CHECK THE AVAILABILITY

Patrick Wolf - The City

2011-02-01T21:06:00.009Z

Last month, everyone's favourite sexually ambiguous multi-instrumentalist Patrick Wolf unveiled the second single to be taken from his forthcoming album Lupercalia. The track, entitled The City, was premiered on the Steve Lamaq show and is the follow up to the superbly rousing post break-up soundtrack Time Of Your Life. The City is an equally stellar effort. I think it's the wailing sax solos that do it for me - if not them, then surely the upliftingly spirited vocals, both of which give a distinctly Springsteen-esque flavour to this otherwise bouncy pre pre-summer record. The City will released March 14th on vinyl and download.

Patrick Wolf - The City

MP3: Patrick Wolf - The City (Richard X Remix) DOWNLOAD

The White Panda

2011-01-28T16:06:00.010Z

Jiminy Cricket! It's the The White Panda, the half human, half care-bear geniuses behind pay-what-you-like records Versus and Rematch. Word is February will yield a new record. Fingers crossed they don't go all wank like Girl Talk did. Oh, Girl Talk - how I once love you so:

Brother - Darling Buds Of May Video Released

2011-01-27T17:55:00.018Z

Broadly speaking, you're in either of two camps: you either love Brother, or you hate Brother. I've met people from both sides - a middle ground does not exist. So what now for a band that appear to be 2011's musical equivalent of the Israel/Palestine conflict? That's right, a new promotional video and a tour with The Streets. Supporting The Streets is a shrewd move. Both acts ham up their gritty, urban image, and play music with yob-pop overtones. It's similarities like this that will no doubt endear Streets fans, looking for an alternative now Skinner has decided to wrap up The Streets project, to the cause.

The video, featuring typical council estate fare, is for the quartet's debut single Darling Buds Of May. The track, which is an updated version of the song's original demo incarnation, is available to download over on itunes. As is often the case these days, I prefer the demo version.

MP3: Brother - Darling Buds Of May (Demo Version) DOWNLOAD

BONUS!!

MP3: Ralegh Long - Darling Buds Of May (Brother Cover - French) DOWNLOAD

Cut Copy - Remixed

2011-01-26T18:25:00.017Z

It's only a matter of weeks 'til Zonoscope, Cut Copy's third studio album, is released to European fans, and already it seems that most of the record has found its way onto Youtube. Is nothing sacred?! I've restrained myself, both physically and chemically, from copping a look at this leaked content - I want to the hear the album in its high quality entirety - I feel this record deserves as much. So, until the album's release, I've been making do with the various remixes of the band's new material. Most of them are a bit meh, though this one, by Illinois' Tigorilla - featuring some Tears For Fears style xylophone action - is a noteworthy effort:

MP3: Cut Copy - Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution (Tigorilla Relevant Remix) DOWNLOAD

Bagraiders - Sunlight

2011-01-25T15:25:00.005Z

In celebration of Bag Raiders self titled debut album hitting American shelves today, Modular records have kindly offered up the track Sunlight to the baying masses. The song features the vocals of international quirkster Dan Black, and is described as a "four minute slice of summertime bliss". Oh the irony of listening to a sun drenched record while still waist high in British winter. The single release will see Sunlight remixed by Armand van Helden, Tiedye, and GLOVES. Stream the entire album over at the Spinner website.

MP3: Bag Raiders - Sunlight (Feat. Dan Black) DOWNLOAD

Ruby Frost - Interview

2011-01-24T17:19:00.039Z

Having featured on the pages of this blog before, regular readers will be more than familiar with Ruby Frost, the diminutive New Zealand singer-songwriter who's destined to cook up a storm in 2011. Somewhere in her diary, she found the time for an obsessive blogger/fan (i.e. me) to interrogate her about all things Frost - here's the results:

Check The Availability: Ruby, Thanks for taking the time out of your no doubt busy schedule to answer a few questions. How are you? Where are you?

Ruby Frost: Thank you for having me! I'm doing well thank you, sitting in my New Zealand Bedroom next to 100 pieces of scrap paper and a blackboard covered in lists.

CTA: You came to my attention after playing CMJ in New York last year. By all accounts, you went down a storm. How did the gig come about?

RF: That gig was the most amazing prize! I won an MTV competition in New Zealand back in 2009, and part of the prize was a trip to New York to perform at CMJ 2010... But I had eight whole months to wait until going and the suspense almost killed me. I loved New York; the bike rides, the different cultures, the subway, the pizza, and the light-up dance floors where we could dance 'ironically'.

CTA: That wasn't your first time in the States, right? I believe there was an incident involving you, a gunman and a church during a previous trip there.

RF: I used to travel to America a lot with my parents' Gospel band from the age of 12 until about 16. And yeah, one day there was a gun scare in the mega-church we were visiting and I was stuck by myself in the foyer selling CDs while the service went on. It was terrifying, but it caused me to write a short story about the gunman's festering skin (terrible acne). That was the first time I ever did something under the Frost pseudonym.

CTA: There seems to be a lot of talent coming out of New Zealand these days. I'm thinking Ladyhawke, Brooke Fraser, Mt Eden Dubstep. Does the environment there lend itself to making great music?

RF: I think so. I think we're very isolated down here, and maybe we feel like outsiders from the 'rest of the world'. But I like that because it means you have a license to act like the misfit, and create anything you want. There's no massive industry over here that gives you set-in-stone standards.

CTA: Speaking of Mt. Eden Dubstep, how did you end up providing vocals for Oh That I Had? It's such a beautiful piece of music.

RF: They got in touch asking if they could remix one of my songs, and at the time I only had an old E.P. recorded. Oh That I Had was on the E.P., just vocals and piano. It's a very spiritual song so I was interested in how it would end up, but I really like it; it's beautiful.

CTA: How far off are we from hearing the full album? Have you decided on a name yet?

RF: The album should be coming out around July! And that's a prospect which makes me equally delighted and incredibly nervous. There's still a lot of work to be done so I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into it. I have one name idea but it's TOP SECRET. Sorry.

CTA: I understand the song writing process involved collaborating with some big name talent over in Australia. How do you find working creatively with other people?

RF: I thought I would hate it and went into my first session a little bit guarded. But I quickly realised co-writing is one of the most exciting things you can do - instead of labouring away alone, you get to do your favourite thing with the excitement of having to jet out ideas instantly and quickly. It's always a challenge but that's why I like it. I want to get away from that now though, having done a few sessions, and am going to lock myself away to write alone again. I think it's important to have both... they are different ways of using your brain.

CTA: You recently released the video to Moonlight. Fantastic stuff. having made the video, you must feel like a real popstar now, right?

RF: Haha, definitely not! It's exciting to finally have something out, but it just makes me want to work harder and write 1 million more songs and try to get it all down to a fine art. I guess it's all in the experimental stage. But I am enjoying this haphazard process!

CTA: ...and finally, I have to ask, are there any plans to play some live shows outside of New Zealand any time soon? I'm thinking specifically (...and selfishly) that you might come and play in the U.K..

RF: Yes, we are looking into some ideas, but it is still early days. I would love to spend a couple of months in the U.K. and maybe also Sweden just to meet up with interesting people and try and collaborate and come up with new things. But who knows, nothing is set yet.

Ruby Frost - Pressure (Leno Lovecraft Remix)

Ruby's latest E.P. Moonlight was released to New Zealand fans today and is available via itunes. The 28th and 30th January will see Frost play Hamilton's Parachute Festival.

Jonathan Boulet

2010-12-29T16:38:00.019Z

Jonathan Boulet is everything you'd want to be: young, incredibly talented - and Australian. His grammar though, leaves a lot to be desired, as evidenced by the appalling syntactic error on his latest track entitled You're A Animal. No doubt he'll tell you it was a purposeful mistake; I have my doubts.

Although Boulet, signed to Modular Recordings, is best known for making laid back, colourful folk-pop music, You're A Animal sees the Sydney native take a new direction. At the song's heart is a frenetic percussive riff, atop of which sits an anthemically shouty vocal hook; a sweet-sounding symphonic war cry to galvanise every misunderstood skinny indie-kid in the land. Add to that a blast of punchy guitar power-chords and you've got yourself some of what I'd call Tribal Rock - and I love it!

You're A Animal is taken from Boulet's as yet untitled sophomore album which is due for release in mid 2011. If you're in the Brisbane area and find yourself at a loose end on New Year's Eve, you could do worse than to head to the Powerhouse No Years Festival which features Jonathan play alongside Shout Out Louds and Neon Indian. A snip at $85?

MP3: Jonathan Boulet - You're A Animal DOWNLOAD

Cut Copy - Take Me Over (Tim Goldsworthy Remix)

2010-12-21T14:59:00.019Z

Continuing with their steady drip-drip of Cut Copy/Zonoscope related news, Modular Recordings have sent out a re-work of Cut Copy's tropical-slash-Men At Work inspired track Take Me Over, featuring Tim Goldsworthy, producer of In Ghost Colours and all round legend, on remixing duties. Also confirmed is the track listing for forthcoming album Zonoscope, which will hit European shelves on 07/02.

Zonoscope Tracklisting:
1. Need You Now
2. Take Me Over
3. Where I'm Going
4. Pharaohs & Pyramids
5. Blink and You'll Miss a Revolution
6. Strange Nostalgia for the Future
7. This Is All We've Got
8. Alisa
9. Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat
10. Corner of the Sky
11. Sun God

MP3: Cut Copy - Take Me Over (Thee Loving Hand Remix by Tim Goldsworthy) DOWNLOAD

BONUS!!!!

