the Spanish duo Vainica Doble: C/D

namechecked and covered by a thousand '90s Elefant Records acts, but they really seem to live up to the hype, and their first single ("La Bruja" b/w "Un Metro Cuadrado") is a masterpiece of whatever style they were trying to master — folk rock with Gregorian chanting? the key change and switch from female to male backing vocals in "Un Metro Cuadrado" surprises me every time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKeOev8kvTo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCkcEQ6WgcQ

I love that they got their start writing TV theme music and came out with all this spooked-out psych-folk music when they were both about 40 years old and raising families.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8HsAsC_ENk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SXQYpr_wqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_D_OhnBEro

("spooked-out psych" only really describes their early '70s work, tbf)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXP80JHc2eM

This stuff is really fantastic!

rah!

is there any similar Spanish music from the same era ('70s-'80s)? I like Nuevos Horizontes (sort of a Spanish Mamas & Papas -- a few of their songs were written by Vainica Doble), but I can't really find anything else with the same feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swKBcDk54ow

I just wish I understood Spanish, because apparently all Vainica Doble songs are about dragons from outer space and people who drown themselves in rivers and get eaten by tigers.

this band is the absolute best

Are they still making music?

I don't think so. Carmen Santoja passed away in 2000. I haven't listened to anything other than the 1971 album tbh.

incredible live arrangement of 'Caramelo de limón' at around the 18:00 mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwrwOFRbtsM

I found the entire set on slsk, but the sound quality is nowhere near as good as it is here