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Joseph Sexton's avatar

A most enjoyable read. As someone who once lived here in Barcelona - twice before, in fact - and always wanted to come back here, and got back here via the scenic route; I wouldn't take RIA Novosti cash to write about the independence movement, and thus was was consigned to my homeland for five years as a result... eventually got back to Spain, first in Vigo, then Madrid, well... I do kind of miss Galicia.

A case of be careful what you wish for? It's not the same city I first visited in 2002, or first lived in in 2009. But I am part of that process. Self-awareness. Nothing is permanent. And it's still, on balance, a very pleasant city with wonderful urbanism. Here is home, and I'm not going anywhere.

Anton Shekhovtsov's avatar

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Barcelona is great, I was lucky to get to the L'Hospitalet de Llobregat area once to attend an underground gig of my favourite Spanish bands.

Joseph Sexton's avatar

No worries, I was very impressed and surprised about your knowledge of Spain and now I'm curious to know which band you went to see there.

In fact, Vigo, which is is where I lived in Galicia and have a deep connection to beyond that was actually a hotbed of the movida musical scene. Amongst other groups who were famous nationally, Siniestro Total are from there — perhaps you've heard of them.

Anton Shekhovtsov's avatar

One of the bands was Ô Paradis, the musician behind it is Demian Nada, from Barcelona. Here’s a nice song from him: https://youtu.be/-t-SHtKP_wk

Ô Paradis also had a great collaboration project with the Austrian post-industrial act Nový Svět, here’s a good example of the synergy between them: https://youtu.be/B_A96WNToH8

And the other band I went to see in Barcelona was the one I referenced in the essay, Pablo und Destruktion, from Asturia. One of my favourites from them: https://youtu.be/Abnlp9QiGyo

Will check Siniestro Total out, thanks!

Joseph Sexton's avatar

Great, very late checking the alerts but will look those up!

Perhaps the two most iconic Siniestro Total songs are 'Miña terra galega' (set to the tune of 'Sweet home Alabama') and 'Matar hippies en las Cíes' (The Cíes islands are a stunning natural park at the edge of the Ría (estuary, or maybe better, fjord) of Vigo.

Also from that era un Galicia, Os Resentidos were pretty iconic. I'd recommend 'Fai un sol de carallo' and 'Galicia, sitio distinto' (definitely better checked out with the surrealist video on YouTube)

Sudeep Paul's avatar

Excellent piece! Spot-on.