Migala

MEMBERS:
Abel Hernández – guitar, vocals
Rodrigo Hernández – bass, keyboard, special effects
Coque Yturriaga – keyboard, noises, effects
Diego Yturriaga – accordion, casiotone, vocals
Rubén Moreno – drums, percussions, violin
Jordi Sancho – keyboard, Rhodes, bass
Nacho Vegas – guitar, shoegazing

WHERE FROM:
Madrid, Spain, Europe

WHERE NOW:
After having finished their 18-date European tour Migala are currently
recording songs for different projects such as an Cd-ep on Acuarela, several
split 7"s and compilations. They will re-issue their 1997 debut album
(“Diciembre 3 a.m”)
in October and would love to tour the USA soon!

DATE FORMED:
1996

HOW THEY FORMED:
Most of them being good friends since their high school years and after
being part of several pop-rock bands, it was a matter of time that they
would record a few songs together. Acuarela´s boss was reviewing demo tapes for an indie Spanish magazine in 96 and he was delighted with Migala´s first demo, which the surprisingly praised (normally it was a game of saying bad things and slagging off every demo). Then he offered them to support Smog in Madrid and after seeing them live they got signed to Acuarela. The rest is history as basically they officialy formed as soon as they got their first
contract.

Migala’s first full-length release, the much-acclaimed Diciembre 3am (‘97), meant a true breath of fresh air to a complacent scene in their native Spain (so deemed by audiences and critics alike). 1998’s Así Duele un Verano triggered Migala’s discovery in Europe and the U.S., resulting in a tour across France, the band’s inclusion in Magic! magazine as one of the revelations of ‘99, as well as three of their songs landing on a Keyhole Recordings compilation. Soon after, Looper’s Stuart David championed the band to Sub Pop, which led to the release of their first U.S. single as the October, 2000 edition of the Sub Pop Singles Club. Their third full-length, Arde (“it burns,” in Spanish) was originally released in Spain December 24th, 2000 on Acuarela Discos. Sub Pop’s July 17th release of Arde will mark Migala’s full-length debut in the U.S.

In their brief history, they have opened for Smog, The Magnetic Fields, Damon & Naomi, Piano Magic, Kramer, Mark Kozelek, Ben & Jason and performed as Will Oldham’s backing band during his most recent Spanish tour. Migala have always considered themselves an assemblage of non-musicians and their artistic democracy is as militant as it is fruitful. In the recording of Arde, Migala didn’t hesitate to surround themselves with talented collaborators (such as David Belmonte (ex- Sr. Chinarro), Nacho Vegas (ex-Manta Ray, Diariu), and Irene R. Tremblay (aka Aroah)) to help polish pieces that still honor the band’s motto: “to make classic songs with an uncanny atmosphere.” Whether it comes across as post-rock, post-folk, avant-garde or traditional depends on the moment’s inspiration, admittedly, but also on intricate and detailed work.

Migala’s lyrical and literary universe has widened to deliver a mature record in which odes to winter and nostalgia (Diciembre 3 am), or sad café ballads of lost innocence (Así Duele un Verano) have given way to feelings of impotence and the desire to escape, no matter what the cost, even through combustion. Closest in emotional intent to Leonard Cohen’s classic Death of a Ladies Man, the songs found on Arde are wistful, poignant and smolderingly beautiful. Fusing their music with the cinematic, the Madrid-based sextet offer up these fourteen episodes documenting their best work and some of their darkest hours.