An Eclectic Mix of Spanish and English Speaking Bands – Let the Good Times Roll in Seville
So Terriotorios music festival may not pull waves of foreigners to Seville or even be considered outside Andalusia, however there were enough willing festival-goers from the city to make the weekend swarm with drunken Brits, Americans and the odd local.
Set in the atmospheric grounds of the Monastario De Cartuja, this is site of the current Contemporary Art Museum set within the grounds are towering chimneys that used to mass-produce ceramics that adorn the city and typify the Andalusian town houses. It was a cosy affair. Four stages each varying in size set in different nooks and crannies of the grounds.
First night nerves quickly evaporated as The Fall took to the second stage (Cruzcampo Stage). As punters were forced get their head around the beer token system and lack of bars. Mark E. Smith and his stalwarts kicked off. His characteristic drawl and half intonated lyrics stumbled over the heads of everyone. The wide-eyed boy from Salford was on form. Submitting second language speakers of English to a masterclass in rambled lyricism – ever watched him recit ethe football results? Picking the strong parts from their last album: ‘Your Future Our Clutter’. The drawl and spit of ‘Bury pt 1 & 2′ set a standard that never dimmed – ‘one day a spanish king with a council of bad knaves tried to come to Bury’.
The band have been touring the album for over a year now and it showed. Live they were at full strength, microphones, sound effects and a stumbling Mark E. Smith looked certain to corrupt the sound if it appeared too varnished. The awkward squad was setting the limits. ‘Mexican Wax Solvent’, ‘Funnel of Love’ and ‘ Cowboy George’ were great examples why The Fall still make great music which kicks the guts out of any preening indie pups.
Also the first night saw: The Cordoban legendary guitarist Raimundo Amador pull a massive crowd with his flamenco/Hendrix stylings. Accomplished doesn’t begin to describe his polished sounds. Unfortunately he didn’t restrain himself to any of his previous collaborations with Howe Gelb on ‘Algerias’ album, nevertheless he set a glittering standard that the crowd lapped up.
Stock festivals favourites: Razhel, Asian Dub Foundation, and Too Many DJs played up to 6am. ADF had the whole main stage jumping to urban tunes – it was like I was back at Glastonbury 1997. Also, highlighting the night was Nach the answer to Spanish hip-hop showing off his posture and slick skills at the mike. Impressive, if only if I could understand what he was going on about.
So onto the second night. A call to arms for a rave. Orbital billed as the headliners on the main stage. With the Femi Kuti entourage kicking up the rhythms on the second stage. Before awaiting either of these bands. I sat through a benign and sometimes beautiful Russian Red a spanish singer-songwriter Lourdes Hernadez who sings in English, quite a feat for a country that is proud of its langauge and at times reluctance to adopt the English-speaking monopoly. She has the attributes of being gorgeous and talented. Reminscent of Feist or Joanna Newsom-like warble.
The night started with the urbane sarcasm of The Divine Comedy now aka Neil Hannon. Still on fine form after his release of ‘Absent Friends’ nearly 7 years ago. The whimsical pop set brought back memories of those Brit-Pop times when it was alright to write a slice of social commentary with some humour and a pop melody. He also played ‘songs of love’ from Father Ted and a stomping rendition of the nearly-eurovision classic ‘My Lovely Horse’. ‘…..where are you going with your fetlocks flowing…’. A strange highlight to the evening.
The Human League limped on and off as a strange parody of themselves, more wooden that electric 80s synth pop. It felt like all the crowd were waiting for was a classic not a ‘this is an anti-war song’ (yawn!!!!!!), more A-level than pop. They did finally get there act together but by then the crowd were pawing the ground and ready to leave. The encore consisted of: ‘Don’t You Want Me’ / ‘Love Action’. Perhaps too late though.
Time for the Klaxons who put on a decent live show a lot more energy and driven passion than the previous effort. Mosh-pits even formed in consequence.
The night faded to Orbital taking the stage at 4am and playing what they do best stomping, ambient dance tunes until the sun rises. Perhaps, Orbital lacked the stages of Glastonbury but there wasn’t a loose foot in the house, ‘oh is this the way they say the futures meant to feel or just 20,000 people standing in a field’.
A growing and popular festival seems capable of getting bigger if not better and better. Until next year at the Monastery.
