As 2010 is coming to an end and the traditional "best of" lists are taking over the entire blogosphere, it's a big deal for major webzines to publish their own top 10, 20, 50 (or more) albums survey in a desperate attempt to make a definitive statement. Now don't get me wrong: I like lists as much as the next geek, they are fun to read and sometimes lead us to discover an artist or a band that we missed. That should be the point, after all. Unfortunately, many lists popping up on the web these days are extremely predictable and nearly identical to one another. It seems impossible to see a "small" record creep its way into a list. It's disheartening to see that hundreds of the so-called "indie" blogs have Kanye West sat comfortably in their top 10. Music lovers around you are more likely to tell you about a local band, a great "lost" album, or a song released on a small label that is better than anything else you've heard this year.
That's exactly what happened to me in 2010 and I must be grateful to my little sis' Vanessa for introducing me to the groovy sounds of The Limiñanas, a new french band from Perpignan who released not one but two killer singles this year, and a debut album to die for. The 60's garage influences of the now defunct Bellas (Lionel and Marie Liminana's excellent previous band) are still there but this time around there's a much stronger pop vibe going on and the music feels a lot looser, less inclined to straight-ahead rock n'roll, sort of marrying the trippy drone of The Velvet Underground to the exuberance of late 60's/early 70's Serge Gainsbourg. That's not to say their self-titled LP doesn't rock, because it really does in places - kind of like a drugged-up monkey, if that makes any sense - but moving along very coherently between guitar and beat driven songs, more laid-back psychedelic pop grooves (must-have single "Je Ne Suis Pas Très Drogue"), some hilarious, almost theatrical numbers, and oddly touching little ditties (standout track "Berceuse Pour Clive").
To sum it up, a vintage-sounding little gem of a record with its heart in the right place and lots of attitude (released in 2010 on Trouble In Mind). But wait, there's more fun to be had here: The Limiñanas also released a single earlier this year on another label, Hozac, with the songs "I'm Dead" and "Migas 2000" stirring quite a lot of interest in America... "I'm Dead" is my single of the year (and my list stops here).
Pretty sure "The Limiñanas" and the Hozac single are available on itunes in various countries (they are in Spain, that much I know), and the LP has definitely been pressed to vinyl. The band are already busy preparing their next record, so expect to hear from them again soon!
I like when you write.
ReplyDeleteMerci mon lapin!
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