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Assim como me acontece com as irmãs de misericórdia, meus registros preferidos do Xmal Deutschland são do primeiro disco cheio pra trás.



Em 2024, no mesmo 08 de março em que Anja Huwe lançava seu primeiro disco solo, Codes, a Sacred Bones pôs no mercado uma compilação feita sob medida pra mim – e pra todos que esperavam um catado das primeiros gravações das então jovens gurias alemãs.



Early singles 1981-1982 encapsula os disquinhos que Anja e cia. (à época a banda era um quinteto formado só por mulheres) soltaram pelo selo Zickzack, sendo o segundo deles o clássico <a href="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/2023/04/12/xmal-deutschland-incubus-succubus-ep-1982/">“Incubus succubus”</a>.



Nas 08 canções que compõem o pequeno porém valioso pacote ainda não há a mão e a grana da 4AD envolvidos, então é o Xmal cru, primal, com uma vocalista recém colocada no posto e a guitarra de Manuela Rickers mais cortante que nunca.



Pra quem desconhece, hora de tomar contato com algumas pérolas escondidas do universo goth/pós-punk (a versão ao vivo de “Allein” é qualquer coisa). Pra quem já conhece, hora de relembrar.






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Xmal Deutschland – Early Singles 1981-1982 (2024)

Unbelievable. Absolutely mind-blowing. How is it even possible that Chapterhouse has finally released full albums of rarities and unreleased tracks from the ’90s on streaming platforms? We’re talking about Demos 1994-1995 first, but also Whirlpool in its full, expanded glory—now resembling a magnificent double album, and many others.
For years, vinyl collectors could only piece together the Chapterhouse legacy bit by bit—through scattered singles, the Whirlpool LP, and the unofficial Rownderbowt compilation, which curated just a fraction of these now-available gems. But today, we finally get the full picture.
For those unfamiliar, Chapterhouse is one of shoegaze’s sacred pioneers, standing shoulder to shoulder with Slowdive, Ride, My Bloody Valentine, and Lush. The difference? They never received the same recognition—perhaps because they had more unreleased material than official releases. Maybe that’s the reason why. Chapterhouse wasn’t just another shoegaze band; they were architects of a dream-state sound, crafting songs designed to get you high without drugs. Their music was influenced by psychedelia, yet still carried echoes of the Beatles—wasn’t Die Die Die their own Helter Skelter? They blended these elements into something truly unique, like a rare, aged whiskey—rich, complex, and unforgettable.
I saw most of the great shoegaze (and non-shoegaze) bands live in the ’90s, but I missed Chapterhouse. And I missed their 2010 reunion tour too. My God. If only they would reunite once more to play these “old but newly released” songs.
If I were in an alternative rock band today, I’d kill to have written even 20% of Chapterhouse’s hits. Pearl, Breather—these are masterpieces. And to realize that so many of their best songs never saw the light of day until now? It’s heartbreaking.
It’s time they get the cult status they deserve. In fact, let’s make it a mainstream cult.
Back in the day, when Mesmerise dropped as a standalone single between albums, we were starving for more. We just didn’t know there wasn’t much more coming (Blood Music being a letdown). But now? We know the truth. There was so much more—before Mesmerise, before it all faded into obscurity.
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Chapterhouse – The Lost Tapes

