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TRACKLIST: 01 Holding Back The Tears  02 Best Laid Plans  03 No Tag Backs  04 Diva  05 Higher

06 Thirsty  07 Solo  08 Sugar Daddy  09 Faded Love  10 Past Lives

The way that RUSH WEEK’s music, with its filter of elegance, melancholy, and class, can work as a reflection of what music made today could be, is absolutely incredible to us. But yes, the work that Rachel K. Haines and the producer James Benjamin Thomas have done has a good part of the ingredients that many of the musicians on the sales lists try to combine: diverse bases, good production, recycled influences from the eighties, clear and pristine choruses, the focus always on the dance floor, touches of Latin. “Past Lives,” their new work, makes clear the inspiration and hard work they put into such a complicated and at the same time exciting task.

To really break down and investigate these affirmations, it is important to dive carefully into each of the songs. Let’s get into it. To start things off, “Holding Back The Tears” has the melancholic tone of tropical air of “Slave To Love” by Bryan Ferry and the energy of Leona Lewis. “Best Laid Plans” has that sinuous bassline from the best of Michael Jackson, the chorus of a luminous Lorde and the white soul spirit of TEARS FOR FEARS. “No Tag Backs” is one of those ultra-radiable hits, with that base of Latin echoes, with the melody set on artists like Ad [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Only When I’m Dancing  02 Moonlight Fantasy

Joe Moore has become a special member of the Elefant family, all on his own merit. His prolific spirit has led him to participate in many of the label’s offerings, both his own projects (THE YEARNING and THE PERFECT KISS) as well as others’ (Lia Pamina, Cristina Quesada and Maddie Mae). But even more than that, in all his facets, he has shown us his passion for music and the hours and hours of music we have shared together, be it lounge, chamber pop, the girl-group sixties sound, electro-pop, and disco music. That is why the arrival of these new songs, and the expectations surrounding the British musician’s choice of path this time, are huge.

And it seems like disco music is the winner this time. ABBA, Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Barry White and all the imagery that surrounded Studio 54 between the end of the seventies and the beginning of the eighties. This change of style and another series of artistic circumstances have led to the vocal work, which up to now has been the responsibility of Maddie Dobie (with a solo career in its beginning stages and a first Digital Single already released), being handed over to Luci Ashbourne. Her mature, velvety voice fits like a glove on these sensual, exciting songs, many of which are aimed directly at the dance floor. That is why this new single is called “Only When I’m Dancing” (the song which is also the title track for the up [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Truchita (nunca volveré!!!!)

We continue to discover the songs of AIKO EL GRUPO, one of the greatest musical surprises of the year. Their riot spirit, their punk-noise crafted songs, their angry lyrics and pop melodies, ultra-fresh and youthful, giving shape to something highly enjoyable. Something we can confirm with “Truchita (nunca volveré!!!!)”, new proof of their agility and strength, their immediacy, with echoes of VIVIAN GIRLS and COMET GAIN, of JOANNA GRUESOME and LA SERA. With lyrics that set them apart and release stress, the song comes with one of those videos that were so big in the 90s, based on concert footage. In this case, as it could not be any other way, in the times we live in, the video uses material from smartphones and social networks, where we can see the group’s iconoclastic and unbiased attitude, something that once again stirs our desire to go to concerts and dance in the mosh pit at the foot of the stage.

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TRACKLIST: 01 Colegas  02 Tardes De Sol  03 Ei, Uriel  04 Cecilio G

05 Guapo  06 15 Minutos  07 Esta Ciudad  08 Diana (No Quiere Escuchar Pop)

“New Adventures In Pop” collection [Issue 047]

A few weeks ago, we introduced you to one of the new groups that has joined the Elefant family, FRED FREDBURGUER, that well-known character from the cartoon show, “The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy”. So, the moment has arrived for them to release something in our collection focused on promising newcomers, “New Adventures In Pop”: their first Mini-LP, a 10” blue vinyl with a 500-copy, numbered, limited edition. As we could see on the two advance songs included on the Digital Single we were already able to listen to, we are looking at a refreshing exercise in punk-pop – carefree, unbiased and hyper-melodic.