MP3: Bag Raiders - Sunlight (GLOVES Remix) DOWNLOAD

Ruby Frost - Moonlight Video

2010-12-18T20:00:00.018Z

Although Slough band Brother feature highly on my hypothetical list of ones to watch for 2011, it would be New Zealand Popsicle Ruby Frost who would top it. Whereas the former has been described as potentially "the most polarizing band of 2011", I believe Miss Frost will unite all peoples and bring about world peace with her utterly adorable looks and cool electro-infused pop hooks. Above is the promo vid - released yesterday - for Ruby's song Moonlight, directed by one Veronica Crockford-Pound.

MP3: Ruby Frost - Moonlight (Leno Lovecraft Remix) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Mt. Eden - Oh That I Had (Feat. Ruby Frost) DOWNLOAD

Florrie - Sunday Girl

2010-12-16T21:24:00.005Z

Perfume adverts, a perennial bane of my life, seem to increase exponentially as we approach Christmas. Out of the over-the-top, faux artsy mire has come Nina Ricci's effort; an advert which I found was sound tracked by none other than British drummer-turned-pop-up-and-comer Florrie, performing a cover of Blondie's multilingual classic Sunday Girl. Very pleasant indeed.

MP3: Florrie - Sunday Girl (Blondie Cover) DOWNLOAD

Eye Emma Jedi

2010-12-13T10:24:00.004Z

Eye Emma Jedi are a band in-complete. Despite having already released single Crucified back in early November, and being B-listed on Norway's equivalent of Radio 1, this talented multinational outfit made up of Andrew Murray - no, not that one - and Alexander Pavelich are only now searching the capital's streets for additional band members.

Influences include the likes of Phoenix, Passion Pit and The Killers, though, from the little I've heard, I'm inclined to describe their sound as a cross between the heavier edge of Foo Fighters, and the power pop of Orson - perhaps with a splash of emo.

The band landed the job of remixing The Wombats' forthcoming single Techno Fan, which is set for online release early in the new year. I'm told we can expect to new materiel of their own after the Christmas break.

MP3: Eye Emma Jedi - Crucified DOWNLOAD

Brother - Live At London's Met Bar

2010-12-06T13:35:00.006Z

A new video of Slough band Brother has been posted up on their Acid Love website. It's a promo vid of a gig the band played at London's Met Bar last month. It was only their second show in the capital and appears to have been an industry/press junket following the band's contract signing with Geffen a little while back. Features songs False Alarm and New Year's Day.

Grouplove

2010-12-05T21:27:00.013Z

Grouplove. Do they take their name seriously? Yes. Yes they do. They're sharing a t-shirt for God's sake! That's one step away from a band orgy and an outbreak of the clap.

The band, now based in L.A., are the product serendipity. Band members Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi met via a chance meeting in a New York bar. A strong bond formed between the two and it was from there the friends moved to the Mediterranean island of Crete as part of an art residency. There they met future band members Sean Gadd; a London born guitarist and singer; pro-surfer and musician Andrew Wessen, and his long-time friend and drummer Ryan Rabin. The resultant sound can be heard in single Colours, a track that is equal parts The Pixies and Canadian rockers Born Ruffians - bouncy and eerie in one gulp.

For Grouplove, after featuring at number 10 on NME's mid-year 50 Best New Band's of 2010 round-up, it would appear things are starting to get serious. I would have to agree, these guys are, to use a term, ones to watch. If you're lucky enough to live in Australia or New Zealand (...or both) then you can download the band's debut E.P. through itunes. For the rest of us, I hear we'll have to wait till after Chrimbo.

Grouplove: a group-you-can-love?

MP3: Grouplove - Colours DOWNLOAD

Polarsets

2010-12-02T14:08:00.010Z

Does anyone remember the Vacanti Mouse? No? Allow me to jog your memory. It was the mouse that researchers controversially grew what looked like a human ear on the back of. Now you remember? The reason I bring it up is because it was one of those things that you'd never think possible. The same thought crossed my mind when I first heard Newcastle based trio, Polarsets - a band who have successfully blended the seemingly incompatible sounds of indie-rock and anthemic Euro-trance. Polarsets? More like Polar Opposites.

Single Leave Argentina was released back in April this year. Catch the band's latest release, Morning, over at their Bandcamp page.

MP3: Polarsets - Leave Argentina DOWNLOAD

MP3: Polarsets - Leave Argentina (Thomas Sagstad and Hawkins Remix) DOWNLOAD

The Joy Formidable - Album Release

2010-11-30T17:07:00.012Z

I first wrote about The Joy Formidable back in February '08. Gosh, doesn't that seem like a long time ago? Now, with the release date of the Welsh trio's debut album The Big Roar confirmed, and widespread critical acclaim from taste-makers at The Guardian, Pitchfork, and NME, I feel my early support of the band was well justified.

Following the U.S. release of E.P. A Balloon Called Morning via Black Bell Records (Passion Pit's Ayad Al Adhamy's label), the band withdrew to a corner of a London bedroom to self record and produce the album. Along the way, they received help from engineer Neak Menter as well as L.A. based mixer/producer Rich Costey, who, long-time followers of the band will be pleased to hear, oversaw new recordings of signature tunes Austere and Whirring. The album will be meated out with eight new recordings of the band's epigrammatic indie-rock sound.

The Big Roar will hit U.K. shelves on January 24th, being released via Canvasback/Atlantic Records. Head over to the bands website to pre-order.

MP3: The Joy Formidable - Whirring DOWNLOAD

Patrick Wolf - Time Of My Life

2010-11-29T12:28:00.012Z

I don't normally give relationship advice, but what do you do when friend breaks up with his girlfriend? What you should do is play him Time Of My Life, by English multi-instrumentalist Patrick Wolf. The feature of all-to-many-a break up tune is the angry rant. Time Of My Life contains no such diatribe. Instead, Wolf's romantic croon consoles it's troubled listener - things will get better; they always do. And in the end, you'll be happy without them.

Time Of My Life will get a single release on 6th December via major label imprint Hideout Recordings. Expect an album to drop May next year.

Patrick Wolf - Time Of My Life

Ruby Frost

2010-11-27T09:45:00.010Z

Ruby Frost is the ice cold moniker of pint-sized New Zealand sing-songwriter Jane de Jong. I introduced you to her - briefly - earlier this month when I posted the Leno Lovecraft rework of her track Moonlight - a shimmering masterpiece. It's about time you got to know her better.

As a youngster, Frost funnelled her creativity into the written word, putting to paper the time when a gunman burst into an American church she and her family choir where attending - the gun, it turned out, was a hockey stick. Now 22, Frost has turned to music as a way of expressing her creative bent.

It was this time last year she won New Zealand MTV's 42 Unheard competition, seeing off competition from 357 artists from across the country. I never watched the show, but, wearing her handmade sequinned bat-cape, I can imagine there was only ever going to be one winner. The competition won her a recording contract with major label Universal Music, who sent her on a song-writing jaunt to Australia. There, she hooked up with a slew of big name producers and now we're starting to hear glimpses of the electronic-infused direction Frost music is heading. A little less 80's than Marina and the Diamonds; a little more fun than Ellie Goulding, Frost nestles between the two. Her voice - appropriately - takes on the icey chill of Bjork, while her charismatic style brings to mind a cuter version of Kate Bush.

Out there is precious little of Frost's music. This could be a clear sign that label want's to get things right - but when you want to hear more, it's a damn pain. Nevertheless, we're told we can expect and album out sometime in 2011.

MP3: Ruby Frost - Goodnight DOWNLOAD

Cut Copy - Take Me Over

2010-11-22T21:02:00.013Z

Things are moving fast in the world of Cut Copy. A few weeks ago I reported that the band had penned in 7th February as the European release date for Zonoscope, their upcoming LP. Now we have Take Me Over, the first official single to be taken from the record. You'll be pleased to hear it's available to download now from MP3 retailers across the web. A 12" release is imminent. The band have also announced a world tour that will follow the release of the album. Head over to Pitchfork for dates and venues of the European leg of the tour.

Cut Copy - Take Me Over

Brother Tour

2010-11-21T19:34:00.010Z

Last month I introduced you to the sounds of Slough based band of miscreants Brother, hoping you'd approve of their attempt at reviving the Brit-pop genre. The guys set themselves the rather aspirational target of playing in front of 10,000 people by this time next year; and now, with the announcement of an extensive UK tour, they appear to be making definite inroads into achieving this dream. Visit the bands website for dates and venues.

MP3: Brother - Time Machine DOWNLOAD

Treefight For Sunlight

2010-11-20T18:58:00.008Z

When you think Denmark, I'm sure you picture Vikings, Carlsberg, and Lars Ulrich. When I think Denmark, all I hear is whimsical psychedelic pop-rock. Or at least I did after listening to Copenhagen quartet Treefight For Sunlight.

Although there's no denying an MGMT influence, their approach is a more organic one - a synth free zone. Treefight use a wall of harmonies to create weight while still keeping things light and bouncy. The intricacies of their music demonstrates an awareness of psych-pop/rock that runs deeper than the genre's latest revival. I mean, there are times when these guys are one flute flurry away from sounding a lot like The Free Design. One listen will have you transported to West Coast America.

Having just signed to the Bella Union label, you can expect a full length album some time in February next year.

MP3: Treefight For Sunlight - What Became Of You And I DOWNLOAD

Dancing With The DJ (Monsieur Adi Remix)

2010-11-19T11:26:00.010Z

(Not my arm)

Like master brewers, The Knocks know a winning formula when they see one. Last time it was their summer ditty Make It Better that got the once over from Parisian electro wonderkid Monsieur Adi. Now, the two have teamed up again; this time on single Dancing With The DJ, which Adi has stretched into seven minutes of shimmering French-disco. A wonderful pairing.

