This is a new Elefant Records sample, a perfect way to get informed of all our activities and know about our most recent releases. If you remember samples like “Supermarket” or “Verano del 99”, you know what we are talking about. So what’s been up in our headquarters since the last sample?: young kids are growing up wonderfully, while our old stagers are still moving forward. We are honoured of having new members in our family: such Spanish classic artists VAINICA DOBLE and CARLOS BERLANGA, which we are really pleased to introduce you. Needless to say we are up to many exciting projects and surprises, so you’d better watch out! or just check our fully updated, bilingual, completely redesigned www.elefant.com site. Cheers.
1- LA CASA AZUL “Galletas”
Taken from “El sonido efervescente de La Casa Azul”
ER-1076 Mini-LP/Mini-CD
When sunshine-pop producer and composer Guille Milkyway met the five members of LA CASA AZUL he realized they were the perfect performers for his sunny melodies that mix the spirit of A&M’s sixties productions with the most exciting Europop of today. Or, if you want to put it this way, the perfect marriage between THE ARCHIES and THE PET SHOP BOYS. LA CASA AZUL’s first hit -“Cerca de Shibuya”- amazed many people, but all the songs in their debut mini album are equally superb.
2- COOPER “Vértigo”
Taken from “Fonorama” ER-1077 LP/CD
COOPER is the new solo project of Alejandro Díez, which used to lead a band called LOS FLECHAZOS throughout a long decade. They were the best and most popular Spanish mod band, and managed to make themselves a name abroad as well. Now Alejandro comes back with an album full of timeless guitar pop songs. “Vértigo” is one of the most brilliant moments in the album, and its first single.
3-ME ENVENENO DE AZULES “Dibujando corazones”
Taken from “Vidas paralelas” ER-336 CD-Single
Second single by this band formed by brothers Jesús and Jose, specialized in sensitive acoustic pop, with evocative lyrics and transparent, moving vocals. The aparent simplicity of the songs hide complex structures and a great composing work. We hope we’ll be able to release their debut album pretty soon.
4- NIZA “Por las tardes”
Taken from “Topolino” ER-228 Single/ER-335 CD-Single
Cosmopolitan savoir-faire from this girl-boy two-piece from Madrid in their exquisite second release. Silvia’s whispering vocals talk about small day-to-day emotions, served on a silver tray in a French cafe, sitting close to Claudine Longet and Jeanette‘s tables. Really delicate and cute.
5- VAINICA DOBLE “Dices que soy”
Taken from “En familia” ER-1081 Doble-LP/CD
Comeback and swansong from the most magic and singular Spanish band ever. A cult female duo in active since the early seventies (!) that honoured us by releasing their eighth and last album with us; they are personal favourites and main influence of many Spanish bands such as LE MANS, CARLOS BERLANGA, NOSOTRÄSH... Here they are at their very best, with Gloria Van Aerssen’s incredibly moving vocals and the richness of their music can be a surprise for non-Spanish audiences, as it’s probably the first time VAINICA DOBLE’s music is distributed abroad.
6- CIELO “Vamos a caminar”
Taken from “Vamos a caminar EP” ER-338 CD-Single
CIELO is the new project of Cocó and Mario from SILVANIA. After exploring the riskiest and most experimental side of techno, now this Peruvian -living in Spain for ten years- two-piece means to write pop songs with electronic instruments, but avoiding the trite techno pop formula. The result is amazing. This song is a cover version from UNO, a Bolivian sixties band.
7- NOSOTRÄSH “Si es que hay suerte”
Taken from “Mi vida en un fin de semana” ER-1072 LP/CD
All-girl pop band that released their second album in 2000. They had previously had a big success with their debut, thanks to the catchiness and charm of their songs. This second album -chosen by most Spanish alternative media as one of the best in the year- was produced by Ian Catt, of ST ETIENNE, SHAMPOO, TREMBLING BLUE STARS fame, and the sound is really clean and nice. “Si es que hay suerte” is one of the best songs in the album, featuring some very funny lyrics and an excellent melody.
8- CARLOS BERLANGA “Impermeabilizado”
Taken from “Impermeable” ER-1082 LP/CD
He’s one of the best Spanish pop composers. He was part of some of the best -and at the same time commercially succesful- Spanish bands in the eighties such as ALASKA Y LOS PEGAMOIDES or DINARAMA. In the nineties he started a solo career, and this fourth album is definitely his best yet. It was produced by Ibon Errazkin (ex LE MANS) and it mixes acoustic and dancey elements. The lyrics are superb, a combination of humour and drama very close to PET SHOP BOYS or MOMUS. We’re really pleased of giving you the chance of listen to CARLOS BERLANGA.
9- LES TRES BIEN ENSEMBLE “Chanson d’amour”
Taken from “Chanson d’amour” ER-337 CD-Single
Pop band from Barcelona, specialized in covering and composing French pop gems. This is the title track of their second single, in which the fantastic composing skills of Suzette de la Grace Fabergé are more than evident. Please note though they excel at covering classic French stuff (there’s a Brigitte Bardot song in their new CD-Single) this excellent song is signed by LTBE.
