El Guincho - "Alegranza" (Panda Bear who?)

this album is fucking awesome. i'm trying to get a hold of it but the only place i could find it for sale was an offshore third-party with a $20 minimum

this is way better than panda bear

same beach-y feel but way better "songs." this feels way more authentic to me (in the sense that southall talked about person pitch as being thin and impenetrable). even the most panda bear sounding ones are cut through by killer melodies (either vocal or otherwise) (i.e. the spiraling keyboards on "fata morgana" or the verses on "palmitos park" or the guitar chords on "antillas").

the inherent distance of person pitch really kept me from loving it and this feels way more warm and enveloping mostly cuz its way more communal (the samples are from like fiestas and crowded beaches-- this may be me working out my own shit but it's a big reason why i like this).

anything on this like 'I'm Not' then?

Jordan, where are you from? Have you tried at BCore in Spain?

http://bcoredisc.com/ING/distribucionBD.php?banda=El%20Guincho

anything on this like 'I'm Not' then?

-- blueski, Monday, January 21, 2008 6:20 AM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

nah, definitely more song-y

i live in the us abby. that's the place i was talking about, and w/ the order minimum + shipping it comes out to 20+. i've honestly been waiting for this to hit torrents, as awful as that may be.

Yeah this is great stuff.

I'd be reluctant to overstate the link with Panda Bear. I can hear similarities with the first section of "Good Girl/Carrots", but that's about it, I think El Guincho's strengths (and, well, basic sound really) are very different - it's certainly not a case of getting it "right" where Panda Bear gets it "wrong".

If we must compare it to some big 2007 music, could almost as easily say M.I.A.'s "Boyz". (if that doesn't confuse steve nothing will...)

(okay, I admit that's really stretching it)

Tim, I totally agree with you. I mentioned Panda Bear in the title basically as a hook, though there are some similarities as you say.

i'm imagining this as sounding like Beirut now.

Less like Beirut than Panda Bear even. Perhaps a Latino Ariel Pink? Only much much better than Ariel Pink.

Big big drum loops and sighing amorphous loops (keyboards, Spanish guitar etc.) and happy multitracked singing somewhere in the background.

Actually that comparison (Ariel Pink) is horrendously misleading as well. Ignore me.

Well Tim, it may be misleading (in fact whoever you compare him to may be misleading cause El Guincho is truly unique, as I see it) but curiously I made that same comparison in a comment I left in their blog (http://discotecaoceano.blogspot.com/) some weeks ago. My exact words were "el Ariel Pink de la playa y las máximas melodías transoceánicas". My English is not very good but I think it would something like "the Ariel Pink from the beach and the maximun transoceanic melodies". It sounds pretty stupid, I know.
In that blog I mentioned, Pablo (El Guincho) and Felix, the man from the tiny label Discoteca Oceano, usually write (in Spanish) and there are some posts (ALEGRANZA pt. 1, ALEGRANZA pt. 2, etc) telling what samples he used in the songs: tropicalia, calypso, african music, folklore from the Canary Islands (he is from Gran Canaria, like me), exotica, latin,...
Btw (listen to the teacher, boys), Alegranza is a very small island with no habitants and a big volcanic crater near Lanzarote. And guincho is a kind of bird typical from these islands.

For some reason every song on his myspace sounds like music for a summertime fizzy drink advert. Still, good fun. Not sure if those loops will become nicely hypnotic or turn-this-shit-off-its-driving-me-nuts hypnotic.

this is pretty good. i'm hearing some os mutantes in it (wrong country/language obv.) more than any indie stuff getting namedropped here

I'm sure he would totally agree with you. Other Brazilian names he has pointed as favourites of him in some interviews are Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso (especially the highly experimental "Araçá azul") or Tom Zé. And lots of Caribbean (Lord Kitchener, The Mighty Sparrow,...) and African music (I suggest checking the great Syliphone -Guinean label- reissues in Sterns Africa).

http://www.sternsmusic.com/disk_info.php?id=STCD3025-26

Not sure if those loops will become nicely hypnotic or turn-this-shit-off-its-driving-me-nuts hypnotic.

