Towards the end of the year Damien Jurado is embarking on a European tour, which will include several dates in Ireland including Whelans on the 4th of December. By then the country will probably be awash with rain so a night in an intimate venue with the Seattle based troubadour could be the ideal pre-Christmas shindig to warm the chestnuts. Jurado has been around the block for quite a while and even played with David Bazan from Pedro the Lion in a previous metal group (!). He has 7 albums to his name and here am I jumping on the wagon at number 7 ‘On My Way To Absence’ which came out last year. ‘White Centre’ opened the album and what a wispy piece of modern folk it is. The arrangements are considered and ripe with melodic turns but its Jurado’s singing that overwhelms. He issues as if his lips were pressed against the microphone, the words are delivered so crisply he could almost be in the room with you. The effect is dramatic, a soft ambiance that’ll hit you as hard as a tonne of feathers. It could be a wonderful winter. KD

Damien Jurado - White Center

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] On My Way to Absence [US] On My Way to Absence
Year: 2005

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Sleep Good is the work of 17-year-old Will Patterson. He is signed to Big Orange Records alongside Bill Baird’s side project (the almost annoyingly monikored) Sunset}}}}}}}}}}. Working alone away from his main band Ari Fouk, Will has plenty of breathing space to put his computer to the best possible use but as we all know no amount of artificial hocus pocus can hide a minimal talent. ‘Far From Sea’ displays Will’s potential with unhurried effect. As you’d expect from one so young there is an uncomplicated feel to the way he wallows through the piece. His voice is warm and inviting and the playground soundtrack never sounds like it was pasted on by an over zealous producer. Everything is its right place; given time Sleep Good could become something rather special indeed. Also included here is an Aria Fouk track called ‘The Beast Will Come’ and a reworking of the same song by yet another Patterson project called Phable. KD

Sleep Good - Far From The Sea

Ari Fouk - The Beast Has Come

Phable - The Beast Has Come

More Info: Sleep Good
More Info: Ari Fouk
More Info: Phable
Year: 2006

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You know it wouldn't be allowed to occur in 2006. A U2 track without any intervention from Bono whatsoever, surely not. But it happened back in 1980 even if it was spirited away as a b-side on the 'A Day Without Me' 7-inch. And what an enjoyable little Dave Evans piece it is too, the reverb is laid on heavy as the Edge lets his intricate fingers paint the imagery. Larry Mullen is rather perfunctory in his performance but Adam Clayton is his admirable self, happy not to be centre stage but essential in giving the track its soul. This was the embryonic early days, the message was being formulated and the essence of the band was still the tune. Their incandescent debut album ‘Boy’ was on the way and ‘Things To Make A Do’ proved to a nice precursor to the splendour of the near instrumental ‘An Cat Dubh’. KD

U2 - Things To Make And Do

More Info: U2
The Sound Of Youth: [UK] Boy [US] Boy
Year: 1980

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The Marbles were from Roscommon (cold is a good way to describe it) and amazingly signed to ZTT in London at a very early stage. When Terry Woods of the Pogues became their manager it really seemed as if things were falling into place. Despite releasing a plethora of outstanding singles (‘Fallin Overground’, ‘My Eye’) the comfortable rockstar lifestyle was beyond them. The Marbles predated the summery sounds of the Thrills by several years but their harmonies were just as persuasive. Seamus Simon could often sound like a young Paul McCarthy and his ability to produce a sugar rush chorus was nearly always on the mark. ‘Konstanz’ initially appeared as a bonus track on the ‘Slip Into Sound’ single but was released in its own right on the ‘So Far Away’ EP. KD

The Marbles - Konstanz

More Info: What The Marbles Did Next
Buy It Cheap: [UK] Slip Into Sound [US] Slip into Sound
Year: 1999

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I used most of what I knew about this band the last time. I’ve since found out, however, that they were either called after a Wallace Stevens poem or a Brian Moore book. Emperor Of Ice Cream scattered to the 4 winds once they broke up, finishing up in such diverse acts such as Sylvia Saint and Bass Odyssey. ‘Soft To Touch’ was a b-side but remains their wide-eyed gift to the world. Forgive the quality as the mp3 has been lifted from a cassette tape, but I guess given its shoegaze outlook it seems kinda appropriate. Despite the hiss and pops the sense of adventurous melody is obvious. The guitars are sprightly and the singing is as luxurious as Mark Gardener during Ride’s peak releases. Let’s hope minor classics like this will never be lost. KD

