He takes a break from an activity for which, in terms of schedules, he defines himself as "quite Germanic, although in terms of concentration capacity and performance, I am 100% Mediterranean." With his deep, almost radio-like voice, he asks for a beer, "a medium or a small, Cruzcampo or triple IPA, whatever there is." He carries several square packages inside which there are records, ready to go to their new homes. He leans against the bar and some regulars ---aware of his peculiar sense of humor, combined with a deep love and knowledge for the music that gives him life--- approach him to chat and have a laugh.
"My story, as far as experiences and resume are concerned, is not very interesting. My existential aspirations are very modest: looking foreign is enough for me," explains ---with a laugh--- Enric Bosser, founder and factotum of the record label Penniman Records, dedicated to rescuing, through careful reissues or by betting on current bands, the rock and roll and rhythm and blues sounds of the 50s and 60s, without disdaining 70s Punk Rock, a style that has also marked his career on stage as a member of the mythical band The Meows, a true institution of that style in Barcelona.
Thus, from his small office in the heart of Sant Antoni, this Barcelona native has released albums by current bands such as the Catalan The Excitements, the Galician The Limboos, or the American Greg Prevost, but, at the same time, he has recovered priceless recordings by artists as diverse as Downliner's Sect, Ike Turner, Fun Things, Mikey Baker, or his beloved Bo Diddley. "Over the years, I have managed to ensure that Penniman's team of collaborators is made up solely and exclusively of Bo Diddley fans. There is no other known case in the world," he boasts.
It is also worth noting the Spanish edition of Oooh My Soul, by Charles White, the devastating biography of the legendary Little Richard, whose real name was Richard Penniman. Do you notice? His surname gives the label its name, which seems like a total declaration of principles: "My current situation is the result of a sum of non-decisions and years of sticking to what in scientific jargon is called doing pretty much whatever you want," he concludes.
A life measured in revolutions per minute
To understand the passion with which he approaches his work, one only needs to ask Enric Bosser what he is currently doing. Pay attention:
"We are putting the finishing touches on a compilation of solo singles by Hound Dog Taylor, a Mississippi bluesman who, like so many others, moved to Chicago to make a living. He collaborated with many artists from the Chess stable, but was not rediscovered or championed until the 70s. In addition to wearing a wig and playing a Japanese plastic guitar connected to a blown-out amplifier, he had six fingers on his left hand. The extra finger wasn't a big deal, a sort of barnacle-like pinky, but it allowed him to put on the slide and have the other five available to do his moves. Preparing the album, I discovered that he was also born with an extra finger on his right hand, which makes sense, but he self-amputated it with a knife during a drunken night." He certainly doesn't have a bad time.
--- And how did all this passion of yours begin?
--- I started in this record business in the late 80s, working at Disco 100, on Escorial street. My mother got me the job when I was 15 or 16 years old. She saw in time that I wouldn't become the next Ramón y Cajal.
Today he is still amazed "to have been able to work with artists I admire, in some cases even idols of my adolescence. Dealing with guys from another continent who are almost twice your age and who, without knowing you at all, get involved in projects that go nowhere, and who also give you everything without signing a single paper is, to say the least, endearing."
What happens below Gran Via
"I like Barna, I'm comfortable and I know my way around, but I'm not in love with the city nor do I feel insulted when someone shits on it," explains Enric, who claims to understand "those who, upon settling here, feel, as some claim, that the city spits them out".
There are several periods in the city's history that interest and attract him, although he warns: "I'm not Robert Hughes either." To highlight a couple from the last century, he cites: "The Barcelona of the second half of the 70s, from six in the afternoon and from Gran Via downwards, and the Barcelona of the twenties, that of a million inhabitants, that of the times of the Ateneu with Pla, Sagarra father and company. Those ---and he pronounces this with a guttural, contagious laugh--- were indeed Catalans who did things."
The regular asks for another beer. His daughter and spitting image, Nora, arrives at the bar along with Mar, the child's mother and Enric's authentic partner in crime. On the radio, some unknown AOR atrocity plays, but he asks to leave it on: "I spend many hours listening to R&B, Garage, and cheesy Punk in the office, thousands, so a little while of AOR is even appreciated. To degrease a little, you know".
--- And, speaking of degreasing, do you want to eat something? Look at the menu? Some portion?
--- Whatever ---he replies, a mocking smile reappearing---. You choose, I'm like the brown container.