NME-Europe

NME-Europe is going to iMusicate

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Hello Everybody.

You might have noticed a lack of activity lately on NME-Europe. We're not getting lazy or anything like that, it's just that we've moved!

From now on you can keep up to date with all things musical on our new site, iMusicate.com

See you there!

Regards,

The NME-Europe team

Myspace Magic: Midnight Playground

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Once again, NME-Europe returns to Liverpool for their latest MySpace Magic featured artist. Midnight Playground are a four piece with a deep sound and have started to make a name for themselves on the local scene. Here's what we were able to discover...

NME-Europe: Who are you and how did you come about?
MP: Hi I'm Martin (lead singer of Midnight Playround and guitarist). I met the other guitarist (Andrew) in secondary school and then we just started jamming and writing songs for a bit fun. But then we both thought 'these songs are too good to be just for fun' ;) so we decided to look around for new members to fill the line up. We asked a good friend of ours Chris (Bassist) to join then it was just the tree of us. We've been through a fair amount of drummers and changed our sound a lot and in the end we decided to ask a college friend of mine to play drums and he jumped at the oppurtunity. So, Midnight Playground were born!

NME-Europe: What's the reason behind your name?
To be honest I actually don't know where the name come from. Andrew is the one who named the band and we thought it sounded good so we stuck with it.

It is quite a smart name, I must admit.

NME-Europe: The dreaded question. Describe your sound!
MP: When we've played live a lot of people have described and compared our sound to the likes of Echo And The Bunnymen, Editors, White Lies, The Smiths, Joy Division, Talking Heads and just mainly that post punk vibe, which is great to be compared to. Personally, I think there are lots of different influences floating round because we all like different music and it just all comes together to produce what I think is a new creative sound.

NME-Europe: You haven't released anything yet. Is there anything in the pipeline?
MP: We are planning on releasing a 4 or 5 track e.p. Hopefully we will have something released in the summer maybe closer.

NME-Europe: What's your favourite album at the moment? Can you remember which particular band/album/track got you into music?
MP: Hmmm, my favourite album at the moment would be Mumford & Sons album because it's just epic! Either that or Paramore's new album but I'll just say Mumford & Sons to look cool!

In terms of initial music experiences, it was probably the likes of Luther Vandross, Sam Cooke and everything Motown because of my mum. But what started me playing guitar and actually writing music would have to be Bruce Springsteen, notably his 'Born To Run' album.

NME-Europe: Finally, what can we expect from Midnight Playground in the coming months?
MP: We hope in the next 12 months that we're still writing brilliant songs and hopefully be giging all over the UK and slowly building a fan base. It would also be nice to record a full album!

Well, there are a lot of objectives there to keep driving Midnight Playground on. I suggest you have a look at what they have to offer on their MySpace page.

NC

Last 5 NME-Europe interviews:
The Savalas (Rome, Italy)
The Pin-Ups (Manila, Philippines)
Buzzradio (Liverpool, UK)
The Manse (Liverpool, UK)
A Number Of Fires (Liverpool, UK)

Read all NME-Europe interviews

Album Review: Foals

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Foals: 'Total Life Forever' (Warner)

1. Blue Bloood
2. Miami
3. Total Life Forever
4. Black Gold
5. Spanish Sahara
6. This Orient
7. Fugue
8. After Glow
9. Alabaster
10. 2 Trees
11. What Remains

Weird or unique? It's taken me countless listens to this album to decide and I'm still none the wiser! Foals, the Oxford quintet who made as much a name for themselves for ditching their high profile US producer (TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek, in case you're interested) as for producing a stunning debut - Antidotes - are a quirky bunch. Perhaps that's what makes their music so gripping.

Follow up Total Life Forever is wonderfully chaotic. It will need a few outings for listeners to get their head around it, but it's worth being patient. Opening track 'Blue Blood' is a prime example of what Foals are all about. A simple chord is enough to reel you in, before the track bursts to life and you're hooked. Marvellous piece of music.

The rest is an eclectic melee of sounds and emotions ranging from the chirpy 'Miami' to the profoundly chilling 'Spanish Sahara' - and where tracks like swirling Bloc Party-esque 'Black Gold', complete with its ominous announcement that "the future is not what it used to be" or 'After Glow', which is volatile in crescendo, also play a major role.

With lead singer Yannis Philippakis also sounding a lot more assured, the only logical conclusion to reach is that Total Life Forever is a neither weird nor unique. Quite simply it's bloody brilliant!

NC

NME-Europe rating: 8.5/10
Top Track: 'Spanish Sahara'

Watch a vid...

Last 5 NME-Europe reviews:
The Golden Filter: 'Voluspa'
Los Planetas: 'Una Opera Egipcia'
Cybiont: 'Angels And Demons'
Two Door Cinema Club: 'Tourist History'
The Soft Pack: 'The Soft Pack'

Read all NME-Europe reviews

Myspace Magic: The Savalas

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Following our extensive coverage of the SOS4.8 Festival, normal business is resumed with a return to our MySpace Magic feature. The latest band to hog the limelight is The Savalas, an alternative rock band from somewhere in Italy. Having been tipped off by another recent myspace magic band, BuzzRadio, NME-Europe decided to find out more....

NME-Europe: Buongiorno - that's as far as it goes. Who are you and how did you come about?
Sav: The Savalas is an Italian alternative rock band that started in 2005 from the ashes of different bands of our area : Dasazert, an alternative metal band and Dissectional, a Tool tribute band. We're from San Gemini, a nice medieval town in the woods not far from Rome.

At present the core of the band is two people: Me (Clito), on vocals and Giangi on drums. We are currently rebuilding our live line up, which will also include a bass player, a guitar player and a jack-of-all trades on samples, keyboards and guitar.

NME-Europe: What's the reason behind your name?
Sav: We just wanted a name who could represent our ironic side, and so we decided to honor one of our movie heroes, Telly Savalas. We had the idea watching an old Kojak episode. That man was a complete genius.

I resist the temptation to ask about lollipops...

NME-Europe: Dare you describe your sound? Tell us about what has influence you.
Sav: Our music explores a great variety of musical territories and atmospheres in a free and peculiar style.
Our influences are too many to quote: from Faith No More to Tool, from Jane's Addiction to The Beatles, from Fela Kuti to traditional chinese music, lots of music but also literature, visual arts. We also pay close attention to social issues, and it's the case in our next album.

A wide-range of inspirational sources there!

NME-Europe: Your 'next' album? What are your releases to date?
Sav: Up to now we have released two EPs, Hot Dog for Frank (2006) and Plastic Pills for Happy Passengers (2008).

We just recorded our first album, Pornocracy, under the Californian sun. It features some of the greatest alternative musicians such as Nick Oliveri (Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss, Mondo Generator), Martyn Lenoble (Porno For Pyros, Jane's Addiction, Dave Gahan) and Scott McLoud (Girls Against Boys, Paramount Style) alongside Massimo Pupillo (ZU, Mike Patton) and Xabier Iriondo (Uncode Duello, Afterhours). The album is produced by Alex Pappas (ex Finch) and supported by the American label, Above Ground Records.

An impressive line-up...
Yeah! It was amazing how these people accepted to collaborate with us, only on the basis of the songs we sent them.

NME-Europe: Have you got any gigs lined up to promote the album release? Who would you choose as your support artist?
Sav: We're still looking at gigs. If we could ideally choose an artist (cue dream mode!!!) it would have to be Jane's Addiction or Nine Inch Nails, not for the show but the party girls backstage.

Hmmm....

NME-Europe: What's your favourite album at the moment? And if you look back, can you remember which particular band, album or even track got you into music?
Sav: Giangi's favourite album right now is the last jaga jazzist, my favourite one at moment is MGMT and The Beatles Remasters. Giangi's original influence was Faith No More, whilst it was Queen who got me going.

NME-Europe: Finally, tell us about your objectives/prospects for next 12 months?
Sav: Well, ideally we'd like to find a European partner label, release and promote the album, book and play a tour in the U.S and in Europe and in general spread Italian Pornocracy across the world...

For now, readers can check out a couple of their tracks and a video about their imminent release, Pornocracy.

NME-Europe would like to thank Clito from The Savalas for taking the time to talk to us and wishes them the very best with the album release.

NC

Last 5 NME-Europe interviews:
The Pin-Ups (Manila, Philippines)
Buzzradio (Liverpool, UK)
The Manse (Liverpool, UK)
A Number Of Fires (Liverpool, UK)
My Raining Stars (Lyon, France)

Read all NME-Europe interviews

NME-Europe Live: Triángulo de Amor Bizarro, Sala 12&medio, Murcia

noreply@blogger.com (Juan Francisco Hernández) — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:00:00 +0000

read in English

Un volcán gallego explosionó en Murcia

Fecha: Viernes, 7 de mayo de 2010

Grupo: Triángulo de Amor Bizarro.

Local: Sala 12&medio – Murcia.

Calificación: Excelente.

Mientras la nube de cenizas del volcán innombrable islandés dejaba en tierra a numerosos viajeros en el norte de España, otro volcán, esta vez gallego y de música, llenó la Sala 12&medio de puro y enérgico rock.

Triángulo de Amor Bizarro, TAB, que así se llama el poderoso grupo gallego, al igual que un temazo de los New Order (un sencillo de 1986, incluido en su álbum Brotherhood), han sacado su segundo disco en este 2010, gran año para la escena Indie española en todas sus vertientes. El trabajo, llamado Año Santo (Mushroom Pillow) ha salido después de más de dos años y medio desde el lanzamiento de su estreno, y nos lo presentaron como ellos saben hacerlo, sin concesiones y con toda su potencia.

La noche comenzó con sorpresa, ya que no estaba anunciado el telonero, The Asimovs, que, aunque esperábamos con ansia la salida de TAB, nos sorprendieron agradablemente. Con un buen sonido y un cantante a medio camino entre Iggy Pop y Ian Curtis, su música recordaba en exceso a otros grupos (Artic Monkeys o Joy Division, según la canción) pero tienen algunos temas pegadizos, 'Welcome To The Human Race' es uno de ellos, y su directo es potente.

Después del consabido cambio de equipos, los gallegos salieron a escena y con una breve presentación de Isa, vocalista y bajista, para desvelar que se centrarían en su último disco, atacaron sus instrumentos con énfasis y ya no hubo más concesiones, a no ser las pequeñas paradas para que el batería se secara el sudor producido por la energía con la que tocaba.