Just when I was about to give up on this year’s alternative rock festival poor lineups across Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK, a miracle happened: Outbreak Festival, London.
And when I say miracle, I mean it in every sense. Outbreak has traditionally been labeled a “hardcore” festival, but in recent years, it has evolved—absorbing alternative rock influences and even embracing the best of US rap. This year, the festival’s lineup feels like the organizers read my mind and set-up my underground American music lineup dream.
<h3>The Must-See Acts:</h3>
First up: Have A Nice Life. 
A cult band, a well-kept secret of the last decade, and arguably the most exciting post-rock act of its generation. Their live appearances are rare, making this a true event. The song “Guggenheim Wax Museum” still gives me chills every time I hear it.
Next: Fleshwater. 
To me, the real successor to Nirvana’s “Nevermind”—grunge rebooted for 2025 with an updated sound blending emo, an additional female vocalist, and a raw, urgent energy. The second album is even going into pop, electro, and trip-hop territory. A fascinating evolution.
Then, there’s Danny Brown. 
One of the most forward-thinking rappers out there, seamlessly fusing jazz, rock, and pop while delivering sharp, witty lyrics. The idea of mixing hardcore, post-rock, and alternative rock with this level of rap talent? Brilliant. I’m all in.
<h3>And That’s Just the Beginning…</h3>
The lineup is stacked with alternative rock’s most exciting names—many of them Pitchfork 8.0+ darlings—like Momma, Feeble Little Horse, Julie, They Are Gutting A Body Of Water and Superheaven.
For those more into pure emo and hardcore, the heavyweights are here too: Knocked Loose, Turnstile, Glassjaw (just added), Model/Actriz, Drug Church and more. While it’s not entirely my cup of tea, I can’t deny the festival’s commitment to that scene.
<h3>The Best Part? There’s More to Come.</h3>
With four stages running from 3 PM to 2 AM, the festival lineup isn’t done yet, and if what’s already announced is any indication, we’re in for something truly special. Stay tuned.
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Outbreak Festival, London, 2025

There was a time when shoegaze was not shoegaze but “noisy pop”.When looking back at these 1990 – 1992 years, at the articles in the NME or Melody Maker, at the superb concerts we experienced starting with Ride’s wall of sound making us deaf for a few days, I measure how the word shoegaze is distorted and misused nowadays.When we look at what “noisy pop” was, well, there was just a handful of bands creating it and deserving the shoegaze label.First of all it all started with the beautiful The Jesus &amp; Mary Chain “Psychocandy” in 1985, we owe them the guitar distortions of shoegaze, and were they not the first also to gaze at their shoes in the literal sense, thus creating the word shoegaze?Then jumping in time My Bloody Valentine did revolutionise shoegaze again with “Isn’t anything” in 1988.Another version more “noisy pop”, more melodic, less radical was Ride’s album “Nowhere” in 1990.Strangely Ride in concert has perhaps been the most extreme in terms of wall of sound at the time, but still remaining so pop that Japan was welcoming them like if they were The Beatles, with overexcited fans waiting for them at the airport upon arrival!Then a few other magnificent new bands created altogether a wave of different shoegaze sounds in 1991 &amp; 1992, like Chapterhouse’s psychedelic shoegaze “Whirlpool”, Moose’s pure noisy pop “Sonny &amp; Sam”, Slowdive’s darker and a bit gothic “Blue Day”, Lush’s girl power and a bit Cocteau Twins influenced “Spooky”, Catherine Wheel’s pop rock shoegaze “Ferment”.I could add a few others like the beautiful “Everything’s alright forever” from The Boo Radleys, but shoegaze sound is definitively defined by these few cult bands from 1985 to 1992 indeed, that’s it.The funny thing is that shoegaze started as a pejorative word and except My Bloody Valentine most of the bands were criticised and even destroyed by the press, starting with the NME and Melody Maker that were the music reference of the times.AdvertisementSo when Slowdive came back twenty years later live at Primavera Festival Barcelona in front of tens of thousand persons liking and knowing their music what a revenge!Perhaps the new generation is smarter, one of my daughters in London was telling me recently that when she asked “wow, you are playing Slowdive” her friend answered “well, everyone knows Slowdive”.Perhaps the word shoegaze is misused or overused nowadays, but if this makes Slowdive live forever it’s ok! <img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/img_9100.jpg" alt="img_9100" height="auto" width="50%">

