'Oh Mandy' is so obviously the Spinto Band's best song that you've got to feel sorry for the other tracks on their 7th (what!) album 'Nice & Nicely Done'. It’s not that the rest are bad; in fact the majority would be completely cherishable on other peoples albums (cf 'Direct To Helmet', 'Brown Boxes' and 'Crack The Whip'). 'Oh Mandy' has it sown up from the moment the mandolin strings are gleefully plucked. Nick Krills semi-falsetto is so utterly believable it could have been recorded underneath the balcony of the object of his affections after one too many bourbons. Add in a theremin that drifts about like the scent of cheap perfume and the whole thing amounts to a sumptuous diary of adolescent infatuation. 'Oh Mandy' is a remarkable piece of contemporary music from a band just barely into their twenties. Perhaps we have at last found a worthy successor to Steven Malkmus' old band. KD

The Spinto Band - Oh Mandy

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Buy Songs: The Spinto Band
Year: 2005

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Chris Know and Alex Bathgate are kooky to say the least. They occasionally bridge the expansive distance between their respective homes in New Zealand to make a record on 8-track. Dispensing with the need to include a drummer theirs is the epitome of the bedroom recording. Together they’re called the Tall Dwarfs and have been on the go since 1981. ‘Pirouette’ is taken from their most lauded LP ‘Weeville’. The song is deliciously lo-fi with the percussion sounding a deathly thud. Guitars scream by as if the Wombles are in control, a singular clip-clop beat furrows the ground as the dual layered vocals plant the harmonious seeds. As far from the definition of what pop music is supposed to be, yet curiously a winning nugget all the same. Drivetime music for odd shaped aliens with galaxy rage.KD

Tall Dwarfs - Pirouette

Album: Weeville
Year: 1990
Buy: Weeville

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U2’s performance at Live Aid (the 1985 show) single-handedly turned me onto music. More specifically it was the way they played 'Bad', an album track from their 1984 masterpiece 'The Unforgettable Fire'. The live version of 'Bad' contains so many more magical detours than the studio version, tender and awkward one minute, proud and regal the next it never fails to affect. 'Wide Awake In America' was released at a time when Ireland was rife with unemployment and emigration which meant the young people were either bored silly or about to leave their friends and family for an uncertain life abroad. U2 somehow made the pain a bit easier to swallow, establishing a token of pride in being Irish (something that would escalate as the Football team grew in stature). This was U2's golden era when Paul Hewson's bombast could be written off as youthful arrogance. 'Bad' is music in technicolor, the Edge’s riffs are expansive, Larry Mullen supplies the necessary rallying beat while Adam Clayton tugs his bass with eager nonchalance. It must have got tiresome for the other members in the band as the lead man pulled a pretty girl from the crowd to dance with but for many of those watching it was inspirational. Oh, I am being sentimental but what childhood memories are not? KD

U2 - Bad (Live)

Album: Wide Awake In America
Year: 1985
Buy: Wide Awake in America

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Speaking of Shoegaze, one of the finest purveyors of the genre was Swervedriver. Many of their best moments are contained in their debut 'Raise' (keep an eye out for the epic 'Duel') which was released on the Creation label. Swervedriver were categorised by thundering yet tunesome guitars that ravaged the eardrums, a product of their love of all things metal and perhaps a fascination with grunge which was ubiquitous at the time of this albums release. Despite the glorious montages of sound Adam Franklin was still able to clearly impart his distinct voice which meant that the band were a lot more accessible than their axe wielding hero's. 'Rave Down' was the opening track on side 2 and retains a majesty that is undiminished to this day. It begins with purpose as a wall of guitars plough through an elastic riff. The dynamics are such that it would have made a fine instrumental but Franklin's scant pronouncements help add a bit of balance. This is perfect music for slouching semi drunk in a corner of an indie dive, your head sway barely concealing a fulfilled smile. Swervedriver have never really been forgotten, just take a look at how much 'Raise' is selling for on Ebay and Amazon. KD