MP3: The Knocks - Dancing With The DJ (Monsieur Adi Remix) DOWNLOAD

Kids Of 88

2010-11-17T19:36:00.017Z

I think it was during the Louis and the Nazis episode, when Louis Theroux meets pre-teen skinhead pop group Prussian Blue, that I learned the significance of the number 88 to the white power community. Translate the numbers to the alphabet and you get HH - or Heil Hitler. Now, as far as I'm concerned there can only be two reasons why a band would name themselves Kids Of 88. Either they're an enterprising electro group attempting to create a niche in the white supremacist market; or they are literally kids of 88 - 1988. I suspect it's the later.

After signing up with Sony records, this Auckland city duo released their debut LP Sugarpills to much fanfare in their native New Zealand. Now, on the back of an appearance at CMJ and a mini-tour with fellow kiwi's The Naked And Famous, their new wave dance-rock sound is deservedly gaining attention outside their homeland. Check out Feed The Birds, a track that comes complete with wailing guitar and In The Air Tonight style drum fills.

MP3: Kids Of 88 - Feed The Birds DOWNLOAD

While I'm covering New Zealand music, I hit on a singer who goes by the name Ruby Frost. She won some big MTV competition last year, but hasn't yet achieved breakthrough status. Judging by this gem of a remix, Ruby is definitely one to keep an eye on..

MP3: Ruby Frost - Moonlight (Leno Lovercraft Remix) DOWNLOAD

Girl Talk - All Day

2010-11-17T11:25:00.017Z

I don't like Girl Talk's new album. There. I said it. Happy now?

All Day is the follow-up to 2008 breakthrough album Feed The Animals, which itself was preceded by 2006's Night Ripper. For me, both these records represent a seminal moment in my consumption of music. They made me get the mash-up art form. Both where pacey, energetic, fun and intelligent. Somehow, Greg Gillies - aka Girl Talk - managed to coherently knit together five generations of music that seemingly spanned every genre known to man.

I heard All Day was two years in the making. A good thing, right? Such a length of time would allow an artist to consider their work, re-evaluate it, make changes. But for this kind of gonzo-genre, has it proved fatal? All Day sounds flat and lifeless, the fun surgically picked out of it. Samples are drawn out and hang around for way too long, a serious problem for this kind of record. There are moments that hark back to the genius of Night Ripper and Feed The Animals - Triple Double for instance - but they are few in number and only point to what could have been. Girl Talk was meant to be music for the ADHD generation. Well, this album is dedicated to those kids adequately medicated, attending after school catch up lessons and eating their greens.

All Day has been roundly praised on the blogs, but in the long run I fear the album will end up in the cupboard like a toy with a flat battery. On the plus side, All Day was released as a free download via the Illegal Art website.

MP3: Girl Talk - Triple Double DOWNLOAD

Urban Cone

2010-11-14T19:38:00.012Z

Stockholm's Urban Cone managed to hit the Hype Machine's Popular list the other day with their track Urban Photograph which was posted up on Swedish blog Klubb Ace. I had a listen, and thought "this is a bandwagon I ought to be jumping on". Trouble is, with a band this minty fresh - they where formed only six months ago - there's so little information about them that the chances of a protracted post analysing the bands history and how it might relate to their current sound is zero. What I can tell you is they sound like French indie-electro groovers Fortune, fronted by Black Ghost's vocalist Simian Lord. If that sounds like it something that may appeal to you, then take a listen.

MP3: Urban Cone - Urban Photograph DOWNLOAD

Trophy Wife

2010-11-12T19:50:00.020Z

I would say I am excited about Trophy Wife, but that kind of emotion doesn't fit well with the band's ethos. The promotional literature from this Oxford trio tells me they regard their sound as "ambitionless office disco". As Self-depreciating as this may seem, it happens to be a neat way of packaging the bands creatively sparse take on the indie-disco genre into one sound bite. If you can imagine Swedish band Studio covering a Vampire Weekend track, you won't be far off.

Trophy Wife have signed up with label of the moment Moshi Moshi Records, and released their single Mircolite/Take This Night via download and 7" on 8th November.

MP3: Trophy Wife - Microlite DOWNLOAD

MP3: Trophy Wife - Microlite (Acoustic) DOWNLOAD

Beady Eye - Bring The Light

2010-11-11T21:38:00.014Z

Inspirational, pioneering, revolutionary, and ground-breaking - are not words I'd use to describe the first offering from Beady Eye; the band who've risen from the ashes of the now defunct Oasis, minus Noel. The track, entitled Bring The Light, was released as a free download via the band's website yesterday and is described as being "proper rock'n'roll" by frontman Liam Gallagher. It isn't. It more like a Status Quo record, minus the fun. Having said that, it's not quite as bad as some commenters have suggested. The problem is its mediocrity, which for a record that's obviously meant to stick it to brother and former bandmate Noel, is very worrying indeed. I hear rumours that Bring The Light will not be featuring on Beady Eye's forthcoming album. Given the songs lukewarm reception, that's probably a wise move. Better luck next time chaps.

MP3: Beady Eye - Bring The Light DOWNLOAD

The Irrepressibles

2010-11-09T19:48:00.019Z

Referring to them as a band is something of an understatement, for weighing in at an hefty - wait for it - ten members, The Irrepressibles are more of an ensemble, verging on the orchestral. They're fronted by the dramatic Jamie McDermott who has a lot to say about the current state of British music - namely that it lacks "visual and sonic flamboyance". This is clearly a guy who mourns the absence of naff 70's dance troupe Pans People from our screens.

You'll hear The Irrepressibles be described as a weird hybrid of Anthony and the Johnsons and The Smith's frontman Morrissey. That's an accurate representation. But I find a more suitable description can be found in the formal education choices of it's frontman - yes, this is exactly what you'd imagine a band fronted by a guy who attended Westminster University's 'pop culture and industry course', to sound like. Get me on that course!

I suppose to fully appreciate the bands - sorry, the ensemble's - work, you have to be prepared to both look and listen. There's a lot to be said of their attempt to bring together wonderfully emotive orchestral sounds and soaring falsetto vocals, with arresting visual creativity, however pretentious it may appear. And when you think about it, in the age of youtube and easy-to-access visual media, what better time to make this attempt. Inaccessible to some? I should imagine; but these guys are definitely different and definitely worth a punt. The album Mirror Mirror is available now.

The Irrepressibles - In This Shirt

Satellite Stories

2010-11-08T11:19:00.014Z

The prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD - a form of depression associated with a lack of sunlight - is alarmingly high in Finland and other areas of the Arctic region. One study puts the figure at 9.5%. That's nearly 1 in 10! Bear that in mind when you listen to Finnish outfit Satellite Stories; a four-piece guitar band who play up-tempo, jangly indie music that slots neatly in between The Wombats and Two Door Cinema Club. It sounds, well, happy. Think The Inbetweeners soundtrack. I can only assume these guys are being ironic. Or perhaps, they're just very optimistic people. Either way, they make great music.

MP3: Satellite Stories - Mexico DOWNLOAD

Crystal Castles - Not In Love

2010-11-08T08:41:00.007Z

I recall briefly listening to Crystal Castles back in '08 and thinking "Boy, I just don't get this". I was ashamed. They where everything I was supposed to like; I mean NME featured the band's eponymous release in their top 100 albums of the decade list, and heck, those guys know a thing or two about music, don't they? So, you understand my slight apprehension at giving the bands latest offering Not In Love a whirl.

Interestingly this is the songs third incarnation - that's right, it's a cover, initially released by 80's New Wavers Platinum Blonde. Its second manifestation featured on Crystal Castles' second, er, eponymous album released earlier in the year, which brings us to this current version. The track replaces the chipmunk-ish vocals of the bands frontwomen Alice Glass with the emotive croon of The Cure's Robert Smith (whose dishevelled hair will no doubt be heading any upcoming Goth revival). On any other Crystal Castles song, the addition of Smith's vocals would result in a musical train wreck. But here, bizarrely, sitting atop of a darkly euphoric trash trance hook, it shines. It actually reminds me of The Killers, circa Human, not least because it's now clear Brandon Flowers modelled his voice on that of The Cure frontman.

The more I listen to Not In Love, the more I feel I may need to re-evaluate my opinion of Crystal Castles, for this is a truly fantastic track. My worry is that it's only Smith's vocals that I find appealing. I guess a listen to the album will show if this is the case. What is he up to these day's anyway? Does he not fancy turning this experimental dance music duo into a three piece?

MP3: Crystal Castles - Not In Love (Feat. Robert Smith) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Platinum Blonde - Not In Love DOWNLOAD

Dancing With The DJ (Chiddy Bang Remix)

2010-11-05T18:53:00.025Z

The ever wonderful Neon Gold Records blog has just unveiled an exclusive Chiddy Bang remix of The Knocks latest release Dancing With The DJ. I've not been overly enamoured with The Bangs previous work, but this, I like. From what I can gather, the remix is a precursor to The Knocks debut London show at XOYO this coming Wednesday. In support will be label mate, Spark, with Chiddy Bang man Xaphoon Jones on turntable duties. If you're in the vicinity, head on down. It's free!

MP3: The Knocks - Dancing With The DJ (Chiddy Bang Remix) DOWNLOAD

Kori Pop

2010-11-04T18:32:00.019Z

Kori Pop took her name from...hang on a sec, that's actually her real name? Yep, you could say this girl was almost destined for a role at the performing end of the music business. And so it is that Pop has released her début album From The Outskirts, a wonderfully mellow collection of songs that brings to mind sounds as legendary as Carole King, Nick Drake, Laura Nyro and Cat Power. The album is headed by the single Nowhere Near My Heart, a song with subtle mass appeal that wouldn't sound out of place on the Juno soundtrack.

