Brother - Darling Buds Of May Video Released

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

Eye Emma Jedi

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

Grouplove

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

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

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

Cut Copy - Take Me Over

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

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

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

Kids Of 88

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

Urban Cone

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

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

Satellite Stories

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

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

Cut Copy - New Album

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

Brother

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

Hockey

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

This Is Not A fire Release

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

"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.

New Phoenix Track

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.

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MP3: Phoenix - 1901 DOWNLOAD

MP3: Phoenix - Everythig Is Everything DOWNLOAD

Between The Bars

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