Fernando, Alba, Raúl and Elena debut in physical format with songs that are a hymn to youth, with echoes of THE SHOP ASSISTANTS, LOS FRESONES REBELDES, HEAVENLY and THE ROSEHIPS, with a tribute to Friends (Colegas). They are exercises in fast-paced pop with great choruses and summery evocations (“Tardes De Sol”, “Ei, Uriel”) that would fit like a glove in the repertoire of TIGER TRAP or VIVIAN GIRLS; skilled attitude and cheekiness (“Cecilio G”, “Diana (No Quiere Escuchar Pop)”) that remind us of the best TCR… And then there are t [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Big Mouth

Both the public’s and the critics’ reactions to “Been Around” make it clear that the return of A GIRL CALLED EDDY to the current music scene has become one of the musical events of the year. The elegance, the arrangements, and the charisma of Erin Moran’s voice have been unquestionable secret weapons, and they are put into play again on this latest Digital Single, “Big Mouth”. It is a song full of silences, that opens marvelously with one of those choruses that link Erin Moran to Carole King or Joni Mitchell. Because her stuff smells like a classic, like music that will be untouched by the passing of time.

And to go along with the release, we have a video made by Tom Gagnaire, who directed the video for “Talk To Me” by THE LAST DETAIL when it first came out, with a similar technique. Aiming for the effect of cameras along the lines of the PANASONIC NV-M5EP, an apparatus from the 80’s that recorded on tape and saturated and distorted colors, Tom gives us an impressionistic (surrealist even, at times) take on a story full of symbolism, with protagonists who imprint their own vital proclamations on long wooden and cardboard signs that they carry with them everywhere they go. It is a delicacy that gives the perfect images for such an exquisite song and reinforces the idea that a great album is simultaneously a starting point for a series of great works. And in the meantime, we can keep [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Lo Siento Mucho  02 Agosto  03 Mucho Mejor  04 Estado Natural  05 Cayendo (2ª Recidiva) 06 La Última Vez (1ª Recidiva)  07 Verano  08 Te He Cambiado  09 Cientos De Ovnis  10 Primavera Negra  11 Accidente 12 Sexta Dimensión  13 Ausencia Es Presencia  14 Mucho Más Joven  15 Chicas Guapas (Que Van A Trabajar En Moto)  16 Será Más Fácil 17 Cosas Nuevas  18 Espacio De Tiempo  19 Éxodo  20 Fobia Social II  21 Nadie Se Dará Cuenta  22 Un Millón De Zombies Más

It has been a very intense decade, with more than twenty releases. Iván and Eva left behind a successful and immediate project like JUNIPER MOON to throw themselves into an even more elaborate and unique project. The years have passed and have shown that music is their thing. They have toured and released albums in countless countries, received praise from the press all over the world, and in times of an industry-wide crisis, they have managed to grow their fan base in every corner of the world. Because of that, and because of the amount of releases, they have either never been released on vinyl or they are sold out and out of print. And we think that it is a good time to release this compilation, which will close an era for the group (who are already preparing new songs), and which will allow many collectors as w [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Diva

RUSH WEEK is back with “Past Lives”, a new album that mixes nostalgia with the here and now and that will be released in purple colour LP, numbered-limited edition of 500 copies.

And like advance they present us “Diva”. A recording that goes straight for the eighties, an ultra-pop song, that is clearly in debt to SOFT CELL, but that also clearly enjoys a martial bass a la ELECTRIC YOUTH and that is tied to RUSH WEEK’s discourse with the best of the groups remodeling eighties music, like CHROMATICS and TWIN SHADOW.

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TRACKLIST: 01 Ey, Que Estoy Aquí

A few months ago, we talked about the birth of a new and refreshing Spanish synth-pop duo, CHAVALES, formed by Daniel Rodríguez (DANIEL DANIEL, EL BUEN HIJO) from Mallorca and Javier Paredes from Extremadura. Since then, we have not stopped receiving new things from them. All of them are tasty and seductive, playing intelligently with current and past references, tearing down walls and creating multicolor universes.

