Hard to believe it but ‘Nevermind’ has reached the ripe old age of 15. The album remains Grunge’s greatest gift and the most powerful indictment of Kurt Cobain’s talent (although the Unplugged album runs it a very close second). Of course Nirvana were much more than their records, despite the horrendous events taking place in the background Cobain, Novoselic and Grohl had a third eye for casting a legend. It was the self-destruction inherent in Cobain’s make up that made him such an enigmatic frontman. ‘Nevermind’ is a seminal piece of work that has lost little of its all consuming power over the years, it defined a generation and continues to bewitch new listeners. ‘Drain You’ wasn’t a single but it boasts such a glorious chord change midway through it became one of my favourite tracks. KD

Nirvana - Drain You

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More Info: Official FC & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Nevermind [US] Nevermind
Year: 1991

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When it comes to free music giveaways within the alternative domain (or any other domain for that matter) emusic is top of the pile. For the princely sum of zip you can get 25 free mp3's of your choice. No restrictions, yours to keep forever. If that wasn't enough if you sign up beyond the free trial period you get outstanding value with mp3's for 25c or lower. With a distinctly indie catalog and a great sampling facility you may never have to return to mp3hugger again....click the following emusic link to start enjoying audio freedom.

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Although Clor may sound like nothing else this century there are bows to several 80's electro wonderkids. A full album of its ilk can make you feel like you've gorged on your favourite food but individually Clor’s efforts have the ability to make even your dullest friends seem electrically charged. 'Good Stuff' is a frantic trip of digital mayhem and soaring vocals, detached yet amiable and absolutely impossible to dance to. While a thin white duke remix could readily fix that you’ll then probably question why after such a short time this collective bowed to the age old band break up excuse of musical differences (is that a black eye I see?). A shame because they seemed to be going somewhere quite alluring. KD

Clor - Good Stuff

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Buy Album: [UK] Clor [US] Clor
Year: 2005

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Some music is just so rad it is positively life affirming. You wouldn’t have guessed as much by perusing Paddington Distortion Combo’s corner of myspace but their ‘Sun Is Down’ could be the perfect soundtrack for an adult crèche (Carl Olsson may be a cranky old soul). Out would go the baggage of modern life and in its place would come the sound of several Swedish musicians taking the twee template and making it palatable for a hard to please audience. The organs grind, the words are oft repeated and jangling chords are pulled by a musician inebriated with the joy of living. And at the finish it has a passing resemblance to the finale to Belle & Sebastian’s ‘Sleep The Clock Around’. Yep things don’t get much sweeter than this. KD

Paddington Distortion Combo - Sun Is Down

More Info: Myspace
Buy PDC: Make It Happen Compilation
Year: 2006

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Ready for some technicolour pop splendour? Well it doesn’t often arrive at the party as lavish and swell as Moonbabies ‘War On Sound’. The Malmo duo have been on the go since 1996 but their inclusion on a ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ compilation recently has begun the process of educating the masses. Ola and Carina each play their part in the vocal duties providing plenty of balance in the quieter moments and positively lighting up the sky during the incandescent chorus. Moonbabies have other moments to rival the highs of ‘War On Sound’ too, like ‘Ghost Of Love’ with its trippy M83 dalliances and Joy Zipperesque vocal patterns. The ‘War On Sound’ EP is currently on release, don’t let it out of your sight. KD

Moonbabies - War On Sound

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Buy Album: [UK] War on Sound [Us Import] [US] War on Sound
Year: 2006

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I heard this first on of all things a wedding video; it actually turned the experience from being an exercise in self-control to one of total exhilaration. Of course having such fabulous base material to cover helps (undoubtedly one of Alphaville’s and the eighties most majestic moments) but Aussie band Youth Group have managed to turn an understated heart warmer into a drop dead gorgeous indie anthem. The idea for the cover was mooted by the clever souls that soundtrack the OC but nobody could have expected such a pristine reproduction. And the good news doesn’t stop with the music as the promo for the piece is adorned with retro skateboard images that could likely herald a comeback for floppy hair and flat soled trainers with long laces. Embrace and be embraced. KD

Youth Group - Forever Young

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Buy Album: [UK] Casino Twilight Dogs [Australian Import] [US] Casino Twilight Dogs
Year: 2006

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There was a time about 2 years ago when it seemed that every essential new band had its origins in Canada. Of late things have been a little quieter but there have been intermittent bursts of tuneful creativity. Like Toronto based Tokyo Police Club who are about set their debut EP 'A Lesson In Crime' on the world (it has been a resident in the Canadian College charts for almost 6 months). And a frighteningly active little thing it is too. Take ‘Nature Of The Experiment’ with its early Prodigy yelps and ferociously tuneful guitar bursts. Here is a 122 second song that races from the traps like a greyhound that’s been cooped up for several hours, the energy is electrifying with David Monks half-scream (tuneful) pulling all the disparate parts into a bundle of near nuclear activity. On this evidence TPC will be filling their label Paper Bag Records with plenty of tiny treats in the near future. KD

Tokyo Police Club - Nature Of The Experiment

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy EP: [UK] A Lesson in Crime [US] A Lesson in Crime
Year: 2006

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Wherein hugger places his smug indie head on the block and reveals the songs that really shouldn't have stood a chance but somehow had the wherewithal to win over those unforgiving ears.


