“Politomania” was a milestone of Spanish independent pop. An underground hit. A bar which many felt encouraged to reach. A reference point. Originally released in 1992, Penelope Trip’s debut album is an unforgettable compendium of intuition, effusiveness and electric discharge. A visceral and raw piece of work which was related to contemporary Spanish bands with a longer career, such as Cancer Moon and Los Bichos, and firmly broke away from the traditional pop-rock Spanish scene of the time – successful, radio-friendly, supported by the establishment – which was already in decline. The five-piece from Gijón – Cova de Silva, Tito Pintado, Pedro Vigil, David Guardado, Juan Carlos Fernández – looked towards English band Felt and Swingin’ London to choose their name, but their songs contained The Jesus & Mary Chain’s unhealthy echo and reverb, The Pastels’ candour and Sonic Youth’s passion for noise. Their technical limitations never compromised their voracious desire to express, which combined sudden outbursts with sweetness. Instead of filling in the lyrics dossier with some run-of-the-mill content or turning to the precarious English learned during Spanish high school, the band assumed the textual void and transformed it into a melodic slang which became an identifying mark. No obligations. No conventions. A clear track. They didn’t have anything specific to say, but their songs told us many things. Produced by the late Carlos Redondo, ex-member of Los Locos and Felpeyu, “Politomania” still sounds fresh today. Its imperfect forms are, in fact, the materialization of a background chiseled by listening to bands such as Joy Divion, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine or The Velvet Underground. The spontaneous combustión of ‘Spycho’, the noise swipes of ‘Tigre Moon’, the poisoned syrup of ‘Helly’, the evocative strength of ‘Sugar-Colt’, the disturbing icyness of ‘Demo’ or the fully preserved attraction of ‘Ingrid Superstar’ stress the pioneering nature of a pubescent band which was brave enough to venture, without maps or compass, into unknown land. With its merits and flaws, “Politomania” represents a proclamation of a new mood contrary to boredom, limitations and sameness. César Luquero