New Fever Ray Video (That's half of The Knife yes?)

Fever Ray (Original Post) are back with a new video for the latest single 'When I Grow Up'. The self-titled debut album is out March 2009. Before you watch the video, I should warn you, the song is awesome. I'm mesmerized.


When I Grow Up from Fever Ray on Vimeo.

New Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' slow but steady transition to electronic music has taken another definitive step after they released their new single 'Zero' this week. The new song takes a calmer vocal from Karen O and dubs it loudly over the quiet, but intriguing shoegaze guitar/synth line the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have written. The music behind sounds not unlike a slightly more garage rock Tv On The Radio, with a much more regular beat, building up into an 'All My Friends - LCD Soundystem' driving force, or a wall of sound effect Spiritualized or The Jesus and Mary Chain would be proud of. I actually can't get over the huge departure Yeah Yeah Yeah's have made from their previous intrumentation. They are unfazed by abandoning their roots; although they retain that clear Pixies Garage Rock sound which they are famous for, they've stepped into the realms of shoegaze and even electronica, and i love it.

New Album " It's Blitz " is out on April 14th 2009.

Zero (mp3)

A Modern Proto-Punk Installment from Cut Off Your Hands.

Big Picture - Cut Off Your Hands performing at Falls Festival in 2007.

Cut Off Your Hands are a New Zealand indie pop band who play a cross between urgent indie rock and classic sounding proto-punk with the result of galloping beats, fast-paced, riff-hugging vocal lines and thick chorusses of euphoric backing vocals. Guitar noise is loud and riffs simple, epic and appealing.
Cut Off Your Hands are not afraid of making a lot of noise, however this urge to make noise is put on a leash and channelled into some of the most catchy proto-punk experiences you're likely to receive.
They've already racked up tours with Foals and Friendly Fires through the UK and Germany and played alongside We Are Scientists, Ratatat and Bloc Party. But Cut Off Your Hands in no way fits in with the kind of polished sound which the latter three made their name creating. Their music is raw, and effortlessly exciting. Each song is an experience. Their bells ringing, all guns blazing approach to pop music leaves you with little appreciation for subtleties, at least temporarily anyway.
Cut Off Your Hands are one of the best 2008 emergences on the power pop scene, and with a follow up due end of 2009/10, they are certainly a band to watch - with extensive touring planned from February 2009 onwards (including the support of Ra Ra Riot).

Happy As Can Be (mp3)
Buy (Amazon)

Epic45

Epic45 formed in Birmingham in 1995 and to date have over 20 releases, including four full albums and a selection of splits with post-rock bands such as Laudanum, 100 Pets, and Avaray. They make ambient, reverbial post-rock with an sliding M83 style vocal. Their song winterbirds is the perfect harmonic-littered tribute to Sigur Ros, building up but never really reaching enough urgency to require active listening. Although i wouldn't call it epic, this is a fantastic shoegazing post-rock track, with subtle glitch electronics and ambient overtones. Epic45 are well worth a listen, i love this track more and more each time i hear it.

Winterbirds (mp3)
Buy (Amazon)

They claim they can cook, but they also make pretty amazing dance music.

Grafton Primary are another electro band from Australia made up of Brothers Ben and Josh Garden and live drummer Robbie Mudrazija. In the last couple of years they've attracted attention mainly in Australia for their large repertoire of live venues and remixes of Faker (which has led to a touring support slot with the band), Via Tania, and Dukes of Windsor. Hey Now and Miami Horror have both remixed their track 'I Can Cook' with hilarious and contrasting results. They've had a 2007 EP named Relativity and a 2008 album by the name of Eon, on rotation on Australian alternative radio station Triple J.

Eon (import) (Amazon)
I Can Cook (Miami Horror Remix) (mp3)
I Can Cook (Hey Now Remix) (mp3)

Death To The Throne.

I honestly never thought i'd want M83 any other way.
Now I know better.

In other news, M.I.A is back, with this Death To The Throne remix of a glitchy, bass heavy synth track.

New M.I.A Song (mp3)
Teen Angst (Death To The Throne Remix) (mp3)

New School of Seven Bells Video - 'Half Asleep'

School of Seven Bells are one of my favourite bands of 2008. Their psychedelic/trip-hop debut album 'Alpinisms' caught my attention following their support slot for M83's world tour last year. Their new single, the dreamy, effortless and aptly-named 'Half Asleep' comes hand in hand with this beautiful video via Pitchfork.



Iamundernodisguise (mp3)
Alpinisms (Amazon)

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. - REVIEW

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are a indie rock/dream pop band formed in 2007 in New York, featuring drumming from Kurt Feldman of the similar Depreciation Guild. They take elements of 90s shoegaze and combine it with modern, turn of the century style lo-fi rock to make a classic sounding combination of dreamy alternative. Picture the shoegaze of My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Ride crossed with the noise pop of No Age and vocals of Stars on a sunny American beach, at the close of summer 1994 to get some idea of how this selection of tracks will make you feel. The twee pop melodies are pleasantly engulfed by the surges of tuneful guitar noise which subside just enough to hear the clearcut Belle & Sebastian style vocal.