I'm also getting that feeling. And other than the sense of playful anarchy that AC/Panda Bear have on their records, I don't think they sound all that similar.

I'm digging it, though. It's insanely catchy, that's for sure.

sounds more like some of the new animal collective songs like brother sport
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wEIhXPK0TSM

Yeah, I hadn't heard that song. Cool.

A homemade video of "Kalise", from "Alegranza":
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bkQ0qZvP75Y

El Guincho party! ("Kalise" again)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7zH8FfDBr4

And this is a non-released song he posted in his blog. Very atmospheric.
"Final de archipiélago": http://www.zshare.net/audio/5953885022fb5d/

Btw, El Guincho also has another band, Coconot, with an album released in 2005 in BCore, "Novo Tropicalismo Errado".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82E3_EBzQZY
In that first recording they were Pablo (El Guincho) and his cousin. His cousin left and now they are a trio. I think they're gonna release a new album soon.
http://www.myspace.com/coconot

He also plays drums in a Catalonian folk band: Albaialeix. They're gonna release their first album soon.
http://www.myspace.com/albaaleix

to user "a passing spacecadet":

my email back to you wouldn't go through, it said :

thx man

first listening impression reference points: calypso X the field album

Should I investigate this?

y

very much yes

this is slaying me right now. so goood...

I played this over the weekend for some civilians and all really liked it

El Guincho round the world:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/48161-el-guincho-fata-morgana-mp3stream
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/28/AR2008012802477.html
http://stereogum.com/archives/band-to-watch/band-to-watch-el-guincho_007810.html?utm_source=sb&utm_medium=f
http://super45.cl/2008/01/30/el-guincho/

UK tour soon... some confirmed London dates:
24 mar 2008 Durrr London
27 mar 2008 Moshi Moshi Night London
1 abr 2008 White Heat London

More news: UK Kids! Alegranza is now out to buy in Rough Trade. There's only 25 copies! You can also order the record online from here:

http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_detail.lasso?search_type=sku&sku=295909

More news: Hey Australia and New Zealand: Alegranza to be released on Mistletone!

hello!!

we're really happy to announce we will be releasing Alegranza on Mistletone Records! Release date: March 1, 2008. it's a digipack redesigned by Jordi Ferreiro (el mejor).

MISTLETONE

Ash and Sophie are super nice and they will make everything easy for you to find the record all around Oceania. I will be touring Australia and New Zealand hopefully by the end of 2008. November or something. So psyched to go there and meet the crocodiles!

hope you're as happy as I am.

Best,

pablo

And here in Spain they have already ran out of copies of "Alegranza" (after one month and a half of its release) so they're gonna release new copies this month.

http://www.mistletone.net/?cat=28

I give this record the sleeve seal of approval. glad it's being repressed.

and yeah, I hear more new Animal Collective than Panda Bear in this. But it is its own great thing anyway.

This record gives me a headache. In other words, not enough Panda Bear.

i never would have thought of panda bear or animal collective on this -- it reminds me of spanish gypsy music or something (vox especially), just really celebratory and percussive

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/48842-alegranza

i am listening to the new ruby suns record and wow, there are some major correlations between that, and el guincho.

