A Little Orchestra

NEW ADVENTURES IN POP: New release from our vinyl collection [Axolotes Mexicanos, A Little Orchestra]

We’re still moving forward with new releases on our limited-edition singles series for new bands, with which we at Elefant hope to open you up to some of the newest, most interesting up and coming artists, both nationally and internationally. And this time we have two really surprising and absolutely polar opposite singles ready for you: chamber pop seasoned with juicy collaborations by the British group A LITTLE ORCHESTRA, and the furious, urgent and insultingly iconoclastic punk by the Asturian group AXOLOTES MEXICANOS. Two new names to add to the list that includes artists like LOS BONSAIS, PAPA TOPO, KNICKERS, BAND À PART, BELLE GHOUL, and THE SILVER FACTORY.

 
A LITTLE ORCHESTRA "Josefina"


New Adventures In Pop 029

SINGLE 7" [Chocolate Colour Vinyl] [Numbered Limited Edition of 500 copies]  •  Includes a free digital MP3 download [320 kbps]

TRACKLIST:01. Josefina (With Model Village) 02. The Permanent Way (With Darren Hayman)  03. Treacle (With Simon Stone) 04. East Coast (With Gordon McIntyre Of Ballboy) 05. Clocks, Part 2
 

 
A LITTLE ORCHESTRA, as their name itself indicates, is a small pop orchestra with eleven members, based in London and originally founded at the beginning of 2010 by Monster Bobby, who was one of the main people responsible for the first period of THE PIPETTES. Their versatility and extensive line-up (which includes flutes, violins, violas, and clarinets) has led them to diversify their repertoire: from performing small classical pieces to writing their own songs, playing as a band for renowned names like Darren Hayman, Elizabeth from ALLO DARLIN’, THE PIPETTES, POCKETBOOKS, Shirley Lee from SPEARMINT, and THE LOVES. Their physical format debut has finally arrived with “Josefina,” this limited-edition 7” that includes 5 amazing pieces that also include some distinguished guests. Let’s go step by step.

The first song, “Josefina,” which Neil Hannon himself would have been happy to have written, is a beautiful gem with folk origins that includes the fantastic collaboration of the English group, MODEL VILLAGE, and the sweet lyrical voice of Rachel. This wonderful song puts the cards on the table and makes the mastery of the arrangements perfectly clear, not to mention it’s loaded with high voltage emotions.Darren Hayman, the once front-man of HEFNER, writes and sings “The Permanent Way”, tracing the missing link between THE BEATLES and THE ESSEX GREEN; folk, pop, and psychedelia all together in one absolutely magical dose. “Treacle,” written and sung by Simon Stone of THE LOVES and KNICKERS, sounds as if THE BEACH BOYS dreamt of Mozart, or as if Scott Walker were singing a heart-felt song to his long-lost brother, who watched him jubilantly from some hidden corner of paradise. “East Coast” stars Gordon McIntyre of BALLBOY, another illustrious character from the British indie-pop scene who lets himself get carried away with the elegant and evocative melodies and arrangements of the chamber group, making it clear what would happen in the hypothetical situation of Adam Green making a pact with Lee Hazlewood to pay homage to THE LEFT BANKE. The group closes the magnificent and unusual release alone, with an instrumental song written by Monster Bobby that clocks in at just under two minutes; “Clocks, Part 2” is a luminous and melancholic wonder.

A delicate, exciting, tremendously lyrical single that is fragile and sweet at the same time, made for those with the most exquisite palates.

 

AXOLOTES MEXICANOS "Infectados"


New Adventures In Pop 028

SINGLE 7" [Green Colour Vinyl] [Numbered Limited Edition of 500 copies] •  Includes a free digital MP3 download [320 kbps]

TRACKLIST:01. Infectados 02. Sube La Canción 03. Pandachila 04. Aborto

 

If there is a contemporary group that can be the living image of insulting, impertinent rebelliousness together with the most irreverent youthfulness, that group is definitely AXOLOTES MEXICANOS. Olaya and Stephen met in their school’s courtyard and decided to start a band. They completed their new group with Juan, Olaya’s twin brother. With a median age that barely reaches 19, this Asturian trio goes from crazy punk to the most playful, demo-friendly electro-pop with energy, muscle, strength and a lot of ferocity. They are the protégées of and were produced by Ivan Juniper and Eva Guilala, and they recorded in that reservoir of today’s indie pop, the Estudio Kaiju. “Infectados” is the first official release from this young band after their appearance on our Christmas compilation album, “A Christmas Gift for You from Elefant Records.”
 

“Infectados” is the opening-track and it pulls out all the stops. It is HELEN LOVE and PEGAMOIDES dancing pogo, with an inevitable aftertaste of JUNIPER MOON’s best songs, all wrapped up in one song that references one of the group’s biggest passions – zombies. “Sube la canción” has a delicate, playful melody, but the mood breaks quickly: “Sube la canción o te reviento de un hostión”… “Te enviaré a mi hermano / o a una banda de rumanos / como no la subas ya…” (Turn the song up or I’ll beat you up … I’ll send my brother / or a gang of Romanians / if you don’t turn it up right now…). Definitely one of the band’s biggest hits. “Pandachila” plays perversely with their most naïve and childish side and the rawness of the unleashed guitars and sing-songy casiotones, and then leads into “Aborto,” where any remaining doubts are wiped out. It’s techno-punk with the bpms amped up, insolent and out of control, with lyrics that leave the concept of political incorrectness on par with a bad joke. AXOLOTES MEXICANOS evoke the wildest and most fun moments of the indie explosion that happened in the early 80s in Spain, above all with their uninhibited lyrics that remind us of SINIESTRO TOTAL’s first songs, (“Las TetasDe Mi Novia[“My Girlfriend’s Tits], “Ayatolah!”, “Hoy Voy A Asesinarte” [Today I’m Going to Kill You], “Los Chochos Voladores” [The Flying Pussies]…); or KAKA DE LUXE’s songs (“Pero Que Publico MásTonto Tengo” [What Stupid Fans I Have], “Viva El Metro” [Long Live the Metro]); or SINDICATO MALONE’s songs, (“Solo PorRobar” [Only for Stealing]); or CODIGO NEUROTICO’s songs (“Totus Tous”, “Pega A TuMama” [Beat Your Mom]…); or GLUTAMATO YEY-YE’s songs (“Holocausto Caníbal” [Cannibal Holocaust], “Algo SuenaTic Tac” [Something’s Ticking]…); or even like VULPES’ song “Me Gusta Ser Una Zorra” (I Love Being a Bitch). The AXOLOTES have done their own adaptation of that last song as “Me Gusta Ser Una Gorda” (I Love Being a Fat Girl), with pearls like, “Si tume vienes hablandode dietas, me cagoen tu madrey te vomitoen las tetas” (If you show up talking about diets, I’ll shit on your mother and puke on your tits) or “Prefiero cenar yosola en mi cama, antes que acostarmecon quienme hablede ensaladas” (I’d rather eat dinner alone in my bed than sleep with someone who talks to me about salads).
 

Ladies and gentleman, this is attitude. Eat it up.