Después música y sólo música, rock, punk, kraut, da igual cómo lo definamos, para mí calidad e intensidad. Con el nivel de ruido que hacen estos gallegos, los instrumentos suenan perfectamente definidos, una potente batería, las distorsiones del teclado, el profundo bajo y, por encima de todos, los punteos y rasgados de la guitarra, que van subiendo de nivel hasta límites insospechados. Los gallegos desgranaron el segundo disco prácticamente por completo, y lo fueron alternando con algunos de sus mejores temas de su primer trabajo, 'El Himno De La Bala', 'Estrella Azul De España' o 'El Fantasma De La Transición'.

El show se nos quedó corto, no hubo bises, aunque según nos comentaron al acabar, ellos hacen todo su repertorio seguido, no les gusta parar ni para que les aplaudan. El final apoteósico, sonando 'La Malicia De Las Especies Protegidas', con un ritmo desenfrenado que fue en aumento hasta el éxtasis, del grupo y del público, aunque algunos ni se inmutaran.

TAB es uno de los mejores grupos españoles, han hecho uno de los mejores discos del año y tienen un gran directo. Se puede pedir más. Sí, que vengan al Lemon Pop. Larga vida al Lemon Pop!

JFH

Last 5 live reviews on NME-Europe:
The New Raemon (Murcia, Abril 2010)
Final TalentoSOS (Murcia, March 2010)
Clint (Murcia, Marzo 2010)
Neuman y Capsula (Murcia, Febrero 2010)
B-Side Festival (Molina de Segura, Septiembre 2009)

Read all NME-Europe Live articles.

Special Feature: Tristan Clopet

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Having recovered from the SOS4.8 hangover, NME-Europe gets back down to business with a special feature from an artist from across the pond. The son of an Englishman, Tristan Clopet is based in Miami, but the worldwide web is rapidly turning him into a global product. This one-man band, who produces music with the uumph of the Chili Peppers and the lyrically power and vitality of a certain Jeff Buckley has just released a six-track EP titled Purple, which is available for download á la radiohead at the following link.

Suitably impressed by what was on offer, we decided to find out a little more about the man himself and his album.

NME-Europe: Hi Tristan. You're known in over 50 countries, where do you hail from?
Well, I was created by a chemical spillage on the brinks of Prince Edward Island. I sing and play a bunch of instruments too.

Another case of "blame Canada" perhaps...

NME-Europe: What do you sound like? Who has made you want to sound like that?
TC: Sounds like if a bunch of carrier honey bees spilled all of their collective honey at once onto a gramophone and then went to the kitchen and added bits of Heath bar.

Erm.... Think I'll stick with my Pepper-Buckley crossover....

Yeah, when I first heard 'Sir Psycho Sexy' I felt something special. It changed my whole disposition.

Now that makes more sense. You get a good impression of where this young man is coming from if you watch some of his cover version videos available on his YouTube channel. 'Cousins' (Vampire Weekend) is my pick of the bunch...

NME-Europe: You've just released Purple. Is this your debut?
TC: No, I previously released another EP, Duende. Duende and Purple are brother and sister, though I can't tell which is which. I think Purple has the perfect balance of songs – from those that are ideal for sitting back and relaxing, to those that make you want to get up and dance.

NME-Europe: Apart from your internet coverage, have you got any promotional gigs lined up?
TC: We're touring the east coast this July. Tour dates can be most accurately found on my website. We'd love to be supported by the Jonas Brothers. We heard they could bring a few people to the show in Savannah.

That must be the first time Jonas have been mentioned on NME-Europe!

NME-Europe: And what's on the agenda for the near future?
TC: We'd like to be touring full-time (preferably with the Jonas Brothers, but not a deal breaker) and we'd love to release a full-length and perform it over and over for new people of every shape, color and creedence.

Thanks Tristan, what say we have a little glance at your latest EP, Purple?
TC: Cool. I know time is scarce, but if you could give it a review, I’d love to read it. Even if it’s negative, I really respect your taste, and would be interested to hear what you think.

Last 5 NME-Europe interviews:
The Pin-Ups (Manila, Philippines)
Buzzradio (Liverpool, UK)
The Manse (Liverpool, UK)
A Number Of Fires (Liverpool, UK)
My Raining Stars (Lyon, France)

Read all NME-Europe interviews

Tristan really knows how to sweet talk a man! How could I refuse him a review?!

1. Proximity Bomb
2. So Alive
3. Etheral Evidence
4. Superficiality Is A Sin
5. Love And A Question
6. Black Panther Party

It's often difficult to assess an artist on the basis of an EP - they tend to be too short and rely too heavily on 'likeable' tunes - but you get the feeling that Tristan Clopet is a little different. With his second release, Purple, Clopet clearly lays his cards on the table and offers a well-crafted mix of catchy rock and captivating ballads. Tracks like 'Proximity Bomb', 'Superficiality Is A Sin' and the closing 'Black Panther Party' clearly support Clopet's claim that 'Sir Psycho Sexy' "changed his whole disposition" - the hint of the Chili Peppers is plain for all to hear. In between, Tristan has the opportunity to manifest his lyrical and vocal skills, an opportunity which he grasps with both hands, in particular on 'So Alive', my personal favourite.

Purple is a well-produced EP and Clopet shows he has the potential to take his prowess one stage further, should the opportunity to cut an album arise. NME-Europe looks forward to it.

NC

The EP is available on "a radiohead" at http://tristanclopet.com/, so you can pay what you like for it. If you're feeling the financial pinch, NME-Europe is giving away 3 copies, along with a Tristan Clopet t-shirt. All you have to do is visit our Facebook page, become a fan and add a comment to the Tristan Clopet note. There'll be a t-shirt on the way to our favourite comments.

Before you do, have a listen to the EP on our player.

Last 5 NME-Europe reviews:
Los Planetas: 'Una Opera Egipcia'
Cybiont: 'Angels And Demons'
Two Door Cinema Club: 'Tourist History'
The Soft Pack: 'The Soft Pack'
Los Punsetes: 'LP2'

Read all NME-Europe reviews

Album Review: The Golden Filter

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

The Golden Filter: 'Voluspa' (Brille)

1. Dance Around The Fire
2. Hide Me
3. Look Me In The Eye
4. Moonlight Fantasy
5. Solid Gold
6. The Underdogs
7. Stardust
8. Frejya's Ghost
9. Kiss Her Goodbye
10. Nerida's Gone
11. Thunderbird
12. Here We Go Again

It would appear that 2010 is the year of electro-pop. It started with Delphic, continued with Two Door Cinema Club and Chew Lips and now The Golden Filter have gatecrashed the party. This New York duo have being playing hard to get ever since 'Solid Gold' first started drawing attention back in 2008, but there is no doubt that it has been worth the wait.

From the opening string chords on 'Dance Around The Fire', you are aware that this is not just another debut album. Penelope Trappes' delicate, captivating vocals - recalling Elizabeth Fraser - coupled with Stephen Hindman's gripping arrangements make for a quality piece of work - for once the hype is justified.

Whilst it is only natural for 'Solid Gold' to be focal point - and let's face it, it's hard not to get hooked on it - there are numerous other tracks on the album which are worthy of mention. The aforementioned 'Dance Around The Fire', together with the bouncy 'Hide Me' and the infectious 'Look Me In The Eye' form a cracking opening to the album. The tempo is lowered on the spacey 'Moonlight Fantasy' before the synths kick back in for 'Solid Gold'.

What an opening half to the album! And it's not all over there. 'Stardust' and 'Frejya's Ghost' still keep the engine ticking over, whilst the thunderous 'Thunderbird' will surely be a dancefloor hit this summer. In between, moments of intricate detail on 'The Underdogs' or 'Nerida's Gone' prove that this is duo aren't just a one-track band.

As someone who likes a guitar, I find myself blown away once more by an electronic sound. The synths are back in town and by God they sound good!

NC

NME-Europe rating: 8.5/10
Top Track: 'Hide Me'

Watch a vid...

Last 5 NME-Europe reviews:
Los Planetas: 'Una Opera Egipcia'
Cybiont: 'Angels And Demons'
Two Door Cinema Club: 'Tourist History'
The Soft Pack: 'The Soft Pack'
Los Punsetes: 'LP2'

Read all NME-Europe reviews

NME-Europe Live: SOS 4.8 2010 - Primer día

noreply@blogger.com (Juan Francisco Hernández) — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:44:00 +0000

read in English

Jueves, 4 de la tarde y un sol de justicia cae sobre Murcia. Empieza el SOS4.8 con el acto inaugural de ponernos la pulsera, una pulsera que será nuestro distintivo durante los próximos dos días y la que, al mirarla, establecerá ese aire de complicidad entre los "sosers" que llenamos Murcia por unas horas. Un vez iniciados en el rito, con la caña gratis incluída, ya empezamos a entablar esas conversaciones que enriquecen un festival y que, como dice la parte inglesa de este blog, hay que estar en la arena para poder disfrutar de los conciertos y de todo lo que hay alrededor, aunque algunos pierdan la perspectiva desde la zona VIP.

The Sunday Drivers. Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

El viernes llegamos temprano, demasiado si quieres aguantar hasta el final, pero disfrutamos de uno de los mejores conciertos, en cuanto a la calidad del sonido, del festival: The Sunday Drivers. Los manchegos, una de esas bandas que nunca falla, sonaron excepcionalmente bien, muy limpios, como dirían los entendidos. Canciones como 'Do it', 'On my mind' o 'My plan' hacen vibrar y saltar al público y a mí, aunque a veces su música es demasiado happy-happy. Esto empieza bien.

The Horrors. Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

A continuación, espera, hemos quedado y los móviles no funcionan, o es el mío. No, todo el mundo está igual, nos perdemos el comienzo de The Horrors, desde la distancia no aprecio bien su sonido, pero son contundentes y oscuros, muy oscuros. Me acerco y llenan el escenario, tienen presencia y mucha calidad. Las últimas canciones son una pasada, qué lástima no haber estado más tiempo.

