News
01/01/2005
CAMERA OBSCURA will travel in a lightning visit to Spain in order to attend the Southpop Festival, due in Seville next March 18 and 19, where they will share the bill with such artists as LALI PUNA and THE MONTGOLFIER BROTHERS, amongst others. The band from Glasgow is scheduled to play on the second day of the festival, and they will bring play live the three songs on "I love my Jean", their new single dedicated to Scottish national poet Robert Burns. This show will be as well one of the first shows they will play without founder member John Henderson, who has recently left the band´s line-up.
We are also looking forward to the new videoclip of the song "I love my Jean", the title track on the new single, which will be once again directed by Blair Young.
In the meantime, the band is playing on new songs to be included on their forthcoming third album, due to be recorded during the summer and which will be released on Elefant Records before the end of the year.
Saturday, 19South Pop Festival[I Festival Independiente Ciudad de Sevilla]Camera ObscuraSevilla19:00 h, Teatro AlamedaCrédito 11 [Alameda de Hércules]+ Info: www.greenufos.com/southpop
Saturday, 19Afterparty South Pop Festival[I Festival Independiente Ciudad de Sevilla]Dj PolarSevilla01:30-04:30 h, Sala Fun Club+ Info: www.greenufos.com/southpop [ Read more ]
09/12/2004
One of the most successful movies in the Spanish theatres this next Christmas will surely be a comedy entitled "El Asombroso Mundo de Borjamari y Pocholo", especially due to a cast of actors including Santiago Segura and Willy Toledo, two of the most famous current Spanish comedians.
The movie is about two posh kids from the 80´s who don´t want (or don´t know how) to grow up, and so the soundtrack features a selection of the main pop hits in the Spanish 80´s, the years internationally known as the "movida" in Madrid: MECANO, HOMBRES G, DUNCAN DHU, OLÉ OLÉ, UN PINGÜINO EN MI ASCENSOR, LOS NIKIS. Besides from that, the soundtrack includes a few more songs composed for the occasion by musician Miguel Malla (MASTRETTA), and a guest slot by Elefant Records act LA CASA AZUL: the song "Chicle Cosmos", taken from their first album, "El Sonido Efervescente de La Casa Azul". [ Read more ]
29/11/2004
"The seven autumn flowers" is finally coming out on sale in the UK next monday November 29th
"The seven autumn flowers", fifth album by TREMBLING BLUE STARS, and first records by the band that is released worldwide through Elefant Records, is finally coming out on sale in the UK next monday November 29th. Release date for the album in Australia (via the Pop Frenzy label) and the United States (via Bar/None) is January 11th 2005.
The record has been enthusiastically received in the British media, and reviews have been secured in Uncut, Mojo, Q or Plan B, whilst the Sunday Times have chosen it Album of the Week on their November 28th issue.
On the other hand, on December 6th the band will attend Gideon Coe‘s show on BBC Radio 6, where they will record an acoustic session and will also surely announce their forthcoming gig on December 11th at the Winchester Club in Glasgow (the club run by Gavin from CAMERA OBSCURA, their fellow Elefant Records recording artists).
15/11/2004
Tracklist: 1. Cierra los ojos 2. Rabia 3. Cerca del sol 4. 747 5. Munich 6. Oxidado 7. A oscuras 8. Silverstone 9. Yo sé lo que te pasa 10. Lejos 11. Sin respiración 12. Quiero regresar
“Retrovisor” is a new COOPER album, although the band has only recorded three new songs; in short sessions, always stuck to their compromise with immediacy and spontaneity. They have been reunited in an album with other songs that have been appearing during 2003 and 2004 in different formats. Twelve songs to be a past viewfinder, a complete retrospective to be graphically expressed in the album design with a collage technique (images from different moments, different situations, different formats, in perfect analogy with the album’s sound content). The elements in the collage are pieces of art by others (besides “chance art”) in a certain way used by Alejandro to build his own universe, linking music and lyrics with the images they bring to the mind of someone obsessed with pop culture: The plane from "747", Chillida’s Comb of Winds from "Oxidado" (also with mentions of the Kursaal), the Munich BMW building or even Manchester Cooper Street. A series of references as keys to understand an aesthetic and musical universe which evolves -at the same time, revealing itself with growing clarity- in every new step by Alejandro as composer and creator.