Emperor Of Ice Cream - Soft To Touch

Year: 1994

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It seems pretty appropriate that Bottom Of The Hudson and the Wrens should share the same record label (Absolutely Kosher). Both purvey a classy take on indie rock like their brethren Guided By Voices and Yo La Tengo. So a cursory listen to ‘Riot Act’ is probably not enough to soak up its multi-faceted glory. Eli Simon’s vocals have an authoritative bent and the music is never content to settle on its jangly posterior. The sideshows are freewheeling and the instrumentation is often so wondrous as to be capable of standing on its own. There is no reason why ‘Riot Act’ shouldn’t be revered in equal doses as ‘Freak Scene’, ‘Sugar Kane’ and ‘Drain You’. Perhaps the new Bottom Of The Hudson record out later this year can reserve their place at the top table. KD

Bottom Of The Hudson - Riot Act

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Holiday Machine [US] Holiday Machine
Year: 2005

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I can remember the moment clearly; planning to meet a friend in a large record store was always a problem because our differing musical tastes often had us taking opposite paths. So while I searched high and low for that hard to find Boo Radley’s EP, he could be in a quandary deciding whether to plump for A Flock of Seagulls greatest hits or maybe that attractively priced Twilight Zone boxed set. But, that day was different because we both gravitated to the sound coming from the dance section. It was a full sound perpetrating digital bubbles so populated with interesting bits nothing else at that moment seemed to be able to compete. And, so it rambled generously for well over a dozen minutes while the two of us stood there like goofy kids nodding our heads in solidarity. Orbital have so many fine electronic moments but if I was to pick one that encapsulates their genius this would be it. It’s the sound on the 7th day as rivers ran for the first time and a tiny amoeba met one of its own for a spot of fun and frolics. KD

Orbital - Out There Somewhere

More Info: Orbital
Buy Album: [UK] Insides [US] In Sides
Year: 1996

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Relative unknowns outside of their native New Zealand the Bats have an impressive back catalogue stretching back to 1982. The band have a long association with the Flying Nun label which also handled other prodigious acts like the Clean. The connection between the 2 bands didn’t end there either as the Bats were actually formed by the Clean’s bass player Robert Scott who went to become the bands main vocalist. The Bats entered the public consciousness recently after their appearance at SXSW in Austin earlier this year. ‘Bells’ is taken from their 2005 album ‘At The National Grid’ which was their first new LP in 10 years. ‘Bells’ will be manna from heaven for those waiting for the new Shins album, strummed chords have rarely sounded so alive and Scott’s vocals are so warmly familiar you’ll feel like you’ve grown up with them. Indications are that this is a band to investigate a great deal further. KD

The Bats - Bells

More Info: The Bats
Buy Album: [UK] At the National Grid [US] At the National Grid
Year: 2005

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Yet another bunch of kids from Brooklyn lighting up the sky with the effervescent emitted from their instruments. Dirty On Purpose’s new album ‘Hallelujah Sirens’ is really rather exciting because it recalls a genuinely exciting time in music when most of the underground pop being produced was dreamy in nature. So with Dirty On Purpose read an updated Pale Saints, a quieter Dinosaur Jr., a livelier Slowdive or maybe a dash of My Latest Novel. But, Dirty On Purpose also bring their own sensibilities to the table which leaves ‘Hallelujah Sirens’ sounding like one of the more exciting releases of the year. ‘Your Summer Dress’ is initially languid but soon disperses its sharp melodies to the 4 corners of your space. Harmonies float so elegantly it almost appears as if the band have discovered levitation for the common note. The magic fills the air in thick swathes and the noughties shoegaze movement takes one giant leap. KD

Dirty On Purpose - Your Summer Dress

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Hallelujah Sirens [US] Hallelujah Sirens
Year: 2006