Los Planetas. Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

Aunque en otros escenarios hay más conciertos decidimos quedarnos a ver a Los Planetas, su Ópera Egipcia es uno de los mejores discos del año (y mira que han salido buenos discos en el 2010), pero no suenan bien. A Jota se le entiende, pero hay acoples y el sonido no es el mejor. En la prensa, división de opiniones. Comienzan con la instrumental, y preciosa, Llave De Oro' y van alternando clásicos como 'Rey sombra', 'Santos Que Yo Te Pinté' o 'Pesadilla En El Parque De Atracciones' con algunos de sus mejores temas del último disco: 'Una Corona De Espinas', 'Señora De Las Alturas', 'Soy Un Pobre Granaíno' y 'Romance De Juan De Osuna'. Incluso sale La Bien Querida para compartir 'No Sé Como Te Atreves', bonita, aunque no es de lo que más me gusta. Me recuerdan a Pimpinela pero en plan indie. No serán los mejores del festival, pero se nos hace corto, nos faltan muchos temas de la banda sonora de nuesta vida.

Franz Ferdinand. Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

Y llegan los esperados Franz Ferdinand, suenan los primeros acordes de 'Aut Achse', y nos ponemos nerviosos, aparecen en el escenario, lo llenan, presencia y sonido, son la estrella del festival y se nota. A partir de aquí, bailamos, casi todo el público del SOS4.8 estaba allí y mereció la pena. Casi una hora y cuarenta minutos de pura explosión musical, con un sonido impecable y una fuerza descomunal. Me cuentan que su caché se llevó la mitad del presupuesto, pero se lo curraron. En este enlace tenéis el setlist del concierto, en el que fueron mezclando temas de sus tres discos casi sin descanso y en los que Alex Kapranos demostró que es un buen vocalista pero además un excepcional músico. Como premio, una batucada con los cuatro músicos escoceses percusionando sus baterías enérgicamente, energía que transmitieron a un público entregado.

Y después, con ganas de ver a Hot Chip, el cuerpo dijo basta, muchas horas de baile sin descanso, hacen mella en nuestras ganas de seguir y decidimos irnos a descansar que todavía queda... ¡el sábado!

JFH

Por cierto, Radio 3 grabó varios conciertos. Los puedes escuchar aquí.

Puedes ver más imágenes oficiales en la página Facebook de NME-Europe y para más artículos sobre el SOS4.8, pincha aquí.

Album Review: April's Top Of The Pops

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

April was a busy month, but there was still time to listen to some real quality...

Cybiont: 'Angels And Demons' (rating 8.25/10)
Often, when a an album is classified as "intriguing" it usually means the same as when you classify a girl as "friendly". However, in the case of Cybiont's 'Angels and Demons' such euphemisms go flying out of the window. In fact this album goes beyond intriguing, it is fabulously fascinating. Read more.

Los Planetas: 'Una Opera Egipcia' (rating 9/10)
15 years on, lead singer J and Co. have once again managed to surpass that expectation and produce another album, their eighth, which can only serve to convince their legion of unconditional fans that they are from another dimension. Read more.

Caribou: 'Swim' (rating 7/10)
Hypnotic rhythms combine with thumping bassline grooves (check out 'Leave House') on Canadian Dan Snaith's third release.

Klaus & Kinski: 'Tierra Trágalos' (rating 7/10)
Quirky pop from this Murcian combo, who are making quite a name for themselves across Spain. Needs a couple of listens to get used to it.

Kyte: 'Dead Waves' (rating 7.5/10)
Delicate lyrics with emotive melodies result in a more than acceptable album, especially if you're feeling poignant.

Chew Lips: 'Unicorn' (rating 7/10)
Promising debut from London-based electro-pop trio. Some of the singles are destined to be dancefloor favourites this summer.

NC & JFH

Have a listen...

Also available on Spotify.

Read previous monthly summaries.

NME-Europe Live: Review of SOS 4.8 Festival 2010 (II)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Part two in NME-Europe's review of the SOS4.8 Festival, takes a look at Saturday's gigs...

Saturday

A mid-afternoon deluge almost managed to washout the second day (the organisers were seriously considering cancelling all the gigs due to the risk of an electrical storm). The sun appeared just in the nick of time, but unfortunately local boys Varry Brava were unable to take the stage. Having earned the right to be there after winning the TalentoSOS Battle of the Bands, this must have been hugely disappointing for them and, despite having been promised a spot at next year's festival, you can't help but feel that things could have been re-shuffled a little to give them time to play.

In any case, all the sets on the main stage suffered delays, as final sound checks had to be carried out during each break, which meant I was just in time to see the first act of the evening.

Nada Surf (Estrella Levante Stage)
Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

What a wonderful start to the evening. Nada Surf are another band who know how to play to a festival crowd and soon got everyone moving with their own brand of power pop, combining tracks from their five releases and a few cover versions taken from recent release If I Had A Hi-Fi, most notably 'Enjoy The Silence' (Depeche Mode) and 'Evolución' (originally by Spanish band Mecromina).

Mystery Jets (Estrella Levante Stage)
Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

Mystery Jets were another band I was looking forward to and I was not disappointed. They are most definitely 'quirky', but it's precisely that characteristic that makes them so enjoyable. They played a fine set, relying mainly on tracks from Twenty One, where none of crowd favourites - 'Two Doors Down', 'Half In Love With Elizabeth' and 'Young Love', my particular favourite - were missing. The Londoners also previewed a few tracks from their soon-to-be-released album Serotonin, which sounded very promising indeed, in particular 'Flash A Hungry Smile', which is currently available as a free download on their website.

I think, in general, most of the crowd liked what they saw, I certainly did!

Dorian (Jagermeister Stage)

Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

With my Spanish associate hanging round for The Magic Numbers (more from him later), I went across to the 'second' stage to check out Catalans Dorian. Heaving was an understatement and with bands of the calibre of Dorian, Love of Lesbian or Crystal Castles making appearances there and assuming the level of quality would go down in the future, it's clear this stage needs to be bigger.

Dorian are pure energy. Their particular brand of indietronica with expert lyrics have brought them to the fore on the national scene. The partisan crowd looking for a chance to 'strut their stuff' were certainly not disappointed as the quartet powered through the tracks from the latest album La Ciudad Subterránea, where tracks like 'Verter Amanecer' or the thundering 'La Tormenta De Arena' stood out. This was the first time I'd seen them on stage and I certainly hope it won't be the last. In fact, I'd put them in the top 3 of this year's festival.

Love Of Lesbian (Jagermeister Stage)
Another band I'd really been looking forward to seeing was Barcelona's Love Of Lesbian. Their 2009 release 1999 was remarkably successful in Spain, but they didn't really get off to the best of starts on Saturday night. Some horrible feedback on the bass and a weak microphone for lead singer Santi Balmes meant LOL endured a sluggish start and, despite a strong finish with classics like 'Club De Fans De John Boy' or 'Algunas Plantas', I'm sure they'd be the first to agree this wasn't their best peformance ever. Nevermind, they'll be back in the region in September for the B-Side festival, so we'll give them another bite at the cherry then. (sorry about the lack of a photo. None were provided, seemed like the Gods were against them for everything!).

There was still more to come, the electronica was about to kick in, with Orbital and Fatboy Slim in turn due on stage. I, though, decided that enough was enough, but before leaving still managed to catch the end of the Madness set, 'Baggy Trousers' and all. A fitting end to a wonderful weekend. Here's to SOS 2011!

NC

You can listen to some of the concerts from Saturday here. And if you haven't read the NME-Europe review from Friday, you can do so here.

To view more images from the event, check out the photo album on our facebook page.

You can read more NME-Europe articles about the SOS 4.8 Festival here.

NME-Europe Live: Review of SOS 4.8 Festival 2010 (I)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

And so it came to pass, the 2010 SOS4.8 Festival took control of Murcia this weekend and some 48 hours it turned out to be!

Before we talk about the musical side of things, I think it only fair to comment on the general impression the event has caused and I think it's also fair to say the the third edition of the festival has been the best yet in terms of general organisation - in just three years, SOS4.8 has firmly established itself as one of the major players in the Spanish festival season.

The organising committee clearly learnt their lessons from the previous edition, where a huge increase in spectators was not well-catered for, resulting in an insufficient infrastructure in general; difficult accessibility and transitions between stages, long queues for basic needs (i.e. toilets and bars) and overcrowding for the main bands, Prodigy in particular. Many feared the worst when it was announced that there would be yet another significant increase in capacity for the 2010 event (from 25,000 to 35,000 per day), but any of those doubting Thomas's (myself included) who attended were made to eat humble pie.

A change in the stage layout made movement around the festival much easier, getting in was painless and perhaps most importantly getting served or "paying a visit" were stress-free activities, particularly on the main stage.

Before the powers that be get too carried away, we should point out a couple of areas were improvements are required. First of all, one which we at NME-Europe are sure they are well aware of already - the 'campsite'. Living in the city meant this was not an issue, but the general consensus seemed to be that it was nothing short of disastrous (there's even a Facebook group "I survived the SOS4.8 campsite"!). In their defence, they will probably say that it was set up at the last minute to satisfy the demand, but still there's plenty of work to be done there to justify the 30€ price tag and avoid another avalanche of complaints next year.

Secondly, the second stage. With the quality of act on show, at times it was a little over-populated and anyone who tried moving back a little to have a bit of breathing space found themselves enduring a conflict of sounds flying at them from both stages. Given that next year will almost certainly be as popular, if not more than this year, it will be interesting to see how this matter is dealt with. Dare I say it, a new location might be in order.

All in all, though hats off to SOS4.8, the 2010 festival has been staggeringly fantastic.

Now, on with the "important" bit; the music....

This was a big event for NME-Europe too. A little more than a year into our career, and despite having repeatedly punched above our weight to secure some interviews - special thanks at this point in time to Inkeys, Varry Brava, The Leadings, The Sunday Drivers, We Are Standard and Tindersticks for succumbing to our 'guerrilla tactics' -, we were nothing less than shocked to be awarded an official media accreditation for the event.

Those organising the media at SOS, and Barcelona's En Silencio, deserve real praise for allowing the minnows the chance to develop their projects (thanks to Marc and Pedro, who have been extremely helpful throughout).

This meant we had to take our first 'executive' decision - did we risk looking like 'hangers-on' in the press area, possibly bumping into our arch-enemies (the corporate NME) or did we maintain our usual posture, hit the tarmac - literally - and tell music it like it is. After deep thought, we went for the latter. Decision number two was even more difficult - with some many acts to see and such a small staff, who did we choose to cover? In many cases it was not an easy choice. Sometimes, we were able to take a decision based on the fact that we were more likely to see some bands again soon (that's why Mystery Jets got the nod ahead of We Are Standard, the latter will be back in the region in September), but choosing between Crystal Castles and Franz Ferdinand was an almost unfair task, whilst the unfortunate thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon which, by the way, almost forced a complete wipeout on Day 2 (the organisers had serious doubts as to whether it was safe to go ahead with all the lightning flying around) meant some 'must dos' coincided directly.