10- GASCA “Lugar soñado”
Taken from “Telescopio” ER-1078 LP/CD
Advance song for the forthcoming debut album by this band from Barcelona. Their sound -dreamy, mysterious techno pop- is dominated by Carlos Andreu’s deep, whispering vocals. After a delightful first CD-Single, GASCA reappear in very good shape, with a much more mature sound and excellent collection of songs.
11- THE PANCAKES “Stupid star”
Taken from “Flying in the blue sky on a panic pan” ER-1075 LP/CD
Lo-fi bedroom pop DIY proyect by this very young girl from Hong Kong called Dejay. She writes really funny and cool fizzy techno pop jellybeans, like this one, about rock stars that believe they are the centre of the universe. This song will be included in THE PANCAKES’ debut CD, which will be one of the most exciting albums in 2001.
12- VACACIONES “No es tan fácil”
Taken from “Un año de...” ER-327 CD-Single
This Spanish band hit 2000 by releasing a seven inch and CD-Single simultaneously, with a different tracklist in each format. They will release their long-awaited debut album in 2001, but till that moment comes let’s enjoy one of their best numbers so far, with those sixties-oriented guitars sweetened by cute female vocals.
13- LA MONJA ENANA “Me enamoré de un robot”
Taken from “La monja enana” ER-340 CD-Single
After their first, successful CD-Single (single of the week in UK’s Melody Maker!!!) the happiest, most effervescent techno pop band in the universe comes back with a brand new song, as an advance for their forthcoming new single. It’s an amazing -and really funny-tale about a romance between a girl and a robot. Colourful techno pop for all the family.
14- JUNIPER MOON “Me siento mejor”
Taken from “Basado en hechos reales”
ER-227 Single/ER-333 CD-Single
Punk-pop five-piece from Ponferrada (León). Their debut (“¿Volverás?”) was heavy airplayed by the likes of BBC’s Steve Lamacq. But now they get relaxed and give us their smoothest song yet, featuring the cute vocals of the two girls in the band, Sandra and Raquel. They even get a bit close to early STEREOLAB!
15- CECILIA ANN “Romperosa”
Taken from “Suenacuento” ER-1071 LP/CD
Social comments, trumpets and banjos from this band from Granada. The song was the first single taken from their second album “Suenacuento”. The guitars and vocal harmonies that featured their debut (“Un segundo”) are still there, but now they are enhanced by lushy string and horn arrangements, like the boasted by this fantastic song.
16- LA PEQUEÑA SUIZA “Vente conmigo”
Taken from “Simpático” ER-328 Mini-LP 10”/CD-Single
Bittersweet and slightly dancey, with scents of the best indie pop worldwide, from San Sebastián to Stockholm; that’s a perfect description of the music made by this band from Madrid. Their first single was basically instrumental stuff but on this follow-up you can enjoy girl-boy vocals, courtesy of Nacho and Laura.
17- ANA D E IBON ERRAZKIN “Galaxia”
Taken from “Live in Los Angeles on 89.9 KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic” GR-022 Mini-CD Grimsey
ANA D has toured the United States twice (so far!). On her first tour she was accompanied by ex LE MANS Ibon Errazkin on guitar, and they both recorded an acoustic session for Los Angeles KCRW radio station. US label Grimsey has released this session in CD, from which we’ve included their rendering of one of the best tracks in Ana’s debut album “Satélite 99”.
18- UNION WIRELESS “Just one minute”
Taken from “All her life” ER-1066 CD
One of the smoothest tracks in these londoners’ second album. Their avant-rock influenced by jazz, krautrock and folk is one of the most tempting sound experiences for all the lovers of the riskiest side of music of today. Besides, they prove sonic investigation and sensitiveness can match perfectly.
19- THE PRIBATA IDAHO “Spain is pain”
Taken from “Spain is pain” ER-1069 CD
This Madrid band split after the release of their fourth album, ending a career of more than ten years. Their influences run the gamut from THE BYRDS to LAMBCHOP, from sixties Californian breeze to more contemporary guitar sounds. Ironic words and quiet, elegant music from this threesome.
20- BEEF “Highlights”
Taken from “Misery and lies” ER-1067 CD
Fifth long play by David Rodríguez’s band. This time they leave aside their most experimental side to give us their most rocking, guitar-driven album so far. They were helped in this task by the production of Mr Wharton Tiers, usual producer of NY noise ensemble SONIC YOUTH.
21- IBON ERRAZKIN “Madrid rock”
Taken from “Ibon Errazkin” ER-1073 LP/CD
Guitarist and main composer of the sadly departed LE MANS, IBON ERRAZKIN went solo in 2000, getting away from the smooth style of his previous band to create an amazing mixture of styles and genres. “Madrid rock”, a hypnotic, repetitive dub-wise track, is just a sample of the assorted surprises you can find in his first, eponymous album.
22- AUTOMATICS “Swayfest (Almax Brothers mix)”
Taken from “Experiments in motion graphics” ER-330 CD-Single
Their three albums so far are basically guitar-oriented, but every now and then AUTOMATICS show us their most electronic, dancey side. This CD-Single is based on remixes made by very important names of Spanish clubland, such as HD SUBSTANCE or BIG TOXIC.
