Gazelle Twin - Pastoral

Score: 8.4 

The latest release from British singer, song-writer and electronic producer Gazelle Twin is a marvelous satire about the hypocrisy, tension and impeded doom that her country is suffering from the inside, no matter how greenish, lush or "pastoral" it might seem according to its landscape and persona. The artist submerges into heavy layers of distorsion, acute noise and dark chasms to make it all real but, despite that, there's a gigantic sense of humanity and consciousness throughout the tracks, that feel as poignant as engrossingly playful. Pastoral is bizarre and almost childish in its performance, but that doesn't mean it won't scare the sh*t out of you and your psyche.

Tracks I like the most: Better In My Day, Little Lambs, Tea Rooms

Tracks I like the least: Mongrel

Artist: Gazelle Twin

Country: United Kingdom

Album: Pastoral

Released: 21/09/2018

Genres: Electronic, Experimental, Dark Ambient, Art Pop, Post-Industrial, Power Noise

Length: 37:32

Ash Koosha - Return 0

Score: 7.8 

The fifth release and third in 2018 from Iranian electronic producer is his most playful in a while. He lets himself be swallowed up and swirled into his modular synths to create phantasmagoric and phenomenal tracks that touch extremely artifical topics, but with a candid and abrassive human approach; they speak and scream so many times for one to avoid or ignore them. Ash Koosha dives even deeper into ambient IDM, and while it's clear that he's more entertaining when he gets gut-punching, Return 0 offers variety and skill in all its facets (all enjoyable and admirable).

Tracks I like the most: Muzikenono, StuSs, Earth

Tracks I like the least: Elastic

Artist: Ash Koosha

Country: Iran/United Kingdom

Album: Return 0

Released: 21/09/2018

Genres: IDM, Electronic, Experimental, Future Bass, Glitch Pop, Glitch Hop

Length: 41:37

Las Luces Primeras - Forestal Tape

Score: 7.4 

Forestal Tapes marks another good step forward for the Mendoza-based psychedelic rock band. There are glimpses of krautrock here and there, but the mellow ambient and the playfully diverse rhythms, patterns and melodies make for an album that's as hard to classify as easy to enjoy. Las Luces Primeras also shows how much capability there is in the country and, especially, in the Cuyo region when it comes to independent, creative music.

Tracks I like the most: Abre Tu Portal, Caballo Con Alas, Dragón De La Montaña

Tracks I like the least: Agua De Las Avispas

Artist: Las Luces Primeras

Country: Argentina

Album: Forestal Tape

Released: 07/02/2018

Genres: Indie Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Dream Pop, Lo-Fi, Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Pop

Length: 36:12

Las Cosas Que Pasan - Fundir Todo

Score: 7.8 

The second release from the Lujan de Cuyo-based band Las Cosas Que Pasan hits you with disdain and force, while it makes you think about life, routine, loved ones and the future itself. Its almost cavernous sound transports you to uncomfortable voids and tasteless corners, but the pinch of hope that can be seen far away also gives the tracks more taste and depth to chew on. Fundir Todo is disjointed but heavily coherent, and rotten yet awfully smart.

Tracks I like the most: Eo Recuerdo, Matmática, Luján

Tracks I like the least: Cuestión De Tiempo

Artist: Las Cosas Que Pasan

Country: Argentina

Album: Fundir Todo

Released: 14/03/2018

Genres: Indie Rock, Grunge, Lo-Fi, Singer-Songwriter, Neo-Psychedelia

Length: 28:08

Las Ligas Menores - Fuego Artificial

Score: 7.4 

Fuego Artificial is plagued with short but concise songs that feel like sunshine and stormy nights at the same time. The delivery and sense of cooperation the Argentinian band shows on their latest record is proof of relentless practice, skilled membership and a pure, enjoyable love for the music and the messages they are offering.