Swervedriver - Rave Down

Album: Raise
Year: 1991
Buy: Raise

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Now here's an exciting prospect and another indication that we may about to enter Shoegaze's second coming (hey kids, read Bloc Party's 'So Here We Are'). Film School have just released their eponymous 2nd album and already it's sounding like the best album of 2006 so far. If jangling guitars (Pale Saints) and cool detached vocals (Ride) are your bag then a euphoric trip down memory lane awaits you. But this is not the beginning for the San Francisco natives because back in 2001 they released an album of real quality called 'Brilliant Career'. In between the 'Alwaysnever' EP kept things ticking along nicely. 'Activate' is taken from that EP and is a good indication of the swirling guitars and harmonious atmosphere that percolates through Film School's music. Dreamy and hypnotic this is perfect for those who prefer a guitar laced rather than a digital chill out soundtrack. KD

Film School - Activate

Album: Alwaysnever EP
Year: 2003
Buy: Film School

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Before the storm there was the calm when a new breed of Canadians began to signal that something might be afoot in their country’s musical waters. While the Stills have not had the impact that their debut 'Logic Will Break Your Heart' deserved their time will surely come if the follow up 'Without Feathers' builds on the promise. The Stills may initially sound like another Joy Division/Interpol hybrid but their songs have enough flair to stand up to closer scrutiny. Take a peek at 'Yesterday Never Tomorrows' for instance with its showy beginning reminiscent of a locomotive gathering speed (listen to that bell) and an electro moment of the 'Hyper Ballad' kind. Surfing on a neat piano riff, twinkling guitars and Tim Fletchers amiable singing the band let the cat out of a bag with a chorus of oohs a la ELO. If that's not variety for you, then perhaps you’d be better served concentrating on the stereo, drying wall and TV at the same time. KD

The Stills - Yesterday Never Tomorrows

Album: Logic Will Break Your Heart
Year: 2003
Buy: Logic Will Break Your Heart

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For an all too brief time Noel Gallagher proved to be a talisman in coining off the shelf ditties that could coax a smile from the hardest of critics. This included a clutch of b-sides ('Half The World Away' and 'Rockin Chair' spring to mind) that were instantly memorable. Nothing was forced and the natural sway to many of the early Oasis tunes proved their winning trait. The early albums are sprinkled with their best material with the energy in the performances proving a vital cog. Who cares if it sounds like someone else if something dynamic and new is brought to the table? Of course, when the occasion demanded Oasis were able to strip down to basics like on 'Definitely Maybe's' closing track 'Married With Children'. Here the elder Gallagher proved an able alternative to his sibling in the vocal department, deadpan yet tunesome he gets his point across in his uniquely uncomplicated way. The acoustic backdrop is straightforward and quaint, purposely not encroaching on the message. Pure genius, pity the bloated compositions that were soon to follow in its wake. KD

Oasis - Married With Children

Album: Definitely Maybe
Year: 1994
Buy: Definitely Maybe

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It saddens that Idlewild now occupy the remote part of the fringes. For a time they seemed to be on the cusp of delivering a truly remarkable album. Two recent stinkers have put paid to that, short-term gain resulted in them briefly holding the world in their arms but it also robbed the band of what set them apart in the first place. Roddy Woomble didn’t always have a note perfect Michael Stipe impression, in fact he could often struggle to be heard above his band mates ramshackle instrumentation. The blaze-trailing early days pitched the band with a throwaway attitude splashing through the ideas with fevered enthusiasm. While '100 Broken Windows' marked their pinnacle both 'Captain' and 'Hope Is Important' presented plenty of enjoyable high jinxes. 'When I Argue I See Shapes' is a fluid example of a slightly unhinged Woomble pontificating as his band probe the simple riffs they uncover. Let’s hope they are all locked in a small room and made absorb this uncomplicated, straight down the line indie box of tricks. Perhaps then, they can put the bland bombast of recent albums to rest. KD

Idlewild - When I Argue I See Shapes

Album: Hope Is Important
Year: 1999
Buy: Hope Is Important

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If this blog were to have a theme tune then this would probably be it. Despite only having 2 permanent members Adventures In Stereo were able to parade multi-layered harmonies over musical palettes from another time. Think Phil Spector’s Christmas Gift without the sleighbells or an all star female collaboration put together at the height of Motown. Judith Boyle plays all the vocal parts with distinction, conjuring a note perfect avalanche of Beach Boysesque sequences. You can probably thank ex-Primal Scream man Jim Beattie for the latter influence. Like most of Adventures In Stereo's output 'Underground Sound' falls just short of 2 minutes. But what a blissed out 180 seconds it is. KD