We now have their newest Digital Single, produced by Daniel himself and mixed by Martín Spangle. “Ey, Que Estoy Aquí” is a catchy, danceable, juvenile and exciting song. The thing is, CHAVALES bring back the sound of the first steps of ÚLTIMA EMOCIÓN, LA MODE, THE HUMAN LEAGUE and ESTACIÓN VICTORIA, but evoke the spirit of new Spanish pop groups like CABIRIA, Yana Zafiro, AUTO SACRAMENTAL and Stephen Please. What’s more, this release comes with amazing audiovisual work. The cover is an illustration by Lia Marín, an anime and manga fan, especially influenced by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. The illustration would be the Japanese version of our two protagonists. And we stay in Japan for the video, where Raquel Calvo (who directed videos for GIORGIO TUMA, TRONCO or LOS BONSÁIS) entertains us by creating an 80’s videogame esthetic (KONAMI style) with absolutely incredible visuals.

We released their first Digital Single just a few weeks ago and we alrea [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Tardes De Sol

Fernando, Alba, Raúl and Elena present us a new advance Single of what which will be their debut Mini-LP in our “New Adventures In Pop” collection.

A 10” numbered-limited edition of 500 copies in electric blue colour vinyl.

For fans of THE SHOP ASSISTANTS, LOS FRESONES REBELDES, HEAVENLY, TIGER TRAP, VIVIAN GIRLS, THE ROSEHIPS, TCR or JUNIPER MOON.

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The elegant analog and spacey pop universe of LE SUPERHOMARD that they made clear on the marvelous “Meadow Lane Park”, and the audiovisual esthetic the do up so well, has not been overlooked in the media or the public in general, as confirmed by their intense tour that went through countless European festivals and countries in over 30 days. In Spain, they were recently in the Bilboloop Festival, and soon they will be performing in Madrid and Barcelona. They have opened for bands like PARCELS, ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE and THE STRANGLERS. But the cherry on top of this amazing collection of dates goes to the man who was once the lead singer of THE JAM, Paul Weller. 

Last year, Weller chose his ten favorite songs of 2018 for UNCUT, and he included among them “Black Diamond” by LE SUPERHOMARD. But it seems like their musical chemistry doesn’t end there, and he himself has asked the French band to open for his shows in Germany, Holland, and Belgium, at the end of May and the beginning of June. This is all further proof that what LE SUPERHOMARD has to offer is one of the most interesting things to come out in the last year in Europe, and it is an opportunity to celebrate their virtues on the stage, which we will be able to check out in these parts soon enough.

[ Read more ]

We are in love. We cannot think of any better way to say it. Every new thing from OS PEREGRINOS, the band formed by Charlie Mysterio (LOS CARAMELOS, among many other groups) and Roger De Flor (OS SILVESTRES, BANG 74) inevitably gets us right in the heart. All the names that come to mind with each new release are from our own personal favorites. They are capable of clearing a path to the most absolute sensitivity, with easy, everyday words, like FAMILY and SOLERA (those two male voices harmonizing are probably at least partially responsible), their artistic connections, stylistic play, their ability to reflect scenes of the day-to-day with irony and affection remind of us our beloved SINGLE… And we could go on, but we have two new songs, and we are really excited to tell you about them.

“Musas De Ons” is a single inspired by Ons island, that Atlantic gem just off the coast of Pontevedra. The song that is the title track of this new “peregrine” adventure has those roots that make OS PEREGRINOS’s music so special, the Galician folk shines through the inspiration the marine breeze awakens, with those chords developing delicious harmonies. It is amazing. The second song on the single is “Playa (Yo Y Mi Sombra)”, based on the poem by the poet from Málaga, Manuel Altolaguirre that he dedicated to his companion from the Generation of 27, Federico García Lorca. It moves to the beat of reggaeton, with a dub bass, exquisite [ Read more ]

The wait was long, and the reunion, splendid. “Been Around” has meant the return of A GIRL CALLED EDDY to the current music scene, after more than fifteen years of discographic silence, and the response to her new songs has been magnificent all over the world. The English-speaking media, as well as the French, German, Japanese, Italian, and of course Spanish media, are coming undone with praise for an album that they are calling a classic, tying it to major names that make up the history of music, like Carole King, Steely Dan and Chrissie Hynde. Among other praise, Mojo wrote that “Transcending production playfulness and writerly wit, “Been Around” has heart, soul, a voice, and tunes to die for, an early highlight of 2020”. Uncut highlights that “Eddy has grown into a voice of Carpenterish creaminess since her eponymous 2004 debut, and it delivers vintage-dressed vignettes such as “Big Mouth” and “Charity Shop Window”, with wistful warmth and Ray-Ban-shaded regret”. And it goes on, from dozens of the most well-known publications on the planet.