Here's the result....

Friday

Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

The Sunday Drivers (Estrella Levante Stage)
Other commitments meant the earliest the English half of NME-Europe could get there was three quarters of the way through their set. Nevertheless, that was enough to appreciate the warmth of the crowd and the excellent quality of their sound. The classic 'Do It' seemed to be a fitting start to the evening ahead.

Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

The Horrors (Estrella Levante Stage)
The question beforehand was "would The Horrors fit in at SOS4.8?" Fantastic stage presence and an obliterating, often hypnotic wall of noise were the positives, but Faris and crew never managed to connect with the public and you get the feeling that Primary Colours is an album to be digested in the comfort of your own home. Indeed, they seemed to be a little out of sync with the rest of the bill (even admitting themselves that there was no other group they liked playing alongside them on Friday in an interview with the local paper La Opinion).

Los Planetas (Estrella Levante Stage)

Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

Regular readers know my stance on Los Planetas (read the recent review here) and in my opinion this set typified their greatness. Sticking largely to tracks from their last two releases, Jota and Co. put in a musically astounding performance, albeit slightly short at just under an hour in total. Immaculate lighting and sound (something not always so common during their festival appearances) accompanied the highlights of La Leyenda Del Espacio and, in particular, recent release Una Opera Egipicia. Still 'shellshocked' by the grandure of the new album, it was nice to see it performed so well live, with tracks such as 'Romance de Juan Osona', 'No Sé Como Te Atreves' (accompanied, predictably, by La Bien Querida, who had herself performed earlier on in the evening on the MondoSonoro Stage) and 'Soy Un Pobre Granaino' being particularly well-received by the discerning public. Without conceding too many "blasts from the past" - although the reappearance of 'Rey Sombra' was an unexpected surprise - the Granada boys did enough to keep their loyal supporters satisfied - the ranting 'Pesadilla En El Parque De Atracciones' signalling the end to their short but sweet (in their own twisted way) set.

Image courtesy of SOS Festival/Equipo Helmet

Franz Ferdinand (Estrella Levante Stage)
Since their participation had been confirmed, it was clear that Alex Kapranos et al were going to be one of the main attractions of the festival. They did not disappoint, in fact they surpassed all expectations. Franz Ferdinand know how to play a festival and they produced an absolute blinder of a performance that will have those who were fortunate enough to witness it talking about it for many a year to come. One hour forty minutes (how often does that happen nowadays?) of relentless quality taking spectators on a Franz Ferdinand hit parade which spans their three albums. All the classics were there, 'Take Me Out', 'Do You Want To', 'Micheal', 'This Fire', 'No You Girls', 'What She Came For' and there was even time for a breathtaking team drum 'solo' on 'Outsiders' (I think - I was too delirious to take note!). In a nutshell, they were up for it, the crowd were up for it and the result was the best gig of the weekend (for me, at least).

That was enough for one night. Hot Chip were up next, but the prospect of an early rise on Saturday, meant I felt the need to pace myself ahead of Saturday's events.

Spain's Radio 3 were covering the event. You can listen to some of the concerts here.

See the full photo album on the NME-Europe Facebook page. You can read more NME-Europe articles about the SOS 4.8 Festival here.

Saturday's review to follow...

NC

Album Review: Los Planetas

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Los Planetas: 'Una Opera Egipcia' (Sony Records)

1. La Llave De Oro
2. Una Corona De Estrellas
3. Soy Un Pobre Granaino (Colombiana)
4. Siete Faroles
5. No Sé Como Te Atreves
6. Señora De Las Alturas
7. La Veleta
8. Romance De Juan Osuna
9. Atravesando Los Montes
10. Virgen De La Soledad
11. La Pastora Divina
12. Los Poetas

If you don't live in Spain, there's a good chance you're wondering "Who?" Don't stop reading.

Hailing from Granada, Los Planetas have long since been considered the kings of the Spanish indie scene (on a personal level, they rank in my top 10 bands of all time) and the expectation generated by their releases parallels that of any top British or US act.

15 years on, lead singer J and Co. have once again managed to surpass that expectation and produce another album, their eighth, which can only serve to convince their legion of unconditional fans that they are from another dimension.

A sign of a truly great band is their ability to develop their sound each album, exploring new sounds and this is what Los Planetas are masters of. Their Manchester-sound, mixed with the Andalucian sun had always produced stunning results (try debut album Super 8 or Una Semana En El Motor De Un Autobus) but that wasn't enough, they needed to try something new.

There were clear signs of the shift on previous album La Leyenda Del Espacio (2007) when the flamenco influence - only natural for a band from Granada - started to 'invade' the characteristic sound of distorted guitars, psychodelic samples and intricate, often twisted lyrics. The more recent EP Cuatro Palos (taking its name from the four main styles of flamenco) was a clear declaration that this was not a whim and Una Opera Egipcia has developed that idea even further, signalling the culmination of the Planeta-flamenco fusion.

Any doubts (if there were any), however, that Los Planetas were going to go all 'Gypsy Kings' are dramatically dispelled on the opening track 'La Llave De Oro', a lyric-free intro to get you in the right frame of mind. 'Una Corona De Estrellas' and, in particular, 'Soy Un Pobre Granaino' complete with classic Planetesque keyboard introduction are clear signs that J and crew haven't forgotten their roots, while 'Siete Farolas' shows the first real signs of the flamenco influence.

The tempo is reduced and things get a little more introspective with 'No Sé Como Te Atreves' (aided by a more than notable collaboration from rising star La Bien Querida) followed by the exquisite 'Señora De Las Alturas', one of the highlights of the album and destined to become another crowd favourite - a sublime 'shoegazing' moment.

"si te quedas conmigo
para que pueda contarte
lo mucho que te necesito
aunque creo que ya lo sabes
voy a volver a decirlo
que te quiero mas que nadie
que te sigo queriendo lo mismo
para que alivies mis males
señora de mis abismos"

The pseudo-poetic 'La Veleta' (again with La Bien Querida') is dwarfed by 'Romance De Juan Osuna', possibly Los Planetas' clearest example of their newly created sound. Thundering guitars, with the distorsion pedal doing overtime again and Jotas' obsession with poppies is clearly evident once more.

Content, and with the freedom to do whatever they feel like, without really worrying what anyone thinks, Los Planetas indulge themselves in some deeper Flamenco experimentation during the run-in, with the hypnotic 'Virgen De La Soledad' and the extravagant 'La Pastora Divina' (accompanied by the 'authentic' Flamenco legend, Enrique Morente) testing the listeners' mettle, but ultimately coming up trumps. Closing track 'Los Poetas' typically brings the album to an agonising close on what, quite clearly is a masterpiece.

In flamenco circles, the term "Opera Egipcia" ("Egyptian Opera") is used to suggest that an artist has reached the pinnacle, so the question begs "will they continue?" My partner (compañera "de viaje" throughout Los Planetas' career) suggests this will be their finale and she could be right (she usually is!). I still have my doubts, but for now I'm not going to worry about it too much - I'm too busy enjoying the moment.

NC

NME-Europe rating: 9/10
Top Track: 'Señora De Las Alturas'

Watch a vid...

Last 5 NME-Europe reviews:
Cybiont: 'Angels And Demons'
Two Door Cinema Club: 'Tourist History'
The Soft Pack: 'The Soft Pack'
Los Punsetes: 'LP2'
The Courteeners: 'Falcon'

Read all NME-Europe reviews

NME-Europe Live: SOS 4.8 Festival - Tindersticks

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com

It's been a pretty good week for NME-Europe as it continues with the build-up for the SOS4.8 Festival. Having received confirmation that the site will be getting a press pass for the event, we have also been fortunate enough to get the opinion of one of the main attractions at the event, Tindersticks. In the last of our pre-festival interviews, percussionist and keyboard player David Boulter talks to us about their imminent visit to Murcia.

NME-Europe: So, David, will this be your first time in Murcia? If so, have you got much of a clue as to whereabouts you're headed?
DB: I remember playing in Murcia at least once. Maybe 8-9 years ago. I'm afraid I don't remember much. Memories usually get triggered by being somewhere again, or an incident. I'm sure I'll remember when we get there. I do know we enjoyed it. I always remember the bad times.

Actually, they'll be playing in exactly the same place. It'll be interesting to see how the organisation goes for this part of the event. Tindersticks will play their set in an indoor arena which has a capacity of around 2,000. With an estimated 33,000 visitors expected each day, the simple maths suggest there are going to be some disappointed people who don't get to see them. Time will tell there.

NME-Europe: Have you played any of the other 'big' Spanish festivals?
DB: We've done Primavera Sound a few times, and FIB. Sonar rings a bell, but I could be wrong.

NME-Europe: Was there any reason in particular that made you accept the chance to play at the SOS 4.8 Festival? Did you know it even existed?
DB: Spanish festivals are some of the most enjoyable we do. I had heard of SOS 4.8. It's the first date of our next tour. We've just finished touring northern Europe, during a very harsh winter. So the idea of Spain and warmer climates is very appealing right now.

Well, the forecast is good, so I don't think you're going to be disappointed with that!

NME-Europe: What do you make of the organisation so far?
DB: I haven't heard any complaints.

Funnily enough, it's gone up in our estimations this week too!

NME-Europe: What are the main differences between playing at a festival in Spain and the UK?
DB: The right UK festival is still very good. It depends what you want. I'm not a big fan of the larger festivals, and we often feel out of place. The Green Man, End Of The Road, ATP things are great. For some reason most European festivals seem more open to us. We have a good feeling from Spanish festivals so far.

NME-Europe: Of the other bands involved, who will you be taking time out to see?
DB: I'd like to see The Horrors. I'll have to see what else is on.

They might just be able to take in about half of their set before they go on stage themselves. It's a shame Tindersticks clash with Los Planetas, as I think they'd probably enjoy them as well.

NME-Europe: Well, thanks a lot David. Hope you enjoy the festival.
DB: Cheers. Maybe see you for a beer or a few glasses of Spanish Red when we get there.

Well, NME-Europe would certainly be honoured to continue this chat over a drink. Before we crack out the "Juan Gil" have a look at what we can expect when TIndersticks take the stage on Friday.

NC

You can read more NME-Europe articles on the SOS 4.8 Festival here.