What Is Shoegaze

I’ve really been enjoying Apple Music’s “Discovery Station,” a blend of AI-driven suggestions based on my listening habits, mixed with human curation and light algorithms. But when I reflect on 2024 as a whole – musically – can I say anything truly positive? Sure, I could point out that an obscure Dutch techno/dark electro concert blew my mind and had me dancing like crazy. Or that a new American alt-rock band “90s style” was so phenomenal at Primavera Barcelona Festival that 10,000 people applauded them – at 6 PM, no less – and it almost brought me to tears. Tears not just for the band’s performance, but for that feeling of rock’s past glory, and the fact that even if Primavera slotted them early, the crowd knew. I even bought one vinyl record from 2024 – and it’s a 10.But that wouldn’t erase the underlying frustration.And trust me, I’ve tried. I have searched through every top 50 or top 100 list of my favorite magazines on albumoftheyear.org – whether rock, alternative, electro, or pop – but the search did not end well. No great “Your Old Droog”-style rap record. No minimal techno savior. No breakout alt-rock buzz (just old 90s bands returning or bad punk imitators). Pop? Let’s not even start – too much feels curated for retail stores, not living rooms or concerts.Maybe I’m spoiled. Being 18 in 1991 meant I experienced it all – Blur circa 1992 in front of 200 people, dancing to Nirvana in clubs six months before Nevermind breakthrough, and shoegaze blooming with Ride, Slowdive, and My Bloody Valentine’s best EPs. There are some gaps on my website, a few years with barely any records, but I guess I got used to being flooded with greatness. This is why 2024 feels like a letdown. I’m disappointed.But hey – I’ll keep going. AI, Apple Music’s “Discovery Station,” the strange backroads of non-mainstream new or old music – let’s see where it leads. And here’s to hoping 2025 pulls through.﻿<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-music.jpeg" alt="2024 music" height="auto" width="50%">

Did AI Save Music This Year?

At Grauzone Goth &amp; Post-Punk Festival 2025 in The Hague (NL), I started my evening with Topographies—a great band blending Soft Cell, Joy Division, and Soft Moon vibes. It was a promising beginning. However, faced with a long queue and potential packed concert hall for attending Night in Athens, I headed to Anika’s concert in a larger hall. To be honest, when I listened to her work while going through the massive lineup of the four-day festival I wasn’t totally convinced. With not much expectations I went in and… came out completely surprised.Anika’s “Change” album, which I revisited afterward, is indeed good, but the live performance was on another level. From the start, everything fell into place: the beautifully lit concert hall, full but with enough space to dance freely, and the intimate vibe created by her and her drummer’s shy entrance. Between songs Anika spoke to us—sharing the struggles that inspired her music and reflecting on the darker state of the world. She captured the sentiment perfectly: “These are times to say no.” Even if your personal life is joyful, the growing claustrophobia and danger in the world make dark music feel like the only honest soundtrack. And dark it was.The opening song, “Finger Pies”, hit like a revelation. The spoken-words, reminiscent of Marianne Faithfull, combined with thunderous drumming did create something raw, powerful, and utterly hypnotic. Throughout the set, Anika alternated between moments of calm and heavy goth-rock anthems like “Naysayer”. At one point, I couldn’t help but think back to seeing Portishead at La Route du Rock in 2014 during their darkest era—it felt very similar, in the best possible way. And, as it turns out, there’s a reason for that: Anika has collaborated with Geoff Barrow of Portishead and is connected to Exploded View, a band that influenced the magnificent “Third” album of Portishead. It all made sense.Anika’s recorded work might benefit from an even darker, heavier edge, but live? She’s incredible. This performance embodied what Grauzone Festival is all about: discovering new sounds, diving into unexpected experiences, and embracing the darker side of music. <img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/anika.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%"> <img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/grauzone-2.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%">

