “Demonios Al Sol” (p) Astro Discos

23. Delorean “Apar” (p) Mushroom Pillow

22. DePlasticoVerde “Mentira Universal” Self-released

21. Cabezali “Pequeno Y Plateado” (p) Origami

пятница, 25 октября 2013 г.

Los Treinta Principales. #24. Muy Fellini "Muy Fellini"

#24. Muy Fellini "Muy Fellini" (p)2009 BCore Disc/Underhill Records


When Navarra post-hardcore outfit Half Foot Outside called it quits within a year and a half after their best effort "Heavenly" was out, it was not a big surprise that all the band members (at that moment pretty disjointed geofraphically) had the projects on their own. Now teamed up with the singer/guitarist Juan Maravi (of the band Sök fame), the ex-Half Foot Outside drummer Edu Ugarte started the new band called Muy Fellini. Long gone were the 'start/stop' and 'loud guitars/intimate vocals' stylistical approaches of HFO - the duo's debut album delivered to the listeners more stripped-down and rather acoustic folk rock. The first song "La Decepcion" sounds habitual for the burgeoning (if not saying 'oversaturated') americana scene with the melody you might expect from the international pop stars Travis. But while it was chosen to represent "Muy Fellini" with a video, it doesn't speak much about the album as a whole - the rest is full of great songs but not pure pop hits. The average lenght of the songs here is 5 minutes, so they have enough time to blossom with unexpected twists and turns. Juan Maravi easily switches from acoustic guitar strumming to powerful feedback wizardry, and his warmful voice adds depth to the picture, while Edu Ugarte's tight drumming never tries to dominate the sound pallette but constructs the system of coordinates in which these songs exist. Wonderful.

The best tracks: Dificil Claridad, Un Nuevo Amanecer, La Decepcion, Paris


пятница, 18 октября 2013 г.

Los Treinta Principales. #25. Yani Como "Nada Es Lo Que Parece"

#25. Yani Como "Nada Es Lo Que Parece" (p)2011 Art Of Troya



Yani Como are from Aranda de Duero, so it's no surprise that Javier Ajenjo, the leader of the band, is also the director of Sonorama music festival - the annual event which was described on the pages of this blog earlier. Despite the popularity of the senor Ajenjo's favourite brainchild (arguably, Sonorama is the largest indie event of the state - if counting the events focused on the domestic musicians), his second favourite brainchild is not so popular amongst people. Yani Como has neither wikipedia page nor the personal page on the lafonoteca.net, one of the largest resourses dedicated to Spanish rock music. This fact makes the digging in the band's discography a bit complicated task.
So, "Nothing Is What It Seems" is, approximately, the 3rd longplay of Yani Como and, definitely, the most perfected one.
And while the initial works of the band were inclined to a casual powerpop sound, this album is more about 90's Britrock tradition in the vein of Teenage Fanclub or The Boo Radleys. The sound of the band is enriched not only by the unexpected rhythm shifts ("Aqui Estoy") or translucent psychedelic touches (almost every song on the album) but also by heavy use of the violin - not the most obvious music instrument for the rocking indie band. To be fair, the violin is present on the previous albums of Yani but only here it is not only the important component of the band's sound but the instrument that upgrades it to the higher level of coherence and to the absolutely ethereal effects in such songs like "Buenos Aires" or "50E".
And the voice of Javier Ajenjo has the natural reverb effect in it, so once you've heard it you'd never confuse it with someone else's.

In the end of 2011 I voted for this album as the 2nd best album of the year (http://i-am-sposob.livejournal.com/121826.html), and after two years passed, I can confirm that it didn't become worse.

Physically the album was distributed through the tiny wine shops network (even the special wine bottles were created with the cover of the album as the wine label). So this is the only album from the TOP30 list that I have no hope to obtain on CD.

The best tracks: "Buenos Aires", "50E", "Aqui Estoy", "Magia"

No videos were made for this album, though.

среда, 16 октября 2013 г.