Adventures In Stereo - Underground Sound

Album: Adventures In Stereo
Year: 1997
Buy: Adventures in Stereo

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Being the son of a well-known politician could have been the source of many a family feud but Dad Tom must have breathed a sigh a relief when his son’s music started to get noticed. You see David Kitt creates the gentlest of songs, writes about the sweetest of things and generally looks tidy save for an unruly mop of curly hair. While this anaesthetised description might have you running for your Babyshambles singles there is so much to Kitt’s armoury of wistful harmonies to gaze adoringly at. First there is the soft monotone voice that can craftily turn even the tone deaf into eager shower room tenors. His singing sits atop a lush base of acoustics, trumpets and the odd electronic alleyway. Kitt’s piece de resistance came on his 'The Big Romance' album which strolled by with an elegancy not seen since Nick Drake departed. 'Song From Hope St. (Brooklyn, N.Y.)' was the big hitter yet the album was littered with cute songs to steal your heart. 'Whispers Return The Sun, Rest The Moon' is typical of the fare with its shuffling rhythm and comfy vocal dramas. As approachable as a warm summer breeze it meanders through the singers adoring thoughts on a new love. It’s as inoffensive as a butterfly but you’d have to be wearing a stone heart not be moved by it. Kitt’s light has dimmed somewhat of late due to an ill advised covers album but if he can recapture his form of old the world is his. KD

David Kitt - Whispers Return The Sun, Rest The Moon

Album: The Big Romance
Year: 2001
Buy: Big Romance

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A bit of a grower this one. Inoffensive to the point that it could be easily ignored there is a quality beneath the surface that Jack Johnson (am I missing something here?) could only dream about. Lerche comes from the acoustic breeding ground that is Bergen in Norway and is a lifelong A-ha (kudos) fan yet his hushed lullabies sensibly steer clear of the rabid keyboard tendencies of his heroes. His voice is his undoubted trump card, a crystal clear effort that sounds like a hybrid of Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley. ‘Track You Down’ is effortless pop, with understated verse followed by euphoric chorus. The song takes a while to mature, leave it alone for a few weeks and on your return you’ll pick up on the subtleties in Lerche’s vocal intonations that have more emotional impact than all of today’s throwaway troubadours put together. At this point place the song in the yellow folder marked essential songs. KD

Sondre Lerche - Track You Down

Album: Two Way Monologue
Year: 2004
Buy: Two Way Monologue

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Before you think Architecture In Helsinki have it all their own way in the quirky pop department down southern hemisphere way you should consider Sydneysiders Gerling. On the go since the mid nineties and largely unknown outside their own neighbourhood Gerling have released 3 precious albums of electro pop wizardry. Their debut 'Children Of Telepathic Experiences' was a sprawling affair, with so many bleeps, whistles and samples being thrown in it took a while to spot what the band were trying to say. Lying on the edge of the storm, however, were 2 amenable ear toys. 'Enter, Space Capsule' should have become everybody’s favourite song to dance to, with its gracious beats and the best alien sounding vocal since 'Spaceman'. 'Ghost Patrol' was closer to the indiepop template being awash with jangling guitars and appropriate hollers. The recording is loose and free spirited, just listen for the yelps of joy from the threesome about midway through. As the song progresses you get the impression that it is all going to fall apart at the seams but the off-kilter playing eventually makes its way to the finishing line. KD

Gerling - Ghost Patrol

Album: Children Of Telepathic Experiences
Year: 1999
Buy: Children of Telepathic Experiences

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While My Latest Novel usually pepper their songs with words for 'Boredom Killed Another' they decide to let the slow build up to inevitable fireworks do the talking. And boy does it work a treat, appropriating their countrymen Mogwai and Dublin’s God Is An Astronaut post-rock aspirations into a cohesive swell of sound. The gentle strum that is present throughout is joined at intervals by percussion masquerading as an irregular heartbeat as well as soft vocals harmonies. The band are signed to Bella Union and about to release their debut 'Wolves' in the next couple of weeks. Their inspirations include Low and Smog but there is definitely a Magnet influence in there especially on the dreamy 'Hope Edition'. Talent is present in abundance and you’ve got applaud that soft Scottish lilt creeping through. 2006 is shaping up to be a very exciting chapter in the bands career. KD

