Blog: Club Fonograma

Melodic resonance is best appreciated under minimalistic frames. "Sigue Sus Ojos," one of the most heartfelt tracks of last year, has finally been given the single treatment. This song dips deep into the laws of attraction, piercing emotions on every hook. Luciano Rubio has crafted a monochrome video that celebrates the analog formation of Caravana, balancing the dreamy haze of instruments with the stark silhouettes of their musicians. Caravana's Rodrigo Santis is accompanied by an all-star band comprised by Felicia Morales, Fernando Milagros, Gepe, and Pedropiedra (all looking gorgeous and wearing awesome sweaters). Caravana will be performing on the first [...]

Though it's early in the year to be making these kinds of predictions, and though they only have a short EP under their belt, I fully expect the ladies of Granit to make a big impact this year. The Barcelona band's Aresta EP has been on heavy rotation because it beautifully navigates that space between haunting and gorgeous, light and somber, celestial and aquatic. "Marea Viva" and its accompanying video is a perfect example of this. The layer of rippling water beneath the images of graceful ballerinas evokes a more romantic version of synchronized swimming, while the pink [...]

Un Pokito de Rocanrol, Bebe EMI Music, Spain Rating: 57 by Carlos Reyes Oh, how I distrust people that exchange the "c" (or the "qu" in Spanish) for the "k." I guess it's not such a bad thing if you signed your name that way in rebellion on your junior high midterms, but, later than that, the grammatical rock and roll exertion turns into comatose accessory. Which is why, despite Bebe's extensive legitimation as an out-of-the-margins artist, I still distrust the outline of her [...]

Super Guachin's "La Gorra," the second promo cut off their Piratas y Fichines EP (ZZK Records), is not only a sweaty, slo-mo accomplished track, but it also happens to have a superb recreational video (perhaps the best we've seen this year so far). Brothers Ignacio and Luciano Brasolin have always introduced Super Guachin as a forward-thinking audiovisual duo, and this clip (with graphics from Ukrainian artist Mykola Dosenko) shows them doing just that. Of course, there's no way to look into the future without having nostalgia on [...]

Bote, Diosque Independiente, Argentina Rating: 77 by Carlos Reyes "You're one of those people who likes to stare at accidents" says the punching opening line in Los Punsetes' brutally visceral, "Accidentes." Argentine composer Juan Roman Diosque strikes me as one of those people. Through his music, he defies the proportions of a bird's-eye elevated view to instead observe its subjects at a depraved proximity. There's something very neurotic about an anti-panoramic songwriter (e.g. Marco Antonio Solís), especially when the short distance devotion hints early [...]

• "La Dictadura de tu Belleza" » Ladictaduradetubelleza.mp3

Fonocast #8: Truly, Madly, Deeply by Blanca Méndez & Belén Plasencia In honor of Valentine's Day, we bring you a show full of love—enough to make even the most hopeless romantic want to puke. But isn't that what love should do? Maybe not induce nausea exactly, but tap into some really deep emotional and physical levels of yourself you didn't even know existed. We know that sounds kinda scary. And it is. Especially for those of us who like to be in control. But it's also one of the most amazing things you could [...]

• Download Fonocast 8 » Fonocast8_TrulyMadlyDeeply.mp3

ƒin, John Talabot Permanent Vacation, Spain Rating: 88 by Andrew Casillas Jungle sounds clash with plucked strings clash with electronic claps until wait for it : a beat. John Talabot sees your ambivalence and accusations of rhythmical homogeny and raises your Super Vato funk. But, lest you think he's only got the versatility of a relief pitcher, Talabot proves over the course of an hour that he's working with an array of techniques—suck one, Tom Emanski. ƒin [...]

Building high expectations for a tiny band known for its "little pop gems" seems like something that could eventually harm them, but Nubes En Mi Casa has the wood to trounce any outcome. The Argentine band, led by Josefina Mac Loughlin and Hernan Dadamo, is wrapping up the post-production of Me Suelto y Vuelvo (Molecula Records), the full-length follow-up to their gorgeous 2008 self-titled debut. After the success of last year's heart-wrenching "La Ventana," the band unveiled a new track through the January edition of the Music Alliance Pact. "Aceleremos" shows Nubes En Mi Casa progressing their balladry [...]

• Nubes En Mi Casa - Aceleremos

White Ninja's second visual piece, following the weird-as-fuck/can't turn away video for "El Alfa," is another monster of a clip. This time we hear "PCU" soundtracking a mockumentary (at least I hope) that takes us into the home life of an artist. An artist that dresses like the dude , collects mirrors, and makes electronic music that goes unappreciated in his own country. The footage is both depressing and hilarious. Director Patricio Hinojosa pokes fun at the current culture where everyone is an artist, and yet most of us are just as [...]

Everyone's favorite Queens-born female identical twin duo is back in action. Nina Sky were the vocalists on one of 2011's best left-field singles, CREEP's haunting and tense "You." Now they're back with "Day Dreaming," their comeback track supporting their upcoming album, Nicole & Natalie . Judging from the single, it appears that Nina Sky has taken all of the compliments from their CREEP collaboration to heart. "Day Dreaming" is 200 seconds of cool and hushed harmonies, augmented by a light 2-step beat with the occasional [...]