Chav culture enters the charts and comes pre-packed with wonderfully cheapy seaside promo vid. It shouldn't work, I hate ska so why am I singing along to the la la la sections?

Lady Sovereign Vs The Ordinary Boys - Nine2five

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I mean the guy can't even sing and the band sound like they should be on their way to a Scooter tribute night. That said, I do love the Frank & Walters and especially their oh so fine t-shirts so the shoddy musicianship and OTT attempts at poking fun at euro pop can be easily forgiven.

Fubgangerzone - I Love My Frank And Walters Long Sleeve T-Shirt

More Info: Supreme T-shirt Makers


Ok, I'll never admit to liking David Gray (he of the head in a tumble dryer stage routine) so why does Anderson's 'Radio One' appeal to my stick on repeat set of muscular co-ordinations. Not sure really but something on here keeps me coming back for more.

Anderson - Radio One

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Middle class girl decides that Ibiza is not for her. Daddy's been in charts before but never like this. Clever girl decides the Streets are the way to go so makes mental notes over a succession of hedonistic weekends. Undeniably catchy and populated with acres of wise gal lyrics that'll sound ancient 5 years from now. Live for the present.

Lily Allen - Knock Em Out

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Oh dear, will we ever escape the clutches of the Gallaghers influence. This could never have happened were it not for the Manc scamps who lost the will to write a good song several albums ago. This would have fitted just perfectly on ‘Definitely Maybe’s brash yet exciting set of songs. Now if Morning Stardust had only cast their eye over Blur’s back catalogue we could have something with a lot more sustenance to absorb. Instead they'll most likely be looking back in anger.

Morning Stardust - Looking Back

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I'm feeling most shame faced for including this in guilty pleasures because it is truly ace. But I can't help arriving at the conclusion that it's all a clever marketing trick to con us. The name for one contains that much abused Motown word-closer 'ettes'. Then there's the music that could only be sung by 3 attractively naive girls in flowery apparel. For their next trick they'll probably come up with a self-referencing song to open their debut album.

The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me

More Info: The Pipettes

KD

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Headline news, Mojave 3 in poptastic album shock. Yep, your ears are not deceiving you, after umpteen low slung alt country classic's Neil Halstead and co. have finally decided to kick back the jams and let the sun soaked melodies flow. Of course Mojave 3 have always been an interesting prospect since they rose from the ashes of Slowdive. Behind the gentle strums and shrewd songwriting stood a band biding their time to show people that they were all about the melody. With that ‘Puzzles Like You’ arrived earlier in the summer housing a clutch of wonderful ditties, no more so than ‘Breaking The Ice’. Flying by the seat of their collective pants the band supply the thrills in spades and when the chorus arrives it feels like one of the best things you’ve ever heard. Babies, these are going to be big stars. KD

Mojave 3 - Breaking The Ice

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Buy Album: [UK] Puzzles Like You [US] Puzzles Like You
Year: 2006

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I’m not exactly sure why this piece of dancefloor eclecticism has caught my attention so completely. It's a jaunty piece no doubt but the thrills are so staggered and itchy it hardly registers as a tune. SebastiAn (my obsessive compulsive side has me routing for them to decapitalise asap) come from France and are signed to Ed Banger Records who have a electronic roster as long as your arm. This could easily take that zombie Lucozade advert to the next level with the twisting rotten corpses losing countless limbs in a vain attempt to match 'Walkman's inherent mission to rid the world of the occasional wedding dancer. Another SebastiAn to ring your belle. KD

SebastiAn - Walkman

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy 12inch: Ross Ross Ross
Year: 2006

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This wouldn’t work on a Monday morning but seen as its Friday night it seems utterly appropriate. This is a reworking of the psychedelic classic that is 'Strawberry Fields Forever' by the Beatles. Surprisingly there is more to it than meets the ear, the beat roves about the tune like a hungry wolf while the unknown creator manages to capture the spirit of the original by injecting some neo-nineties dance manoeuvres into proceedings. Some will scoff, some will abhor but the majority with grab a fading glostick and race to the open countryside and dance with a thousand other like minded lucid souls. KD