To accompany the single, Pop and her comrades have cobbled together a pretty cute music video, featuring puppets she fashioned from magazine cut outs and bits around the house. If this music thing doesn't take off, then a career on Blue Peter surely beckons.

MP3: Kori Pop - Nowhere Near My Heart DOWNLOAD

Cut Copy - New Album

2010-11-03T19:12:00.032Z

Cut/Copy (has that '/' always been there?) are turning up the hype up for their hotly anticipated follow up to their seminal album In Ghost Colours, sending out press releases to all and sundry. So, what do we have? Well, we have a name; Zonoscope (cool), an album cover (cool), and a U.K. release date; 7th February 2011 (er, not so cool). The danger with whipping up such a frenzy about something so far away (s'cuse the pun) is that, much like Christmas which appears to start in late September, when it finally arrives, it can often struggle to live up to expectation created in one's mind. That said, I have full confidence the boys can deliver the 'goods', so-to-speak. What else can you expect from an album described as "Cut Copy boiled down to [its] purest form, a suite of futuristic visions built upon primal rhythm tracks". What could possibly go wrong, eh?

If you didn't already catch it, here's the free MP3 the band released early this year.

MP3: Cut Copy - Where I'm Going DOWNLOAD

Galapaghost

2010-11-03T07:50:00.007Z

The stripped back nature of the folk/folk-rock genre can so easily result in music that's a little on the dull side, perfunctory even. These are not words I'd use to describe the folksy sound of Casey Chandler, aka Galapaghost, whose latest E.P. entitled Runnin', is simply a joy to listen to. Featuring seven tracks, the E.P. appears to effortlessly meld the rustic sounds of Neil Young and Don McLean with the more layered production of Beirut and Brian Wilson. Delicate falsetto vocals and simple melody seamlessly give way to rich, dreamy harmonic soundscapes with apparent ease. It should come as no surprise that this young talent has recently graduated with a degree in music production.

I can't recommend Runnin' enough, and given that it's being offered as a free download, there's literally no excuse. You can thank me later. For now though, enjoy!

MP3: Galapaghost - Disintegration DOWNLOAD

MP3: Galapaghost - Runnin' E.P. (Zip) DOWNLOAD

Kiss Off

2010-11-01T19:32:00.007Z

With the dismissal of Belle Amie on X Factor last night you'd think the concept of a popular girl group was becoming something of an oxymoron. Undeterred, Kiss Off have thrown their hat into the ring, releasing the video to their upcoming single Misfit. Formally Dollie Mix, Kiss Off pedal a brash, confident brand of party pop, singing "I've got curves in all the right places/and my boobs and bum look amazing", with accompanying hand movements. Steady on! Basically, this is what Katy Perry would sound like if she was a band. Go see.

The Knocks - Dancing With The DJ

2010-10-31T15:12:00.013Z

Following the release of their whistling based breakthrough track Make It Better, New York duo The Knocks hit me an email announcing the upcoming release of their third single Dancing With The DJ.

Pitched somewhere between Calvin Harris, Mark Ronson and The Ting Tings, Dancing With The DJ will surely propel the band into pop notoriety. That said, it's a little sad to be listening to a track that got 'summer' scrawled all over it's forehead in neon marker pen, when British Summer Time officially ended last night. Irony upon ironies.

The single, which features Julia Tepper on vocal hook duties, is set for released on 28th November and will be backed up Thinking About You on the b-side. Both tracks are being offered, to you, for free no less, simply by visiting the bands Facebook page and hitting the like button.

MP3: The Knocks - Dancing With The DJ DOWNLOAD

Brother

2010-10-14T19:15:00.011+01:00

Brother represent something of a growing trend in band self promotion: no Myspace page. I guess it adds to an overall air of mystique, what with the sparsity of information and all. Its just that it makes my job that little bit harder.

Nevertheless, Brother may also represent another trend: the rise of Britpop 2.0.

The 1980's have come and gone, and then come again, so it would seem chronologically sensible for a band to revive lad culture, walk with at swagger, and make rock'n'roll music with a heavy dollop of faux working class attitude. And this appears to be Brother's strategy. Britpop was popular once; it'll damn well be popular again! Given the amount of label interest in the band, it would seem to be a widely held point of view. It worked for Kasabian, didn't it?

With the 90's barely a distant memory, I do wonder: if we continue this pace of regeneration, we'll soon be reviving last years music and calling it retro!

MP3: Brother - Darling Buds of May DOWNLOAD

Lissie

2010-10-10T15:38:00.009+01:00

Lissie? Urgh. For me, it's a name that conjures up an image of some English Sloanie flashing a bit of Daddies bonus pay about the place and wangling a record deal in the process. The truth is far more appealing.

For one, she's not from England, hailing instead from the American Midwest. More importantly however, it's clear she's a grafter. Having opened for Lenny Kravitz way back in early '08, it's only now, nearly three years down the line, that she's released her debut album Catching a Tiger, getting the worldwide recognition she deserves with her powerful brand of husky voiced folk rock.

Having toured America extensively, Lissie will be playing dates throughout the U.K. and Europe right through November/December. For now, satisfy yourself with her fine cover of Metallica power-ballad classic Nothing Else Matters...and yes, that guy is playing the bass and precussion at the same time.

MP3: Lissie - When I'm Alone DOWNLOAD

Make It Better Video

2010-10-08T21:16:00.008+01:00

Production duo B-Roc and Jpat, known collectively as The Knocks, have released an official music video to accompany their fantastic whistle-athon single Make It Better, released earlier this year on the supreme Neon Gold Records label. I have literally no idea what the concept behind the video is, though it does appear to advocate gun violence against teachers, children, and fitness nerds; none of which I support...and nor should you.

MP3: The Knocks - Make It Better DOWNLOAD

Brooke Fraser

2010-10-08T17:00:00.015+01:00

You like Feist, right? Course you do. Now, imagine Feist was a New Zealander, perhaps a little taller, and was partial to the odd Christian music festival love in. If your imagination is lacking, then permit me to introduce Brooke Fraser: Australasia's answer to the Nova Scotian songstress.

Something In The Water is the opening gambit on Fraser's forthcoming album Flags. It is kooky and bouncy, and has ipod/ipad/itunes/i? commercial soundtrack written all over it. Not that she needs the leg up; she's already toured with John Mayer and has had an itunes #1 over in New Zealand.

Fraser will be touring the United States throughout November/December, while album Flags will see a worldwide release later this month. Pre-order? Here.

MP3: Brooke Fraser - Something In The Water DOWNLOAD

R.I.P.?

2010-10-07T19:59:00.005+01:00

(This is me. This is not you)

University has finished. I am now a Registered Nurse. I have a little more time on my hands. Maybe I should start this blogging lark again.

Slow Moving Millie

2009-08-22T19:55:00.007+01:00

Commercials have done favours for more musicians than you can shake your proverbial stick at. For a long time now I've considered such broadcasts to be a conduit for some great music; case in point, the latest Virgin Media advert that features Beasts by London (via Liverpool) based songstress Slow Moving Millie. Really, it's a great piece of emotive music but what's weird is that when I purchased it off itunes, the track is named Beasts (From the Virgin Media Advert). It's the same on Play.com. And Spotify. I get the distinct feeling that the record company is pinning all its hopes on this bit of publicity spring boarding Miss Moving Millie into the limelight.

Hockey

2009-08-19T21:52:00.011+01:00

Can we not beat around the bush. Hockey? They're great, right? And that fact that their drummer has chosen (or maybe not) to model himself on Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap fame is an occurance that makes them all the more alluring. You just know Pitchfork's will find them repulsive, which riles me, though will not stop me catching them when the come to town (Liverpool town) the middle of next month. The above video is a live performance of the track Song Away, taken from the forthcoming album Mind Chaos which can be pre-ordered HERE.

MP3: Hockey - Too Fake DOWNLOAD

Time-Out

2009-04-20T16:33:00.006+01:00

I've gotten a little behind on various bits of university work hence the neglected blog. Once I get back on track, I'll be back with bells on. Apologies. Until then...

This Is Not A fire Release

2009-03-15T22:11:00.010Z

October saw Check The Availability introduced you to the tropical sounds of My Tiger My Timing. If you liked what you heard then, you'll be pleased to hear this London foursome have anounced the release of a souped version (Andy Spence of NYPC had a hand in recording) of their signature tune, This Is Not A Fire, through Silver Machine Music on April 6TH. There don't seem to be any plans to press up a 7", however the digital download will be backed by a Tronic Youth remix, together with a dubstep version coutersy of Sam Wire. In the meantime...

MP3: My Tiger My Timing - This Is Not A Fire (Django Django Remix) DOWNLOAD

UPDATE: I've been informed that This Is Not A Fire will get a 7" release. The date? 06/04/09.

No. 26

2009-03-02T14:04:00.005Z

"Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms" Sen. Ron Paul

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MP3: Flowers Of Doom - Happiness DOWNLOAD
MP3: Peter, Bjorn And John - Lay It Down (Punks Jump Up Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Red Blooded Women - Enjoy The Silence (Heads We Dance Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Plants And Animals - Bye Bye Bye DOWNLOAD
MP3: Plump DJ's - Beat Myself Up (Don Diablo Re-rub) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Modeselektor -Suckerpin (Feadz Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Me Gusta Remix) DOWNLOAD
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The Revolution.

