In the Ep’s section, the one chosen as the best Ep of 2023 in the Valencian Community has been “Sueños” by La Plata, recorded and mixed by its singer Diego Escriche at Millenia Estudios, released in May, with mastering by Rashad Becker and design by Patricia Ferragud and María Gea, also members of the band along with Miguel J. Carmona and Salvador Frasquet.
1 – On Payment
ELECTRONIC ROCK / Electronic evolution within the eclecticism of its particular world to use drum&bass, techno, dub or trance as a means of expressing vital anguish. Liberating songs that hook, captivate and help you escape from any personal burden.—A. Mendez
2 – Chewbacca’s
Two Worlds, One Beginning
GALACTIC SURF / The kings of galactic instro surfing have done it again, combining lively compositions that have the air of a spy movie or black and white comic, with the world of the first expeditions to outer space. Intriguing and exotic sounds for helmet surfing.—A. Mendez
3 – Carvento Felan
ELECTRO PUNK / Crushing rhythms, along with a hooligan voice and lyrics, are the ingredients of this marcianada made by the omnipresent (and now dancer) Jose Guerrero (Cuello, Betunizer…) together with Nina Anodina. Puzzle sound that blows your brain and encourages frenetic dancing.—A. Mendez
4 – Margarita Quebrada & Xenia
SYNTHWAVE / Spinning and jumping is what you want when listening to these songs. The connection with Xenia is not the first and it works. An amalgamation of rhythms between new wave, sinister pop, remember music, together with choruses that can be chanted with feeling is the perfect result.—A. Mendez
5 – Heatwaves
POP / Happy and bright songs from another era, passed through a current sieve, which with the voice of Ana Beltrán, together with the know-how of the rest of the band, manage to transport the listener to the fabulous 60s, to their girl bands and their dance parties on the beach with a pickup truck and some EP’s—A. Mendez
6 – Merche Coffins
PUNK / Devilishly angry lyrics, darkness, death, blood, crucifixion and rage make up this set of songs to wake up the dead based on punk and post punk. Which shows that the new generations are not lost, or yes, it doesn’t matter, the point is that they make music like this.—A. Mendez
7 – Pleasant Dreams
ELECTRO POP / Electronics carry the weight, leaving guitar and percussion in the background, and incorporating experimentation in the studio as another part of the compositional process. Present the desire to humanize society and absent love, with collaborations by GEM and Pau Alabajos.—A. Mendez
8 – Mr. Sanchez
POP ROCK / The combination of nineties melodies and clever pop lyrics with British alternative rock resources serves to create these songs with an air of stadium music. Furthermore, the subtlety of the synthesizers enhances the themes like buttered toast.—A. Mendez
9 – Tiemersma & Reynaldo
POP / It was foreseeable that something as unpredictable as this duo would emerge from this union, capable of putting together crushing choruses that become heavenly when the registers of both entities merge, while a kind of macarrismo frolics, happily, in a certain intellectual sensuality.—César Campoy
10 – The Fuzzy Clouds
INDIE ROCK / Rawness and severity of these compositions. With a gentle “Break Oppression”, the band’s classic “What are we doing here?” of exquisite vocal melody and hypnotic instrumental development, the charge of depth that is “Clockwork”, is how this power-trio spends it.—Javier Pérez
Loud ain´t enough de The Fuzzy Clouds