Unknown Artist - Strawberry Acid

Watch The Video To Strawberry Fields Forever

Year: 2004

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Antennas To Heaven (note the Godspeed reference) were always going to be hard to resist given their post-rock tendencies. What sets them apart is their sparing use of the thought provoking spoken word. It wouldn’t matter a jot of course if the chord ensembles weren't up to scratch but ATH achieve memorable jaunts through swirling atmospherics and string tugs to have Mogwai wondering why they had been so haphazard in their application on Mr. Beast. 'Funnier With A Plank' starts off wonderfully and builds to a slightly disappointing plateau until finally finishing with a crescendo that the opening deserves. 'Hunting' is far more reserved exploring Explosions In The Sky territory with finesse and style. There is much to enjoy as the distant beat summons greater melodic flourishes. Looks like the Geordies may have at last discovered a winning combination. KD

Antennas To Heaven - Funnier With A Plank

Antennas To Heaven - Hunting

More Info: Myspace
Buy Album: The Line Between Myth and Reality Has Always Been In Finland
Year: 2006

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'Grey Snakes' is written about a Raymond Carver ghost and a pretty cool silhouette it cuts too. Nothing too revelatory is expounded, the music has a deft touch and Brandon Durham has an enticing yet melancholic vocal style. The gift arrives when the singing ends and a tumbling set of jangling guitars shimmer like a green hued vision on the landing. Wave after wave of honeyed riffs cascade in circular directions creating a memorable chord waltz. Palaxy Tracks have a terribly long-winded explanation for their name (involving Dinosaurs) and have of late been losing band members. The good news is that the central character, Durham, remains in situ which means the Austin based band will someday soon have a 4th album to add to their considerable array of product. KD

Palaxy Tracks - Grey Snake

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Twelve Rooms [US] Twelve Rooms
Year: 2005

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Feel like you are sinking in a sea of indie rock sameness. Fancy taking a left turn at the next left? Then perhaps Pockclock’s Holland will do just nicely. With a new EP available for free download your escape route has been dug with reliable shafting arrangements. 'Yellow For Brown' and 'Auslan' are 2 tasters for what's available. There are no discernible tunes, they just rattle along at an uneven pace frothing at a gaping electronic mouth. That said, both demand a plethora of listens, some which may even run concurrently. You'll be confused, shook even, as to why you keep returning to something that all your normal senses are telling you should have long since floundered in the recycle bin. Holland is neither Dutch nor male but a set of computer images arranged to look like a young girl from Melbourne. Probably not at all true, but these days what is? KD

Holland - Yellow For Brown

Holland - Auslan

More Info: Official
Download & Donate: Holland EP
Year: 2006

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For the life of me I can’t think of Chicago without reminiscing on the times I’ve spent listening to Sufjan Steven’s song of the same name. Perhaps that’s all about to change with Chin Up Chin Up’s (windy city natives) second album about to strike fear in a population willing to settle for music thrills as illuminating as a doorman’s dress sense. One, two, twee, it’s time to hold hands and jump up and down to the sound of ‘This Harness Can’t Ride Anything’. So flush with frantic detours is this song that it’s quite likely it could recharge Nimh batteries from 20 paces. Gotta also admire the courageousness of the band after the tragedy of losing one of their own during the recording sessions for their debut. But, bounce back they did in glorious style and ‘This Harness Can’t Ride Anything’ will blow your socks off and then gently lick away all that toe jam until you feel like taking on the world all over again. KD

Chin Up Chin Up - This Harness Can't Ride Anything

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Buy Album: [UK] This Harness Can't Ride... [US] This Harness Can't Ride Anything
Year: 2006

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And you thought JG’s ‘Heartbeats’ couldn’t possibly be topped. Well it’s happened and it doesn’t need a hill and a million rubber balls to preach its message. ‘When I Am Gone’ runs out of steam towards curtains but the opening couple of minutes are nothing short of wondrous. Its maker is one Jared Van Fleet from Austin and would you credit it he is playing a date with the aforementioned Gonzalez later this month (expect plenty of lotus position manoeuvring at that one). Jared also has one foot in the Voxtrot camp but thankfully has found time to record his debut EP ‘Falls’, which is due out very soon. ‘When I Am Gone’ is simple, sparse yet wholly spectral, perfect for another intense OC moment where Ryan struggles to decide what pair of runners perfectly capture his mood today. KD

Sparrow House - When I Am Gone

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Give Him Wings: Falls EP
Year: 2006

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Such is my sneaking regard for electronica that I will fall instantly for anything that trebles with noises pouring from an object that one day could hold us all prisoners. That’s why when Santa Fe’s the Cherry Tempo broached my aural hairs their neck located cousins decided it was time to make like royalty was in the area. ‘In Hindsight I Know’ is so deliciously aware of the fact that today won’t be the day when things are hurried, creativity could likely spawn from couch bound positions so why get in a tizzy. There are bass tugs like a pretty girls' blushes, singing capable of melting waxy deposits and an opening that sounds all the world like mans first attempt to record a pleasant dream. Hyperbole!!! they shout while at same time attempt to catch the colourful floating baubles that have just began invading the room. The Cherry Tempo’s self-titled debut is out now. KD

The Cherry Tempo - In Hindsight I Know

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: The Cherry Tempo
Year: 2006

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