Milke

2009-02-26T17:16:00.005Z

Milke definitely win the award for best Myspace header thingy-ma-gig. But that's a side issue, for this "impeccably coiffured" British based, Australian born duo, made up of Ra Khahn and Andrew Friendly, have achieved something so few accomplish in managing to seamlessly synthesize indie, electro and pop without a hint of cheese or pretense. Single, Love Get Out Of My Way, due out on 17TH March, is delivered as a taster of Milke's debut album, set for release sometime later this year.

Milke - Love Get Out Of My Way DOWNLOAD

New Phoenix Track

2009-02-24T19:01:00.008Z

It's funny, I've never really been that in to Phoenix. Odd, considering the bands pedigree; fulfilling the role of backing group for Air, not to mention the fact the bands guitarist, Larent Brancowitz, played with short lived retrospective super group, Darlin', which featured both members of Daft Punk!

Phoenix's new track, 1901, released in anticipation of the bands fourth studio album sometime in May, may require that I do something about my relative ignorance of the band's back catalogue. 1901 is a pleasure to listen to. A masterpiece of French indie-rock. The chunky keyboard buzz intro, the whirling synths and jangly guitar hook, make it (for me) this years Time To Pretend.

MP3: Phoenix - 1901 DOWNLOAD

MP3: Phoenix - Everythig Is Everything DOWNLOAD

Hometown Glory (CCC Remix)

2009-02-22T15:35:00.011Z

Here's the story behind the track (how very VH1):

"After meeting her at Heathrow Airport (we were on the same flight to NY. She was in first class and CCC was in no class) (That was supposed to be funny, so please Laugh!) it was LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! During the flight, her album, '19' was included in the 'on board entertainment. How cool is that!?!?!? You fly from London to NY and your album is available to all the passengers. Perfect time to show off. Very very cool!!! Anyway, 'Hometown glory' is simply amazing, and this is CCC's hommage to her beautiful voice."

So there you have it. Destiny? Fate? Luck? Whatever it was, s'nice when things come together, innit?

MP3: Adele - Hometown Glory (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix) DOWNLOAD

BMK

2009-02-20T21:25:00.007Z

If you have a thing for MSTRKRFT and the Nordic countries, then let me introduce you to BMK; Sweden's answer to the Ontarian duo. Known in their homeland as Blandmissbruk (a word which I'm told refers to the mixing of many nefarious habits at the same time), BMK are rumoured to be masterminded by members of the Swedish band, Division Of Laura Lee. They where brought to the attention of label Swedish Columbia via their notorious warehouse parties in the outskirts of Gothenberg. The label was impressed enough with their slightly murkier brand of electro-dance, that they whipped out the bands second single, We Don't Care, backed by a sweet Tanimura Midnight remix.

Get the record HERE for free.

MP3: BMK - We Don't Care DOWNLOAD

MP3: BMK - We Don't Care (Tanimura Midnight Remix) DOWNLOAD

Between The Bars

2009-02-17T15:37:00.004Z

I've become morbidly obsessed with Elliott Smith again; this track in particular :

MP3: Elliott Smith - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD

MP3: Elliott Smith - Between The Bars (Orchestral) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Metric - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD

MP3: Mutual Appreciation Society - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD

MP3: Madeleine Peyroux - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD

MP3: Chris Garneau -Between The Bars DOWNLOAD

MP3: Grant Buell -Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Vitamin String Quartet - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD

No. 25

2009-02-16T18:23:00.007Z

"We American's, we're simple people...but piss us off, and we'll bomb your cities" Robin Williams

MP3: Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy (Paul Epworth Version) DOWNLOAD

MP3: East 17 - It's Alright DOWNLOAD

MP3: Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Alex Metric Remix) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Mike Keneally -Sisters (Steve Vai Cover) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Vitamin String Quartet - Viva La Vida (Coldplay Cover) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Sniper - Nique Le Pen DOWNLOAD

MP3: Don Henley - Dirty Laundry DOWNLOAD

The Evening Magazine

2009-02-14T18:33:00.008Z

Judging by the fact that it's early evening on 14TH February, and I'm writing up a blog post, you should have some indication as to my relationship status. And if you're reading this on said date, you're probably in the same position. I'll attempt to make this worth both our whiles.

Interestingly, Evening Magazine (founded by ex-BC Camplight man, David Disbrow) pushed forward the release date of their E.P., The Ride Across Lake Constance, from 26TH January, to sometime earlier in the month. I can only assume that demand was so high there were worries of rife copyright infringement. That's understandable, as this 'Philadelphian' nine-piece where pretty much the soundtrack to my December; a calming, delicate alternative to the frenzied activity of participating in a family Christmas. In making The Ride Across Lake Constance, Evening Magazine have made a genuinely accomplished record. While the diversity of sounds and instrumentation recalls the rich music of Arcade Fire, the sparse, understated production distances their music sufficiently from their northern friends. Buy the E.P. HERE.

MP3: Evening Standard - 18 Wheels DOWNLOAD

Help, I'm Alive (Acoustic Version)

2009-02-10T20:58:00.006Z

I posted Help, I'm Alive, back before Christmas. It's been on heavy rotation since, justifying my excited anticipation of the release of Metric's fourth studio album, Fantasies (due 14/04/09). Bridging the gap between then and now, The Band have kindly distributed an acoustic version of Help, I'm Alive via their website. Thanks guys. Dare I say I prefer this to the 'plugged' version:

MP3: Metric - Help, I'm Alive (Acoustic Version) DOWNLOAD

Adverts

2009-02-08T00:40:00.006Z

What in God's name is going on in world of commercials? First we had John Lydon of Sex Pistols fame dressed in stately home regalia flogging Country Life butter (whose sales, I hear, have risen considerably as a result). Following that, Iggy Pop stuffed the remnants of his dignity down the bog by advertising car insurance. Car insurance!!! And last night, I watched agog, as the latest Pantene shampoo advert was backed by a 'classical' version of Daft Punk's Aerodynamic, played by all round pain-in-the-arse Myleene Klass. Is nothing sacred?

MP3: Daft Punk - Aerodynamic DOWNLOAD

MP3: Daft Punk - Aerodynamic (DJ Dstar Remix) DOWNLOAD

New Year

2009-01-26T17:01:00.001Z

The dawn of a new year usually brings with it the hope that the coming 365 days will bring success and happiness. This year we've even had the inauguration of America's first black president, giving many individuals 'hope', which, putting my overbearing cynicism aside (I believe Obama is calling for extra troops in Afghanistan), I'm only too happy to buy into.

Unfortunately, the signs that my year will develop into something half-decent are not encouraging, hence the omission of any post lately. First, my ipod decides to go on the blink (I'm sure those things are built to last no longer that 18 months). Then I go and drop my N95 in the toilet (don't ask) and am now left with the most basic of phones and an addiction to Snake. To top it all of, my car, my beloved '92 Micra, gave up the day after I got it back from the garage where I'd just had its breaks fixed.

To my aid came Swedish duo, The Sound Of Arrows, whom delivered music's answer to Prozac via their track, M.A.G.I.C.. This peppy numbers opening gambit is to sing what must surly be the most encouraging lines of the year: 'Yesterday I had the longest dream/That the world was endless with possibilities'. That coupled with the optimistic melody of a chorus that sounds like it's been written for the Disney Channel, sung by kids, makes this tune a genuine underground pop classic.

TSOA are set to release their new record MAGIC on 28TH of this month through Labrador Records.

MP3: The Sound Of Arrows - M.A.G.I.C. DOWNLOAD

Heads We Dance - Computer Love (Kraftwerk Cover)

2009-01-12T15:28:00.006Z

In a shrewed move, Leeds based electro-pop outfit, Heads We Dance, have covered Kraftwerk's classic track, Computer Love, as part of the Buffet Libre DJ's Rewind2 Project. I say shrewd as I find it rather appropriate that a song about discovering romance through technology should get reworked by a band who sing about Love In A Digital Age.

All songs featured on the Rewind2 Project are available to download for free HERE.

MP3: Heads We Dance - Computer Love (Kraftwerk Cover) DOWNLOAD

And while we're on the subject:

MP3: Kraftwerk - Computer Love DOWNLOAD

MP3: Coldplay - Talk DOWNLOAD

Pocketknife

2008-12-31T16:56:00.010Z

New York producer and one half of the Flagrant Fowl imprint, Pocketknife, has been deftly remixing choice records since mid 2006. Artist's including Feist, Beirut and Adele have all had their music subtly beautified by the Brooklyn DJ, whose influences include the likes of Diplo, Grandmaster Flash and LCD Soundsystem. Knowing how much you all adore this chap, it is with great pleasure that I offer you his superb Loosefoot remix of Lykke Li's awesome track, Breaking It Up (Oh, I know, soooo 2008!) I do hope your NY celebration go according to plan.

MP3: Lykke Li -Breaking It Up (Pocketknife's Loosefoot Remix) DOWNLOAD
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Happy Christmas

2008-12-25T16:33:00.004Z

From The Joy Formidable to me ^^. From me to you. Happy Christmas. Go on...open it:

MP3: The Joy Formidable - My Beerdrunk Soul Is Sadder Than A Hundred Dead Christmas Trees DOWNLOAD

No. 24

2008-12-24T17:32:00.005Z

"The rich are always advising the poor, but the poor seldom return the compliment". Sir Arthur Helps

MP3: Osborne - 16Th Stage DOWNLOAD
MP3: Tommy Sparks - I'm A Rope (Yuksek Rework) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Bitclipr - Discofreak DOWNLOAD
MP3: Tiga & Zyntherius - Sunglasses At Night (Black Devil Dub) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Kent - Vy Fraan Ett Luftslott (Punks Jump Up Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: System Of A Down - B.Y.O.B. DOWNLOAD
MP3: The New Standards - Such Great Heights (The Postal Service Cover) DOWNLOAD

Marina And The Diamonds

2008-12-21T15:45:00.014Z

If you're like me, then your itunes will be littered with accomplished female artists (could I sound more patronising?) like Feist, Ladyhawke and Lykke Li (among others). Now you can add to the list pint-sized songstress, Marina And The Diamonds, hailing from the valleys of Wales via Greece (or maybe that's Greece via Wales). Marina's sound seems ripe for chart success, following the breakthrough of other artists like Duffy and Adele, though she's as annoying as neither. That's not to say she won't make it on her own merit, not at all. Obsessions, Marina's incoming single, demonstrates the singers inclination for bouncy keys, brisk beats, and cutting lyrics ("Won't you quit your crying I can't sleep, one minute I'm a little sweet heart, and next minute you are an absolute creep") contrasted by drawn out chords and softly-softly vocals.

