Svper

Some things are meant to be. Pegasvs (SVPER) are a Barcelona-based duo whose self-titled debut album is a visceral, pulsing blast of motorik pop – all metronomic beats, dizzying synths and celestial melodies. After playing together in a befuddling number of interconnected bands, producer Sergio Pérez and Argentinean singer Luciana Della Villa formed Pegasvs in 2010 after a holiday to Pérez's home region of Asturias in the north of Spain. During the trip, the pair would discover the sound that would ultimately become Pegasvs.

When I speak to Pegasvs over a Skype video link, we toast each other with glasses of water (it's all we've got) before Pérez and Della Villa reveal how a myriad of touchpoints - including the Italian pop crooner Franco Battiato and the track 'Godstar' by Psychic TV - were sources of inspiration for Pegasvs. Della Villa – who used to play bass in the punk-pop band Sybil Vane - does most of the talking, while Pérez, a veteran of a number of psychedelic prog-rock outfits, seems happy to be gently berated by Luciana about his previous Pink Floyd inclinations.

During that defining holiday in Asturias, the two friends would spend evenings gazing at sky, searching for the Pegasvs (SVPER) constellation. It was a sign. For Pérez and Della Villa, the winged-horse represents power and speed, as if the DNA of their fledgling band was being unfurled in the stars. - The Quietus

Last.fm is all about discovering and sharing music. Here at Last HQ we do it all day, every day. So in a brand new series for Originals, each week the Last.fm Music Team takes turns showcasing stuff that’s floating their respective boats, in the sure and certain hope that it will float yours too. Today is the turn of our Live & Promotions Manager Nick Calafato, aka good_bone, who seeks out new sounds in the form of Barcelona’s upcoming duo Pegasvs.

As far as I know artists dealing in the genre of krautrock have never made much, if any, effect on my Last.fm charts. Although lots of post-rock bands that I listen to have cited krautrock bands as inspirations to their songwriting, it isn’t a genre I’ve had much direct exposure to. That changed somewhat over the last couple of weeks as I discovered Pegasvs (SVPER) – a two piece from Barcelona featuring Sergio Perez and Luciana Della Villa.



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Discovery of the Week: Pegasvs
By Oct 16, 2012

pegasvs

Last.fm is all about discovering and sharing music. Here at Last HQ we do it all day, every day. So in a brand new series for Originals, each week the Last.fm Music Team takes turns showcasing stuff that’s floating their respective boats, in the sure and certain hope that it will float yours too. Today is the turn of our Live & Promotions Manager Nick Calafato, aka good_bone, who seeks out new sounds in the form of Barcelona’s upcoming duo Pegasvs.

As far as I know artists dealing in the genre of krautrock have never made much, if any, effect on my Last.fm charts. Although lots of post-rock bands that I listen to have cited krautrock bands as inspirations to their songwriting, it isn’t a genre I’ve had much direct exposure to. That changed somewhat over the last couple of weeks as I discovered Pegasvs – a two piece from Barcelona featuring Sergio Perez and Luciana Della Villa.

The inspiration of those experimental German bands in the 1970's is clear, but couple that with the stylings of dream pop and an overarching respect for pop structures and sensibilities and Pegasvs look to have a winning formula on their hands. Synth melodies lead the way over insistent beats and various fuzzy effects – tying together a strong sense of melody, noise and rhythm represented so well on their debut self-titled album. Listeners in their native Spain agreed from the off – propelling the album to #3 in the iTunes Chart.

On Last.fm it is still relatively early days for Pegasvs. Just over 4,000 listeners have been registered so far, with a total scrobble count of 57,235 suggesting that a bright future lies ahead. Listener counts in the past few months have understandably fallen a bit after the initial hype of the album in the first couple of months of the year but expect that to pick up again as they inevitably head beyond Spain to promote the album – starting with this appearance in Portugal: - Last FM

My favorite musical discovery at Primavera is the darkly-shaded Barcelona electronic pop duo Svper, who mix mechanized drums, krautrock flourishes, and snapping, dissonant synth noise with singer/synthesist Luciana della Villa's aerodynamic verses. The band's sounds are complemented nicely by their Spanish lyrics, which reference nature often: "We love the Sea, the fields, it's romantic," says Luciana, who previously played in a riot grrrl-inspired BCore trio, Sibyl Vane. Their name comes from a desire to evoke strength, speed, and freedom.

When I ask if there are any bands in America to whom they feel a connection, they look puzzled. "We are ourselves," says Sergio Pérez García, the band's second half, who works as an engineer and producer for acts like Les Aus, El Guincho, Los Claveles, and more. And perhaps it's that mode of thinking that makes their music stand out. Despite the sonic distance between Svper and much of the rest of the Barcelona DIY scene, everyone is friends, and they often play shows with bands of dissimilar styles. Later, I find the duo hanging out at La Castanya's booth. - Pitchfork

Listening to Barcelona’s Pegasvs (SVPER) is deliciously restful, not in the sense that you want to lie down and bathe in the reverb — there’s too much abrasive synth and throbbing bass for that. It’s more like they’ve somehow bottled the feeling of being a child in the 80s looking at the stars, receiving imaginary, totally friendly transmissions.

Both progeny of punk rock bands and influenced by the 80s, Argentine vocalist Luciana Della Villa and Spanish producer Sergio Pérez actually came up with their name after stargazing in Asturias, Spain, and chancing upon the Pegasus constellation each night. So my assessment wasn’t terribly far off.

Their debut album Pegasvs is decidedly dreamy, with Della Villa’s basically whispering in Spanish in the distance. Despite the noise and Kraut-y space-age sounds, there’s very little darkness here. It just makes you feel like you’re swimming, and like shit’s okay, not like your creepy uncles Ian Curtis and Bauhaus are lurking somewhere.

So lie down on some grass, and stare up at some stars (or smog, as the case may be) turn on “Brillar” by Pegasvs off their new, self-titled album and blast off! - MTV IGGY