Los Treinta Principales. #26. Love Of Lesbian "Cuentos Chinos Para Ninos Del Japon"

#26. Love Of Lesbian "Cuentos Chinos Para Ninos Del Japon" (p)2007 Naïve


After a short (not so short, really) break caused by my vacations now I'm back on the track.
The presented album was some kind of a milestone for me. If Deluxe opened the gates into rock en espanol scene for me, Love Of Lesbian were the ones who proved my then-yet-to-be-fledging affinity real.
There's a lot of subjectivity in this review (and in this position as well). I do understand that the 2nd part of the album fails a little bit - the first six songs on this disc are really the best ones. But this fact never spoiled my attention because this album means so much to me.
It is the second LoL's album sung en castellano, and if "Maniobras De Escapismo" had shown that the band received additional valency with the use of the native language, than "Chinese Stories For Japanese Kids" became the major step forward in terms of melodical progressions and stylistic diversity. The trip-hop of "Universos Infinitos" befriends here the upbeat pop-rock tune of "La Nina Imantada", the gorgeous "Los Colores De Una Sombra" flows into the acoustic "Un Dia En El Parque", and the family Christmas singalong "Villancico Para Mi Cunado Fernando" neighbors the Krishnaite-like chanting of "Shiwa". Add to this pallette the simple and funny "Me Amo" and the tragic slowburner "La Parabola Del Tonto" - and just try to imagine how to complete the cohesive album out of all of these songs.

The album spawned 5 videos (which is almost unbelievable for an indie band) and started the creative cooperation of Love Of Lesbian and young female director hiding under the alias Lyona.

The best tracks: Universos Infinitos, La Nina Imantada, Noches Reversibles, Las Colores De Una Sombra, Villancico Para Mi Cunado Fernando







понедельник, 16 сентября 2013 г.

Los Treinta Principales. #27. The New Raemon "Libre Asociacion"

#27. The New Raemon "Libre Asociacion" (p)2011 BCore Disc


In the end of 90's the Barcelonian Ramon Rodriguez started the band Madee, and that was the time when he - as many of his peers - have chosen the english lyrics as the way to spread his vision to the world. And it took almost 10 years for him to change the template. In the middle of 00's he appeared solo - now under the moniker The New Raemon, and while the stage name was english again the lyrics were not.
"Libre Asociacion" is the most accomplished album of Ra(e)mon to date, and it contains the fully arranged songs - unlike its mostly acoustic predecessors "A Proposito de Garfunkel" & "La Dimesion Desconocida" - with the wide pallette of instrumentation. When you start listening to this album you quickly may consider the opening title "La Bella y La Bestia" the best song ever penned by Ramon. But until the album ends you may change your mind at least three times, finally establishing "El Refugio De Superman" as the best one (in fact, "Libre Asociacion" has no bad songs at all).

The best songs: La Bella Y La Bestia, El Refugio De Superman, Kill Raemon, La Vida Regalada



Los Treinta Principales. #28. Second "Fracciones De Un Segundo"

#28. Second "Fracciones De Un Segundo" (p)2009 DRO Atlantic


The remarkable voice of Sean Frutos is the trademark of Second, the band from Murcia. "Fracciones De Un Segundo" was the 1st album of the band fully sung en castellano (the previous effort "Invisible" was a mix of songs sung in English and Spanish). Starting from the majestic hit "Rincon Exquisito" and throughout the album "Fracciones De Un Segundo" delivers great pop/rock tunes with strong danceable potential ("Rodamos", "Todas Las Cosas", "Dicen"). But the most winning moments are the songs which are coloured with sadness and/or built on the contrasting bittersweet emotions, such as "Nuevos Secretos", "Para Bien O Para Mal" and especially "Mas Suerte", another gorgeous song situated close to the end of the album.

The best songs: Rincon Exquisito, Mas Suerte, Conocerte, Nuevos Secretos


четверг, 12 сентября 2013 г.

Los Treinta Principales. #29. Tulsa "Solo Me Has Rozado"

#29. Tulsa "Solo Me Has Rozado" (p)2007 Subterfuge


Led by Miren Iza, Tulsa were also from Basque Country. On their first longplay the band made an attempt to recreate the alternative country sound - and did it very authentically. In fact, you may expect it to be the album of some american band before Miren starts to sing. And her voice makes the great deal to make you fall in love with the songs.
Though thematically the album is mostly dark it doesn't sound moody. Free of any odd steps or studio trickery "Solo Me Has Rosado" is nevertheless bright, hopeful and full of great alt-country melodies.