To celebrate such an incredible response, we are releasing a new Digital Single from the album. We are releasing “NY Man”, a song that shows off some of the album’s virtues: mid-tempos, elegance, precious arrangements, contained but exciting vocal melodies. Classic Pop Magazine itself compared it to Jennife [ Read more ]

Paco Tamaritis no secret for the great lovers of melodies. He has really made a mark with his exquisite pop, both in his more personal projects (SERPENTINA and SAN FRANCISCO) and also in those projects in which he was a band member, like, for example, LA CASA AZUL, where he has been playing the guitar for several years. But we are going to tell you a little secret. It is not really a secret, but it is so nice it deserves to be called one.  Paco’s music shines especially bright when he makes it with those closest to him. In SERPENTINA he was working with his sister María Tamarit. And now, look at this, he has put together CÁPSULA DE SUEÑOS with another María –Ferrando, his partner. And she is also a musician. It is so rare to hear that a project came about spontaneously, from improv music sessions. And especially from two musicians with such different musical backgrounds. We do not even want to try to imagine the conversations about harmonies, diminutions, and flat notes that came out of those sessions, but we definitely do want to enjoy the magic that can be heard within the walls of that house.

And we have the first samples of that here, which, of course, are hymns to music, in theory and in practice, where the stylistic limits fade away with astounding ease. “Tu Mundo De Cristal” is unsettling, sinuous, with touches of dub and downtempo, a slippery groove and a chorus that is a discovery in elect [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Stay The Same

Lovely Maddie Mae continues showing us her incredible musical growth. After taking her first steps in music, singing on THE YEARNING’s first songs (when she was just 14 years old), and that surprising first single, “Baby, You’re An Angel”, with which she launched her solo project, she is back with a new song, “Stay The Same”. Once again produced by the unbeatable Joe Moore, who shows us his sense for ultra-adhesive choruses, and the incredible way that Maddie’s fresh, silky, subtle voice shoots an already addictive song that shares references with Carly Rae Jepsen, Lizzo and Billie Eilish, into the stars. This new proposal, tremendously current, young, electrifying and stimulating, with powerful basses and solid but slippery basis, and of course angelic choruses and unforgettable melodies.

And once again, Daniel Cuenca has filmed with her, from Iceland, a video in which Maddie shows her charisma, her strength, the clear intention that her musical career will be long-standing. An elegant black and white, a sober recording, for an absolutely exciting song.

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Sometimes a life is a story that can be told through our travels throughout our life. It has been a long time since we have heard any news from BAND À PART, but then, traveling takes time. But the road fills us with inspiration, and in the case of Javi and Coral, the result of this is “Templos Y Neones”, their second full-length album, and the objective, is inspired, on some songs, by a trip to the incredible city of Tokyo. This is an album that moves from night to day, that is drunk with Japanese references both in terms of sound and visuals, reaching heights that go beyond pop music. This album is an experience, and it is rich, diverse, sometimes slippery, and like all good journeys, it is exciting.

They talk about City Pop (a musical style that came about during the period of bonanza in Japan in the eighties, that was a mix of disco, funk and synth-pop), about vapor wave and about future funk. Groups like CORNELIUS, SNAILS HOUSE, SPAZZKID, ROOSEVELT, SUMMER CAMP and MAGDALENA BAY. The thing is, “Templos Y Neones” is an album that inevitably breathes a fusion of cultures and references, which makes listening to it tremendously fun and stimulating. The first side, the one that represents the more nocturnal and hedonistic part, abounds in dance music, neons, and bright lights, beginning with “Cómo Hablar Con Chicas En Las Fiestas”, highly danceable and catchy electronic J-Pop, which they had already given us as an ad [ Read more ]