I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Martin Carr was one of the 90’s genius songwriters. For one sprawling unsurpassed album (‘Giant Steps’) he even mixed his pop sensibilities with ground breaking experimentation. For a time everything he touched (including a high quota of b-sides) turned to gold and he deserves to be revered in equal tones as more famous Liverpudlians. But, the Boo Radleys were not a one man band as evidenced by Sice’s crystal vocals which can be clearly deciphered amongst the burned out wreckage of several minutes of guitar carnage on 'Does This Hurt?'. This was early daze Boo Radleys from ‘Everything Alright Forever’ when they were defined as much by their contemporaries as their inner self’s. That’s not to say ‘Does This Hurt?’ isn’t special, the lyrics may be thin on the ground but try and stop yourself singing along. KD

The Boo Radleys - Does This Hurt?

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Everything's Alright Forever [US] Everything's Alright Forever
Year: 1992

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This song is taken from a compilation called ‘Music from Ireland: Breaking Sound Barriers - Volume 2’ released in the mid-nineties. The album was a stuttering attempt to prove that there was more to the Emerald Isle than flailing legs and technofied traditional music. As is normally the case with these things I know next to nothing about Wild Cherry Tonic except that they came from Dublin and were on the go from about 1991 to 1994. One other snippet gleaned from the internet is that one of its members Brian Hogan is currently a member of the experimental trad collective known as Kila. ‘The Canna Refund’ has dated slightly but that doesn’t quell its baggy spirit, forget the turgid shimmering chords, there is more life to the ecstatic chorus than 2 Kasabian long players. Dancing to it would probably have been more fun with long hair and copious amounts of alcohol but I’m sure these are the occasions some reflect on as the best of their life. KD

Wild Cherry Tonic - The Canna Refund

More Kila Info: Official & Myspace

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Ok, my head is about to explode. Thankfully my heart is feeling a completely other sensation that resides at the other end of the spectrum. Why you might ask? Well, for one Brooklyn’s Mahogany have completely evaded my grasp until this morning despite their debut reaching the ripe old age of 5. Now I’ve got to scurry about ingesting their back catalogue before their second album ‘Connectivity’ (which was incidentally and most properly produced by Robin Guthrie who worked extensively with the Cocteau Twins) hatches in the next couple of weeks. So far, slipping under the sheets with Mahogany’s magical dream pop exploration that is ‘The Dream of A Modern Day’ has been hugely rewarding. It broaches the dreampop/Shoegaze divide with relish and every now and then you’ll get a little Sigur Ros tingle down your spine. Don’t take my word for it, but make sure you wrap up well before listening to ‘The Mystique Of The Locomotive’ and ‘Soleil Radieux’. Glacial, ethereal, celestial are all words that have been appended to Mahogany’s definition on the world’s largest online thesaurus. Take a listen and see why. KD

Mahogany - Soleil Radieux

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] The Dream of a Modern Day [US] The Dream of a Modern Day
Year: 2001

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All clap your hands and shout yeah for a humble yet catchy indie single from San Diego’s Pinback. Comprised of a man with a long monikor (or Zach Smith for short) and Rob Crowe Pinback evolved out of several other bands back in 1998. ‘Summer In Abaddon’ was their 3rd album and contained this joyful nugget ‘Fortress’. It lollops along with characteristic grace; a voice approximates a hushed instrument and never detracts from the core momentum. The song also comes with a cute video (see below) that could give many a little Princess a scare at bedtime. Pinback released a compilation of demo’s and b-sides in September called ‘Nautical Antiques’ and are currently putting the finishing touches to their next album, due out in early 2007. KD

Pinback - Fortress

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Summer in Abaddon [US] Summer in Abaddon
Year: 2004

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The Lights are a London collective headed up by Mathew Lester. Their album ‘Grand Union’ from earlier in the year had been dormant in a stack of cd’s until recently but Imogen Andrews likeness for Emma Pollock on ‘Riverbed’ had me swooning from the word go. The song has some unique features, the synths are decidedly 80’s in nature (courtesy of Lester) but there is also a pleasant contemporary feel to the piece. Ryan Caine is Andrews yang and when both voices combine there is discernible synergy. This is a slow burner, thoughtful and elegant; it’s the sort of music that supermarkets around the world should be using to make the experience they offer less irritating. KD

The Lights - Riverbed

More Info: Official & Label
Buy Album: [UK] Grand Union [US] Grand Union
Year: 2006

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I once saw the Thrills support Lowgold (remember them?) and they went on to totally blow the more acclaimed act out of the water (pacific of course). This was 2001 when the young band were unburdened by expectations. Fast-forward to today and the Thrills are adored and lampooned in equal doses back home in Dublin. Conor Deasy does himself no favours at all with his stateside drawl, coming in just behind Glen Hansard in the embarrassing between song banter stakes. Try concentrating purely on the music though and it’s hard not to fall for the bands sunny harmonies and sucrose melodies. I remember playing the ‘Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)’ EP to death, not so much for the title track but ‘Your Love Is Like Las Vegas’ which encapsulated the bands early flights of inspiration. It’s short, sweet and packs an almighty punch; a genuine dinger of a tune. The Thrills have just finished recording their third album in Vancouver. KD