12 mar 2008 17:30
SXSW - Terrorbird / Forcefield PR at Emo’s Austin, Texas
13 mar 2008 23:30
SXSW - Primavera Sound Showcase at Red Eyed Fly Austin, Texas
14 mar 2008 13:30
SXSW - Sesac Daystage at Austin Convention Center Austin, Texas
14 mar 2008 17:30
SXSW - Everloving Party at Design Within Reach Austin, Texas
15 mar 2008 20:00
SXSW 508 House Austin, Texas
17 mar 2008 20:00
Mercury Lounge w/ Cut Copy, Holy Ghost, The Fashion SOLD OUT! New York
18 mar 2008 21:00
Other Music Party at Union Pool - FREE SHOW!! Brooklyn, New York
23 mar 2008 20:00
XXJFG Party at Barfly Brighton
24 mar 2008 20:00
Durrr London
26 mar 2008 21:00
Antics Dublin
27 mar 2008 20:00
Moshi Moshi Night London
1 abr 2008 20:00
White Heat London
3 abr 2008 20:00
La Pedrera Barcelona
12 abr 2008 20:00
Excuse Me Valencia
26 abr 2008 20:00
La Laguna Tenerife
2 may 2008 20:00
South Pop Festival Sevilla
30 may 2008 23:00
Primavera Sound Barcelona
14 jun 2008 23:00
Clandestino Festival Göteborg
11 jul 2008 23:45
La Mar de Músicas Cartagena

been looking for a copy of this but it is too much $$$

shit, did that mercury lounge show sell out cause of him?
i was hoping it wouldn't be too crazy at union pool.

Shakey, the album is being remixed in London and is gonna be released in a major label soon. However in the USA you can currently get the album here: http://www.othermusic.com/

And for the UK: http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_detail.lasso?search_type=sku&sku=295909

$20 for a CD? fuck that

Yes, a "little" expensive, in Spain is $10 (6,5 euros). You'll have to wait to the worldwide reedition then.

$20 for a CD? fuck that

That's standard in the UK

shit, did that mercury lounge show sell out cause of him?
i was hoping it wouldn't be too crazy at union pool.

probably cause of Cut Copy but I still think Union Pool will be kinda nuts. still gonna go though.

There's an Australian edition on Mistletone out soon, which might be cheaper for people in the US. Touring Oceania later in the year, hurrah.

Also, check out this mix he did for the Fader:
http://www.thefader.com/articles/2008/3/6/freeload-el-guincho-mix

Souley Kanté - Fanga
Bainito Muyanda - Kibaji
Balla et Ses Balladins - Sara 70 (edit)
Los Zafiros - Mirame Fijo
Caetano Veloso - Viola Meu Bem
Milton Nascimento - Saidas e Bandeiras nº2
Marconi Notaro - Desmantelado
Alton Ellis - These Eyes
Adoniran Barbosa e Demonios da Garoa - Saudosa Maloca
Jorge Ben - Barbarella
Lord Kitchener - Kitch You're So Sweet
Damiao Experiença - A Vida É Sempre Assim (edit)
Patience and Prudence - Tonight You Belong To Me

Patience & Prudence FTW!

New Ruby Suns album is good, but the EP they put out just before it, Lichen Ears, is possibly better - stuff that didn't make sense on the album proper, like the 13-minute "Gibble" and the Section 25/OMD-style "Give Advice".

fader mix is really cool, listened to it a couple times over the weekend

all i know is that that song 'antillas' samples a charles chepkwony song and i can't figure out which. fuck this bullshit.

so if you like that guitar sound check chepkwony

so maybe it's not a chepkwony song if i can't find the sample, but it sounds like chepkwony and he is a genius

so, all i know

Instore at Rough Trade East in approx. 2 hours time. Might pick up an XL copy while I'm there as my original cd seems to have packed up. Although I might wait for the vinyl instead.

Can't get into Person Pitch at all the way I got into this, although I don't get Animal Collective much either. I try, I really do.

stfu kevin keller

i saw him on fri night and he was great!! hilarious show, looked like a holiday camp cabaret act from the 80s, rinky-dink keyboards and tacky lights and his napoleon dynamite-looking friend goofing around next to him. totally disarming banter between songs too. audience did a conga line. basically, awesome.

tanlines remix of kalise (and their track bejan, hat tip to 20jfg) are both cool: http://www.myspace.com/tanlinestheband

I like this.

wow i just posted a huge disgusted rant about this in the poll thread. makes sense that people compare it to p***a b**r. dude sounds like a drunken tramp and i am disgusted with you all for liking this terrible music and indirectly allowing it into my world

lol

seriouslexiznotamuzed.jpg

(it does suck though)

i gotta say it made a lot more sense live than on record - having an audience brought out the carnival vibe a bit better.

so, so, so good

lex when you abandon your "i like it=it's not indie, i dislike it=it's indie" rule you might actually enjoy yourself

the more drunken tramp music the better over innocent smoothie pop

still dig this record

iz gr8!

off-topic, but Ioannis, did you end up digging that Saft album?

i need to listen to it some more really, but i do appreciate its range at the very least.