NME-Europe Live: SOS 4.8 Festival 2010 - We Are Standard

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:00:00 +0000

leer en español

photo by Keina García

Just 8 days to go and, as many have observed, SOS fever is starting to set in. As part of NME-Europe's featured coverage of the festival we have been fortunate enough to be able to talk to a national product (they're from Bilbao) who are about to cross "the final frontier".

We Are Standard have been making quite a name for themselves In Spain with their electro-indie tunes (MTV voted them best Spanish act of 2009) and are about to take the plunge by releasing their album in the UK. Next week is a big one for these vascos, with an international album release and a slot at the SOS Festival, but they we good enough to speak to us and give us their thoughts on the event.

NME-Europe: Thanks for talking to us guys. So, will this be your first time in Murcia? Do you know what you're letting yourselves in for?
WAS: We've played in Murcia a couple of times and in Cartagena too. We know about the red shrimps, the sea, the warm weather... we know where we are going.

They certainly do (they forgot to mention the wonderful people, but in the main they know the score!)

NME-Europe: This is your first time at SOS, but have you played any of the other 'big' Spanish festivals?

WAS: We've played a lot of them. Indeed, last year we played the main stage at FIB after Oasis and Glasvegas.

NME-Europe: Was there any reason in particular (apart from monetary!) that made you accept the chance to play at the SOS 4.8 Festival?
WAS: No, we just play for money and food. The beaches around are a good excuse too. Let's hope we get good weather.

To be honest, I think most people will be happy that the Volcanic dust has disappeared more than hoping for sun!

NME-Europe: What do you make of the organisation so far?

WAS: It looks good. Just looking at the bands that are playing you can say it's a big festival.

Indeed. We are definitely getting excited!

NME-Europe: Of the other bands involved, who will you be taking time out to see?
WAS: We won't miss the Hot Chip and the Crystal Castles gigs.

NME-Europe: Thanks a lot then, lads. Look forward to seeing you next week.
WAS: Yeah, we're really looking forward to playing in such an important festival and to introducing our album to the people that may come from the UK, coinciding with its release over there.

Well, NME-Europe is convinced We Are Standard will prove to be a hit in 'Blighty' and suggests you all have a listen to their material, or better still grab copy of their album. You can visit their website for more information, meanwhile he's a glimpse of what they're capable of on stage.

NC

You can read more NME-Europe articles on the SOS 4.8 Festival here.

Album Review: Cybiont

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Cybiont: 'Angels And Demons'

1. Take Me To The Moon
2. Hold On
3. Demon On My Shoulder
4. Angel In The Closet
5. Butterflies
6. American Cowboy
7. Pig
8. Doubt
9. Die Tomorrow
10. Motion Sickness
11. Spare Roots
12. The Inner Child
13. What Happened To The Time?
14. Maybe Tomorrow
15. Thanks...
16. Passing By

Often, when a an album is classified as "intriguing" it usually means the same as when you classify a girl as "friendly". However, in the case of Cybiont's 'Angels and Demons' such euphemisms go flying out of the window. In fact this album goes beyond intriguing, it is fabulously fascinating.

Having released a debut album 'A Trilogy Of Random Thoughts And Considerations' so recently as October 2009, Cybiont's prolific song-writing has enabled a second helping just 6 months later. More importantly, the quality is on a par with quantity - 'Angels and Demons' is a clear improvement on the original trilogy, especially in musical terms, where the collaborations have certainly produced the desired effect. The result is an album which is atmospheric, dramatic and well-balanced from start to finish.

Lyrically, Cybiont still has a lot to say. There are no hollow melodies here, so you will need a few listens to fully appreciate the songs' value. Given the intricate nature of the album you find yourself drawn deeper into Cybiont's Angels and Demons which each listen and tracks like 'Hold On', 'Angel In The Closet' and 'Die Tomorrow' will all stand out. However, it is 'Butterflies' which probably sums the general feel of the album up the best, a haunting track which gives you a sense of what is going on in 'cybiontville'.

In an age where 'music by numbers' is the order of the day, it's refreshing to hear something like Angels And Demons.

NC

NME-Europe rating: 8.25/10
Top Track: 'Butterflies'

You can buy the album on iTunes.

Last 5 NME-Europe reviews:
Two Door Cinema Club: 'Tourist History'
The Soft Pack: 'The Soft Pack'
Los Punsetes: 'LP2'
The Courteeners: 'Falcon'
Hot Chip: 'One Life Stand'

Read all NME-Europe reviews

NME-Europe Live: The New Raemon, Sala Stereo, Murcia

noreply@blogger.com (Juan Francisco Hernández) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:00:00 +0000

read in English

The New Raemon: Bonitas y hermosas canciones

Fecha: Jueves, 15 de abril de 2010

Grupo: The New Raemon.

Local: Sala Stereo – Murcia.

Calificación: Muy interesante.

"....tu me hablas de colchones, yo te agobio con canciones, de deseos miserables, de una vida de desastres, sonarán todos los clasicos y un quejido lastimoso, varios puntos de sutura, todos los clichés de una ruptura".

El pasado jueves, 15 de abril, nos reconciliamos con el mundo (murciano) al llegar a una sala Stereo y encontrarnos con casi medio aforo bailando y cantando los temas que Ramón Rodríguez ha compuesto para su proyecto en solitario llamado "The New Raemon". Además otra sorpresa al entrar, nos "topamos" casi literalmente con dos miembros de la banda Standstill, Ricky Lavado (batería) y Ricky Falkner (bajo), que acompañan a Ramón en la gira, y que junto a Pablo Garrido (Sanpedro) a las guitarras y Marc Prats (Madee) en los teclados, forman un grupazo que hicieron las delicias de los que nos atrevimos a salir un jueves, teniendo que trabajar al día siguiente bastante tempranito.

Comenzaron por uno de sus mejores temas, 'La Cafetera', una canción pop de poco más de dos minutos en la que ya demostraron la calidad de su sonido y que lo mejor estaba por venir. Ramón y su banda desgranaron casi por completo los dos discos que tienen publicados, e incluso tocaron dos versiones de los también catalanes Nueva Vulcano, una de ellas "Te Debo Un Baile", integrada en su último EP, Cuaresma (2010), me encantó el cambio del rock al pop que hacen y sin perder la esencia del tema original.

De su primer disco "A Propósito De Garfunkel", el más coreado por los asistentes, escuchamos, además de La Cafetera, con la que abrieron el show, '¡Hoy Estreno!', 'Fuera Complejos', 'El Saben Aquel Que Diu', 'Mil Gracias', 'Hundir La Flota' y la maravillosa 'Tú, Garfunkel', con la que cerraron la primera parte del concierto, y que fue, simplemente, emocionante. De su segundo largo, "La Dimensión Desconocida" y desconocido para mi hasta esa noche, descubrí otros grandes temas: 'La Siesta, Variables', 'Dramón Rodríguez', 'La Gran Caída' (con confusión incluida en su inicio, el "do" no aparecía en ninguna cuerda. Risas, carcajadas) y 'Sucedáneos', entre otras.

Un concierto, en fin, emocionante e inolvidable, con un sonido maravilloso y un público entregado a sus letras oscuras y duras envueltas en melodías alegres y naif. También tuvimos reportera gráfica de la web tilllate.com, que se nos acercó para fotografiarnos a nosotros y a nuestras chapas. Echamos de menos a alguno de los críticos de la escena murciana, que cada vez se les ve menos a pie de calle.

JFH

Y el video de La Cafetera...

Last 5 live reviews on NME-Europe:
Final TalentoSOS (Murcia, March 2010)
Clint (Murcia, Marzo 2010)
Neuman y Capsula (Murcia, Febrero 2010)
B-Side Festival (Molina de Segura, Septiembre 2009)
Lemon Pop Festival (Murcia, Septiembre 2009)

Read all NME-Europe Live articles.

Album Review: March's Top Of The Pops

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

read in English

Plenty going on in March. Here's what was top of NME-Europe's pops:

Hot Chip: 'One Life Stand' (rating 7.5/10)
Opening track 'Thieves In The Night' seriously suggests this is going to be the one, a rampaging combination of deadly drums and sizzling samples ensures that 'Thieves' is the sort of track to hang about the eardrums for a while. Read more.

The Courteeners: 'Falcon' (rating 8.5/10)
Those of you expecting more 'Cavorting', 'What Took You So Long?' or 'Not Nineteen Forever'-type tracks are not going to find them here, but don't be mistaken, Falcon is a terrific album in it's own right and one Fray and the gang can be extremely satisfied with. Read more.

Los Punsetes: 'LP2' (rating 7.5/10)
Probablemente, dentro de unos años, no los escuche, sus canciones pierdan fuerza y no aguanten el paso del tiempo, pero ahora me divierte su música, y me lo paso bien escuchando sus letras llenas de ironía y acidez, que indagan en el “lado oscuro” del ser humano. Read more.

The Soft Pack: 'The Soft Pack' (rating 7/10)
An engaging combination of punk, garage and even grunge are in order for anyone who decides to give this four-piece an opportunity. Ten tracks in a little more than 30 minutes (with the first eight in just 20) give you a pretty good indication of the tempo on display. Read more.

Two Door Cinema Club: 'Tourist History' (rating 8.5/10)
A blistering combination of enticing electro and captivating guitar riffs are on display throughout the little more than 30 minute visit to this particular movie theatre. The pace is relentless as a series of catchy, easily enjoyable hits ensure the listener's attention is not allowed to wane at any time. Read more.

We also had a little time for....

Good Shoes: 'No Hope, No Future' (rating 7/10)
More intricate, indeed introspective follow up album from this London band. Not quite as engaging as their wonderful debut, but worth a listen.

Efterklang: 'Magic Chairs' (rating 7.5/10)
These 'Great Danes' are capable of some wonderful harmonies and Casper Clausen's lead vocals are sublime.

Midlake: The Courage Of Others' (rating 7/10)
More blissful crooning from this lo-fi Texan quintet.

NC & JFH

Have a listen for yourselves....

Also available on Spotify.

Read previous monthly summaries.