Their eponymous debut album was released on February 3rd 2009 to widespread positive reviews, including a commendable 8.4 from Pitchfork Media.

Check the New Video below for 'Everything With You' and pick up mp3s of MBV, Stars and The Pains of Being Pure At Heart at the bottom of the post.



Stars - Take Me To The Riot (mp3)
My Bloody Valentine - When You Sleep (mp3)
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction (mp3)
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Stay Alive (mp3)

Pre-order the UK release of the Self titled album. (Amazon)

Danananananana......CBA with the rest.

Dananananakroyd (I hope, but very much doubt i've spelt that correctly) are a scottish fight pop band who have just re-defined the limits of how 'punk' my music taste is. I'm always one to avoid fast-paced and unsubtle, heavy guitars with simple, loud overdriven riffs and melodies but something about their song 'Pink Sabbath' has made me re-think. Don't get me wrong, this band is not a simple pop punk band.
The Scottish six-piece have toured with the subtle electro band Foals alongside the eccentric, but nevertheless extremely entertaining Wild Beasts in 2008. They have also played with Holy Fuck and Johnny Foreigner, and Kaiser Chiefs in early 2009. Their musical ties are widespread and mainstream, with bassist Laura Hyde married to the Futureheads' Barry Hyde.
They have an upcoming album, optimistically titled 'HEY EVERYONE', due out April 8th. The music is uplifting and euphoric, and ultimately simple, with the scratchy main riff and manic two-man drumming underneath harsh sounding electric guitars comparable to other famous Scottish noise pop bands such as We are the PHYSICS.

Pick up 'Pink Sabbath' below, as well as a token We are the PHYSICS track. Watch the video for the Danananakroyd single also just below.



Danananakroyd
Pink Sabbath (mp3)
We are the PHYSICS
You Can Do Athletics BTW (mp3)

Buy We are the PHYSICS (Amazon)
Danananakroyd (Amazon)

A Fiction Family.

Fiction Family is a relatively new collaboration between the frontman of Switchfoot Jon Foreman and the guitarist from progressive acoustic trio Nickel Creek, Sean Watkins whose debut album 'Fiction Family' came out on January 20th 2009. They make short and abrupt pop songs with a distinct folk influence and fingerpicked acoustic guitar over a bass-heavy, 3 minute indie pop template. One of the reasons this band caught my attention other than the Switchfoot connection was the clear and undeniable similarities with the fantastic Liverpool anti-folk trio Peter and The Wolf. The folk influences, the rounded chord changes and particularly the voices are uncannily similar, pure coincidence probably..

I've uploaded mp3s of them both so have a listen and compare!

Peter and the Wolf
White Noise (mp3)
Moon To The Sea (mp3)

Fiction Family
When She's Near (mp3)

Kyle Andrews - Real Blasty

Kyle Andrews is a bedroom indie folk musician who incorporates electronica, samples and drum loops to create fast-paced and engaging pop music. Picture Patrick Wolf in double time to get some of an idea of the kind of sound Andrews creates. The whole production and singer song-writer setup is not dissimilar from that of Boy Eats Drum Machine (original post), but with a slightly less flamboyant approach to the riffs and melodies. The lo-fidelity recording and electronic reverb, combined with a simple piano and synth skeleton, and near perfect vocals make for a highly original effort from the Nashville power pop musician.

Pick up the incredibly catchy 'Sushi' below from 'Real Blasty' (2008).

Sushi (mp3)
or Buy (Amazon)

Harlem Shakes

Harlem Shakes are a five piece indie rock band formed in the early part of 2006 in Brooklyn. Since then they have been making their unique brand of handclapping indie pop and touring alongside bands as impressive as Deerhoof, Vampire Weekend and Beirut. They're off on tour again in February and March alongside Tokyo Police Club and Born Ruffians promoting the release of their full album 'Technicolor Health', due for release in March.

Their sound lies somewhere between Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! and in my opinion The Walkmen or The War On Drugs, the latter of which, if you haven't already, you can have a listen to here. One of the things i like about Harlem Shakes is that every member sings; you get full vocal harmonies (in a similar style to Born Ruffians) and a selection of background strummed acoustic guitar lines, upbeat indie pop choruses Florida's Black Kids would be proud of, and light electronic Wolf Parade-style keyboard riffs which complete the Shakes' vintage 60s pop/rock sound.

They are definitely an indie pop band to watch in 2009, particularly around Easter with their album release on March 24th and preceding tour. No doubt there will be another as they increasingly step into the public eye. It's a wonder they haven't already with their impressive roster of support slots.

I'll leave you with a few tracks from their growing repertoire - TFO, Sunlight and Strictly Game.

TFO (mp3)
Sunlight (mp3)
Strictly Game (mp3)

Buy their extortionately priced and widely unavailable 2007 EP 'Burning Birthdays' from here.

New Maccabees Album + UK Tour

Brighton indie rock band The Maccabees have confirmed details of the newly completed follow up to 2007's 'Colour It In'. The album has been produced by Markus Dravs (The Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Bjork) and will be released sometime this year following a full UK tour through March and April. The new single 'No Kind Words' premiers this Monday (February 9th) on BBC radio 1 at 9pm and will be available for download from the official website immediately after.