The Thrills - Your Love Is Like Las Vegas

Watch The Video To 'The Irish Keep Gatecrashing'

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] So Much for the City [US] So Much for the City
Year: 2003

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Can’t blame them for taking the name I guess, for the last couple of years no other country has produced such a wealth of interesting new bands as Canada. Chances are if Canadians were just setting out now they’d be called Swedish...but enough of such idle speculation. Canadians are from Verona in Italy and the first thing you’ve got to credit them with is their scenic cover art. Exploitive perhaps, but then it’s really the music that'll keep you entertained for the long haul. ‘It’s Over’ sounds like Tom Barman fronting Teenage Fanclub and that in my book is a reason for celebration. It’s quirky, includes handclaps and will raise the roof every time the swish chorus kicks in. Canadians have already been featured on the breaking bands section of NME (but we won’t hold that against them) and are doing pretty good business on the (recommended) music section of download dot com. KD

Canadians - It's Overs

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Canadians: The North Side Of Summer EP (if ya can't find it)
Year: 2005

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And 2006 is starting to heat up at last. Despite being a moderate year for good records it looks like this year might just have a sting in its tale. Or an adorable fluffy exterior if the Early Years are anything to go by. Their debut album, which was released last month on Beggars Banquet, has cornered the market in subtle instrumental indie-ness. The single ‘All Ones And Zeros’ was a classic but deep inside the album there are plenty of other nuggets to appeal to anyone sold on Sonic Youth’s new softer, more melodic edge (in places it also grasps pre-gospel Spiritualized with aplomb). ‘The Simple Solution’ recalls first album Strokes and some of those early Interpol meanderings (‘Hands Away). A swaggering riff on which David Malkinson voice is only too grateful to glide atop augments the driving rhythms that are central to the jangling spread. This is both instantly likeable and long of shelf life. KD

The Early Years - The Simple Solution

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Buy Album: [UK] The Early Years [US] Early Years
Year: 2006

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Listening to Montreal’s Under Electric Light’s new ‘Blue’ EP brings back so many memories, happy ones it has got to be said. Theirs is a sound that is distilled from the dreamiest of sources. One minute you have January lapping at your ears, the next it’s as if Ride had repaired their friendship fences and reformed. What UEL do well is to broach the untouchable forces that they descend from and invest their own creative talents into the pot. The EP is consistently strong and it’s difficult to pick a particular highlight. ‘Sitting Here’ is effortlessly brilliant, all swirling textures and moody detours. Danny Provencher has his Mark Gardener’s down to a tee and the ragged bass lines raise the decibel level to make it audible as far away as OX4. KD

Under Electric Light - Sitting Here

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Under Electric Light's: The Blue EP
Year: 2006

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You’ll know them already from their mini classic ‘Not Today’ which has been around for a couple of years now. That sub 2-minuter did enough to raise expectations and now finally Afraid of Stairs are about to release a new EP through the Lavender label (up to now they had been with the equally Swedish label Labrador). Afraid of Stairs are Pontus Wallgren (founder) and Max Sjoholm and are based in chilly Gothenburg. Nothing blue about the music, though, as ‘They Aimed Bad’ from the new EP so voluptuously proves. This time Wallgren’s vocals are buried deep amongst the shards of chugging/jangling instruments but there’s also Malin Dahlberg’s (Laurel Music) ethereal dispatches to keep your head occupied. This is more than music, it’s a feeling. Only Sweden seems capable (see South Ambulance also) of producing spine-tingling neugaze at present and Afraid of Stairs are at the forefront of the movement. Also included here is the b-side to ‘Not Today’ called ‘Empathy’. KD

Afraid of Stairs - They Aimed Bad

Afraid of Stairs - Empathy

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy The EP: Soon..
Year: 2006

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Eagle*Seagull have been doing well in Europe of late, they’ve even managed to get into the Austrian indie charts! In fact reading much of their press requires the services of babelfish to work how glowing the reviews have been. Eagle*Seagull come from Nebraska yet their high octane adventures, historical clothing and Edi Mardock’s Butleresque whine (Robert Smithy also) has seen them garner plenty of Arcade Fire comparisons (there’s even a Butler in the band). Their debut album was released last October but it is seeing a welcome reissue that should enchant many listeners. ‘Photograph’ is a piano led epic that comes with an oh so cute video. The dramatics are laid on nice and thick and you come away from the experience a much more contented person. KD