My Latest Novel - Boredom Killed Another

Album: Wolves
Year: 2006
Buy: Wolves

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Besides almost bankrupting their label Creation and clipping the verges of insanity, the recording of My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless' went swimmingly. Short of cutting off his own ear Kevin Shields poured everything into making the record as perfect as his vision. He succeeded with such aplomb that 'Loveless' is rightly regarded as a true classic. To the uninitiated it is likely to be a harrowing affair as the indefinable sound roars by with the ferocity of a tornado. The subtleties are what make it totally unique, however, whether it be a hushed vocal almost hidden among the carnage or a wondrous riff that pummels the senses until they finally succumb. The multi-layered guitars are central to the cause; hazy squalls of feedback become purest melody within the blinking of an eye. Belinda Butcher is at her most evident on 'Blown A Wish' but that doesn't stop all manner of skewed chord frequencies trying to steal her thunder. The instruments cajole as if they are slowly getting drunk in what is turning out to be the best night of their lives. My Bloody Valentine turned the art of making music into rocket science for the masses. KD

My Bloody Valentine - Blown A Wish

Album: Loveless
Year: 1991
Buy: Loveless

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As well as including a My Bloody Valentine classic ('Soon') the Lost In Translation soundtrack saw Kevin Shields briefly coming out of retirement. Whether he will ever be pushed enough to record a follow up to 'Loveless' remains to be seen but his compositions on this soundtrack prove that his talent remains undimmed. All 4 tracks perfectly fit the purpose for what they were written for, namely adding mood to a movie that scarcely needed it. Each is a success in its own right but 'Ikebana' stands out. This is a world away from the sonic montages of his greatest work yet for 90 seconds you're attention will be completely focused on the soft lilting performance. It's a shame that the tune finishes so quickly because its core melodies are so exquisite. With some of the careful attention that the man is known for this could easily have been epic. With Shields recently taking the stage with Irish chanteuse Gemma Hayes speculation is again rife that he could be about to deliver on all the promise of a decade and a half ago. KD

Kevin Shields - Ikebana

Album: Lost In Translation OST
Year: 2003
Buy: Lost in Translation

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If any song could define the early directions of dance culture it would be Guru Josh’s ‘Infinity’. This was the sound of the dancefloor before euphoric trance took the genre to an even wider audience. Less clinical and perhaps a bit more innocent than what followed it possessed more personality than your average acid house workout. In saying that it inherited many of the staples of early nineties dance, namely energetic piano strokes, repetitive flash sloganeering to the backing of a pulsing rhythm. Paul Walden (the ex-rocker behind the GJ façade) also saw fit to include a swirling saxophone as a centrepiece and this is what elevates the tune. ‘Infinity’ has aged remarkably well, present day clubbers may scoff at its Nintendo sounding effects but compared to other club classics from the era it is positively futuristic. KD

Guru Josh - Infinity

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Album: Infinity
Year: 1990
Buy: [UK] Infinity [US] Infinity

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In a previous life Schroedersound pedalled an altogether different product (it was cat by the way) but have now sensibly decided that spacey electronica is the way forward. Like looking at the stars nothing much happens but there is an underlying beauty to 'Brailowsky' that would ably colour any cinematic scene requiring a tad extra gravitas. Think Sigur Ros without Jonsi, Boards of Canada going for the jugular a la 'Peacock Tail' or just the perfect theme tune to the legendary RTE production 'No Disco'. Uaneen, we still miss you. What you’re getting here is the brave new sound of alternative Ireland in the 21st century; a world away from his hollowness Bono and his bands tragic slide into MOR. KD

