EL INVIERNO

Ultranol is the solo project of Madrid-based musician Alberto Iniesta, who adopted his moniker from a Blur B-side reference to a miraculous pill. After years of sharing tracks online, he makes his vinyl debut with a limited-edition midnight-blue 12″ single on Elefant Records, showcasing four of his finest songs. Free from stylistic constraints, Ultranol deftly navigates between tropical rhythms, Euro-disco grooves, electro-pop sheen and even reggae undertones, leaving behind his earlier guitar-driven work. The record opens with “Patitos de Goma,” a tecno-pop smash powered by vocoder-tinged vocals, an irresistible dance beat and a chantable chorus that demands to be shouted back. Next, “El Invierno” surprises with its “white reggae” foundation—syncopated skanks, warm bass and laid-back percussion—imbued with a homemade freshness and an infectiously upbeat mood despite its wintry title. On “San Juan,” Ultranol crafts delicate electronic pop with shimmering Casiotone leads and a nocturnal romance narrative tied to the shortest night of the year. Closing the single, “Corta y Pega” turns meta, celebrating music itself through addictive call-and-response vocals and an ’80s sequencer bridge. Critics at Jenesaispop and MondoSonoro have already hailed its homage to Band à Part and La Casa Azul. With this debut vinyl, Ultranol cements his reputation as one of Spain’s most inventive and effortlessly eclectic pop auteurs.