Primavera Preview: the view from Spain

We’ve all done it: cocked an eye at a festival line up and run our finger down the list, only pausing at the bands we’re already more than familiar with. But what of those natives rocking up to the European circuit this year? Primavera has more than good reason to reconsider how well you know the Spanish…

Me And The Bees

While it may not be party 24/7 (it will be) there are the delights of this pop quartet to rest your weariness to. They are essentially the Hispanic Weezer-meets-Those Dancing Days, singing in English, with some light on the ears guitar melodies. Latest EP ‘Cleopatra’ even came out on limited multi-coloured vinyls. Sweet.

Soledad Velez

So full-bodied is the voice of this lady, you’d be hard pushed to realise she’s not singing in Spanish at first – particularly on the gorgeously PJ Harvey-like ‘Spectrum’. She is like Anna Calvi, with a bit less Robert Plant and a bit more hippy. Perhaps less styled, but it’s a voice to send you all a-quiver.

The Suicide of Western Culture

If the name of these chaps alone doesn’t grab you, how does some slightly deranged take on live electronica grab you? With songs called things like ‘Battersea Power Station’ and ‘A Forest Of Greyhounds Hanged’? Dark any mysterious, hard to believe they come from the sunny capital itself.

Beach Beach

Smatterings of Los Lobos are up against trumpets, angular guitars and a flatline delivery like Surfer Blood, this band were practically born for the summer it seems. Comprising three lads and their horn-blowing friend, Beach Beach could just as easily be from Brighton as Mallorca. In a good way.

Duo Cobra

By far the most mental of the selection so far there’s an appreciation of silence and ginger instrumentation to this Spanish pair. Brooding basslines, folky acoustics, tempered booming vocals and twinkly glock… we’d be lying if we told you we knew what to expect.

No doubt our list isn’t representative of the melee of DJs and late night artistes to bosh your brain senseless to – the inimitable El Guincho for one – however, if there’s one thing Baz Lurhmann’s foray into sampling and dance teaches us, it’s wear sunscreen kids. Rave safe.