Anika, Grauzone Festival, Feb25

In The Hague (NL) winters are dark and cold, which is exactly what Grauzone Goth &amp; Post-punk Festival is about, dark and cold music.And in these times of political turbulence and a war at Europe’s doorstep, could there be a more fitting soundtrack? For me, though, goth and punk are not just seasonal or situational—they’ve been part of my life since the ’80s. So, living just a few blocks away from the festival’s main venue, Paard concert halls, in The Hague city center, feels like a dream.Grauzone owes much of its success to the incredible work of its director, Natasja , who year after year curates an exceptional program. The festival brings not only the best goth and post-punk bands from across the globe—Australia, the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, and beyond—but also includes films, exhibitions, and performances. It’s a multi-sensory experience that grows bigger and better each year, now for four days in place of three, and showcasing tens of bands across multiple stages.Fans travel from all over Europe to attend, and yet I’m consistently surprised that this festival doesn’t get the attention it deserves in major global music medias. Is it the music world’s best-kept secret? Or do we selfishly want to keep it that way?The Grauzone brand is instantly recognizable, with its stunning cat illustrations serving as a symbol of the festival. But what really sets it apart is the personal touch. Natasja’s dedication to connecting with artists is unmatched—flying to the US to meet bands like The Soft Moon’s Luis Vasquez, whom we heartbreakingly lost last year and paid tribute to at the festival. This level of commitment is what makes Grauzone so special.The festival draws a truly diverse crowd, from lifelong punk lovers like me, who’ve cherished the genre since the ’80s, to younger generations dancing wildly to acts like TR/ST during the last edition. Natasja and her partner even take the time to come on stage and speak to the audience daily, creating an intimate and inclusive atmosphere. Moments like walking in the street and watching Adult grab takeaway food backstage or sharing a cigarette with Clamm’s bass player make the experience even more memorable.Below, you’ll find a few of my favorite moments from the last three editions.Main venue, The Paard concert hall <img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/grauzone-3083738002-e1739271549470.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%">Cats, Cats, Cats<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/grauzone-3.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%"><img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/img_7970.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%"><img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/grauzone-2.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%">Lambrini Girls, back when they only had one song on Apple Music but were already absolutely killing it on stage<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/img_1717.jpg" height="auto" width="50%">Clamm delivers yet another pure post-punk moment, and honestly, they move so much it’s impossible to get anything but a blurry picture—ahah!Advertisement<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/img_1718.jpg" height="auto" width="50%">Ditz in a cave—so dark, so powerful, pure rage!<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/img_1730.jpg" height="auto" width="50%">Staadseinde—you don’t know them, neither did I—but they’re Dutch, and they completely blew our minds with their 80s-style dark dance music<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/img_7987.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%">Anika, unexpected brilliant “Portishead style” concert<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/anika.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%">Adult, dancing from start to finish, end-of-the-world music, perfectly in tunes with our times<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/adult.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%">TR/ST, among the many unforgettable headliners over the years—like She Past Away, Drab Majesty, Boy Harsher, Lebanon Hanover, A Place to Bury Strangers, and so many othersAdvertisement<img src="https://concertandvinyl.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/trst.jpeg" height="auto" width="50%">

Grauzone Goth and Post-Punk Festival

<img data-attachment-id="17815" data-permalink="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/2024/09/06/neutrals-new-town-dream-2024/202870-neutrals-new-town-dream/" data-orig-file="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/202870-neutrals-new-town-dream.jpg" data-orig-size="600,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/202870-neutrals-new-town-dream.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/202870-neutrals-new-town-dream.jpg?w=600" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-17815" src="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/202870-neutrals-new-town-dream.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" srcset="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/202870-neutrals-new-town-dream.jpg 600w, https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/202870-neutrals-new-town-dream.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150 150w, https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/202870-neutrals-new-town-dream.jpg?w=300&amp;h=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px">
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Quando escutei os californianos Neutrals pela primeira vez, alguns meses atrás, pensei: ‘por que diabos essa banda escocesa que obviamente passa os dias escutando <a href="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/2019/12/11/television-personalities-and-dont-the-kids-just-love-it-1980/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Television Personalities</a>, <a href="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/2020/01/15/the-pastels-a-truckload-of-trouble-1986-1993-1993/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pastels</a>, <a href="https://pequenosclassicosperdidos.com.br/2023/03/15/the-raincoats-the-raincoats-1979/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Raincoats</a>, Wedding Present e afins diz que habita a Califórnia?’.
Obviamente movido pela eterna curiosidade musical fui ler algo sobre o ex-trio de garotos (hoje com Lauren Matsui no baixo/microfone ao lado do batera Phil Lantz e do guitarrista/vocalista/idealizador da parada Allan McNaughton) descobri a razão da minha dúvida: Allan, o cara com o puta sotaque É escocês. Fim do mistério.
Voltando ao Neutrals, eles residem sim em Oakland, de lá lançaram em 2019 seu primeiro disco cheio (Kebab disco, pelo ótimo selo Emotional Response) e em maio último a sempre esperta Slumberland Records pôs no mercado o novo álbum do grupo, este New town dream que roda por aqui agora.
Sabe as referências que citei ironicamente no primeiro parágrafo (incluindo os ‘afins’)? Distribua-as de forma desigual, com um peso MUITO maior na influência de Television Personalities – tanto musical quanto estetica e liricamente – e você tem a fórmula básica deste disco.
Punk/pós-punk/jangle rápido e grudento, feito pra se escutar alto sacudindo o corpo com uma cerveja na mão. É isso!
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Anika, Grauzone Festival, Feb25

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