Schroedersound - Brailowsky

Album: Coping Mechanism
Year: 2006
Buy: Coping Mechanism

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Formed in 1977 as punk was taking over the Feelies never really took to life in the spotlight. Despite gigging at the infamous New York joint CBGB’s and getting a cameo role in the hit film ‘Something Wild’ it appears that the bands lack of work ethic was their undoing. Word of mouth however meant that their influence was felt as far away as Georgia as Peter Buck of R.E.M. went to produce their lp ‘The Good Earth’. ‘Higher Ground’ is taken from the bands penultimate album ‘Only Life’ and is a prime example of a low-slung guitar classic. Glenn Mercer sings in such a laidback fashion it sounds as if he could nod off at any couplet, hard to blame him though when you’ve got such beautifully mild tempered playing behind you. As the song heads for the sunset the repetitive theme becomes as hypnotic as a tape looping on sounds recorded in the arctic. Oh, if the O.C. had been around in the late eighties. KD

The Feelies - Higher Ground

Album: Only Life
Year: 1988
Buy: Only Life

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Track Star, in an unusual move, had the CD and vinyl versions of their ‘Lion Destroyed The Whole World’ album released on different labels (Better Looking Records, Turn Records respectively). Better to have your feet in 2 camps I guess, twice the exposure, yeah now I see where they were coming from. Aside from these ingenious marketing manoeuvres Track Star would still be found out unless their music was up to scratch. With a 5-year gap between their debut and sophomore efforts perhaps things were looking a little shaky but ‘Lion Destroyed The Whole World’ was a glorious affirmation of the San Francisco band’s craft. Things get off to the best possible start with ‘Feet First’, a cute shimmering ditty that harks back to early Belle & Sebastian or prime Apples in Stereo. Matthew Troy’s guitars endlessly jangle while the fey vocals amble selflessly between verse and effervescent chorus. A bundle of joy then, thankfully without the hourly messy nappy change. KD

Track Star - Feet First

Album: Lion Destroyed The Whole World
Year: 2002
Buy: Lion Destroyed the Whole World

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Hey what’s this; a French band setting the mood without the moog? Born on this day one year ago Hey Hey My My consists of Garnier and Gaulier. They take their name from a Neil Young song; you know the one that Kurt used to such chilling effect. Signed to Sober and Gentle they have just released a 5-song demo which is not only superbly accomplished but eagerly demands further listens. The opening track is the most ear catching, simple chord progressions and sequenced vocals recalls a more reserved Spoon’s ‘I Turn My Camera On’. It’s not exactly folk, not exactly lo-fi but perhaps with a dash of latent Grandaddy. Maybe if someone placed a hot poker up Turin Brakes behinds this would be the sonic outcome. By the way, what about that for a band photo, only our European cousins could get away with it! KD

Hey Hey My My - Too Much Space

Album: Hey Hey My My Demo
Year: 2005
Info: Hey Hey My My @ My Space

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‘Stardust Hotel’ is probably as far from the mp3hugger template as you’re going to get. The sound shifts in so many directions it is near unclassifiable. Suffice as to say that if you are into 70’s prog-rock, frenetic jangle pop, Mike Oldfield or Jazz you’ll find something to smile about somewhere in its multifaceted form. Jaga Jazzist are a 10 piece operation from Norway, have been on the go since some of its members were 14 and are about to turn their tour around Europe into a victory procession. ‘Stardust Hotel’ is gob smacking, a dense piece of artistry brim full of sparkling asides and grand gestures over its 6 minutes duration. Picture an album’s worth of ideas segueing perfectly into a burning sun of audio dynamite and you’re coming close. On this evidence Jaga Jazzist are making the most adventurous contemporary music around and in the process giving those tiring of all that retro new wave malarkey some welcome respite. KD

Jaga Jazzist - Stardust Hotel

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] What We Must [US] What We Must
Year: 2005

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If it’s an instrumental with words you’re after then look no further than the ‘Melody of a Fallen Tree’. What would expect from a band that started out as post-rock and slowly came around to the notion of adding a few words. Good idea too because unless you’re fellow Texans Explosions in the Sky trying to sustain a listener over endless melodic drones is a tough trick to pull off. ‘Melody Of A Fallen Tree’ builds so beautifully over the course of its 8 minutes that by the end you’ll be gliding on a bed of floating octaves. The guitar playing cajoles a mini inspiral carpeted organ and the delicate beat pulls the disparate parts together with Dan Matz hanging his vocals on the hooks with the minimum of fuss. On the way there are interesting turns aplenty, creating the coolest jamboree you’ll hear all year. Add this to your essential drivetime compilation. KD