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Presenting 3 young bands that should be on everyone’s portable hard drive by this time next year. At no point in history has music been so accessible, all made possible by the internet and its portals like myspace, download.com and the myriad of mp3 blogs. But beware, there is plenty of chaff about the place so you may have to seek for a time before you amount anything resembling an aural goldmine. Each of the three tracks are freely available from the bands websites and go to prove how artists based on opposite sides of the world now have an equal chance of snaring a worldwide fanbase. So is this the end of the snotty record store clerk? Probably not, but at least now we have a credible alternative. Let these songs be an introduction to your favourite new bands. G’nite. KD

[ingenting] - Slapp In Solen

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The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover

Pela - Lost To The Lonesome

More Info: [ingenting]
More Info: The Little Ones
More Info: Pela
Year: 2006

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Chad Matheny is the one-man army behind Emperor X. Since he was a small lad he has been toying with cheap devices to capture the sounds that bounce around his head. This involved, at one stage, converting a Karaoke machine into a 1 track four-track with some success. Ah, the genius of it all, and if ‘Sfearion’ is anything to go by his talent could one day propel the Jacksonville native skywards with a lot more effectiveness than his attempts at flight using junkyard disposables alone. ‘Sfearion’ is a jerky piece of indiepop, similar to They Might Be Giants, that drafts the disparate noises created by guitars being played on high speed trains, drum machines powered by oversized batteries and his nasally afflicted vocals that conjure up an image of a long haired, bespeckled outcast who could soon have the world at his sandals. KD

Emperor X - Sfearion

More Info: Emperor X & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Central Hug/Friend Army/Fractal Dunes (And the Dreams That Resulted) [US] Central Hug/Friend Army/Fractal Dunes (And the Dreams That Resulted)
Year: 2005

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Chan Marshall has been recording for over a decade as Cat Power. She has incrementally announced herself to the world through increasingly dramatic releases. Her talent has a two-pronged dimension to it. She not only writes great compositions but also has a gift for making the songs of others her own. ‘Sea Of Love’ is slowed down to a snails pace, sparingly delivered with a couple of chords and a floating vocal that hovers in the air like a hummingbird. This was the closing track from Marshall’s ‘The Covers Record’, a remarkable piece of work that saw her interpret work by artists such as the Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground and the underrated Moby Grape. Cat Power deserves to a star, her last 2 records ‘You Are Free’ and ‘The Greatest’ are unconditionally wonderful. The joy of the releases does need time to take hold but when you get there you’ll realise that this particular Marshall matters. KD

Cat Power - Sea Of Love

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More Info: Cat Power
Buy Album: [UK] The Covers Record [US] The Covers Record
Year: 2000

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In case you are confused this is not The Hotels from the UK, this is in fact Hotels from the US. So goes the itsy bitsy ironic piece on Hotels myspace bulletin board anyway and who are we to argue. As it happens the flagship single from Hotels album ‘Thank You For Choosing…’ is a grand little 3 star effort with much to recommend. Straight from the off you’ll realise that the band are hardly breaking new ground with obvious influences that include Joy Division, Interpol and Kraftwerk (and Devo if the press shots are anything to go by). But, just because they are not revolutionary doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth investigating, the opposite in fact as ‘Atlantic’ is a flash piece of audio kit despite its non-linear approach. What develops could nearly be passed off as another winning Jaga Jazzist composition were it not for the eerie Ian Curtis vocals, the range of instruments is impressive as is their superb execution. KD

Hotels - Atlantic

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Thank You for Choosing... [US] Thank You For Choosing...
Year: 2005

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I would have posted this about a year ago had it not been for its omnipresence around the world of the blog. With the gushing noise almost abated it seems appropriate to reintroduce the majestic globe of activity that is ‘Bottle Rocket’ as the band set out on some prestigious slots supporting Sonic Youth and the Flaming Lips. The version included here is the original, more appetising, cut that includes all the copyrighted stuff that had to be subsequently removed. It reminds me of someone close, chock full of interesting sideshows but featuring a central theme that is breathlessly invigorating. I’ve played it to a few people and their reaction was one of stunned silence. Granted, the initial meets can be overwhelming but once you’ve tamed the galloping brass, cannibal drums and a vocal performance that must have required a musket for tonsils it will undoubtedly have you making like a rag doll in a tornado. A modern day classic. KD

The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Thunder, Lightning Strike [US] Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Year: 2004

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