"Retrovisor" represents a review of the results of COOPER’s brand [ Read more ]
12/11/2004
Release date: November 29th 2004ER-1114 TREMBLING BLUE STARS "The seven autumn flowers" LP/CD
Elefant Records has great pleasure in proudly announcing the exclusive worldwide release of "The seven autumn flowers": TREMBLING BLUE STARS’ fifth album. The band of Bob Wratten is one of the main international indie-pop’s exponents, and he’s a songwriter worshiped by a crowd of fans. Wratten was one of the mainstays of the Sarah Records’ sound, leading THE FIELD MICE.
The members of the band themselves have produced their brand new album, along with Ian Catt (SAINT ETTIENNE). Wratten retains his usual partners of the last releases: TBS band members Beth Arzy (ABERDEEN) and Keris Howard (HARPER LEE). The album includes the song "Helen Reddy" (Beth voice), already released in the advance single "Southern skies appear brighter" (also an exclusively Elefant’s release before past summer). Elefant has already licensed "The seven autumn flowers" for Bar/None (USA), Pop Frenzy (Australia) and Universal Philippines (the Philippines) labels. The album will be released in Spain, and also in all countries in which Elefant enjoys distribution, next November 29th. [ Read more ]
09/11/2004
This week is published in Spain and Argentina the book titled "Curvas Peligrosas" (Editorial Lumen), a compilation featuring strips and illustrations by brilliant Argentinian cartoonist Maitena, very famous all over the world for her witty and hilarious look at the female world and the struggle with men´s impossibility to understand women. The book comes along with a ten song CD featuring some of her favourite songs, and among them we find tracks from the Elefant Records catalogue, by Ana D and ENTRE RÍOS.
Following her successful series, "Altered Women", this new series travels along different, more complex paths. Along with classic themes as the female neurosis, the couple, the children, one´s own body, new subjects come out in this book: social patterns, contemporary behaviours, fashion, consumerism. In her own words: "drawing is a lonely job. Sometimes I need silence, and sometimes I need music. The songs on this album were by my side during the last year and a half, whilst I was doing this book. I wanted to share them with you". Her vignettes are regularly published on such respected newspapers as El País in Spain, Le Figaro in France, La Stampa in Italy, Público in Portugal and La Nación in Argentina, among many others.
For the album, Maitena Burundarena (Buenos Aires, 1962) has cosen some of her most beloved songs from the recent times. Along with latin classics as Paquita la del Barrio, she has pl [ Read more ]
08/11/2004
JUNIPER MOON have been included in a compilation that gathers the best of international indie-pop, and shows the international indie-pop scene acknowledgement as one of the best indie and punk-pop bands.
London’s Rough Trade shops (specially Portobello’s one) are a dream of every music enthusiast. During last year, as a celebration of their 25th anniversary, they released (though Mute Records) several essential compilations reviewing this store’s history, firstly, and lastly going over styles as punk and post-punk.
Next October will be released "Indiepop 1", a new indie-pop compilation. Sean Tyler, in charge of the compilation and musical selection manager (and also the person responsible, along with the journalist Everett True and Matt Haynes from Sarah Records, for the booklet’s texts), judges that this new style was born in a time in which UK was full of bands, labels and fanzines. For him, it was like a rebirth of punk.
In "Indiepop" we have legendary and well-known bands as PRIMAL SCREAM, THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, BELLE AND SEBASTIAN, FELT or THE MAGNETIC FIELDS; along with other indie’s classics, although maybe less known but no less mythical, as TALULAH GOSH, SPEARMINT, POPGUNS, McCARTHY, VASELINES, SHOP ASSISTANTS, FLATMATES, WOLFHOUNDS or BOYRACER. Besides bands very close to Elefant Records as CAMERA OBSCURA, BMX BANDITS, HEAVENLY, THE FIELD MICE or HELEN LOVE.
And between all those pop wonders, [ Read more ]
10/10/2004
Popland and Cinemaspop are two stores (actually three, because Popland has two different premises) from the Malasaña area in Madrid, but they both provide half Spain and abroad with aesthetic pleasures. In Popland, an enormous variety of accessories, garnishing, furniture, records and pop memorabilia on the whole can be found, whereas in Cinemaspop, pop culture comes on the top of movie going and cinema love. Two colouristic concepts with a passionate interest for pop’s different sides, that were to meet Elefant Records’ music.
Both stores have just released the album "Popland 25 hit parade", including that number of successful songs from Elefant Records catalogue: COOPER, LA CASA AZUL, CAMERA OBSCURA, BERLANGA, LE MANS, HEAVENLY or JUNIPER MOON, among others, playing the perfect soundtrack to the lush aesthetic of this retro consumption’s paradise.