NME-Europe Live: SOS 4.8 Festival 2010 - The Sunday Drivers

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

leer en español

As temperatures start to rise in Murcia and (SOS4.8) festival fever sets in, NME-Europe returns from its Easter break with the second in a series of interviews with some of the bands who'll be featuring at this year's event. Toledo's The Sunday Drivers have been one of Spain's most consistent bands on the indie scene since they started out in 1999. They've played at most of the top national festivals and will be at SOS for the first time this year. Here's what they had to say about the forthcoming event:

NME-Europe: You guys have been around a while. Surely this can't be the first time you've visited Murcia?
TSD: No, it's not our first time in Murcia. We've played there about four times, I think (and loved it every time!), in Lemon Pop festival, and a venue called Garaje de la Tia Maria.

NME-Europe: You're no strangers to the big Spanish festivals either, are you?
TSD: That's right. Fortunately, we've played most of the big Spanish festivals; Benicasim 3 times (the last time with an orchestra on the main stage no less!!), Sonorama various times, Summercase, Contempopranea, BAM etc....It's always great to play a festival for the sheer size of the audience, the thrill, and the fact that you get to play with tons of top groups and watch their set from the side of the stage!

NME-Europe: Talking of the other bands, who will you be hoping to see during the event?
TSD: As my girlfriend is a big fan of Franz Ferdinand, I'll definitely be going to check them out. Actually, we played with them before, in Greece. I've got a rather embarrassing story about our encounter. Backstage our keyboard player saw Alex Kapranos going to get some hummus from the buffet, and beckoned him to our table with the following..."Hey Franz!!..come and take a photo with us!" The rest of us died of shame, but luckily I must say 'Franz' handled it with aplomb. Obviously neither history nor Franz Ferdinand the group are anything that interested our keyboard player!

Hee, hee. I'll bet 'Franz' was well impressed!

NME-Europe: What made you choose this festival? Did you even know it existed? And what do you think of the organisation so far?
TSD: To be honest, I had never heard of the festival, but personally, knowing that Franz Ferdinand and Madness are playing is a big bonus. I don't know much about the organisation either, but they must be doing their job well or I would have heard of them!

NME-Europe: What do you think are the differences between festivals in Spain and the UK?
TSD: I imagine that the unknown bands on the bill don't come from Spain in a British festival....

Good point. However, it'd be hard to classify any of the bands at SOS as 'unknown'. The line-up is pretty impressive.

NME-Europe: Thanks a lot gents, look forward to seeing you during the festival.
TSD: Well, we're really looking forward to coming to play down there, with such distinguished company. I hope to see all the fans and have a good time.

NC

NME-Europe would like to thank The Sunday Drivers for taking the time out to speak to us. They'll be the opening act on the main Estrella Levante stage at 19.45 on Friday 30 April. In the meantime, you can get an idea of what they sound like live in the video below.

You can read more NME-Europe articles on the SOS 4.8 Festival here.

Myspace Magic: The Pin-Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Photo courtesy of The Pin-Ups

The latest MySpace Magic feature takes us about as far away from Liverpool as possible. This week we visit the Philippines to find out more about The Pin-Ups, a quartet whose clean-cut pop has definitely made a good impression at NME-Europe. They also seemed to take a liking to us "NME without the taint of corporate oppression? I like!", so it seemed only natural to find out a little more.

NME-Europe: NME-Europe had to check it's passport validity to get to you guys! Please let the readers know a little about The Pin-Ups.
PU: We're from Manila. We've been signed to Know-It-All Records and Sutton Music Group in the U.S. and have also been included in a compilation under Manchester's Baby Boom Records. Mitch Singson and Raffy Bonifacio alternate on drums (depending on whoever is free!) Ryan Nachura plays lead guitar, Tanya Singh recently replaced Jennifer Tan on bass and vocals (she emigrated to the States) and Mondo (Castro) tries to sing.

NME-Europe: The Pin-Ups? A little vain, don't you think?! What's the reason behind that name?
PU: Well, we used to be called The Pin-Up Girls after Jennifer's Bettie Page T-Shirt.

It seems logical that the 'girls' bit was dropped seeing as though the 'girls' account for only 25% of the line-up (although, many would argue that's enough!)

NME-Europe: What do you sound like?
PU: A lot of people have cited the 80s post-punk, 90s indie sound in our tunes. We love The Cure, Echo And The Bunnymen, The Smiths, Railway Children, Travis, Oasis, The Stone Roses, etc..

A fine pool of artists to draw influences from. There are currently nine tracks available on their MySpace player, so why not have a listen yourselves and see what you think?

NME-Europe: What are your releases to date?
PU: Well, there's Hello Pain (a full album), Taste Test EP, Taste Test: Expanded Menu, All Seats Are Taken and three other compilation albums (from Sony Music Philippines, Baby Boom Records and Jim Bean). We are currently recording an EP.

NME-Europe: How about The Pin-Ups live? Have you got any gigs lined up? And who would you YOU choose to support you, given the choice?
PU: We're playing at one of Manila's best 'holes-in-the-wall' - Route 196. If we were to choose a band, it'd be someone from Manila... either Valet Parking, Paranoid City or The Lowtechs!

NME-Europe: You talked about a lot of 80s and 90s influences, but what's your favourite album at the moment? Can you remember which particular band/album/track got you into music?
PU: Mondo's favourite album of all time is The Stone Roses' debut. My first album was Tears For Fears' 'The Hurting' and it had a profound effect on me.

Hmmm... non-committal on any current albums, then.

NME-Europe: Finally, what can expect to see from The Pin-Ups over the next 12 months or so?
PU: Well, we're playing with a new bassist so we need to get comfy there. There's also the new EP we mentioned, which will be mixed and mastered by Kramer, who's also worked with Galaxie 500 and Low to name a couple.

Seems like The Pin-Ups have a lot on their agenda right now. NME-Europe would like to wish them all the very best and thanks them for taking the time for talking to us. Popping out to see them live might not be an option for most, but a visit to their Myspace page is only a click away.

NC

Photo courtesy of Eddie Boy Escudero

Last 5 NME-Europe interviews:
Buzzradio (Liverpool, UK)
The Manse (Liverpool, UK)
A Number Of Fires (Liverpool, UK)
My Raining Stars (Lyon, France)
Christopher Young (Birkenhead, UK)

Read all NME-Europe interviews

NME-Europe Live: TalentoSOS Final - Reaction From The Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:00:00 +0000

leer en español

A little more than a week ago, NME-Europe offered extensive (and billingual) coverage of the final of the TalentoSOS contest which saw local Murcian bands Inkeys and Varry Brava win a slot at this year's festival, scheduled for the May Bank Holiday weekend.

As the article appeared to create a good deal of interest, we thought readers might also be interested in hearing what the winners had to say for themselves. Here's what Vicente (Varry) and Emilio (Inkeys) made of the event. Hats off to both for doing this in English, by the way.

Winners Varry Brava receive their €1,500 cheque

NME-Europe: So Vicente, Varry Brava were winners. I don't think many were surprised with that decision! Did you see yourselves as favourites before the final?
VB: Hi Nick! Thanks a lot for coming to the final last Thursday night. We didn't see ourselves as favourites at any moment. Even though people told us we were, we thought that the jury had a very difficult decision to make. The quality of the final was excellent, so when Johan Wald (MC) said our name, it was one of the best moments of our lives.

NME-Europe: Despite a growing reputation in the region, I think it's fair to say that you are going to be one of the 'lesser' known bands at the festival. Tell us what the crowd can expect.
VB: To be in the SOS Festival is a prize for us. People who know us will see more of the same: a lot of dancing and a party atmosphere! Let's hope those who still do not know us are pleasantly surprised and join the concert.

Well I, for one, knew little of Varry Brava before last Thursday and I must admit I was really impressed by what I saw. In my opinion, they were the best of the bands on show. I'm sure everyone will enjoy their set, even if their time slot isn't exactly ideal (18.30 on May 1st).

NME-Europe: Which bands will you be watching yourselves?
VB: We don't know! We hope, at least, the manager of one of them will be watching us though! :D

NME-Europe: FInally, Vicente, What are the immediate plans for Varry Brava? What are your plans for 2010.
VB: At the moment, we have one self-published album called 'Ídolo' with 10 songs. We need to play around the country so we are confirming dates very soon! There's more about out forthcoming concerts on www.varrybrava.com. The big one, the SOS Festival, on 1st of May in Murcia!

Thanks a lot Vicente. Might we recommend a visit to that website to check them out. Apart from the concert dates, you can also listen to four tracks from that aforementioned album, plus a rip-snorting remix of 'No Gires' by fellow Murcianos, The Leadings.

Whilst Varry Brava were one of the pre-match favourites (despite claiming they weren't), Totana's Inkeys certainly emerged as the event's dark horses and picked up the other winning prize after a practically faultless display during the final. Here's what Emilio had to say about their gate-crashing antics.

Inkeys walk away from the TalentoSOS final with a 1,500€ cheque and a slot at the SOS Festival

NME-Europe: Emilio. Inkeys joint-winners. I think a lot of people were a little surprised with that decision! Did you honestly think you had a chance of winning?
Ink: Hi Nick. Firstly, we want to thank you for covering the event. It was an excellent night and it is surprising all the expectation the competition has generated.

Obviously we expected to win, if not we would not have done so!! :) No, I'm joking... The level was very high and of course it was difficult to win. Everyone in the room had favourites even before the bands started to play, so maybe the decision was not the correct one for many of them. However, we think the the jury made the right decision. We did a good show and after that show which was the result of many hours of rehearsal.

NME-Europe certainly think Inkeys fully-deserved to take on of the first prizes. Whether you like their style or not, they (along with Varry Brava) were better than the rest on the night, so warranted a winning ticket.

NME-Europe: Obviously, you are going to be one of the 'lesser' known bands at the festival. Tell us what the crowd can expect from Inkeys.
Ink: Well, if we look at this issue in a positive light, people will attend our concert with curiosity and we hope it will be to their liking. Nevertheless, we only think about having a good time at the festival, just the same as when we play at an ordinary concert at another venue.

As with Varry before, I'm sure festival-goers will like what they see (hear!).

NME-Europe: Which bands will you be watching yourselves?
Ink: Nada Surf is a must for everyone in Inkeys but there are other big names in the spotlight. Chris Cunningham, The Magic Numbers... I'm especially looking forward to seeing Lidia Damunt.

NME-Europe: Finally Emilio, what other plans do Inkeys have this year?
Ink: '11 razones para perder el sueño' (their debut album) is still being promoted. April is a busy month for us, not only for the SOS 4.8 (they appear on Friday 30th) but we're also recording some songs for an EP we'd like to release very very soon added to a video recording and a Fiestas de Primavera slot together with Rumor!, Varry Brava and The Leadings. A VERY BUSY MONTH!! After this, we'll split up and form a group of polkas. :)

We hope that the Murcia Scene goes like this for a long time and thanks for making it possible on your part.