Yet another artist among the handful of Iberoamericans who've found Germany as the adequate place to develop their music and find a receptive audience, Madrid-born LINCE has been working as a DJ in Berlin since 2009, while also making encompassing ambient and minimal techno. The video for the rework of his track "Sombras en mi corazón," a gorgeously crafted recollection of images edited by Machines Désirantes Buró and taken from the film The Endless Summer , uses the idea of moving water in the form of ocean waves as a consistent theme and aesthetic for his repetitive, [...]

Líder Juvenil, Tony Gallardo II Bad Pop, México Rating: 81 by Enrique Coyotzi After the shutdown of Megaupload, a general discontent was manifested, principally on social networks. However, I remember reading opinions that expressed how this platform had been "ruining music" since its creation in 2005. Yes, we know there are thousands of disposable acts on the Internet, but the [...]

• "Mi Presa" » BadPop-LiderJuvenilEP-03MiPresa.mp3

Dávila 666 were, hands down, the most popular kids in our yearbook. Puerto Rico Indie did a pretty good rundown (and interview) of their accomplishments last year: rave reviews from every relevant publication out there, an oblique presence in the music festival circuit, a Taco Bell commercial, and a Jack White-produced live album. We would add the fact that they were also responsible for the year's indie rock hit across the Iberoamerican region. The uncouth, six-member band was so irresistible that even Hollywood actresses like Scarlett Johansen and Kristen Stewart were spotted shoegazing at Davila's urgent, lubricated vein. [...]

Spain's most consolidated indie labels (Elefant, Jabalina, among others) are way too dependent on Spotify's services, to the point they've all stopped pushing promotional singles outside the Swedish streaming platform. Which is why the release of Klaus & Kinski's clip for "Ojo Por Diente" brings not only the first visual impression of their new album, but it's also our first time listening to the single in a less-secluded, uninterrupted environment. The leading cut from the duo's third full-length album, Herreros y Fatigas , is a continuation of K&K's lenience with popcraft. It is, however, too safe and proverbial to [...]

Dumb Death, Vampire Slayer Indiangold Records, Mexico Rating: 69 by Carlos Reyes For all those kids modifying the preposition in Drake's advising line on "overdosing on confidence," here we have an album that spells its title on a potential upshot: a dumb death. Okay, referencing something as arguable as a dumb death through a rap line isn't the most fitting way to start a review of a former member of Maniqui Lazer, but this is the kind of unmatched-to-this-scene record that merits [...]

• "Bathroom Melody" » 10BathroomMelody.mp3

How Babasónicos has been able to keep it cool for over 20 years (with virtually no creative flops) is something almost inexplicable and remarkable. Just last year, the legendary band was one of the few experienced acts to attain critical success in an Iberoamerican pop scene that's mostly packed with young blood. In an album where potential hit singles are omnipresent, it doesn't come as a surprise to see the A Propósito's compositional womb getting the promo spotlight. In this golden, ornate clip for "Tormento," the band goes historical and futuristic, in the best of the Babasónicos aesthetic. [...]

Mekong, Karakoram-Mekong Independiente, Chile Rating: 77 by Pierre Lestruhaut Sometimes it just seems that everyone on the Internet likes Astro. Seriously . It's understandable when tracks like "Maestro Distorsión" or "Ciervos" have all the pop exuberance and irresistible hooks that you'd expect from an immediately striking and spin-all-you-can hit single that easily spreads among young listeners. And, last year, Astro just couldn't stop dropping those kind of tracks, the ones that have all the melodic urgency of a one-hit wonder or an underground [...]

• "Mekong" » MEKONG.mp3

Mama Vynilia Records started the year on a high note with that impressive Telephone Rouges vs. Piñata 7'' split , which encouraged us to dig through some of its obscure-yet-stirring catalogue. The tiny Barcelona-based print released Esponja's HyperVigil late last year (late enough to be dragged into this year) and, although a quick spin revealed it's an album that's too thematically all over the place for its own good, it did, however, reach melodious grandiosity at least once in the instrumentally soaring and emotionally towering "Fucking Pony." Believers of the post- Loveless order of society (compensating [...]

• "Fucking Pony" » Esponja-FuckingPony.mp3

After singing about sex, love and rumba, the lies of politicians, and the female obsession with physical beauty, Bomba Estereo songstress Liliana Saumet gets her hands dirty with a new track on murder. Under the name of Leidi Li, Saumet takes the warm voice-controversial lyrics combination to the next level. Through a trip hop, downtempo beat, produced by no other than Saumet's sweetheart (Pedro D'Alessandro under his own alter-ego, AOIM), Leidi Li coolly describes by what means she proceeded to heartlessly murder, chop up, and bury her fiancé. "Maté a mi novio" explores manslaughter through graphic rhymes, punctuating the track [...]

• "Mate a mi novio" » LeidiLi-Mateaminovio.mp3

Haciendo Leña, Juan Cirerol Intolerancia / Vale Vergas Discos, Mexico Rating: 78 by Jean-Stephane Beriot "A storyteller, a romantic, and a stylist of the popular song," wrote Carlos Reyes about Juan Cirerol when introducing that masterpiece-by-a- débutant named Ofrenda al Mictlan . As dramatic and divisive as the music of Cirerol is, I think we all can agree he's the definition of an endearing success story – one in which you can't help but to be emotionally invested. In little over a [...]