Charades – En Las Batallas
Charades were one of my few contemporary music finds from our trip to Spain in 2008 (my only time overseas). I was initially intrigued by the cover art for their record En Ningún Lugar but just about instantly fell in love with the fuzzy indie-pop that was on display from the group back then. Somehow this follow-up, which was released all the way back in January, slipped under my radar until now. Revolución Solar finds the band with a more polished sound, which is still mighty solid, but I do miss the slight grittiness of the prior release. It feels as if the group has traded in a more Pixies influenced sound for more of a Stereolab vibe at times, which seems clear on “En Las Batallas,” perhaps the best bridge between the older sound of Charades and the newer version.