The UK Tour dates are as follows. Pick up cheap tickets here.

Glasgow, Oran Mor – March 19
Sheffield, Plug – 20
Coventry, Kasbah – 21
Derby, The Royal – 23
Brighton, Concorde 2 – 24
Cambridge, Junction – 26
Stoke, Sugarmill – 27
Liverpool, Academy 2 – 28
Northampton, Roadmenders - April 30
Edinburgh, Studio 24 – May 1
Bristol, Thekla – 4
London, Electric Ballroom – 5
Nottingham, Rescue Rooms – 6
Norwich, Waterfront – 7
Manchester, Academy 2 – 9
Birmingham Academy 2 – 10
Cardiff, Point – 12
Southampton, University 13

Revisiting Visiter, an album which, unlike it's writers, definitely isn't extinct.

It seems like all the hype which surrounded The Dodos' album 'Visiter' after it's July 2008 release is finally extinct, and with still no word on any new material or musical activity, I thought it as good time as any to dig back to one of 2008's best indie folk albums.

'Visiter' is very difficult to place, and that's what i like about it. Leaving the description at simply 'indie folk' would be misleading and a gross understatement. Twanging folk riffs (brought about mainly due to Meric Long's unique and unorthodox fingerpicking style) over frantic rhythms and quickpaced percussion, combined with psychedelic and warming vocals are only the start; this album features influences from everywhere, from West African drumming to folk psychedelia and metal.

The music has a raw, chaotic effect which often begins relatively calm, but through curling riffs, violent background strumming, and manic bass drum lines forcing up tension, builds into an extremely satisfying release of freak-folk rock which I deem well worth a mention even 9 months down the line.

And please do have a listen, I leave you with two of the loudest..

Jodi (mp3)
Red and Purple (mp3)
Buy (Amazon)

The Blood Bank EP - Review.

Bon Iver's innate ability to take such basic chord structures and simple reverbial melodies, and turn them into something eery and life changing is evident as ever on Blood Bank, the four track January release from Justin Vernon, Mike Noyce and Sean Carey. The cabin-recorded debut album 'For Emma, Forever Ago' is quite simply stunning, recorded deep in the woods of Wisconsin at various points throughout a soul searching four month stay for Justin Vernon. The first album is as introvertive as music gets, honestly recorded on a basic four track with ambient noises, foggy acoustic strums and a layered choral falsetto on a mindblowing expanse of folk music.

The Blood Bank EP sounds more like a man who has returned to the real world and is still quite confused by it all. There is a step up in recording quality and a fuller sound probably brought on by a real recording studio and the recruitment of Noyce and Carey for 2008's world tour. Bon Iver has sold out worldwide, and gone from a few forgettable folk music projects to a widely reported and respected band with one of the most emotionally intense live shows on the planet. The EP i'm glad doesn't reflect this new found fame. Bon Iver quite simply, hasn't let it get to his head.

There is a limited new incorporation of instrumentation, but everything retains the rawness and simpleness of the lightly strummed acoustic folk music Vernon has claimed his own. A piano rattles through the third track 'Babys' and either a radical new singing style or a revolutionary new use of a voicebox is on display in the finale 'Woods'. The song is almost entirely vocal, with a multitude of strong falsettos and the first of Bon Iver's arrangements with a substantial time period lacking instruments. The first hint of an experimental influence on Bon Iver occurred to me during the vocal intro to the track.

The first two songs however are the highlights for me. There is just something beautiful about the first track 'Blood Bank' from the eponymous EP which i don't think i can accurately describe. The distorted muffled sound of the guitars, dreamy, late summer vocals, and the choral build up to a turbulent finish makes for one of my favourite tracks of 2009 so far, on as ecletic a follow up to Bon Iver's debut as anyone could have imagined.

Buy (amazon)
Blood Bank (mp3)

Hot Chip hard at work on fourth, with Peter Gabriel involved?

Hot Chip make some of the most innovative electronic pop music around, and with two more unexpected covers/reworks of both Joy Division's 'Transmission' and Vampire Weekend's 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa' to add to the portfolio, their fourth (as of yet unnamed) studio album is shaping up to be better than ever. Following the collaboration with Peter Gabriel on the latter cover, Alexis Taylor and band have approached Gabriel with regards to featuring prominently on the new album, set for a release sometime this year. They have recreuited a new drummer and are looking to radically change their style in the next few months to a 'more mid-tempo and disco influenced' sound. They are fully into the recording process with reportedly two tracks 'Alley Cats' and 'Thieves In The Night' already finished and 'a bit calmer this time'.


Lead singer Alexis Taylor has also completed a solo album, said to be very different to Hot Chip in that they are 'sketches of new songs, short improvised pieces. A scrapbook in a way.' The first solo album by the Hot Chip lead singer will be called 'Rubbed Out' and is set for release 2009 on London independent record label 'Treader'.


I'll leave you with two of my favourite Hot Chip reworks as mentioned earlier, 'Transmission' and 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa'.

Transmission (mp3)
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (mp3)

Buy Hot Chip (Amazon)