Tracks I like the most: A Tres Colores, Ni Una Canción, La Paciencia

Tracks I like the least: Luces Y Carteles

Artist: Las Ligas Menores

Country: Argentina

Album: Fuego Artificial

Released: 10/05/2018

Genres: Indie Pop, Indie Rock

Length: 36:00

Gativideo - Colorama

Score: 8.1 

The debut full-length studio album by Argentinian band Gativideo is exquisite. The quartet takes vintage imagery and sounds to concoct groovy, electric and viscerally cheerful electrofunk and dance rock tunes with as much technical precision as freedom and even humour. Colorama is the precious sound of an honest, fresh and eager young band; something we kind of missed in the late local scene.

Tracks I like the most: Bruce Willis, Vicios De Medianoche, Jazz Jackrabbit, Disco Majul, Fantástico Bailable

Tracks I like the least: Intro

Artist: Gativideo

Country: Argentina

Album: Colorama

Released: 15/05/2018

Genres: Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Indietronica, Alternative Dance, Zolo, Nu-Disco, Funk

Length: 29:33

Mi Nave - Ojos Cuadrados

Score: 7.7 

The newest release from already established indie rock band Mi Nave is an explanatory, vibrant journey through human thoughts, hypocrisy and the relevancy of our imperfection. It's mature but radically entertaining jammy pop that will reveal itself more after repeated listens. From its sensational art work to its successful formulas, Ojos Cuadrados feels hypnotic.

Tracks I like the most: Confite, Redondel, Hélice, Ojos Cuadrados

Tracks I like the least: Happening

Artist: Mi Nave

Country: Argentina

Album: Ojos Cuadrados

Released: 26/06/2018

Genres: Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Dream Pop, Art Pop, Post-Rock, Shoegazing

Length: 26:38

Ibiza Pareo - Bailemos Juntas

Score: 7.8 

The sophomore full-length album from the Argentinian duo Ibiza Pareo is much more dancefloor-oriented than its predecessor, but that doesn't mean it's less textured, deep and indulgingly savage. The tracks feel boiling, suffocated and exotic, but it's the voices and the restlessly playful instrumentation what keeps tracks in continuous momentum and joy. Bailemos Juntas triumphs all over the place because it knows how to tackle and marvel.

Tracks I like the most: San Antonio, En Una Cita, Loba De Noche

Tracks I like the least: Somos Agua

Artist: Ibiza Pareo

Country: Argentina

Album: Bailemos Juntas

Released: 11/05/2018

Genres: Indie Pop, Electronic, Balearic Beat, EDM, House, Disco

Length: 44:54

Francisca Y Los Exploradores - Hermafrodita

Score: 7.5 

The third release from Argentinian band Francisca Y Los Exploradores is another example to justify why the band is one of the most important national acts out there: there's a constant and wholly sense of control here, no matter how hesitant, doubtful and melodramatic the songs aim to be. They're sweet, powerful and soothing without losing momentum or grandeur. Hermafrodita is a short but beautiful statement.

Tracks I like the most: La Señal, El Asesino, Villa Urquiza

Tracks I like the least: Cuentagotas

Artist: Francisca Y Los Exploradores

Country: Argentina

Album: Hermafrodita

Released: 21/09/2018

Genres: Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Soft Rock, Synth-Pop

Length: 24:58

Cítrico - Retorno Acuario

Score: 7.4 

The sophomore release from Argentinian singer and producer Cítrico feels organic and uplifitng, but with a certain degree of melancholy and restrain too. The twisty, juicy synths almost do the whole talking, expressing even more than the artist's voice at times. It's a kaleidoscopic journey that take on several experiments with and through the human psyche, and succeeds in almost all of them.

Tracks I like the most: Otro Lugar, Donde, Le Matin (Interludio)

Tracks I like the least: En Esto

Artist: Cítrico

Country: Argentina

Album: Retorno Acuario

Released: 27/07/2018

Genres: Indie Pop, Synth-Pop, Alternative R&B

Length: 24:32