The Joy Collective » Los Campesinos!

Video man Ryan Owen busies himself with Los Campesinos! and Euros Childs features

Vivers — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:07:58 +0000

Yes, local film-maker Ryan Owen has again been immersed in the Cardiff music scene, this time brining YOU exclusive updates on what Los Campesinos! and Euros Childs have been up to. In the former’s case, it means finding a replacement for departed member Aleks, who’s currently running arms in Central America. Peruse the new member in this cheeky video here:

In a more sinister way, Ryan has also been in an actual popstar’s house, and has made some nice videos of Euros Childs performing some of his new material. This one featured because I like the ending:

Much more at www.filmryan.com and http://www.youtube.com/user/bryanbowen as always. Hoorah!

Los Campesinos! to play The Gate @ Swn

InteriorMonologue — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:40:39 +0000

LOS CAMPESINOS! confirmed for Swn Festival 2009, playing the Gate on Sat 24 Oct. They are curating the support acts too. Rumours are that these will include Dananananaykroyd and Copy Halo.

2008 Review : Neil Campesinos! (Los Campesinos!)

InteriorMonologue — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:55:00 +0000

Recorded music highlights of 2008
Parenthetical Girls, Titus Andronicus, No Age, Times New Viking, Vivian Girls, Lovvers

Live music highlights of 2008
Dananananakroyd, Parenthetical Girls, No Age, Mika Miko

What else did you enjoy this year?
ATP x 2

2008 was…
Probably my favourite year. Pretty cool.

2009 will be…
I have no idea. Exciting? Yeah. I’ll stick with exciting.

2008 Review : Ellen Campesinos! (Los Campesions!/The Joy Collective)

InteriorMonologue — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:54:00 +0000

Recorded music highlights of 2008
Amanda Palmer – Who Killed Amanda Palmer

Live music highlights of 2008
Jeffrey Lewis and the Jitters

What else did you enjoy this year?
Lego Indiana Jones, the film “The Fall”, podcasts by Mark Kemode and Adam and Joe

2008 was…
…eventful

2009 will be…
…educational

Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster…

InteriorMonologue — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Los Campesinos! (a rough translation of ‘farmers’ or ‘peasants’ from Spanish) formed just eighteen months ago while they were students at Cardiff University, but it didn’t take long before their demo was causing a fuss and they became one of the hottest indie tickets around. They started as a 3 piece indie band but quickly swelled their ranks to their current number of seven.
This, their debut album will make the cold February nights seem like balmy summer ones! Skewed lyrics allied to bouncy, hook-laden tunes will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. They’ve been compared to Arcade Fire but that, frankly, is bonkers. If you locked Arcade Fire in a room and made them chase balls of wool around while listening to The Beach Boys for 3 months they might have a chance at recording something this joyous. Lazy comparison based on the fact they have lots of members and bash a glockenspeil.
Opener ‘Death To Los Campesinos!’ is just a great pop single, to be fair, most songs on this album are. ‘You! Me! Dancing’ is the best track 9 on an album ever (hey, not many bands hide their best songs that far in!) and closer ‘Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks’ with have you accidentally singing the final refrain out loud on the bus and looking a bit stupid. This is, of course, exactly what you’re supposed to do.
There are certainly nods to Pavement and Broken Social Scene along the way but they are always more than a sum of their influences. Los Campesinos! are a fiercely indie band but have made a catchy, arty, hand clapping, sing-a-long album that deserves to storm the charts and have Jo Whiley saying ‘if you like Flaming Lips and Bis, you’ll love these’ before screaming ‘every single one of us is twisted by design’ at the top of her husky little voice.

Available from Diverse Music from Monday 25th February for £9.90