Barcelona Calling : An Irregular Spanish Round-up

So it's been a while but the releases from Barcelona's BCore have trickled in over the last month or so & it seems only fair to pass out an assessment of their merits.

In no particular order then we'll kick off with Cuello's Modo Eterno, and what a kick it is. Racing out of the traps like a souped up version of The Cardiacs opener 'Te Vas De Lado Siempre' pulls you along in its wake and sets the scene for a punishing but euphorically punked-up journey through the album's entirety. Things calm down a bit round about songs for & five but by the time 'San Balon' thunders around, with it's anthemic '77 feel, repeated chorus and the bludgeoning drumming of its final minute any respite gained has been well and truly erased.

This album proves without a doubt the Cuello is still a key plank in the musical life of the prolific Jose Guerreros (Jupiter Lion, La Orquestra del Caballo Ganador, Betunizer & Rastrejo being his other ongoing concerns) and the quartet have delivered one of the best punk albums, of any sort, of the year. It doesn't let up until the very final note of 'Tu Fuego De Luces' and there's nothing reasonable to do other than start it off again.

Joan Colomo's La Filia I La Fobia, his fourth solo effort (like Jose Guerreros he too is not one to have only one creative outlet, being the driving force behind La Célula Durmiente, amongst others), is a wide-ranging pop affair. It has therefore it's fair share of jagged, energetic songs but there are lusher moments such as third track 'Dona Negra' and the later 'Maquina Del Temps'. Like a cross between a talented Miles Kane and Sebastien Tellier Colomo delivers a dozen short blasts of varying stridency that all give off the atmosphere of summer.

Whilst his voice gets rather too child-like on 'Tu Pies' the delicate guitar work redeems the track at the end and it's such a minor dip in form that it's soon forgotten within the warmth of the latter half of the album. One for that party you were planning on your balcony.

No More Lies have been playing hardcore at home and abroad since as far back as 1997 yet this is only their fourth album and the first since 41º46.5'N 3º1.9'E from 2005. Both lyrically and musically accessible for this reviewer seeing as they sing in English, theirs is a tight and at times furious assault on the ears, showing their passion for playing and getting their message across is as fresh as at the beginning. Describing them as Spain's Husker Du is entirely apt. None of the ten songs on this release passes the three minute mark and yet they cram more changes of pace, solos and melodic elements into each track than you'd think possible. 

Jaime L. Panteleon's La Ley Del Si once more takes things back to a calmer musical neighbourhood. Sparse and, at times, mildly psychedelic instrumentation backs Panteleon's emotive vocals. Vocally the work at times borders on pretty mainstream but there is enough maturity and diversity in the musical accompaniment to keep things repeatedly interesting - at times vaguely like John Fahey ('Sin Luz') or Nick Drake with accompaniment on 'Infinitamente Sonámbulo' and a number of other nuances and nods towards throughout the ten tracks. 

Finally there's the Todo Por El Bien Comun single from Nueva Vulcano. Another band with quite a few albums behind them this release is their first since the Los Peces De Colores album. Citing Wire and Guided By Voices as influences the two songs here definitely offer shades of those acts amidst weightier music than either have been known to produce but fans of both bands would do well to give 'El Bien Comun' and 'Mogolion' a listen.

All of the above releases can be heard at and purchased from the BCore bandcamp page.