Eagle*Seagull - Photograph

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

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Laois has a long and proud history in producing gilded rock bands, one has to only look as far as Mesner to realise that er….the spirit of John Lennon is nowhere to be seen. That said, the great folks in Stradbally have decided enough is enough and for the last couple of years their Electric Picnic has been far and away Ireland’s best music festival. 79cortinaz are another reason to be hopeful even if most of the band members come from nearby Carlow. If you are into the Spinto Bands' inclination for knocking out mini classics then ‘Deirdre’s Song’ could well be a knockout treat. The vocals have a warm Grandaddy quality and the playing has a lo-fi edge that could make it a winner in garage venues up and down the land. KD

79Cortinaz - Deirdre's Song

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy 79Cortinaz: Singles
Year: 2005

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The Eighteenth Day of May expressed intention is to play it for real and a quick glance at their bio reveals a sextet who know what they are talking about. So instead of carving the words painfully deep into their upper arms with a Swiss army knife they instead delve into a world that has Fairport Convention sitting imperiously on the throne. It’s hard to argue with their intentions when they come up with goods as absorbing as ‘Hide And Seek’. Giddy fret play and handsome harmonies are only half the attraction because what really impresses is the absence of fawning adulation. The Eighteenth Day of May don’t seem to be playing by anyone else’s rules, they have started writing brand new ones all of their own (hugger goes down another ‘sounds-like’ press release copy and paste cul-de-sac, ah well that’s what good music does to me). The band are currently in the studio recording new material following the release of self-titled debut earlier this year. KD

The Eighteenth Day Of May - Hide And Seek

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] The Eighteenth Day of May [US] The Eighteenth Day of May
Year: 2006

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You can now buy this song on one of our Indiecater compilations here!

If this was 2005 there would be no such thing as Angel Pier, they’ve only been around for the shortest time you see. Their conception occurred in Whelans, one of the last bastions of indiedom in Dublin. A chance encounter sowed the seeds for what is rapidly becoming the city's most feted purveyors of jangle pop. They've already played HWCH’s and ‘Sprites’ was their contribution to the mp3 roll call over at that site. ‘Sprites’ will be officially released as part of the ‘Bullet Holes & Broken Sectors’ EP in the near future and rival’s Director’s ‘Reconnect’ as the most spine tingling Irish release of the year. Luke Paluch’s guitar shimmers endlessly and when the storming chorus shudders through Darragh Nolan’s voice it becomes a beacon of cool. Heavenly. KD

Angel Pier - Sprites

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy The EP soon: Bullet Holes & Broken Sectors
Year: 2006

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If you like Christmas music then you'll love the mp3hugger curated Christmas compilation 'An Indiecater Christmas', you can buy it here!

What a magical time of the year. The normally gruff swap their sneers for joyous yelps while younger folk in silly hats press their reddened noses against windows lined with this years must have gifts. Even the chill in the air is embraced because there's always a blazing open hearth available to share with someone special. Our TV screens light up with magical apparitions that'll prise open our normally tightly gripped wallets and those old standards get their umpteenth airing. Shur, it’s hard to resist the timelessness of Bing's card writing adventures or even Shane's heartbreakingly romantic interludes. Yup, the end of October is one special time to be a member of the human race. Here's the Long Blondes to get you in the mood! KD

The Long Blondes - Christmas Is Cancelled

Watch The Video To The Long Blondes 'Automony Boy'

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Someone to Drive You Home [US] Once & Never Again
Year: 2006

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Is anybody sick of the endless reworking of Joy Division? Thought not, and here’s another poker in the eye for anyone who is. Letters & Colours are a four piece from Sheffield who have that admirable trait of scattering freebie mp3’s around their myspace and official sites. Very helpful in getting the word out before they start dropping official releases. Wouldn’t matter a jot of course if the songs weren’t any cop but every dip I’ve taken thus far has resulted in a noise spread equally between classic templates and fresh thinking. ‘Chase The Bull’ quite clearly couldn’t have been conceived without the dark quartet yet Letters & Colours flout such a nonchalant delivery it makes you feel like you are experiencing it for the first time. Their time is getting closer. KD

Letters & Colours - Chase The Bull

More Info: Official & Myspace
Year: 2006

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For people of a certain age the mere mention of Technotronic is likely to coerce wide grins of past adventures on a long abandoned dancefloor. ‘Pump Up The Jam’ has almost passed into the realms of pastiche but it remains eminently danceable. Remember this was 1989 when scruffy northern types wearing Joe Bloggs flares inhabited the musical landscape. Baggy was big and indie was taking its first baby steps towards a groovier planet. While Holland had its 2 Unlimited, Belgium produced Technotronic. The reality behind the clever marketing amounted to not much more than a Milli Vanilli group of individuals however. The brains was in fact a philosophy teacher from the States and its face a model come mime artist named Felly. The vocals on ‘Pump Up The Jam’ were actually provided by a rapper called Ya Kid K but her contribution was not revealed until years later. At this stage I guess nobody cares, all that matters is that ‘Pump Up The Jam’ gets your boody on the dancefloor tonight. KD

Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam

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Buy Album: [UK] This Beat Is Technotronic [US] Greatest Remix Hits
Year: 1989

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