The best songs: Carretera, Estupida, Limonakis, Tengo Hambre.


вторник, 10 сентября 2013 г.

Los Treinta Principales. #30. Delorean "Silhouettes"

I'm starting the new topic now.

For the past 6 years I've listened to approximately 500 albums by 150 artists/bands within 'rock en espanol' community. I suppose I can make some conclusions.

So, "Los 30 Principales" is underway.

#30. Delorean "Silhouettes" (p)2001 Underhill


Delorean were, in fact, the 1st Spanish band I’ve ever heard – it was their eponymous album in 2005. But before this band of Basque Country origin started playing their warm sunshine electronica (with which they reached almost universal acclaim in 2009 when "Ayrton Senna" EP was out) there was the initial 'rocking' period of the band marked only by "Silhouettes".
Starting with that simple riff that made Smashing Pumpkins glorious 8 years ago "Silhouettes" sounded like a mixture of New Order and Jimmy Eat World spontaneously adding to the mix the elements of jangle pop and melodic progressions more characteristic for... ummm... Elliott Smith?
Leaving aside Delorean's further achievements, this album can be considered fresh and warm and melodic and free of any possible las faltas provinciales. But in the discography of the band it is (and probably always will be) some kind of a bastard child.

The best songs: Break Concrete, Automatic, Mini Skirt Girls

пятница, 6 сентября 2013 г.

Sonorama Ribera 2013. The Report. Happylogue



In the final part I'd want to put out some additional thoughts on Sonorama. Tips or something like that.

First of all, I'd want to say that I could write it in Spanish. Pero si escribia esta cronica en espanol, la cronica seria preparada antes de la proxima Sonorama. So I decided to use English to speed up the process.

1. Schedule.


The fact that I have prepared the schedule with all the bands coloured three types (blue - obligatory, pink - maybe, white - no muy interesante) makes it possible to attend most of the shows at the first line before the stages. I may call it 'the competent planning'. But, in fact, having all the bands coloured three types prevented me from acquainting with the new musicians. Really, The Handicapes, Sin Rumbo and Garamendi were just the lucky coincidences. We should've not seen them at all because they were all white in my schedule. And we didn't see the shows of Pasajero, Izal, Jack Knife because there was no intention to see them - but these shows were amazing, as far as I know now.

2. Social networking.
All these new technologies became very useful, really. Now you can always be in touch with all the possible changes of the schedule or know what's up for the next night - or, more likely, what WAS up for the moments you have slept over. Or learn that Garamendi is not Llum. But remember that constant posting or streaming really kills the espiritu of the moment. You may become involved into networking more than into simple enjoying the shows. Not the best way, I suppose.

3. Communication.
It's always useful to communicate with the people around you. For us, it was a bit harder as we're not the native speakers. I met no trouble in buying a bottle of wine in the winery shop, or receiving a cup of tea in the hotel. But to talk with the girls and the guys you run into casually - it's pretty hard even taking in mind that 90% of people around are knowing more than you about what's going on here and there and elsewhere. Learn Spanish, you lazy dude.

4. Photo camera.
It was a bit disappointing for us to have our Canon camera banned - especially if to know that we had purchased it for Sonorama. I believe that it's a kind of inevitable, but for us who made it for 4000 km. (5,5 hours in a plane and 1,5 hour in a car) to get here and and to finally lose the main operating tool leaving us with only the poor-quality mobile photos as the snapshots of our memories it's anyway a bit frustrating.

5. Life.
'La vida es aquello qe pasa entre Sonorama y Sonorama' (Life is what passes between one Sonorama and another) says the slogan of the festival. No lie. I do confirm.

6. People.
Finally, just look at the happy people.









четверг, 5 сентября 2013 г.

