Polvo Bureau
Buy: Bandcamp (NYOP)
I’m going to do my best to use Google Translate and not make a complete ass of myself. Following the fantastic find that Lie in the Sound had with Jägermeister’s Merry Jäger Christmas, I bring you Argentina’s Polvo Bureau and their new Christmas compilation, POLVO DE ESTRELLAS (Un disco navideño compilado por Polvo Bureau). From the chillwave, Wild Nothing-esque Mi Nave with “Ojos Cuadrados,” to the indie rock Camaleón’s “Fuegos Artificiales,” there are some great-sounding tunes on here. Again, I don’t speak Spanish, but I know great sounding music when I hear it. The dream-pop of Queridas’ “Brillen” is ethereal and spectacular. I just want to put headphones on and walk down a snowy street with my eyes closed. The Spanish language version of Joni Mitchell’s “River” is not just fantastic because it’s the first time I’ve heard it in Spanish, but Superflan’s version shines because of the electro-pop touches they put on it. The lead out on Yuliett’s “Tanto Fuego!” Beautiful! This release is damn special, and I’m so very happy to have happened upon it tonight.
Bottom Line: I might lack the language skills to fully understand these songs, but our common language of music has sweet talked me tonight.
Christmas Underground 
This was a great find! A Bandcamp purchase that I will not regret (even though I don’t know what the heck they’re singing).
I found this blog today and instantly remembered this compilation. I’m taking this opportunity to tell you about Päl Das Shutter track Tereré de Sidra. Tereré is a refreshing drink made from yerba mate, which is usually consumed with ice-cold water with herbs or fruit juice. However, the idea of combining it with cider (the inexpensive alcoholic option we find on sale in all supermarkets for the holidays) always seemed like a brilliant idea to me, although the resulting combination is terrible. I’m happy to have found this blog, and I’m going to take the time to explore it.