01. Cerca del sol (COOPER)02. Una mañana (ME ENVENENO DE AZULES)03. Amor cúbico (NIZA)04. Cherry people (SHIZUKA)05. Cerca de Shibuya (LA CASA AZUL)06. Vacaciones (Carlos Berlanga)07. Superdisco (Naomi Mix) (LES FRÈRES CHECKOLADE)08. Ride the tiger (ANTI)09. Salven las sirenas (ENTRE RÍOS)10. Vamos a caminar (CIELO)11. Keep it clean (CAMERA OBSCURA)12. Los amantes (Ana D)13. Dame estrellas o limones (FAMILY)14. Vacaciones (GASCA)15. Un rayo de sol (LE MANS)16. Space manatee (HEAVENLY)17. Madrid (JUNIPER MOON)18. Watch over you (AUTOMATICS)19. Roll with it (MOGUL)20. Oh [ Read more ]
07/10/2004
Last June news broke: NIZA had split. Silvia and Roberto took different paths, leaving behind a legacy of elegant and sophisticated pop, succinct in discography (two singles, one album and two videoclips), but still as prevailing as it was in the beginning, keeping the band’s name on a leading position in the current music scene. “Canciones de temporada” was released in Japan in the beginning of 2004 by Rambling Records (a powerful label specialized in reissues of 60’s classic albums or soundtracks such as Ennio Morricone’s), enjoying a great welcome and achieving thousand of copies sold, as it was expected after, back in ’99, their debut cd-single was selected by an important Japanese record shop as one of the most recommended of that time. This Japanese edition of the album has a different cover, adapted from their second single “Topolino”, and as it is usual in Japanese releases, it includes some extra tracks. In “Canciones de temporada”, these tracks are: “Jamás te he olvidado” (taken from the “Modapop” compilation), “Radio Star” (a song dedicated to Juan de Pablos, which will be included next November in the tribute CD that celebrates the show “Flor de pasión”’s 25th anniversary, and also included in the “Momentos perdidos” compilation) and an exclusive song (for the time being) for the Japanese audience: “El muchach [ Read more ]
05/10/2004
From the origins of pop music, children’s tv shows have often taken the lead absorbing new tendencies and new artists of sparkling and colouristic willingness. From THE MONKEES to SUPERGRASS, along with the legendary Spanish tv show "La Bola de Cristal", kids from all decades have danced, sung and laughed with songs also enjoyed by the adults. Now Guille Milkway, LA CASA AZUL’s composer and producer, have just composed the brand new ZONA DISNEY tv show’s theme (Mondays and Saturdays on TVE1 / DISNEY CHANNEL): "Vente a Zona Disney", which is also the theme in Portugal (with its own Portuguese translation). The theme is performed on its tv version by Yanira, Natalia, Jimmy, Sergio and Gonzalo, the five teenagers who lead this popular tv show, but will also count in a future with another version, performed for its part by another cheerful and bright teenagers: LA CASA AZUL. [ Read more ]
05/10/2004
It’s well known, and especially as time goes by, that LE MANS was one of the most personal, original and captivating Spanish bands from the 90’s Spanish pop. A band that reached cult-class all around the world, and which nowadays is still adding fans day by day thanks to its own pop proposal: erudite (with explicit or suggested references of best time’s pop music), sensitive, and above all, lovely. Their melodies, the growing originality of the arrangements and Jone’s warm and touching voice have been influencing for its part a whole generation of artists emerging in the Spanish indie-pop scene.
During this year, Elefant Records has made a promoter effort of the LE MANS’ excellent catalogue, releasing all their albums, "Catástrofe nº 17"’s singles compilation before of all, and chronologically reverse by its release date. In February was released "Aquí vivía yo", the band’s chef d’oeuvre in 1998, and in May we did the same with "Saudade". Both albums, as all this series’ reissues, were carefully presented with great detail, released in digipack, and along with a booklet with the lyrics and credits, and also re-mastered by Xavier Alarcón (VANGUARD) in order to highlight all its original splendour. The two remaining episodes, as the previous ones in digipack, along with booklet and accordingly re-mastered will be released very soon: "Entresemana", the b [ Read more ]
31/08/2004
We´re happy to bring you “Momentos perdidos” a collection of rarities, b-sides, wrong hits and a bunch of previously unreleased gifts. Lovely souvenirs from such different harbours as Japan, Germany, United States, France, England and, of course, Spain.
“Momentos perdidos” shouldn´t be seen as the usual compilation, nor a balance of the most representative stuff from the last years: we only expect to bring you a collection of delightful songs that, due to different reasons, were hidden in a record or never came to be published.
