Infadels
We Are Not The Infadels
Wall of Sound

Surely by now you've heard people talk about this new London band or danced to one of their songs. Over the last few months the Infadels have snuck into the nightclubs and made those who enjoy the sound of The Rapture or LCD Soundsystem dance. Its one of those rock-electronic albums where the distorted guitar licks can't miss and the lead vocalist is the sexy, screamer type. It's the typical sound to fill and turn on a dance floor, with spacey samples, eighties bass lines and diversion a la glam . The perfect rhythmic base for a good party. We'll definitely hear their stirring and catchy Love Like Semtex on the singles charts of the year, as it has the perfect punch to make you jump. It's an album that shines, is digestible at first listen, and the initial track 1'20' sends you on a minor lapse into addiction. In general, the sound of play and party prevails. Step right up! Step right up!

File Under: I want another vodka tonic.

Blockhead
Downtown Science
Ninja Tune

Perhaps it would be too much to say that the first track, Serenade , reminds me of the sound of that other enormous project: Avalanches . Regardless, that's the initial impression one gets, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. The Blockhead album is less orchestral but it has angelic samples accompanied by trumpets, which could fit nicely into that aforementioned project. And to give you better references, it also has its touches of Zero 7 and St. Etienne . But we're talking about Blockhead . Manhattan hip-hop producer Tony Simon put this second album out in 2005, which came with almost no warning in the commercial realm. And I say almost, because for those music addicts that are always in search of more interesting offerings in the elite electronica, Blockhead did draw attention. For starters, an old sound permeates throughout the album, where fragments of jazz, hip-hop, trip-hop, ambient and others are mixed fluidly. Perfect for livening up a party without getting bored. What I'm trying to say is that this guy's got style!

File under : Galleries and cafés should take note.

Yo la tengo
I´m Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
Matador Records

It's always a pleasure to recommend a great band, so get psyched, Yo la tengo is back! The title of their most recent gift, I´m Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass , could very well hint at being full of punk or trash. Despite that provocative title, Yo la tengo delights us with a delicious dose of fine rock with an added condiment of pop, very much their style. These Englishmen have quite a way of arranging each chord; the album sounds dirty, like when we were kids listening to our parent's vinyl records.
They caress us from track to track, yielding a classic example of the sound they have managed to develop into their own. Case in point, I Feel Like Going Home , with its pianos and violins exhilarating the atmosphere. And if my words begin to give the impression that this is a syrupy album, don't worry, I guarantee this album will make you dance while listening to The Room Got Heavy or Ronnie . The truth is that they have a little bit of everything, from the fun Mr. Tough with its mariachi-esque trumpets, to the sincere Sometimes I Don't Get You , or the psychedelic close with The Story of . In these times where the term "indie" has lost a lot of its original meaning and become more relative and subjective, you could say that listening to this album reminds one of that peculiar brand which was once the indie sound, in my humble opinion. After all, Yo la tengo were the great and dignified bearers of that mantel in the '90's. And if in the end what matters is the music, and not the labels; for that reason, its a sweet surprise to listen to them in 2006 doing what they do best: great music with or without the backing of a major label.

File under: Let the smiles sound.

Reseñas de música por Mag / gracialas@gmail.com

Imagine the scene: an afternoon next to the ocean, a beer in your hand, the beach beautifully glistening, the sun illuminating bikinis and yachts in the distance. The scene improves, because there's a concert on, and upon the stage appears none other than the marvelous Pixies. It's not any stage, nor any audience, because what is going on here is the famous and exclusive Newport Folk Festival. This unforgettable scene materializes in the form of an acoustic set which will shine throughout the long career of the Pixies for years to come. Their show this day is significant because the Newport Folk Festival has been graced by the likes of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger , and because of the international importance of the festival itself. In this unplugged they disconnect and demonstrate why they are a great cult band. Two acoustic guitars, a bass and a drum kit is what they use to sculpt and fire the energy of each song that made them huge in the history of rock/punk/grunge/or whatever.

If their return has something or not to do with the juicy residuals, it doesn't matter. Live like this from Newport -in a very cinematic style-the Pixies sound very real, giving an honest performance. A Charles Thompson in his forties, jokes around with a pleased audience, while showing why he has always been the leader of one of the most cosmic and influential bands that has ever existed. Kim Deal continues to shine, not only with her beautiful voice which balances out Charles' shrieks, but also with a bass that sounds plenty powerful. Not to mention her latent simplicity as a smiling bassist. We enjoy songs such as Vamos, where we note a Joey Santiago speedily strumming the strings in perfect synchronicity with Charles, next to the smooth drumming of magician David Lovering .

One doesn't have to be such a fan to recognize that the Pixies have magic; there is no doubt, they are perfectly aligned. And they don't hold back as they play songs from all their albums: Ed Is Dead, Velouria, Hey, Mr. Grieves, Subblacutcha, Cactus, and even an emotional and well-marketed cover of a folk song from yesteryear: All Around the World. The Pixies sound as if the spirit remains there, in tact. In the midst of a growing post-fame, one returns to fall in love with them again, even though it's been more than a decade since their fun and absurd songs were created. It thrills to see them live.

With this unplugged, Charles ( aka Frank Black aka Black Francis ) has cemented the folky phase through which he is passing. Listen to his last productions in solitude, there's a lot of talent there. Here, live, besides being at the top of their game, it makes one happy because they can still pack a wallop without distortion. This DVD also features a very interesting session of band rehearsals, where Charles appears like the director of the orchestra without eclipsing the talent of his companions. We also receive fragments from another acoustic show as well as a selection of photographs.

File under: I'm in love