Catalonia calling

The joys of youth: a terrible economy, uncertain times. I miss the days when acne, school dances and first time crushes were life and death. Paying bills, working for nothing just to have something, growing up like Iggy Pop sang is “no fun”. Thank God for rock and roll. Once again a band gives us something to cheer about. Four kids get together and decide to start a band. These “New York Dolls” are from Spain. Mourn is a band consisting of front woman Jazz Bueno, guitarist/vocalist Carla Pérez, bassist Leia Bueno and drummer Antonio Postius Echeverría. Their ages range from 16 to 18.

Mourn deliver a gem of an album: aggressive, sarcastic, catchy and raw. They continue the brilliant 2-minute or less song doctrine The Ramones established in 1976. They conjure up a smart aleck charm that the band Pavement introduced on 1992’s Slanted and Enchanted. They proudly let it be known they love P.J. Harvey and Nirvana. It is worth pointing out that a young lady is singing and playing songs that come from a female perspective. Again not an uncharted territory but in a male dominated indie rock scene it is refreshing. No skimpy outfits or gimmicks, just kids deciding to represent a slice of life. Like all promising young bands Mourn tries to imitate their heroes but fail in the process. And that is why they are great. Mourn keep the riffs they need and stretch out seconds into a barley clinging on to life full songs.

Be warned: Mourn don’t shout, and the spirit of punk is evident more in the clothing they wear than their actual songs. Instead of picking up guns or complaining and doing nothing, some kids pick up guitars and sing about the perils to announce what’s around them. Mourn don’t care if we have heard these songs before and that’s what it is all about. Aging hipsters/millennials might say it’s the same song just a different band not saying anything original. And to that I say: go ahead hipsters, Mourn isn’t for us. It’s for the kids out there who hate singing TV talent shows. It’s for the kids out there who can’t legally drink but can’t wait to go out and create some memories. It’s for the kids out there who want something more than a new gadget or “fabricated” spontaneous picture to upload. Mourn do not deliver a life changing album. No, Mourn deliver a spark. That’s all that is required.

True bands evolve into greatness. Mourn’s style is sparse, minimalist, mono tone vocals and naive yet endearing lyrics, this debut will make you smile. Whether it’s Barcelona, Dallas, Chicago, Mexico City, Manchester, teen angst is universal. Growing up is tough everywhere. School, bullies, crushes there will always be a song about that. Hopefully Mourn will find an audience, inspire some and anger others. Is it too good to be true? It usually is. The hype they are generating has more to do with their ages than their music. I’ve seen this story before, they will be eaten up by the time they release a second album. Yours truly urges music lovers out there to check out Mourn. Catalonia has a calling card. Mourn are not old enough to drink but wise enough to understand trying and dreaming is what truly matters. Mourn’s songs and themes have been covered by so many others before them, which is what makes music great. We age, but the songs and bands remain young.