Obsessions is backed with the track Mowgli's Road and will be released via Neon Gold Records, through which the mighty Sleepyhead was unleashed. The single is limited to 500 copies, 250 of which will be made available to customers outside the U.S.. Head on over to Puregroove to per-order your copy.

MP3: Marina And The Diamonds - Obsessions DOWNLOAD

Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper Dio Remix)

2008-12-18T19:55:00.010Z

You know you're truly broke when you have to economise servery to be buy a record. In the case of Passion Pits debut 7", Sleepyhead, I didn't mind. Looking back, I think we can agree that Passion Pit provided us with one of the tunes of the year. November saw New York's Finger On The Pulse blog commence a remix competition for the track which saw Wallpaper. crowned the winner. This excellent remix wants to be the darker cousin of the original, with its unrushed tempo and thick, moody synths, lightened up with some neatly placed pitched-up sax.

MP3: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper. Dio Remix) DOWNLOAD

Two Door Cinema Club

2008-12-17T21:26:00.008Z

Hailing from County Down's seaside resort of Bangor comes Two Door Cinema Club. This drummer-less three-piece combine the frantic tendencies of Vampire Weekend with the smooth production of Death Cab For Cutie, culminating in a sound not to dissimilar to 2007 favourites, Goodbooks. Bursting at the seems with melodious guitar flourishes and vocal harmony, the band manage to create an indie sound with both pop and electronic overtones. Remarkably, they remain unsigned, but you do have to wonder for how much longer?

MP3: Two Door Cinema Club - Hands Off My Cash, Monty DOWNLOAD

The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let It Snow

2008-12-17T20:44:00.007Z

Courtesy of Radio 1. The crazy cat speaking at the end is uber douche bag Chris Moyles. My apologies...

MP3: The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let It Snow DOWNLOAD

Lord Skywave - I Am A Dead Man (Grovesnor Remix)

2008-12-17T18:30:00.007Z

One time Hot-Chiper, Grovesvnor (the moniker of one Rob Smoughton), produced a true gem of '08 with the deliciously over the top, Drive Your Car. Now, Grovesvnor has turned his hand to remixing the little known slide-project of former Simian, current Black Ghosts man, Simon Lord. A nice up-tempo slice of boogie-disco.

MP3: Lord Skywave - I Am A Dead Man (Grovesnor Remix) DOWNLOAD

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool

2008-12-15T21:02:00.006Z

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool are a band who will achieve success in 2009. This time next year, I'll smugly be uttering the words: "told you so". They have it all. They exude confidence, they've given up on their birth names, and they sport moustaches. Oh, and they make gloriously dingy disco tinged electro. Think The Human League on a downer. Enjoy.

MP3: Ou Est Le Swimning Pool - Dance The Way I Feel DOWNLOAD

No. 23

2008-12-14T00:24:00.006Z

"I tried comminting suicide by sticking my head in the oven, but there was a cake in it". Lesley Boone

MP3: Jen Feldman - Kaddish For Britney DOWNLOAD
MP3: Housemeister - What You Want (Siriusmo Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Kaiser Chiefs - Golden Skans (Klaxons Cover) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Shannon - Let The Music Play (Death To The Throne Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Skew - Stadiums Are OK Too DOWNLOAD
MP3: Blue Sky Black Death - Once Away DOWNLOAD
MP3: Jedi Mind Tricks - Monolith DOWNLOAD

Audio Bullys/Shinichi Osawa News

2008-12-12T15:31:00.030Z

Few bits of news I want get through. Firstly, electronic music duo, Audio Bullys have made a comic...that's right, a comic! Basically, the narrative fits round the lyrical content of the track Dope Fiend, which, when you purchase a physical copy of the comic you get a download link for. Here's you click-through banner:

Second up is some swell news from the Shinichi Osawa camp: a competition entitled 'Who is The One who could remix and release your track?' Submit your MP3 for Joe public to listen to and vote on, after which Shinichi will take a butchers at the 10 highest rated tracks and choose an overall winner. Top dog will have their track released on Southern Fried Records together with an accompanying remix from Shinichi himself!

MP3: Audio Bullys - Flickery Vision (Jamie Anderson and Deepgroove's Idiotproof Remix) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Shinichi Osawa - The Golden DOWNLOAD

Clubfeet

2008-12-11T22:02:00.018Z

Melbourne trio Clubfeet have just released their debut studio album. I'm rather surprised at the fact that last Wednesday was the first time I'd heard the bands refreshingly humorous brand of smooth electronic pop. The first single off their Gold On Gold album, Teenage Suicide, kind of sounds like it's been commissioned by the Samaritans, featuring the lyrical refrain "Teenage suicide, don't do it!". Very festive. But seriously, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't check these dudes out.

Purchase Gold On Gold.

MP3: Clubfeet - Teenage Suicide DOWNLOAD
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The Joy Formidable - Cradle Release

2008-12-11T19:11:00.005Z

I'm pretty sure that if The Joy Formidable had released an L.P. this year, it would've popped up somewhere on my 'Top Albums of 2008' list, which I posted the other day. Anyway, following the release of the bands debut 7", Austere (of which I'm a proud owner of a signed copy), you can now pre-order their follow up single, Cradle, released on Try Harder records, available on 2ND February. This particular 7", I've been informed, will be a gate fold release, and will feature new track, The Last Drop, as well as remixes from Kyte and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaur. Here's your pre-order LINK.

MP3: The Joy Formidable - Cradle (Kyte Remix) DOWNLOAD
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Top 10 Albums Of 2008

2008-12-08T11:06:00.010Z

So here's Check The Availability's Top 10 Albums of 2008. I promised myself I'd never do one (I managed to resist last year), however, for me to be able to summit my a list for the Hype Machine's Zeitgeist of 2008 I actually have to have one posted on the blog. Please comment. Here goes:

1. Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires AMAZON

MP3: Friendly Fires - Lovesick DOWNLOAD

2. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours AMAZON

MP3: Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire DOWNLOAD

3. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line AMAZON

MP3: Ra Ra Riot - Ghost Under Rocks DOWNLOAD

4. Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow & Blue AMAZON

MP3: Born Ruffians - Barnacle Goose DOWNLOAD

5. Santogold - Santogold AMAZON

MP3: Santogold - I'm A Lady (Feat. Trouble Andrew) DOWNLOAD

6. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular AMAZON

MP3: MGMT - The Youth DOWNLOAD

7. Wax Stag - Wax Stag AMAZON

MP3: Wax Stag - Short Road DOWNLOAD

8. Lykke Li - Youth Novels AMAZON

MP3: Lykke Li - Breaking It Up DOWNLOAD

9. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy AMAZON

MP3: I'm not going to risk posting one, get me?

10. Longwave - Secrets Are Sinister AMAZON

MP3: Longwave - Sirens In The Deep Sea DOWNLOAD

BMX

2008-12-07T14:16:00.008Z

Ahoy there! Quirky foursome BMX are an Australian bandwagon worth jumping on. Their minimalist, indie influenced chewing gum pop has already caught the attention of some big name blogs (notably Bigstereo), and they're set to play with Metronomy early next year. I'm pretty sure you'll love the whole girl/boy vocal thing, not to mention the fact that vocalist Dominique sounds like a cross between an 80's Madonna and a Princess Superstar, circa Bad Babysitter. Exactly like everything and nothing you've heard before. Go see...

MP3: BMX - War DOWNLOAD
MP3: BMX - Theme To BMX DOWNLOAD
MP3: BMX - Theme To BMX (Jasper Remix) DOWNLOAD

Chinese Democracy

2008-11-30T19:03:00.012Z

A week today, Guns 'n' Roses (or its remnants) released their long awaited album, Chinese Democracy. "Long awaited" doesn't really do the actual time-scale justice, for GNR's sixth studio album was fourteen years in the making running up a bill of thirteen million big ones!

I love Guns 'n' Roses. You can blame my brothers, 11 years my senior, for that. The fact is, I'm far from being the only one. Remember the band's massively popular Greatest Hits?

No album is worth waiting fourteen years for. That said, I'm shocked at how good Chinese Democracy sounds. I'm not saying it's the best album of the year, but really, I was expecting some overblown, self-indulgent tut, produced to within an inch of its life. I'd be lying if I said it didn't feature any of those things, but come on, this is Axl Rose.

Much of the album picks up were the dramitics of November Rain left off but interestingly begins with three tracks that wouldn't sound out of place on a Korn record. Shackler's Revenge is an album highlight. If The World should really have been this years Bond theme tune. Better than that White/Keys nonsense.

Axl's voice is still in tact. Somewhere in between a strangled cat and an aggressive feminist. Conversations I've had over the years has made me realise that to some, it really grates. Though, perhaps because of the memories of my youth, it makes my spine tingle.