Emilio is a likeable character. Inkeys are a likeable band. If you can't make their slot at the SOS4.8 Festival, you could at least check out their Myspace page.

NME-Europe would like to thank Vicente and Emilio for taking the time to talk to them and wish both bands every success at the SOS Festival.

NC

Myspace Magic: BUZZRADIO

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:34:00 +0000

leer en español

Photo courtesy of BUZZRADIO

This week's MySpace Magic feature takes us once more to Liverpool. NME-Europe has been aware of BUZZRADIO for some time now, making mention of their music as long ago as March 2009. There have been a few developments with the band lately, so we decided to formally introduce them to our readers. Here's what Jason (keyboards) had to say.

NME-Europe: So, things have changed a little since we first heard of BUZZRADIO. Can you bring us up to speed on what's been happening with Buzz Radio?
BR: Since we last featured on NME-Europe, a lot has happened and changed with BUZZRADIO. We now have a new line-up, which includes new incorporations Jev on lead guitar, Andy on bass guitar, and Joe M on drums. I remain as the keyboard player and Joe S is still the lead vocalist and guitarist.

NME-Europe: Will a change in line-up bring about a change in sound?
BR: In a way, the change in line-up will bring about a change in sound as they are better musicians than the previous line-up that we had, so if anything, I would refer to it as more of an improvement in sound. I wouldn't say that any two of our songs sound the same in any department, so I wouldn't exactly call it a change in sound in terms of our direction.

NME-Europe: What's on the agenda for the band at the moment? I believe you have some gigs lined up?
BR: That's right. We will be performing live on The Masque Stage of The Liverpool Barfly on Saturday, April 3rd, along with gigs at The Underground Live in Manchester on Saturday, May 29th and BadFormat! in Liverpool on Friday, June 4th, which is a gig which I am especially looking forward to, as there will be two special guest DJs, Paul Gallagher and Alan McGee who discovered Oasis!

We have also just confirmed two gigs at The International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Festival 2010, which will take place on Tuesday, May 25th at The Cavern Club (Main Stage) at 10:30PM and Bank Holiday Monday, May 31st at The Cavern Club (Front Stage) at 2:30PM. The IPO Festival showcases bands not just from Liverpool, but from around the world from such countries as America; Canada; France; Italy; Germany; Spain; Sweden; and more. You wouldn't necessarily get the opportunity to see such a wide variety of bands perform live otherwise, so I recommend a visit!

There are a few gigs which we are also in the final stages of confirming, so stay tuned for more details on them and our current gigs on our MySpace profile.

You can also see details on the NME-Europe gig calendar.

NME-Europe: What about new material? Will we see a release this year?

Photo courtesy of BUZZRADIO
We have new songs in the set list, which I really can't wait for our fans to hear live at our upcoming gigs! The new set list is a mixture of the old and new, and as time goes by with our new line-up we will be able to establish a lengthy set list in the near future.

We have recently had two photo shoots, which both went extremely well, and the pictures can be found on our MySpace and Facebook. Our MySpace profile has a new look to it, which I would have to say thanks to Jev for working with me on it and his contributions, as we worked at it for four hours straight after we completed the second band photo shoot.

There is building work going on at the moment in the place we rehearse at, and it is to install a recording studio into one of the three rehearsal rooms, so this leaves the door open to there perhaps being a new release this year, and it certainly would be great to record an album with previously recorded and unrecorded material with the new line-up.

You can check out seven of our songs and an American radio ad on our MySpace page.

As a special favour to NME-Europe, Jason has sent over 7 tracks to be showcased directly on this page. I think most readers will enjoy this little playlist, a real Northern Brit-sound on show. Without further ado, may I please introduce you to BUZZRADIO, a hard-working band who are certainly going places.

NC.

Photo courtesy of BUZZRADIO

Last 5 NME-Europe interviews:
The Manse (Liverpool, UK)
A Number Of Fires (Liverpool, UK)
My Raining Stars (Lyon, France)
Christopher Young (Birkenhead, UK)
Four Dead In Ohio (Shoreditch, UK)

Read all NME-Europe interviews

Album Review: Two Door Cinema Club

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:00:00 +0000

leer en español

Two Door Cinema Club: Tourist History (Glass Note)

1. Cigarettes In The Theatre
2. Come Back Home
3. Do You Want It All?
4. This Is The Life
5. Something Good Can Work
6. I Can Talk
7. Undercover Martyn
8. What You Know
9. Eat That Up, It's Good For You
10. You Are Not Stubborn

Spring is upon us and having steadily built up a reputation during 2009 with an EP, a single and a couple of remixes, this trio from Northern Ireland have put together a debut release, 'Tourist History', which is guaranteed to put a spring in our step and destined to be one of the 'feel good' albums of 2010.

A blistering combination of enticing electro and captivating guitar riffs are on display throughout the little more than 30 minute visit to this particular movie theatre. The pace is relentless as a series of catchy, easily enjoyable hits ensure the listener's attention is not allowed to wane at any time.

From the opening beat of 'Cigarettes In The Theatre' you get the idea of what is on the agenda here and, whilst it is true to say that there isn't a great deal of variety in the style of the tracks, it's difficult not to get hooked to the beat.

If uncomplicated, unassuming, downright fun music takes your fancy then you will not be disappointed by 'Tourist History'. You'll be hard pressed to find a weakness at all on the album, in fact the only difficulty you'll have is picking out your favourite track. The aforementioned 'Cigarettes In The Theatre', 'Do You Want It All?', 'I Can Talk' or 'Undercover Martyn' all vie for pole position, but it has to be 'Eat That Up, It's Good For You' which earns the honour of NME-Europe favourite for its sensational guitar solo mid-track.

As they croon on 'This Is The Life', "If this is the life then who'd argue?" Who indeed.

NC.

NME-Europe rating: 8.5/10
Top Track: 'Eat That Up, It's Good For You'

Like it, buy it!

Watch a vid!

Last 5 NME-Europe reviews:
The Soft Pack: 'The Soft Pack'
Los Punsetes: 'LP2'
The Courteeners: 'Falcon'
Hot Chip: 'One Life Stand'
Vampire Weekend: 'Contra'

Read all NME-Europe reviews

NME-Europe Live: Final TalentoSOS, Sala 12ymedio, Murcia

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

leer en español

read in English

For the first time the complete 'new and improved' NME-Europe team were together at a gig. Here's what each of us had to make of events...

Date: 18 March 2010

Groups: Inkeys, Newpakets, Los Últimos Bañistas, Varry Brava, Yer Soul

Venue: Sala 12yMedio (Murcia)

Ambientazo en la Sala 12ymedio para la final TalentoSOS 2010.
Un local lleno disfrutó de lo lindo con cinco grupos murcianos de indudable nivel musical, lo que demuestra que el creciente número de salas para tocar en directo ha favorecido el nacimiento de bandas jóvenes en toda la región no-typical, aunque algunos se empeñen en atribuirse el mérito. Además podemos considerar que alguna más podría haber estado la noche del jueves compitiendo por tocar en el SOS 4.8, Neuman por ejemplo.

En lo estrictamente musical Inkeys y Varry Brava se llevaron el premio gordo, 1.500 € y compartir escenario con grandes bandas nacionales e internacionales, eso sí a las 6 y media de la tarde, una hora más taurina que musical, aunque mejor no hablar de toros...

Fueron los mejores sobre el escenario y el jurado creo que acertó. Los totaneros Inkeys abrieron la noche con su canción más rockera y probablemente su mejor tema, "Es mejor", con lo que se ganaron a su público más fiel, aquel que siempre le acompaña en sus conciertos, pero también al resto de la sala. Las demás canciones a mi no me llegan tanto, pero he de reconocer que su sonido es muy sólido y tienen tablas sobre el escenario, a pesar de que les sobra alguna de sus tres guitarras.

El grupo de moda actualmente es Varry Brava y los demostraron, su italopop es bailable, divertido y con calidad, tienen presencia en el escenario y sus hits 'No Gires' y 'Radioactivo', con los que terminaron su tiempo, son temas que darán que hablar y bailar.

En el resto un poco de todo. A priori, Los Últimos Bañistas eran favoritos para los que los habíamos escuchado, pero su directo no fue el mejor, comenzaron muy fríos y con problemas de sonido, y eso se notó en el público. Su concierto fue in crescendo acabando con mucha fuerza pero no fue suficiente. El último tema, '¿Cuál Es? Lo Ves', muy al estilo Planetas, nos dejó con ganas de más. Hoy vuelven a tocar en el ciclo Microsonidos y esperemos que se desquiten.

Los dos grupos restantes me dejaron sensaciones agridulces, los electrónicos NewpaketS ofrecieron algo diferente y original en la escena murciana, pero el público allí presente no tuvo feeling con ellos (como diría un amigo, mucho gafipasti indie). Se fueron desencantados y mi sensación fue de pena, ya que su trip-hop, en otro escenario y con otro público, y estoy pensando en el Parque Torres una noche de verano, puede llevarnos definitivamente a levitar.

Por cierto empiezo a estar harto de los que no paran de hablar en los conciertos, o me hago mayor o la gente no sabe comportarse.

Cerrando el concurso Yer Soul, una banda con un sonido excesivamente Beatles, con sección de metales, pero que sólo me gustaron en un tema que recordaba a Radiohead. Los demás demasiado monocordes y previsibles, de todas formas su sonido fue excelente.

En fin, desde NME-Europe damos la enhorabuena a todos por el nivel musical demostrado y en especial a las dos bandas ganadoras.

JFH.

The Kids Are Alright
Murcia's Sala 12yMedio took a break from its Microsonidos programme to play host to the final of the TalentoSOS contest with the five survivors from an initial 100 acts fighting for the right to play at this year's SOS 4.8 festival (and a cheque for 1,500€).

A heaving venue - a wonderful, albeit unusual sight lately for all music fans in Murcia -, a host of 'prestigious' onlookers there in support (Paco 'Leadings', Javi Vox from Second, Ángel Sopena and even His Majesty THE Nephew) added to MTV's Johan Wald presentational prowess were the perfect backdrop for what turned out to be an event filled with surprises. Each band had 20 minutes to show their worth, with a place for two of the five to be decided by the jury comprising Joan Luna, chief editor of Mondosonoro, Virginia Díaz from Radio 3 and Albert Salmeron, Musical Director of the Festival.