01. Stop in the name of love LOS FLECHAZOSTaken from ER-174 “si tú te vas” Single
02. Tantas cosas que arreglar LA CASA AZUL (UNRELEASED)
03. Desde ayer GUILLERMINE (UNRELEASED)
04. Radio star NIZA (UNRELEASED)
05. Open skies TREMBLING BLUE STARSTaken from ER-356 “Southern skies brigther extended play” CD-Single.
06. I don´t want to see you CAMERA OBSCURATaken from ER-352 “Teenager” CD-Single
07. Nadadora NOSOTRÄSH (UNRELEASED)
08. Today SPRING (UNRELEASED)
09. Velero lleno de estrellas y bahías Ana DTaken from ER-185 “Recordando” Single
10. Pasa por mí ENTRE RÍOS (UNRELEASED)
11. La vaca PURÉ (UNRELEASED)
12. El halcón milenario PATRULLERO MANCUSOTaken from ER-183 “El halcón milenario” Single
13. El último tiro JUNIPER MOON (UNRELEASED)
14. Sara tiene un secreto COOPERTaken from ER-339 &ldqu [ Read more ]
30/06/2004
Presenting their second album "Underachievers please try harder" recently released in USA by Merge Records
7/12/04 – San Diego, CA – Casbah7/13/04 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour7/14/04 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall7/16/04 – Portland, OR – Berbatis7/17/04 – Seattle, WA – Neumo’s7/20/04 – Minneapolis, MN – 400 Bar7/21/04 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle7/22/04 – Detroit, MI – TBA7/23/04 – Toronto, ON – Horsehoe Tavern7/24/04 – Montreal, QC – La Sale Rosa7/26/04 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East7/27/04 – New York, NY – Knitting Factory7/28/04 – Philadelphia, PA – North Star7/30/04 – Carrboro, NC – Cats Cradle (Merge Fest)7/31/04 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club8/02/04 – Arlkington, VA – IOTA Club8/03/04 – Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s [ Read more ]
26/01/2004
Release date: 26-1-2004
After a successful tour all over Germany last December, Alejandro Diez comes back with brand new songs. "Oxidado" is the new single by one of the best composers and pop musicians of all time. With an extensive career, supported by such important projects as LOS FLECHAZOS, Alejandro has turned to be one of the most personal and admired music writers in the Spanish indie scene. COOPER’s new single includes four songs.
"Cerca del sol" One of the most complete songs in his career, a powerful tune supported by a catchy guitar riff and a brilliant chorus, a fresh and direct song, a new classic on Alejandro´s discography. "Cerca del sol" is COOPER´s new video clip.
"Silverstone" Another classic since its first hearing, possibly the most complete song of his new single, psychedelic pop with celestial choirs and a breathtaking melody.
"Oxidado" It is clear we’ve in our hands a brilliant single, songs such as "Oxidado" reveal COOPER´s excellent present situation, composing brilliant pop anthems with painstaking lyrics.
"Ráfagas" The band´s fans already know this brilliant cover from COOPER´s firsts gigs, quite a classic of the eighties Spanish pop by LOS BÓLIDOS, the best composition by this cursed band, made a success by LOS SECRETOS in 1982.
The new COOPER single shows our hero exactly where he wants to be. His style of composing, writi [ Read more ]
10/12/2003
ER-1107 LA CASA AZUL "Tan simple como el amor" LP/CD Digipak
Release date: 1 st December
Tracklist: 1. En noches como la de hoy 2. Quiero parar 3. Vamos a volar 4. El sol no brillará nunca más 5. Cambia tu vida 6. El secreto de Jeff lynne 7. Prefiero bailar 8. C´est fini 9. Siempre brilla el sol 10. Superguay 11. Por si alguna vez te vas 12. Aunque parezca lo mejor 13. Como un fan
The World was ready.We fell in love, flew, danced, we were happy with LA CASA AZUL. It1s been more than three years. "El sonido efervescente de La Casa Azul" filled our lives and changed them forever. But the fact is that they came like a hurricane. They arrived, struck our lives and left. We never knew if Virginia, Sergio, David, Clara y Óscar would come back one day or if that revolutionary EP would go down lonely (even forgotten) in history. In fact, we even doubted that they had really existed anytime.
So, stop the world again! La Casa Azul returns to certify that they were not just an illusion. In your hand there’s an album that will touch you deeply again. You are going to hear the most beautiful songs you can imagine. This album will lift you up to Venus. Their own lives may have changed, but they still sing and play like an angel: from ye-ye to psych-pop, from folk to hustle, from A&M sound to tambourine sound, but always remaining faithful to the sparkling sound of LA CASA AZUL. If you enjoyed them three years ago, today they’ll [ Read more ]