Barcelona got an early start to the weekend yesterday when their massive music festival Primavera Sound kicked off its five-day event. Lana Del Rey, SZA, Pulp, Vampire Weekend, Mitski, Charli XCX, Justice, PJ Harvey, The National, FKA twigs, Disclosure, Bikini Kill, Deftones, and Troye Sivan round out the impressive list of headliners for the event’s 22nd year, and needless to say that there’s also plenty to get excited about beyond those names.
One such draw to the fest will take the stage Saturday evening. Coming off the recent release of their intriguingly experimental third record AMAMA, Crumb will be wrapping up a string of overseas dates at Primavera before touring the album in the States at the end of the summer. And given the amount of traveling they’ve done over the past few weeks, it seemed like a logical fit to have them share a handful of the tracks each band member has been obsessed with lately before their big night on the Plentitude stage.
From recent cuts by Jessica Pratt and Slauson Malone to dependable favorites by Mazzy Star and Dido, check out all four band members’ picks below.
BRI ARONOW
Jessica Pratt, “The Last Year”
I’ve been really enjoying her new album—and this song in particular—since it came out a couple weeks ago. I love the melodies and the ending when she sings with the piano. It feels like a light breeze on a nice spring day for me.
Cathy Dennis, “Just Another Dream”
A friend sent me some songs by her a few months ago and this song has been on repeat for my morning jogs. Some early-’90s dance to get me out of my head and into my body.
Nilüfer Yanya, “Shameless”
I love the space of these tiny electronic drums alongside the fullness of her voice, the guitar, and bass. It feels really nice, and I’m drawn in every time.
JESSE BROTTER
Elia y Elizabeth, “Fue Una Lágrima”
This album never ceases to blow my mind, and the duo’s backstory is so cool. The chords and little keys’ countermelodies are masterful. It sounds to me like the bass of the song is all key bass on an electric piano, and that’s really fun because it feels like such an electric bass part.
Tim Maia, “Let’s Have a Ball”
The outro is so ecstatic and gives a beautiful resolution to the existential questions that the song explores. I love that Maia sounds like he’s pleading with the listener. It’s that Marvin Gaye, ultrasensitive humanist perspective that I’m always nourished by.
Dido, “Stoned”
I love that the lyrics are so frank from the opening line, and that the song feels really plastic-y in a great way. It almost has that singer-over-karaoke-track feel.
JONATHAN GILAD
Yung Lean & FKA twigs, “Bliss”
I love this collab so much. The goth bass line, double kick patterns, and FKA twigs interrupting Yung Lean—I’d listen to a whole album of this.
Burial, “Near Dark”
A groove personified. Vinyl hiss, scurrying footsteps, heartbeat kicks, bullet shells bouncing on the floor, and those vocal delay throws…I get lost in this every time.
Lorna Shore, “To the Hell Fire”
Can’t believe humans sound like this. Double-double kicks, blast beats, goblin screams…the gnarliest ending of all times. Sheeesh!
LILA RAMANI
Discovery Zone, “Dance II”
My friend showed me this album about a year ago and I’ve been hooked since. She’s gonna be opening for us on our fall tour, which I’m really excited about.
Slauson Malone, “No! (Geiger Dub)”
This whole album is really great—this song is a sleeper hit! I love the harpsichord sounds throughout.
Mazzy Star, “Blue Flower”
I love the lyrics and melody of this song so much. I found out recently it’s a cover of a German/English band from the ’70s.
