3

甘酸っぱくキラキラとしたメロディー&ギターのスペイン産ポップ・パンク / オルタナ・ポップ・バンド!!

ジャケットや音からもわかるように中田ヤスタカのCAPSULE、TOFUBEATSなどエレクトロニックなJ-POPから、90年代渋谷系、さらにゲーム・ミュージックに、アニソンなど日本カルチャーの影響を随所に感じさせ、ここ日本でも話題となったスペインのインディー・ポップ・バンド、AXOLOTES MEXICANOSがニューアルバムをアナウンス!

RAMONES風ポップパンクをHELEN LOVEでフィルターしたかの様な"DISPARO DE AMOR"、LINDA GUILALAを彷彿とさせる"INTERESTELAR"などなど、ELEFANTのレーベル・カラーを色濃く反映させたポップ・パンク / オルタナ・ポップの連続は、YAWNERS好きにもド真ん中! 甘酸っぱくキラキラとしたメロディーとギターが時代を超越した魅力を放っています!

Madrid-based group Axolotes Mexicanos upgraded their punky indie pop sound to something much more future-shocked and neon-streaked with their incredible 2018 full-length Salu2. After regaining a founding member (guitarist/bassist Stephen Lyne) and adding two more guitarists (Mario del Valle and Lucas de la Iglesia), the band trickled out a few singles before releasing their full-length :3 in 2021. The albums production somewhat dials down the PC Music-style giddiness a bit, but its still a sugary rush of chiptune synths, J-pop melodies, and pop-punk catchiness. As ever, the deceptively sweet-sounding music masks the often brutal lyrics about anxiety, self-loathing, and missing someone badly in spite of not being able to tolerate their presence. A few moments are closer to pure joy, such as Verguenza, which is about being happy to have a former crush as a true friend, without any pressure to be in a romantic relationship. But then theres Que Te Pires, which describes being extremely thankful to be rid of someone, and hoping they die. For the most part, though, the group seem to have gotten over writing about stalking and revenge fantasies. Instead, theres a lot of songs about loneliness, and being stuck at home reminiscing about the past. Its hard to tell whether this is inspired by pandemic lockdown restrictions or simply growing older and having less energy to go out and be around people. A few songs even drift away from the bands usual speedy tempos, such as the dramatic chiptune power ballad De Aqui A Un Ano and the partially acoustic Gotele. Tracks like the crunchy pop-punk of Verano En Espiral are more direct, and Te Quiero (...) thrillingly switches between jangly indie pop and snappy punk. The album is bookended by the goofy marching band theme Opening and the glammy Ending, a singalong with a car crash in the middle, both of which suggest that Axolotes Mexicanos are ripe for their own twisted cartoon series. ~ Paul Simpson