Band To Watch: El Guincho
This past week we found ourself unable to stop listening to "Antillas," a five-minute bundle of clattering loops and sunny harmonies, from Barcelona-via-Canary Islands one-man band El Guincho, aka Pablo Díaz-Reixa, and his entirely addictive self-released Alegranza, so we contacted the man himself and asked if we could post it. When he wrote back, he mentioned it was his favorite jam off the record, too. Besides that, and that he's also in an Animal Collective-y band called Coconot, we don't know all that much about the guy (except that a few of his songs really do nail a Person Pitch). And not all of us know our Spanish, which adds to the appealing mystery. Take a listen to the bright, airy, encircling Tropicalia after the jump. Pay especial attention to that cascading, star-drop bit at around the 3:48 mark.
El Guincho - "Antillas" (MP3)
Absolutely life-affirming, somehow. Maybe it's partially the Dungen phenomena -- like we're better off not knowing what's being said. We haven't been lucky enough to see him live yet, but judging from this video of El Guincho rocking some sort of party/opening, it ought to be a treat.
Or just go windsurfing to this video for another Alegranza standout, "Kalise."
Remind you of a more wintery video from another BTW?
You can stream Alegranza at his MySpace. He also has a blog for our Spanish speakers.
Posted at 2:46 PM in Band To Watch, MP3, Video
Tags: El Guincho
Sure it sounds like Panda Bear w/ no melody, but how many Panda Bear songs are we really gonna get and how often, so this is welcome in my home. Street sounds are Gilberto Gil-esque in a rad way.
Posted by: No Hate at January 22, 2008 2:55 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Just listen to the first 20 seconds. It doesn't change after that. Wouldn't it be nice if bands today had some musical ideas?
Posted by: Proper Villain at January 22, 2008 3:04 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Are you and Pitchfork in cahoots? ¡Que rico!
Posted by: Fredo at January 22, 2008 5:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
No, they just rip everything from Gorilla vs. Bear.
Posted by: hacks at January 22, 2008 5:37 PM | ReplyScore = 0
No, they just rip everything from Gorilla vs. Bear and pretend otherwise.
Posted by: Jared at January 22, 2008 5:39 PM | ReplyScore = 0
This smacks much more of Post-Strawberry Jam Animal Collective than Panda Bear.
Posted by: James at January 22, 2008 6:48 PM | ReplyScore = 0
How about some more comments like the ones we've gotten already? Okay! "The singing lacks the passion of Kurt Cobain and Pat Benatar." "This sounds like a Sandinista outtake!" "This smacks much more of post-Michigan Sufjan Stevens than pre-Illinois Sufjan Stevens, because those are the only fucking records I have ever listened to in my entire fucking life." "This is definitely not African pop music sampled and looped."
Sincerely,
Posted by: Some Totally Correct Jerk at January 22, 2008 7:34 PM | ReplySome Totally Correct JERK
Score = 0
Shithead, do you listen all the songs? Fucking loser, this guy is gonna be my obsession, this record makes me want to start using Fruity Loops again or shtg like this. It´s fucking fantastic.
Sincerely,
Blake
Posted by: Tom at January 22, 2008 11:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
What the hell are you talking about?
Posted by: James at January 23, 2008 1:01 AM | ReplyScore = 0
@ Jared
Gorilla v Bear is once of the worst music blogs out there. I doubt Stereogum reads it. Also perhaps you don't realize that all bloggers get the same promo cds and emails at the same time.
Posted by: george at January 23, 2008 1:34 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Agree Jared. I think I first heard this about three weeks ago on Gorilla versus Bear. Also, I thought it was pretty well established that this dude didn't send any press releases.
Anyway, good stuff.
Posted by: Curious George at January 23, 2008 1:54 AM | ReplyScore = 0
The few songs I've been able to find, through out this past month or two, have been on replay a lot.
Posted by: richard at January 23, 2008 3:28 AM | ReplyScore = 0
if any one is interested, he posted per his myspage yesterday that there is a very limited release (20 copies) for sale @ Rough Trade. I took a gander and it works out to 9.00GBP with shipping which I think is equal to $18 + some, gotta love that exchange rate eh!!??
Posted by: Pete at January 23, 2008 8:18 AM | ReplyScore = 0
for all of you with loose morals, all of aleganza has been making rounds at full-album blogs - search for it at totally fuzzy. i don't think "antillas" is the best cut on there - el guincho is more than a one trick pony. yeah, it is a little more repetitive than panda bear, but it's also a LOT sunnier. one thread we never really followed up is the portuguese influence on person pitch, and maybe el guincho explains it - maybe he didn't take his cue from panda bear, maybe those are the sounds that are a big deal over on the iberian peninsula.
Posted by: bentrup at January 23, 2008 11:36 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Stunning tracks. Definitely a 'sunnier' album than pitch. Thanks for the post
Posted by: Leo at January 23, 2008 2:47 PM | ReplyScore = 0
@ george:
FYI, Gorilla v Bear is listed in the "cool kids" section of this blog.
Posted by: dan at January 25, 2008 11:50 AM | ReplyScore = 0
I think it would be interesting to explore where those sunnier sounds come from. Probably we would find that the fact that this guy is from the Canary Islands is making a big difference. Basically the tools can be the same that are used by Panda Bear, but El Guincho is someone that comes from a part of Spain with tropical weather, and thus the warmth of his music. Besides, for a few interviews that I read, his knowledge of world musics looks encyclopaedic.
Posted by: d. at February 14, 2008 5:54 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Panda Bear is dreamy, this guy is all rhythm.
Lyrics are not bad either.
Posted by: carlos Pavan at February 22, 2008 1:29 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Everything aside, this album is amazing. This is music that obviously comes from someplace else, with a great earthy feel to it, contrasting from Animal Collective/Panda Bear's urban vibes. Sunshine Tropicalia! That says it in itself. This guy is going to be huge, I mean if you can be the new generation leap from Os Mutantes, who were just as big as the Beatles, more power to you. I know I won't stop listening any time soon, and neither should you.
Posted by: Michelle at February 27, 2008 10:51 AM | ReplyScore = 0
kalise sounds like animal collective's "daily routine" which they haven't recorded yet. i smell a collaboration/tour in the future.
Posted by: s at February 27, 2008 5:04 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i meant "brother sport"
Posted by: s at February 27, 2008 5:08 PM | ReplyScore = 0