Windsor For The Derby - Melody Of The Fallen Tree

Album: We Fight Til' Death
Year: 2004
Buy: We Fight Til' Death

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In the days before the internet could be rightly exploited by up and comers many bands adopted a D.I.Y. approach to getting the word out. Scottish band Bis operated on a minuscule budget, released records on tiny labels, wrote their own fanzines and basked in all the attention that a cute trio of adolescents with talent deserved. With their schoolyard monikers of Manda Rin, Sci-Fi Steve and John Disco Bis became the first unsigned act ever to play on Top Of The Pops after one of the shows executives heard their EP. The music was deliciously off the cuff and undernourished sounding like it was recorded using instruments from Toys R Us. ‘Kandy Pop’ is perhaps the best distillation of what they were about. Rin protests like a spoiled brat while the unseemly playing aids and abets. Just as you are about to punch the stop button the fog clears and a chorus as sweet as a Loop the Loop explains everything. The boy/girl refrains are delightfully energetic and the final chord gallops suitably put a seal on what could likely scare secret vampires from their hiding places. You’d think that a project such as this wouldn’t have the legs but Bis boasted an impressive 7 year existence, eventually calling it a day in 2003. KD

Bis - Kandy Pop

Album: This Is Teen C Power
Year: 1996
Buy: This Is Teen C Power

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Forgive the sound quality on this one. This is taken from a cassette recording of a BBC Radio One Session back in 1993. I finally tracked down this bands album and it was complete pants. Despite this fact ‘Boxes’ remains a tour de force. The focus initially seems to be to contrive as many weird noises as is possible from traditional instruments. Normality is briefly restored through an angelic vocal that is eventually usurped under a mountain of screaming chords, bleeding riffages and the unmistakable air of a band going for broke. It may skip here and there and the quality might fall short of a bedroom recording by my lord does this effort speak the language of youthful endeavour. Then again ‘speak’ might be the wrong word to use here because I can’t for the life of me work out what the singer is trying to say, suffice as to say drugs were definitely involved in its creation. KD

Swimmers - Boxes

Album: BBC Radio One Session
Year: 1993

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The fact that Gomez swept to victory in the Mercury Music Prize in 1998 with 'Bring It On' doesn't seem to have elevated their standing greatly. This is probably down to the band rather than the award as their career to date has been altogether patchy. Despite the odd interesting tune none of their albums has matched the grand horizons set out on their debut. 'Bring It On' was a triumph that married several genres into a heady mix that while initially challenging revealed itself to be as inventive as Q during a particularly lucid moment. You're not likely to find many albums that combine blues; country with throwaway student anthems but the band drew magic from the disparate inspirations. '78 Stone Wobble' displays energy, vitality and a downright alternate take on the factors that make a great single. Ben Ottewell is for once held in check down a phone line while the music displays a scattershot elegance through a myriad of fleeting riffs, hushed percussion, vinyl crackles and reptilian moves. KD

Gomez - 78 Stone Wobble

Album: Bring It On
Year: 1998
Buy: Bring It on

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You can now buy this song and the rest of the album on our record label Indiecater Records here!

Here’s a perfect slice of fuzzy guitar pop by Dublin 'should have beens' Sunbear. Their debut from 1994 was awash with fragile melodies that were hounded to within an inch of their lives by an army of ransacking riffs. Of course the noise had plenty of purpose but it camouflaged what a brilliant songwriter Martin Kelly was. If you need pointers for their sound, think Ride, early My Bloody Valentine with a dash of the learning to walk Boo Radleys. ‘Things To Do’ is quintessentially indie with its grainy production, cascading guitars and vocals that remain just out of lazy earshot. It bears all the ingredients of an underground classic. Sunbear were non-conformist, where else would you hear a debut album that has a 20 minute recording of some street noises tacked on at the end. I once asked Kelly why he did that and he replied that he thought it was a cool thing to do. Ah, the eccentricity of genius. KD

Sunbear - Things To Do

Album: Sunbear
Year: 1994

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