First up were Totana's Inkeys, a power pop six piece - perhaps boasting one guitar too many - who had certainly prepared themselves for the event. If crowd reaction was going to have an effect on the end result, then Inkeys' herd of groupies in the corner made sure the jury at least sat up and took notice. Oasis-like Opening track 'Es Mejor' soon gave way to their more characteristic sound, á la Teenage Fanclub or Cooper, but throughout they were slick on stage and bossed proceedings with a well-oiled, albeit conventional sound.

Inkeys were a good start to the evening, especially for those of us (myself included) who initially thought they were making up the numbers.

Next up were NewpaketS, a group who were destined never to connect with the crowd, but who offered the event's most alternative sound. When faced with a crowd of 'pop-junkies', a trip-hop group isn't going to get very far, but there's no debating the quality of this group. It was almost comical when most people didn't realise their set had ended, perhaps they'd be better off hitting Bristol for a while.

It was a case of it wasn't meant to be for Cartagena's Los Últimos Bañistas. Pre-match favourites in the eyes of many, a slight technical hitch to begin with and a cold nervy start meant this indie pop quartet spent the rest of their set racing against time to prove to the crowd and jury alike that they really are the biggest potential in the Region. A late spurt with tracks like 'Viajes Y Demonios' o 'Cual Es, ¿Lo Ves?' gave us a glimpse of what can be expected from a band we'll surely be hearing a lot more of in the future. However, on Thursday it wasn't alright on the night.

Varry Brava, the other band tipped for success before the event, certainly didn't waste their opportunity and it was no surprise to see them crowned joint winners. Hailing from Orihuela, but 'nocturnally based in Murcia', this five piece are 100% entertainment. They have the look, the presence and, above all, the tracks to get a crowd moving. 80s pop with 20th century energy reminding you a little of The Bravery or even Franz Ferdinand.

Their scintilllating 20 minute set, which contained easy-to-love tracks like 'No Gires', 'No Puedes' or the exhilarating 'Radioactivo' left the crowd on a high and it was clear in most people's eyes that Varry Brava were going to be busy during the Mayday bank holiday weekend.

You almost had to feel sorry for the fifth and final group, Yer Soul, the veterans of the event. These 'four huertanos aiming to shake the world' were the most conventional of the bands on show during the final (despite boasting a mini-orchestra for this set) and, while their sound is undoubtedly well-honed, you get the feeling they belong in Liverpool in the 60s rather than the 21st century. They did, however, manage prove the doubters at NME-Europe wrong with one track - 'No Light From The Fire'- which made Johan's introductory claim that they sounded lke Radiohead sound not quite so ridiculous.

The jury, then, had a relatively easy decision to make. Varry Brava and Inkeys taking the spoils.

The highlights? A full house, and five bands of undoubted talent. Oh yeah and two free tickets for the festival for NME-Europe, who also ended up with a prize on this enthralling evening. Congratulations to Inkeys and Varry Brava. If we can drag ourselves out of siesta mode for one weekend at the end of April, we might even see you at the SOS!

NC.

Un buen pulso a la escena murciana
Los 1.500€ para los ganadores y la posibilidad de tocar en el Festival SOS 4.8 junto a bandas como Franz Ferdinand o Los Planetas supusieron un aliciente suficiente para que más de 100 bandas se presentaran a este concurso regional de bandas emergentes. Los cinco finalistas representaban una muestra muy interesante de las últimas esperanzas de la música murciana y el público llenó la sala 12yMedio.

El primero de los finalistas en actuar fueron los totaneros Inkeys, que comenzaron con uno de los mejores temas: 'Es Mejor'. Se mostraron como una banda muy sólida, pero con demasiados cambios en su estilo, de un vocalista a otro, de inglés a español, del pop al rock, para los poco más de 20 minutos que tenían.

En una noche dominada por las guitarras, la actuación de Newpakets fue el gran contrapunto. Su electrónica 'lounge' fue el perro verde del concierto y nunca terminó de encajar en los gustos del público. Este estilo, tan diferente al del resto de competidores, les hizo caerse de las quinielas de los allí presentes, pero supusieron una buena muestra de que en Murcia no sólo se hace buen pop.

Precisamente en los cánones de este estilo se movió el concierto de Los Últimos Bañistas. Esta banda cartagenera, cuyo sonido recuerda a Lori Meyers, realizó un concierto de menos a más, acabando con su mejor versión con un gran tema de pop guitarrero.

Tras ellos saltaron al escenario de la 12yMedio los grandes favoritos de la velada: Varry Brava. La banda de Orihuela, con menos de un año de vida, se ha convertido en uno de los grupos de moda de la escena murciana. Cumplieron las expectativas de hacer bailar a un público entregado a su pop bailable con temas de su gran disco de debut: Ídolo. Música sencilla y divertida: la fórmula perfecta del éxito.

Cerró el concierto Yer Soul, el finalista del TalentoSOS con una trayectoria más consolidada. Su mezcla de rock y pop clásico cantando en inglés y en español no consiguió enganchar a un público cuyos pies aún se movían al compás del huracán Varry Brava. Yer Soul es un grupo de un gran virtuosismo, con un sonido excelso, el teclado recién incorporado a la banda ayuda a ello, pero que no destaca por su carisma, algo que acabaron pagando en las votaciones del jurado

En el resutado, poco que objetar, ganaron los dos grupos que más entonados estuvieron y que mejor respuesta tuvieron por parte del público: Inkeys y Varry Brava.

En definitiva: una buena oportunidad de escuchar los mejores grupos emergentes de Murcia y de ganar un par de entradas para el SOS, como hicieron 2/3 del staff de NME-Europe.

BP.

Last 5 live reviews on NME-Europe:
Clint (Murcia, Marzo 2010)
Neuman y Capsula (Murcia, Febrero 2010)
B-Side Festival (Molina de Segura, September 2009)
Lemon Pop Festival (Murcia, September 2009)
MTV Murcia Night (Cartagena, July 2009)

Read all Live articles

NME-Europe Live: Clint, Sala Stereo, Murcia

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

read in English

NME-Europe is pleased to welcome another collaborator to the team. Basilio Pujante will be adding his particular musical to opinion to the team, another step forward for the site. His first contribution, a review of the Clint gig from earlier in the month. Welcome aboard, Basilio.

Clint: Disparo sin pólvora

Fecha: Sábado, 13 de marzo de 2010

Grupos: Clint

Local: Sala Stereo – Murcia.

Photo courtesy of www.myspace.com/harryclint

Una desangelada Sala Stereo fue el escenario el pasado Sábado 13 de Marzo del concierto de la banda madrileña Clint en Murcia.

El ambiente era gélido, sólo nueve personas, cuando los cuatro Harrys (sus apodos responden al famoso personaje encarnado por Clint Eastwood) se subieron a las tablas de esta sala de la Avenida Mariano Rojas. Los responsables de la Stereo deberían buscar remedios (más publicidad de las actuaciones, por ejemplo) de una situación que ya se ha repetido en más de una ocasión.

El concierto empezó, por este motivo, un tanto raro y Clint nunca entró en calor. La ausencia de un vocalista tampoco ayuda a atraer al público y puede suponer un lastre en noches como la del Sábado con tan poco público. A pesar de ello, demostraron ser una sólida formación con un sonido bien engrasado. Su rock instrumental se caracteriza por la ausencia de bajo en la mayoría de las canciones, contrarrestada con un teclista que a veces se desdobla en trompetista.

Fueron precisamente los temas con trompeta o con trompa los que mejor sonaron en el concierto murciano de Clint. Estos instrumentos de viento aderezaron temas que recuerdan los westerns crepusculares y los sonidos de la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos. Menos atractivas resultaron las incursiones en un rock más "ruidista", donde la banda pierde la homogeneidad de los otros temas. Las canciones incluían efectos curiosos que contrastaban con la ausencia de un vocalista, como la voz de Constantino Romero (voz de Clint Eastwood en español) o fragmentos de programas de radio norteamericanos. Precisamente el Cint Eastwood albaceteño anunció el título de la última canción del concierto, y una de las mejores, 'Los Tipos Duros También Bailan', nombre también del último disco de la banda madrileña.

Con este tema acabaron los apenas 50 minutos de un concierto en el que los Clint nunca se sintieron cómodos en una sala casi vacía. Esperamos que en la próxima visita a la capital del Segura el ambiente esté más caldeado y el grupo de los Harrys pueda demostrar su valía.

BP

Latest live reviews on NME-Europe:
Neuman y Capsula (Murcia, Febrero 2010)
B-Side Festival (Molina de Segura, Septiembre 2009)
Lemon Pop Festival (Murcia, Septiembre 2009)
MTV Murcia Night (Cartagena, July 2009)

Read all Live articles

Album Review: The Soft Pack

noreply@blogger.com (Nick C) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:48:00 +0000

leer en español

The Soft Pack: 'The Soft Pack' (Kemado Records)

1. C'mon
2. Down On Loving
3. Answer To Yourself
4. Move Along
5. Pull Out
6. More Or Less
7. Tides Of Time
8. Flammable
9. Mexico
10. Parasites

Hailing from San Diego, California, The Soft Pack, a band who decided on a change of names before getting on with the production of their debut release (and let's face it, 'The Muslims' was destined to have people talking more about the name than the sound, especially stateside), have produced a more than palatable debut.

An engaging combination of punk, garage and even grunge are in order for anyone who decides to give this four-piece an opportunity. Ten tracks in a little more than 30 minutes (with the first eight in just 20) give you a pretty good indication of the tempo on display. The riffs come at you thick and fast, no more so than on the infectiously catchy opener 'Come On', although perhaps the best track award has to go to 'More Or Less'.

Unfortunately, it's also true to say that lyrically The Soft Pack are not about to blow your mind. If you like your garage guitars, a bit of manic drumming and aren't too interested in the vocals then you're bound to enjoy The Soft Pack. Lyricists abstain!

NC

NME-Europe rating: 7/10
Top Track: 'More Or Less'

Like it, buy it!

Watch a vid!

Last 5 NME-Europe reviews:
Los Punsetes: 'LP2'
The Courteeners: 'Falcon'
Hot Chip: 'One Life Stand'
Vampire Weekend: 'Contra'
Los Campesinos!: 'Romance Is Boring'

Read all NME-Europe reviews