If you think I'm going to post a track off the album, you've got another thing coming. Chinese Democracy contributed to the downfall of Geffen, and I can only imagine the legal team is like nothing I've ever seen. You'll have to make do with this cover, but fans of GNR should really download the album.

MP3: Mylo- Sweet Child o' Mine (Guns n' Roses Cover) DOWNLOAD

No. 22

2008-11-25T07:20:00.029Z

"The only difference between a flower and a weed is...judgement" Anonymous

MP3: Bag Raiders - Turbo Love (Tough Love Edition) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Vince P - Phanton III DOWNLOAD

MP3: Tough Alliance - Neo Violence (Shazam Remix) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Alexander Techinique & Van Scott - Nightlovers DOWNLOAD

MP3: Mr Oizo - Gay Dentists (JFK Edit) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Deerhunter - Octet (Simian Mobile Disco Remix) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Like Woah! - Discomboulator DOWNLOAD

A-ux

2008-11-20T18:52:00.005Z

New Yorker, A-ux, makes old school tinged dance music. I'm not talking about that drug fuelled rave crap. No, this is the kind of dance music you can unwind to and gently bop your hat holder. Kind of ambient. Kind of euphoric, and crammed with some gorgeous metallic synth work. He has an album out, y'know. It's available at itunes.

MP3: A-ux - Journey To New Hope DOWNLOAD

MP3: A-ux - Neon Generation DOWNLOAD

Heads We Dance

2008-11-19T17:37:00.008Z

Yorkshire's Heads We Dance are set to release their much hyped 12" (and digital download) on 24Th of this month, via Gold City Records. The lead track, The Human Touch, described as "a crunchin' five minute space-disco synth workout", received a 5/5 rating in I-DJ, and was made Song of the Day by Popjustice. The flip side, You Are Never Alone With Model 21, sees the band do a great impression of a slightly sinister Pet Shop Boys. Now, I know that maybe doesn't sound like a compliment, but you should come see my collection of PSB vinyl.

MP3: Heads We Dance - You Are Never Alone With Model 21 DOWNLOAD

MP3: Heads We Dance - My Heart Is Set On You (Geek Chic's Cardio Workout) DOWNLOAD

New Metric Track

2008-11-18T18:21:00.010Z

Prior to the release of Metric's as yet unnamed forth studio album (due early 2009, fingers crossed), the band distributed a track entitled Help, I'm Alive, to Canadian radio. The song is thought to be the albums leading single. My initial reaction was one of indifference. It was only after I watched the video posted on the bands website, in which vocalist/songwriter Emily Haines describes the difficult process of putting together new material, that I came to appreciate the vocal anguish of the record. I usually find this kind of thing pretty pretentious, but I guess I can forgive a bit of pomp for such a great band.

MP3: Metric - Help, I'm Alive DOWNLOAD

Sleepyhead Remix

2008-11-17T20:39:00.007Z

Passion Pit man, Ayad, was kind enough to send over his Bo Flex label's remix of Sleepyhead for posting. It's beefed up a bit and contains some lovely spacey keyboard stabs and melodic bass action, of which members of Giantess had a hand in writing. Weirdly, at the time I received this track from Ayad, I got an email from Brighton based band, The Mummers, containing their own interpretation (or reanimation) of the song. God moves in mysterious ways, blah, blah.

MP3: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Bo Flex Remix Feat. Giantess) DOWNLOAD

MP3: The Mummers vs. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Reanimation) DOWNLOAD

Giantess

2008-11-16T20:40:00.012Z

Introducing Giantess; your new favourite Boston based electronic-pop group. They interest me for two reasons: one, they're produced by Passion Pit man, Ayad Al-Adhamy on his very own Bo Flex Music Label; and two, they combine uplifting Bag Raider-esque power synths with kitsch 80's overtones (not to disimilar to Chromeo) and a vocal display of emotive American attitude. A lot of current music seems to be heading more and more in this direction, wouldn't you say? A fact I'm rather happy about.

MP3: Giantess - Tuff n' Stuff DOWNLOAD

No. 21

2008-11-16T15:10:00.005Z

"If you want your dreams to come true, don't over sleep." Yiddish Proverb

MP3: Dan Black - Hyptz DOWNLOAD
MP3: Cut Copy - Far Away (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: MGMT - Electric Feel (Dskotek Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Around The Bend DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Whip -Fire (Geometri Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Joy Formidable - Cradle (Kyte Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: FM Belfast - Lotus (Rage Against The Machine Cover) DOWNLOAD

The Dark Romantics

2008-11-10T17:38:00.003Z

The picture suggests sunshine drenched indie pop. The reality is not so sun kissed, for The Dark Romantics make music that wouldn't sound out of place on a early to mid eighties noir-rock compilation. The girl, boy, girl, boy, girl band are signed to U.S. label Lujo, and are due to play the Anti-Pop Music Fest in Florida, on 14th of this month. If you like what you hear, go buy the full album over at itunes.

MP3: The Dark Romantics - Another Song For Another Night DOWNLOAD

MP3: The Dark Romantics - Let's Ride

Friendly Fires - I'm Good, I'm Gone

2008-11-10T16:39:00.006Z

Woah! Friendly Fires have turned Lykke Li's piano fuelled hit, I'm Good, I'm Gone, into an über smooth hand-bag house track. This is pure Genius.

MP3: Friendly Fires - I'm Good, I'm Gone (Lykke Li Cover) DOWNLOAD

Billion Dollar DJs

2008-11-06T17:21:00.011Z

As promised, UK DJ set Billion Dollar DJs sent over the finished version of their track How I Laid My Minions (The Secret Of My Excess). They bundled it with their edits of Robot Rock and Song 2 (highly recommended) both of which you'll be familiar with if you've caught them live recently. The Song 2 edit is superb.

MP3: Billion Dollare DJs - How I Laid My Minions (The Secret Of My Excess) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Daft Punk - Robot Rock (Billion Dollar DJs Edit) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Blur - Song 2 (Billion Dollar DJs Re-edit) DOWNLOAD

No. 20

2008-11-03T07:29:00.001Z

"Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others." Jacob M. Braude

MP3: Fortune - Bully DOWNLOAD
MP3: Robyn - Cobrastyle (The Bloody Beatroots Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Golden Bug - LookLookLook (In Flagranti Remix) DOWLOAD
MP3: Au Revoir Simone - Sad Song (Pacific! Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Mighty Underdogs - Want You Back DOWNLOAD
MP3: Menehan Street Band - Make The Road By Walking DOWNLOAD
MP3: Bonde Do Role - Geremia (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix) DOWNLOAD

Bonus:

MP3: Treasure Fingers - Cros The Dancefloor (Alex Metric Remix) DOWNLOAD

Caspa - Fabric Mix

2008-10-29T21:16:00.010Z

The past year has seen my slow but definiate jump onto the Dubstep bandwagon, all thanks to a friend of mine. Lets call him Andy Butler. I'll not bother decribing the genre, or why I like it for fear of sounding like a middle-class, white-boy tit. I will, however, post this Fabric promo mixed by Dubstep stalwart, Caspa.

Tracklist:

1. Caspa - My Pet Moster

2. Klaxons - It's Not Over

3. Rusko -Mr Muscle

4. Caspa - Louder VIP

5. Caspa - Floor Them

6. Emalkay- Explicit

7. Sub Scape - Transaction

8. The Others - Africa VIP

9. Unitz - Wait A Minute

10. Rusko - Jahova

11. Caspa - The Terminator

12. T.C. - Where's My Money (Caspa Remix)

13. Skream - Fick

MP3: Caspa - Fabric Promotional Mix DOWNLOAD

MP3: Benga - B4 The Dual DOWNLOAD

Kitsuné Maison 6

2008-10-29T13:39:00.011Z

I'm sure you're all aware that French fashion house and record label, Kitsuné Music, dropped the sixth of its popular compilation/zeitgeist series just this Monday. It's filled with all the usual melodic 'bangers', courtesy of Heartsrevolution, The Shoes, Streetlife DJ's, et al; but it's the lighter, poppier aspects of the collection that makes you appreciate the labels ear for a tune.

Buy Kitsuné Maison Compilation 6 HERE and HERE.

MP3: Lo-Fi Fnk - Want U DOWNLOAD
MP3: Grovesnor - Drive Your Car (Hot Chip Remix) (Removed As Per Request)
MP3: Appaloosa - The Day We Fell In Love DOWNLOAD

No. 18

2008-10-27T21:15:00.003Z

"Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it." Noam Chomsky

MP3: Dead Rock Machine - Good News DOWNLOAD
MP3: Kap10kurt - Mission Complete (Moulinex Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Cut Copy - Far Away (Ring Trick Mix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Starfucker - Pop Song DOWNLOAD
MP3: Mr Oizo - Cut Dick DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Loom - Song For The Winter Sun DOWNLOAD
MP3: Sneaky Sound System - When We Were Young (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix) DOWNLOAD

Photons

2008-10-26T18:20:00.002Z

Photons (no, not The Photons, just Photons) are an 8 piece musical collective straight out of San Fransisco. They share practice rooms with psychedelic folk rockers The Dodo's and (more importantly from this bloggers perspective) their guitarist studied in Liverpool and used to make music with the Wombats. Anyhoo, they've just released their eponymous debut E.P.. It contains 6 tracks that combine lo-fi indie with some interesting bassoon/glockenspiel/clarinet action over which lead singer, James Parrish pours his gritty London town vocals. And hey, just look how normal they all appear. I like that.

Buy the E.P. HERE, HERE or HERE.

