THE STRUGGLERS

You win·Acuarela Discos 2005

Listening to The Strugglers record is a bit akin to taking a trip through time. Their music is a mixture of rock and folk, peppered with a dash of Neil Young, Smog or Will Oldham. The voice also has an Eddie Vedder ring to it at times. The songs on the album feature the violin, keyboards, the mandolin, the cello or the vibraphone. The likes of “Racing Down One Path”, “The Cascade Range” or “I Tried to Repair” really can reach out and touch you.

ANARI

Zebra·Metak 2005

It’s not easy to describe just exactly an Anari record can make you feel. Time has passed and the different ways you can approach her records have changed. On this her third solo release she’s continued to improved and if she was hitting the spot before, she’s really digging into now. This record has sparked off the same sensations I got form Manta Ray’s “Esperanza”. The record is rockier and as a result more direct. But it’s still Anari, the one who sticks her hands into you and whirls those feelings and sensations around.

ANORAK

A limited time only·Rhonda Records 2005

This three-piece from Catalonia (one of them is Welshie boyo from the valleys) show that Jostailuek can make some really decent pop songs. They sound a bit like The Postal Service and Her Space Holiday on some of their songs. Their tunes are simple but some really strong programming gives their music a real backbone. Serious on “Falling”, amusing on “International Airport, painful on “Another Way” and absolutely amazing on “A New Place”. There’s plenty of choice on offer on this their debut.

EL INQUILINO COMUNISTA

Dogbox·Everlasting Records 2005

A lot of really imaginative bands sprung up around the Basque Country in the 90s. Along with the Donostia (San Sebastian) based Buenawista and the Donostia pop scene a whole heap of bands came out of the Getxo area. El Inquilino Comunista was one of them and they really had their own particular sonic melodic sound. All these bands have sunk without trace in this parts. Fortunately, somebody seems to have remembered and we now have a chance to delight in this band from Getxo once again with this box set “Dogbox” which takes through all their career.