WATCH: Belako – ‘Truth’

Whether it’s the global nature of alternative music in the age of streaming, or possibly the cultural aftershocks of the credit crunch, it feels like there’s a new, mucho cool Spanish indie band every week. In the case of Belako – a four-piece from the Basque town of Mungia – using the word “new” might be a bit of a stretch for a band who have been releasing music since a couple of online demos in 2011 – but, whilst forthcoming LP Plastic Drama may be their fourth album, it’s their first international release on a major label. The best part?  The album’s lead single, ‘Truth’, finds them in as fiercely DIY a mood as ever.

Clocking in at a pacey (and satisfying balanced) two minutes and twenty-two seconds, ‘Truth’ lays its cards on the table pretty quickly; in a matter befitting its title, it launches into the slightly off-kilter, detuned guitar line and punchy, if tinny, sounding drums, which are consistent throughout. This is even more true of the track’s video, in some respects, which provides its viewer with the nine lines that form the song’s lyrical content.

Theirs is a stripped-back take on post-punk, consistent with some of the genre’s best voices, who have generally used a fairly simple adage: find a message, repeat it, make no compromises. There’s something of Dream Wife’s early stuff in vocalist Cristina Lizarraga’s atonal vocal style here, but you can take the combination of the persuasive thrust and wry observation all the way back to pioneers such as The Fall or Gang of Four.

The song’s shonky feel arguably gives the band a kinship with Hinds, perhaps the most widely-recognised Spanish group of recent times. Whilst lyrically, the “truth” being spoken here is that the concept of romance has been weaponised, ensuring that love keeps us “locked up”, enforcing our exploitation – essentially, it’s about as far from the usual pop content as you can get. 

For an album that “searches for the real meaning of things in a world that translates everything into assembly lines, manufacturing and the exploitation of living beings”, ‘Truth’ appears to be the ideal introduction, ahead of its release. It’s particularly encouraging to see a band, now some time into their career, embrace their ideas and apply them not only to lyrics but also to the album’s production. If there is any truth in pop music, it looks certain to come from Belako.

Plastic Drama, the upcoming album from Belako, is out 28th August via BMG.

John McGovern
@etinsuburbiaego

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Track Of The Day: KIN – ‘L.O.V.E’

After a compelling and emotional debut single, ‘Sharing Light’, London trio KIN follow up with a spunky second track titled ‘L.O.V.E.’ Inspired by the great British festival, KIN celebrate the euphoric feeling of being in a loving and freeing environment with good people and open spaces.

In conjunction with their previous work, ‘L.O.V.E.’ seems to set the mood of a boosting “bounce back” that follows a trying time or hardship. This song’s energy almost reflects the first night out after a break-up (or worldwide pandemic), where seeing your favourite people is equally as therapeutic as it is surreal. 

With a simple dance-infused beat and laid back sophisticated vocals, KIN’s jangly guitar parts seem to spin across the track with a unique funk-fuelled energy that is catchy and encouraging. Sun-strewn indie-pop riffs and quirky rhythms pull listeners in for musical fling, for a glistening cathartic couple of minutes. 

It is hard not to bop along to ‘L.O.V.E’ as it truly inhabits its lightweight and restorative “walking on a cloud” essence, both sonically and lyrically. Its twinkling uplifting energy an invite for some well deserved solace that we all should accept. 

Watch the homemade, festival-inspired, video for ‘L.O.V.E’ here:

‘L.O.V.E’ is out now. Listen on Spotify or buy on Bandcamp.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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WATCH: DOLLS – ‘Bubble Bath’

London duo DOLLS’ latest single ‘Bubble Bath’ is as pleasingly frothy as its name suggests. A sugary slice of garage rock, delivered with bucketloads of attitude, it rallies against impossible beauty standards and “toxic nice guys” who feel they are owed a relationship after spending precious time getting to know you as a friend.

With their badass, bubblegum vocals and shout-a-long harmonies, the band, made up of Jade and Bel, turn their anger at these injustices into an empowering, inspiring anthem. Backed by scuzzy guitars, they cry, “we are sisters, mothers, daughters, teachers. Anything. Anything. Anything.” It’s power pop in every sense of the word.

As the band sing “We are either goddesses or whores, beautiful or sluts”, they tackle society’s stupid expectations and contradictions so skilfully – and show everyone that you can have a brilliant time while you do it. Who says you can’t start a revolution on the dance-floor?!

Watch the uplifting, fan-filled, DIY video for ‘Bubble Bath’ now:

‘Bubble Bath’ is taken from DOLLS’ Eggshells EP. It was released as part of the Love Record Store Day event on a beautiful limited edition multi-coloured and etched vinyl LP via iconic soundtrack labels Mondo/Death Waltz, and will be released digitally on 28th August.

Vic Conway

Photo Credit: Keira-Anee Photography

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Track Of The Day: After London – ‘Operator’

In a high energy, hard-hitting banger, London based post-punks After London release their empowering new single ‘Operator’. Right from the track’s start, the undeniable chemistry between instruments is in the face of the band’s listeners in a loud and striking way. With a flawless glue between their experimental backdrop and Frank Ward’s powerful vocals, the scene is set as the track grabs your attention and refuses to let go until the song concludes.

Moments of tasteful guitar feedback throughout ‘Operator’ pay homage to After London’s punk roots and give their track a slice of edge that creates a hunger for listeners to see the band’s dynamic live. Layered synths cohesively incorporated into the rock instrumentation provide an ear catching, progressive element to After London’s sound. The fact that the track utilises such an array of different sounds drawn from various genres, but still maintains a minimalist mix, is a reflection of the band’s extensive creative harness.

With such a catchy chorus that celebrates individualism, After London bring out the self determined side in us all and encourage us to move to the beat of our own drum “with the outlaws.” After London’s ‘Operator’ is truly a call for being your own person and feeling liberated by that in the face of objection.

Watch the new video for ‘Operator’ now:

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

Photo Credit: Jessie Morgan

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