MP3: Photons - This Must Be Love DOWNLOAD

MP3: Photons - Animals DOWNLOAD

Club Clique Mixtape #1

2008-10-21T17:31:00.006+01:00

Clique sounds like a rather horrific retro 80's club night. Club Clique is not that night. Rather it is a twice monthly club night that delivers "digital dance, neo-disco and 21ST century explosive party pop" to some of Manchester city's most glamorous blowout kids. After being deemed "A club of the year" by Mixmag and "The city's hottest club night" by the Manchester Evening News, the team thought it about time to release their first ever mixtape. Some stuff you know, some stuff you might not:

Tracklist:

1. Kathy Brown vs. Lo-Fi Fnk - Change Channel And Turn On Me
2. Black Kids - Hurricane Jane (The Twelves Remix)
3. The New Sins - It Doesn't Work Like That
4. Trasure Fingers - Cross The Dancefloor
5. Kate Nash - Punpkin Soup (Russel Bloc Party's Team Tiger Edit)
6. Trailmix -You Make Lovin' Fun
7. Infadels - Free Things For Poor People (Alex Metric Remix)
8. Ciara - One, Two, Step (Captain Planet Mix)
9. Santogold - Say Aha (Tepr Remix)
10. CSS - Move (Cut Copy Remix)
11. Das Pop - Fool for Love (Yuksek Remix)
12. Soundhog - Take It Easy, Freak
13. Mystery Jets - Young Love (The Shoes Remix)
14. Soft Cell - Memorabilia (Edit)
15. Muslces - Sweaty (Shazam Remix)
16. Robyn - Handle Me (Ortzroka Death To Disco Remix)
17. Fox The Fox - Precious Little Diamond (Ben Liebrand Remix)
18. The Whitest Boy Alive - Golden Cage (Fred Falke Remix)
19. The Shoes - Baby I'm For Real

MP3: Club Clique - Mixtape #1 DOWNLOAD

Van She - Kelly (Lifelike Remix)

2008-10-19T15:50:00.012+01:00

I remember when I first heard Van She's signature tune, Kelly. I was totally stoked (pardon my Australianism). Now, 2 years on, French producer Lifelike has set about remixing Kelly, in light of the song's update for the release of the band's debut album, V. The result is, well, a pretty boring re-work. See what you think. I'm kind of disappointed.

MP3: Van She - Kelly (Lifelike Remix) DOWNLOAD

BONUS (This is how it's done):

MP3: Van She - Kelly (Alan Braxe and Fred Falke Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Van She - Kelly (Cut Copy Remix) DOWNLOAD

No. 17

2008-10-18T17:49:00.007+01:00

"Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water". W. C. Fields

MP3: BMX - Theme To BMX (1928 Diamondback Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Shinichi Osawa - Star Guitar (The Japanese Popstars Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Late Of The Pier - Focker (Boys Noize Terror Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Truly Beautiful Disaster - Miranda's Verandah DOWNLOAD
MP3: Lo-Fi Fnk - Want U DOWNLOAD
MP3: Streetlife DJs - We Love The Disco Sound DOWNLOAD
MP3: Treasure Fingers - Cross The Dancefloor (Chromeo Remix) DOWNLOAD

BONUS:

MP3: Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People (Ted &Francis Remix) DOWNLOAD

Born Ruffians

2008-10-12T12:06:00.010+01:00

I fucking LOVE Born Ruffians. I got hold of their debut L.P., Red, Yellow & Blue the other day and I'm still grinning. The band, comprising of Luke LaLonde (guitar/vocals), Mitch DeRosier (bass/vocals) and Steve Hamelin (drums), make lovably energetic guitar music, utilising vocal harmonies, minimal production and sporadic hootin' to memorable effect. I caught them at Korova the other week in what must have been one of the hottest gigs I've ever been to, both literally and metaphorically.

If you happen to be in the North America area (I hear there's 300 million of you), they're playing a shit load of shows with Plants and Animals throughout October, so be sure to catch them.

MP3: Born Ruffians - Barnacle Goose DOWNLOAD
MP3: Born Ruffians - I Need A Life (Acoustic) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Born Ruffians - I Need A Life (Four Tet Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Nancy - Keep Cooler (Born Ruffians Remix) DOWNLOAD

Grum - Woah (Future Flashs Remix)

2008-10-11T22:36:00.006+01:00

I don't know if you know (I only found out an hour ago) but Leeds DJ/producer, Grum has teamed up with the guys behind Brooklyn's No Big Deal night in setting up one of those remix competition thingys. I say competition, but I have no idea what you win. Maybe every one's a winner. Yeesh, political correctness gone mad. Anyway, if you're interested, you can download the parts for Woah from the Finger On The Pulse blog. In the meantime, check out Future Flashs stellar effort:

MP3: Grum - Woah (Future Flashs Disco Mix) DOWNLOAD

No. 16

2008-10-11T13:10:00.006+01:00

"Men marry women with the hope they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invariably they are both disappointed." Albert Einstein

MP3: Jape - Strike Me Down (Friendly Fires Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: White Rabbits - The Plot DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Prodigy - Ghost Town (The Specials Cover) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Alphaville - Forever Young DOWNLOAD
MP3: Matt & Kim - Daylight DOWNLOAD
MP3: Caw! Caw! - Organisms DOWNLOAD
MP3: ZZT - The Worm (Database Rework of Erol Alkans Rework) DOWNLOAD

Fear of Tigers

2008-10-10T15:00:00.007+01:00

Here's a couple of tracks from the extremely affable, Fear of Tigers. You might have picked up his superb Love Like Semtex remix I posted earlier on this week. Well, this is of the same quality; epic synths wrapped around gorgeous House beats, Jacques Lu Cont styleee. I know of no official up-coming releases but you know this dude will soon be in demand.

MP3: Fear of Tigers - Layers DOWNLOAD
MP3: Fear of Tigers - Sex With Robots DOWNLOAD
MP3: PNAU - With You Forever (Fear of Tigers Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Anoraak - Nightdrive With You (Fear of Tigers Remix) DOWNLOAD

I kept getting asked to re-up this Alex Metric remix which I posted, like, over a year ago now. Long story short, I lost the track, but I found it again, so here it is...erm...TA DAAA!!!

MP3: Metric - Moster Hospital (Alex Metric Remix) DOWNLOAD

No. 15

2008-10-06T00:04:00.001+01:00

"Children are unpredictable. You never know what inconsistency they're going to catch you in next." Frankiln P. Jones.

MP3: The Spinto Band - Oh Mandy DONWLOAD
MP3: Infadels - Love Like Semtex (Fear Of Tigers Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: DatA - Rapture (White Chokolate Analog Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Amadou & Mariam - Sabali DOWNLOAD
MP3: Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes DOWNLOAD
MP3: Seppuku Paradigm - Sure Thing (MARTYRS OST) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Polarkreis 18 - Allien Allien (Nephews Remix) DOWNLOAD

My Tiger My Timing

2008-10-03T14:40:00.006+01:00

Considering my reservations about Vampire Weekend, I can't help but find it strange that my ears are totally at ease listening to London foursome, My Tiger My Timing. Their music? Imagine a stripped down CSS blended with a Hot Chip that's ditched the 80's and gone a bit tropical. A striking take on the afro-pop genre. If only all got it this right. As of yet, no live dates outside of London but I'd be suprised if a U.K. tour wasn't in the pipeline.

MP3: My Tiger My Timing - This Is Not A Fire DOWNLOAD

MP3: My Tiger My Timing - I Can't Stop DOWNLOAD

Wax Stag

2008-10-01T13:29:00.006+01:00

I've been meaning to post about Wax Stag for what must be like, two months now, after belatedly finding them via means I can't recall. I guess you all got wind of them from Hot Chip's DJ Kicks compilation. Yeah, well I didn't. Trendy bastards.

Hailing from St. Albans, England, Wax Stag is the solo project DOWNLOAD of one man musical power house, Robert Lee. The music is undoubtedly beautiful, sounding much like it's been lovingly crafted on a Nintendo Gameboy. If Mylo went a bit less dancey and a bit more cutesy, the result would sound something like this:

MP3: Wax Stag - Short Road DOWNLOAD
MP3: Wax Stag - Short Road (Night Facilities Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Wax Stag - Short Road (Metal On Metal Remix) DOWNLOAD

No. 14

2008-09-28T13:08:00.005+01:00

"Life is the curse. Sleep is the remission. Death is the cure." Denise Mugford

MP3: Flobots - Handlebars (DJ Shadow Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Pluxus - Transient DOWNLOAD
MP3: Dead Kids - America (RAC Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Piano Creeps - Hey Love DOWNLOAD
MP3: Portmanteau - Thouse DOWNLOAD
MP3: Sonic Youth - Within You, Without You (Beatles Cover) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Meterhead - Escalator DOWNLOAD

Out Of Order...For A Little While, Anyway.

2008-09-14T10:05:00.006+01:00

Moved house. No internet. Back soon. Love Paul x

MP3: Late Of The Pier - VW (Oldschoolreunion Remix) DOWNLOAD

G.L.O.V.E.S.

2008-09-12T06:15:00.001+01:00

Yama Indra aka G.L.O.V.E.S. aka one half of Australian synth group, Damn Arms, has just dished out his official remix of Van She's latest single, Changes. Yama recently signed to compatriot label Bang Gang 12", through which he is set to release his own 12" sometime in December. In the meantime, he's just finished an official remix for Sneaky Sound System and is currently re-working Cut Copy's Far Away. If that isn't enough make you drool with anticipation, then I don't know why I bother.

MP3: Van She - Changes (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix) DOWNLOAD/YSI
MP3: The Death Set - Listen To The Collision (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix) DOWNLOAD/YSI
MP3: Damn Arms - The Boss (Like Woah! Remix) DOWNLOAD/YSI