Sonorama Ribera 2013. The Report. Day 3, 17.08.2013. El final and other hesitations - Part 2


We missed the show of McEnroe so the 1st band we saw in the evening were Barcelonians Stay. Stay are the britpop act with the psychedelia touches, and as for me their presence on the main stage was kinda difficult to explain. The venue was definitely too large for these guys. I don't want to say they were bad or playing poorly or anything. No, they were playing well and bandleader Jordi Bel was really good in stretching the psychedelic vibe out of his guitars - but it was really too large for them. Plaza del Trigo or Carson Camping would be much more appropriate.

Stay

Havalina is one of the bands whom I really adore. But for Tanya, they seemed to be too loud to fall in love with before Sonorama. So the Castilla y Leon stage was lucky for loud bands this year. And two of us were on the first line of defence again - we were standing pressed to the security bars right in front of the bass player Ignacio Celma
In terms of the playing techniques all three members of the band - Manuel Cabezali, Ignacio Celma & Javier Couceiro - were amongst the best musicians on the fest. Their control over the sound they made was almost unbelievable. They produced such the solid wall of sound that it would be undistinguishable for many bands of larger 'capacity'. We were absolutely stunned during their show. We were so stunned that even did not noticed how the man behind the scene turned them off while they were in the very beginning of "Incursiones" due to they got out of timing so the rest of the song was some kind of unplugged with the audience singing all the lyrics.

Havalina

After the unforgettable set of Havalina we started running to the escenario principal - started and... all of a sudden stopped at the same moment. In the falling curtains of the dusk we saw the 'footballfieldful' sea of people who were just standing there. All of them were awaiting for Xoel Lopez. So the mean plan to get to the stage as close as possible fell apart.
Xoel Lopez is the reason I'm here. Not only in Sonorama. Globally 'here'. This is the musician who, performing under the alias Deluxe opened for me the door to the world of the spanish indie music. Searching for his recordings in Internet I had discovered all the rest of the bands I love now. So this would be the heartwrenching moment for me. And it was, really. Xoel and his band were playing, and I was standing in the middle of the crowd with my eyes shut and listening to his voice not being able to make a single move. The set consisted mostly of the songs from Xoel's lates release "Atlantico" with only one new song and only one song from his past days (it was gorgeous "Historia Universal"). And his supporting band was so harmonious that there was no single wrong note in the whole hour-long show. And Xoel's artistic magnetism kept the crowd as the whole entity with the thousands of hearts beating as one.

Xoel Lopez

Then was the time for us to spend a couple of sonos for sparkling water and calimocho. Our legs were crying for us to give them some rest so we placed our tired bodies on a sidestep against the FutureStars stage, where we noticed the band playing in there. The band was good, so we stood up again and came in. According to the schedule this would be Llum. I had never heard about this band before so it was another good discovery for me (later that night that band revealed to be Garamendi, not Llum). We had made some jerky dance for half an hour anf then came to Castilla y Leon for The New Raemon

Garamendi

For the last couple of years Ramon Rodriguez is acting in the close connection with the band Maga from Sevilla, and here they were promoted as The New Raemon & Maga. Before their show started we had to listen to the part of Standstill set. Standstill is the renowned band who began in 90's as 2nd wave emo act but lated changed the direction and started making music with post rock-tinged chamber pop in its core base. What the fuck were they playing there I could not understand. It was something tribal, with doubled drumkit on the stage, dense strumming of acoustic guitar, all very repetitive and disturbing. Sorry, not my kind of music at all.

The New Raemon & Maga were the opposite thing. With the whole bunch of the good songs where the Ra(e)mon's songs were interleaved with Maga's power-pop singalongs this show was driving and upbeat. Both acts were very warmly received by the audience. But at the end of the show we hardly could stand on our feet. Fatigue have knocked us down to the ground, and three Supersubmarina songs ago the Sonorama Ribera 2013 was over for us.

The New Raemon y Maga

It's a pure grief and disappointment that we have lost the chance to watch the show of L.A. and now I am deemed to cope with it. The only reason to lower the grade of self-disappointment is the fact of L.A.'s "Dualize" album purchase on the mercadillo

And for the most part, that's all.