A Better Entertainment Is Possible.
For her long awaited return, Robyn ignored the conventional rules of the industry by breaking the album in three different EPs and dropping the songs almost one by one as soon as they were being recorded, which guaranteed the constant presence of the reborn Swedish in blogs around the world. The plan was shortened by … Read more
James Murphy’s farewell to the project that has made him one of popular music’s biggest shakers during the first decade of the new century, sees him repeating his tested formula of mixing elements of punk , new-wave and disco on a personal cocktail that in this third serving did begin to lose a bit of … Read more
Nick Cave’s parallel project to his usual output with The Bad Seeds has helped unleash his free spirit again in order to explore this time the boundaries of psychedelic and prog-rock, as well as adding a welcomed touch of humour. Grinderman’s second offering confirmed the formation as a valid alternative for the prolific Mr. … Read more
One of the most amazing discoveries of the last few years, this multiple talented –novel writer and performer among them-, Dominican female artist who like no one else has found the way to reconcile the best tropical tradition with more contemporary dancefloor oriented rhythms. The modest production of ‘El Juidero’ cannot disguise Rita Indiana’s wealth … Read more
The LA fuzz guitar and lo-fi duo No Age have consolidated their career with a rock solid third effort, the second for the Sub Pop imprint, containing their most accessible and energetic collection to date without losing the DIY edge – although the shoegaze touch this time has a lesser role in their sonic equation. … Read more
One of the indisputable movers in the electronic world, Canadian Daniel Lopatin has brought challenging experimentation through his label Olde English Spelling Bee; trendy glo-fi and dance sounds with Games and, best of it all, his own solo project Oneohtrix Point Never. ‘Returnal’ explored from drone to electronica pretty much all of today’s cutting edge … Read more
The Brooklyn duo that crafted one of the most original electropop albums ever by using the 8-bit sounds of arcade video games from the 80’s – unfairly dismissed by many as a one trick – returned in style. The strength of their second album, where Crystal Castles has expanded the sonic range of their debut … Read more
One of the biggest breaches of fresh air in the world of electronica comes surprisingly from an act that incorporates elements of prog and looks back to the seventies for inspiration. This trio from Cleveland, part of the new movement vindicating the cassette as a format, led by the prolific Mark McGuire –who also released … Read more
Sufjan Stevens´comeback has left a bittersweet taste in our mouth. Not because ‘The Age Of Adz’ was not a good record, but because after all this time he couldn’t reach the heights of his former work. First thing we knew is that the album-per-state of the union project had been definitively parked; then that the … Read more
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Freak-folk met lo-fi wizardry in Woods former breakthrough ‘Songs Of Shame’. The follow-up is another reassured collection of beautifully crafted moments, where the lo-fi element is slightly fading away, reaffirming the bands rich Americana and psychedelic vein. Jeremy Earls high-pitched vocals shone again, whereas from his label Woodsist he kept adding to his treasure trove … Read more
Mixing noise, electronica and guitar fuzz this Brooklyn duo’s presentation card, ‘Crown of the Ground’, was a sure shot that went straight to trend makers’ jugular, earning instant plaudits as the next big thing. M.I.A. signed them for their label and the way was paved for one of the most hyped up debuts of the … Read more
More Cutting edge experiments from the trendiest label in the planet; Autre Ne Veut´s songs have been described as the sound of a drunken man trying to sing R&B. There´s a chillwave haze that helps placing them close to acts like How To Dress Well; but also a very lo-fi disposition, notably in the use … Read more
Latinamerican pop has had a booming year with artists coming from all corners of the Spanish speaking continent full of propositions that often merged local tradition with hip Anglo-Saxon trends to astonishing results. Chilean chanteuse Javiera Mena confidently embraced the classic vocal influences of Karen Carpenter or Carole King; mixing it with the indie sounds … Read more
The slickest production of the year arrived by the hand of Mr. Dear, leaving aside once again his many side projects and returning under his own name. ‘Black City´, the follow-up of ´Asa Breed’, took eighties electropop revisionism to new darker and more atmospheric pastures, being its only flaw the excessive length of most of … Read more