La Buena Vida & Le Mans

La Buena Vida and Le Mans are musical pillars in Spain's alternative musical scene. In aproximately 15 years of releases, their influence in their local musical scenario is notably recognized in many newer bands (in respective Siesta and Elefant labels, for an instance).
Not as consistent as Le Mans', La Buena Vida's discography has not as much memorable albums, but with Soidemersol they surely stated a masterpiece. Their biography in Siesta's webpage described this album as being heavily influenced by the works of Serge Gainsbourg, Nick Drake, Burt Bacharach and others, as well as a standout in the spanish pop history.
Saudade, Le Mans' third album, albeit consisted of similar influences (specially Nick Drake and Love), it drastically differs from Soidemersol. The complex song structure found in Saudade puts it away from pop music and from their past releases; the extreme minimal pattern repetition slowly unveals each song as unorthodox combinations of chords, while beautifully sung (or hushed) by Jone Gabarain.
Both cover artworks were designed by Javier Aramburu, former Family member, another band labeled as 'Donosti Sound' from the Donostia region.

(1996) Le Mans - Saudade / 160k
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(1997) La Buena Vida - Soidemersol / 192k
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