I keep seeing this in the shops and keep thinking I ought to get it but I don't know about the "drunken tramp pop" thing - as long it's not like hauntology Pogues I guess it's worth checking out.

Would I like this?

yes

alright then

it's good

yeah i like it too. its like, avalanches is shortwave radio from the adjoining island, this is dancing up next 2 the speaker on the dancefloor

New album sounds really good on first listen. Shiny rhythmic uptempo dancehall pop, a lot sharper than Alegranza. It's ridiculously cheerful.

"FM Tan Sexy" kinda amazing.

Not heard the new one, but I'm looking forward to seeing him live in November. It's at a really small venue, which is going to be very different from seeing him rock the crowd at Primavera '08.

I enjoyed this a lot. He just played at Spaceland and I missed it

I don't think there was any better place to hear El Guincho than at Primavera '08 with several people jumping around going bonkers as the sun was coming up (or was it going down? I can't remember too well!) I'm sad I missed most of his set. Alegranza was my Person Pitch of 2008. For me it's the ultimate in galloping dance beats, latin rhythms and Beach Boy/Animal Collective call and response.

Emily, when/where you seeing him?

The Brighton show - 9th November, I think? It's at The Hope, which is a pretty nice venue but very small. Hopefully it'll get a good 'intimate' vibe rather than a 'why does nobody else like El Guincho?' one.

Any excuse for me to charter a train to Brighton. I played a DJ set at the Gladstone only this weekend. May see you there!

Cool!

Wasn't crazy about him live; still bumping the album

he endeared himself to me live because he wore a sonics (basketball) jersey and talked about how they were his team when he was a kid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJK2LwD_nEY
^^sample source for Fata Morgana

http://www.ifc.com/news/2010/09/video-premiere-el-guincho-bomb.php

relevant to my interests

^like

( @ Y @ )

nice!

Wow, that's one of the best videos I've ever seen in my life.

And this song is awesome!

yeah I sorta don't understand Pfork turning on this guy ... oh the fickle ways of music journos

This new album is... strange. I'm not too sure of the references, but this has more in common with African Highlife, Zouk and Shaangaan than the slam'n'jam Iberia-in-Ibiza stuff from the first one. It's worryingly close to "World" music (the dubious kind). That said I've only listened once, and should check it out again.

i really love this album. maybe because those "world music" signifiers are more immediately pleasurable to me, but this is pretty much great summer pop music.

saw him play abt two weeks ago, the sound was so so bad that ppl left in droves, sad as was really looking forward to the show, heard the new album is fun but not heard it yet

Wow, that's one of the best videos I've ever seen in my life.

― billstevejim, Friday, September 24, 2010 11:59 AM (2 months ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

And this song is awesome!

― billstevejim, Friday, September 24, 2010 12:27 PM (2 months ago) Bookmark

Yes & yes!

finally got to hear the new record and it is an easy top ten for the year. the whole thing keeps delivering all the way through.

stfu kevin keller

― max, Saturday, October 25, 2008 8:32 AM

lol

'antillas' is still a jam

this is one of the best albums of the 2000s/vastly superior to person pitch

cool! new record soon

http://pitchfork.com/news/62857-el-guincho-returns-with-hiperasia-shares-comix-featuring-mala-rodriguez/

Hiperasia

http://pitchfork-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/content/El_Guincho_Hiperasia_1500.jpg