Música Esporádica #2
New music and events for March-April '25.
Madrid was beautiful in February and spoiled us all with extremely warm weather. Now, despite the almost constant rain, there's still plenty to enjoy. Over the past few months, some fantastic new releases have come out, perfect for cozy afternoons at home. But with so many exciting events lined up for March and early April, it's a great excuse to 'rage against the dying of the light'— or in this case, the gloomy weather— and get out there to have some fun!
Not much good news these days — the world still seems to be quietly burning down — but Madrid's own Radio Relativa has just kicked off its new season, and that's definitely something to get excited about! I'm really looking forward to tuning in to some of my favorite shows, like Bruits Sonores, Deep Glistening, Hauntology of the Bhlem, and La Inutilidad Esencial. Honestly, there are just too many great shows to count. I'd recommend checking out the full list of current residents to find one that suits your taste. And if you're interested in ambient and experimental music from Eastern and Central Europe, be sure to give my own show, Building Bridges, a listen!
And just a quick reminder — I’m always open to suggestions and recommendations, so feel free to reach out, especially if you're a label or an artist! If you have a feature idea or know of records or events worth highlighting, I’d love to hear about them!
Now onto this months’ recs:
Reviews
Here are a few releases (one of them is not Madrid-based) that I've enjoyed a lot during the past month:
Oisatsana - Alias [Non-transparent]
A new EP from Tasio Rey by a fresh Madrid-based label Non-transparent. A subtle, wondrous record that crackles and hisses silently in and out of your audible field, gently lurking somewhere in the shadows to give you just a glimpse of itself until it retreats to the realm of imperceptible. This record reminded me of Brian Eno's (duh) quote from the liner notes to Ambient 1: Music for Airports, where he said that he composed his ambient music to "...accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting." I don't know about Brian, but Tasio definitely succeeded in that. See it for yourselves and let it wash over you.
dreamu - nrem [Facture]
Now, this one's actually from last year, but I still had to give it a shout. A debut album from Madrid-based musician and producer Fran Sarró, inspired by the N-REM (non-rapid eye movement) N1 sleep phase - the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep where reality begins to blur into dreamlike images. A beautiful, glitched-out ambient that is at times reminiscent of some of Fennesz's work or Philip Jeck's turntable experiments. Some tracks are guitar-heavy, some based on piano loops, overall, it all feels like a washed-up Polaroid found in a shoebox in your grandparents' attic. A record to listen to while reading "À la recherche du temps perdu".
Seward - Hoveller [self-released]
I’m pretty sure that there's something in the Spanish air that helps grow an exceptional post-rock scene. Just as the echoes of Ramper's last year’s “Solo postres" were fading, Barcelona-based collective Seward's new album appeared on my radar. This band is a new discovery for me, although a quick internet search suggested that they’ve long deserved the status of local legends, largely due to their electrifying live performances. The album kind of reminded me of a slightly more folk-tinged Long Fin Killie, so if you already know "Houdini" by heart, I recommend giving this a listen.
Kyria Libia & Laura Lavigny live at Temple Chapter 7
This is a recording of a live set by Kyria Libia and Laura Lavigny, both of whom explore various forms of sacred music. They performed it at the latest Temple event at Espacio Perpendicular. It's not often that a live performance leaves me speechless, but that one managed to do so—in part because it wasn't something that I expected to hear that night. Huge thanks to Temple's organizers for always being so adventurous with their selection of artists.
Really liked what Laura had to say about the performance as well: "I grew up in spaces where, one day, I would attend a techno session, and the next, I would witness an orchestra, an opera, or something similar. In both contexts, I have experienced profoundly sacred moments, where the epiphany was the same—whether in an industrial space or a temple. For me, these experiences have been true journeys of transcendence, always remaining the same person, connecting with languages and settings that seem so 'different.'"
Shows
20/01/2025 – 31/12/2025 – Verbos encendidos #1: Escuchar at La Casa Incendida. Info.
"Verbos Encendidos" is an initiative at La Casa Encendida that addresses pressing contemporary social issues through thematic approaches, with "Escuchar" (Listen) being the chosen verb for 2025's programming. This year-long initiative calls for meaningful dialogue and collective understanding in an era of increasing disconnection.
07/03/2025 – aeria (live), t0ni (live) & julek ploski (live) at Replika Teatro. Tickets.
LAGRIMA, Madrid's experimental electronic music collective, will kick off 2025 with live performances from Aeria, T0ni, and Jules Polski.
