‘Un adulto serio y gris ocupa su lugar, Y el reloj no para de girar, girar. Pero hace tiempo que la guerra se perdió,  Hace tiempo que la ilusión murió’ (Jóvenes Militantes) / ‘A serious, grey-toned adult takes his place, And the clock keeps turning, turning. But the war was lost long ago, Long ago, that hope died’ (Young Activists)

Madrid’s Cardenales released their demo, Antipunkpop, last year and their debut 7-inch, No Pagues Mas De 500 Pts (Don’t Pay More Than 500 Pts), unfurls in similarly anarchic spirit.  The trio take elements of 1980s’ new wave and post-punk and inject them with a spryly rhythmic primitivism.  They then whip everything up with an off-kilter zest all of their own as they contemplate themes of fading idealism and a sense of never quite finding your place in life.

The opener Nunca, Nada, No (Never, No Nothing) is all surf-tinged guitar and melodic harmonies, whereas Jóvenes Militantes and Fuera De Lugar (Out Of Place), take a darkly infectious turn.  The former is defined by bleakly pulsing synths and agitated vocals, while the latter leans into languidly sombre guitar and raucous call-and-response.  Ya Dormiré Cuando Esté Muerto (I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead) kicks off the flip side in a similar vein, all shimmering guitars and deftly layered vocals.  Before they close out with a cover of Bajada De Anfetas (Amphetamine Crash) by early 1980s’ Jaén punks, Conservantes Adulterados.