07/03/2025 – Álvaro Corrochano at Museo Del Traje. Free.
Álvaro Corrochano, whose debut album I reviewed in the previous edition, will perform a free live set at Museo Del Traje.
08/03/2025 – Klubbkveld Eigenblau w/ sedjat, BeaGaranda, Carla Clay, KTDKT. Tickets.
It’s rare for me to recommend more straightforward dance music events, but here we are - and there are two for the weekend of the 8th of March! The first one is by good friends of mine at Eigenblau who always know how to put on a great and eclectic music party.
08/03/2025 – Dialektik x MEL: DjRUM (3h set), Josey Rebelle (4h set) at a Secret Location. Tickets.
And the second one - I just couldn't not write about this one. Legendary DjRUM will play a 3-hour set along with Josey Rebelle at a secret location. There are still tickets, so hurry up.
09/03/2025 – Alessandro Cortini (AV Live) + F-on (DJ). Tickets.
Legendary Alessandro Cortini will perform along with Madrid's own F-On with a DJ set.
12/03/2025 – ANTEZ at Cruce Contemporaneo. Info.
French percussionist Antez will perform at Cruce Contemporaneo, where the artist will present his work with the "grosse caisse" (large bass drum).
13/03/2025 – Modo Avión: Epifanías Luminosas: El Fuego, Primer Encuentro de Irene Ivankovà & Amanda Lago. Tickets.
The next installment of Modo Avión, on March 13, presents "Epifanías Luminosas: el fuego," an immersive performance by Irene Ivankovà and Amanda Lago. The show, a meditative, audiovisual piece, takes "fire" as its point of ignition and explores illumination in its many forms.
14/03/2025 – Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat at Caixa Forum. Tickets.
"Soundtrack for a Coup d'État," winner of Best International Music Documentary at In-Edit 2024, explores 1960s social tensions and historical events through jazz as resistance. The screening, presented by Esteban Girón, will be preceded by a 30-minute performance by jazz ensemble RN Trio.
15/03/2025 – Razen at CentroCentro. Tickets.
LIMO, CentroCentro's monthly Saturday concert series, will feature Razen on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 12:30. Since 2010, the Belgian duo of Ameel Brech and Kim Delcour has explored the unique timbral characteristics of string and wind instruments through improvised music that blends pre-industrial dreamlike tones with trance and medieval mysticism.
18/03/2025 – MOON-DOS (Paloma Carrasco y Javier Pedreira) at Cruce Contemporaneo. Info.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 20:00h, the duo MOON-DOS (Paloma Carrasco on cello and Javier Pedreira on guitar) will present their new album "16" at Cruce in Madrid. This free improvisation duo has been performing together for 17 years, demonstrating their musical connection and creative risk-taking that comes from their long-standing collaboration.
21/03/2025 – FUJI|||||||||||TA + MALIBU at Condeduque. Tickets.
The SoundSet Series presents a new session of experimental electronic music on March 20, 2025, featuring a double program with Japanese sound artist FUJI|||||||||||TA and French electronic music producer Malibu. FUJI|||||||||||TA is known for his unique sound art exploring natural phenomena, while Malibu creates dreamy atmospheres with delicate textures and reverb-laden vocals.
21/03/2025 – Caballo Horse and El Intruso at Bordados Sister. Tickets.
Caballo Horse will present an Alternative Country session featuring six musicians playing bass, drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, violin, banjo, and lap steel. The evening will close with El Intruso performing boundary-pushing improvisational music.
22/03/2025 – Rothko Chapel, Morton Feldman – Grupo Enigma y Coro Nubah at Centro Centro. Tickets.
CentroCentro presents a new edition of the VANG concert series on March 22, 2025, at 19:30. The program will feature Morton Feldman's "Rothko Chapel" performed by Grupo Enigma and Coro Nubah under the direction of Asier Puga.
02/04/2025 – 06/04/2025 – Electrónica en Abril 2025 – Herbert & Momoko, Jenny Hval, Abdullah Miniawy & Maurice Louca o Colin Self at La Casa Incendida. Tickets.
Electrónica en Abril 2025 will take place April 3-6 at La Casa Encendida in Madrid. The festival will explore the intersection between electronic and traditional music. It will feature artists like Jenny Hval, Colin Self, Herbert & Momoko, Abdullah Miniawy & Maurice Louca, and Carme López.
That’s it for this month’s dispatch! I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading! Again, I’d love to hear from you, let’s chat!