The Housemartins, Salako and now the Paddingtons. Looks like Hull is building a nice little musical heritage for itself. Bit more than that if you were to go by Poptones supremo Alan McGee’s wide eyed assessment of the latter band. He’s off the mark of course (and who can blame him for backing one of his own bands), like he was when he labelled Mogwai’s ‘Mr. Beast’ as good as MBV’s ‘Loveless’. But, to his credit there are certainly nuggets to be panned on ‘First Comes First’, the Paddingtons debut album. ‘Sorry’ (produced by Stephen Street) has all the attendant punk trappings, Tom Atkin has the attitude and the music is infested with a sack full of blistering riffs. Nothing particularly new but its hard to be critical when a band can expend energy and make it burst forth from a speaker like a herd of Wilderbeast. KD

The Paddingtons - Sorry

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] First Comes First [US] First Comes First
Year: 2005

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Since it seems Kevin Shields is unlikely to record anything with MBV any time soon we’ll have to make do with the slipstream. And they don’t come much better than She, Sir (ok, they have some competition from the Fleeting Joys). ‘The Clandestine’ could so easily have sidled alongside the luxurious confines of ‘Loveless’, with unfocused guitars so elaborately layered, percussion that could puncture a baby’s skin and a vocal like a cool winters breeze through an amusement park. If Mr Shields hadn’t been there first you could quite literally be knocked for six such is the dynamism of the Austin bands output. But, M. Grusha and Russell Karloff are not monsters for trying to soundtrack a generation’s happy memories. Perhaps there is room for a loveless genre, perhaps it could be the new hip-hop and She, Sir will at the top giving it their 50 cent. She, Sir’s debut EP ‘Who Can’t Say Yes’ is out now, only the shallow could resist. KD

She, Sir - The Clandestine

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy EP: Who Can't Say Yes
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!

Ellinor Blixt is from Sweden, lives in Berlin and is obviously in love with music. So much so that almost everything she makes is freely available from her website. It’s early days and I tend to get overly dramatic when I hear something special but this girl truly has the potential to be a world-beater. How can you tell, well just take a listen to the 2 tracks here. One is an original Blixt composition, the second an original cover of a seasonal favourite. Both are easy on the ear, lulling you into a false sense of familiarity until you realise that something big and clever is underway. Ellinor coos and fidgets nice noises from her acoustic guitar while a shard of electronica backs the ethereal utterances. Now if she could only dream up a better moniker. KD

Bobby Baby - Lucky Moments

Bobby Baby - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy: Bobby Baby Loves To Dance EP
Year: 2006

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Seems the swell of engaging electronic artists breaking through has contracted a tad of late. The genre seemed to overtake its guitar-wielding cousins for a brief spell in the early part of the century. That said there are occasional bright spots to be had like Northampton’s Maps. Maps is the work of James Chapman and a revolving cast of backing musicians. His first 3 singles have been compiled onto an EP called ‘Start Something’ which includes the heartbreaker ‘Lost My Soul’. Sounding like a Flaming Lips composition it also manages to package some of Magnet’s amiable soundscapes into its sweet contours. Atmosphere flows from every pore and you can almost feel Chapman’s sadness as the organ emissions spill forth like synthetic tears. The road ahead looks quite interesting. KD

Maps - Lost My Soul

Watch The Video To Don't Fear

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy EP: Start Something
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!

With so many Christmas pasts and considering the build up and event can take over 2 months to play out it is surprising how few seasonal classics we have. Of course the good ones are cherishable and immune from ever becoming tiresome but each new batch rarely throws up anything that will appear the following year. The cash-in is partly the problem, a sleigh bell and a recognisable artist is generally all it takes for a mediocre record to crack the charts. Then you’ve got talented singers like Ron Sexsmith who carve out their own holiday identity with songs like the spellbinding ‘Maybe This Christmas’. The sentiments extol what the season has probably lost; yet Sexsmith’s soft-as-falling-snow delivery makes a powerful argument. A modern day classic. KD

Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Maybe This Christmas [US] Maybe This Christmas
Year: 2002

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The Motifs are quite glad that they’ve managed to sell out their debut CD. Ok, it was only 50 copies but little acorns and all that. And, little acorns are about as apt as you could get to describe the wispy wonderfulness that Alexis from Melbourne creates. Sweden’s Music Is My Girlfriend were the canny label to snap her up, spotting how her sub 2 minute acoustic rambles could potentially become the stuff of legend. You’ll spot an early B&S influence as well kindred spirits Camera Obscura but its hard not to admire the uniquely toyful way the Motifs eek out a charming harmony. You’d think the idea would soon diminish but each tune has its own spread of joyful inventiveness. On this evidence twee pop could once again rule the world. Thanks to the wonderful getecho for the heads up on this. KD

The Motifs - Dots

The Motifs - Secret Address

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Dots
Year: 2006

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Aaah, Sarah Records and her heavenly (!) army of twee pop janglers. Right at home amongst the low-fringed cast were a band from Brighton called Action Painting! The quartet only released a clutch of 7-inch singles, including ‘These Things Happen’, but some of their members will be best known for a stint with the uproariously disposable concoction that was Shampoo. As well as treading the boards at Sarah, Action Painting! also had stints at the Fierce Panda and Damaged Goods labels. ‘These Things Happen’ is a deliciously lo-fi wisp that has an opening sequence that is curiously similar to a defrocked ‘Rotten Love’ by Levy. The jangle is sparse like early Wedding Present and the vocals are ideally suited to the indiepop genre that pervaded in the late eighties/early nineties. KD

Action Painting! - These Things Happen

More Info: Sarah Records & Damaged Goods Label
Buy Album: [UK] Laying the Lodger [7" VINYL] & Rough Trade Shops - Indiepop Vol.1
Year: 1990

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By their third album it seemed as if Lemon Jelly had somehow lost the knack to write electronic wonderments to calm the soul. Artificial souls with addictive personalities were their stock in trade but by ’64 – ’95 the well was beginning to run dry (not so nice weather for avian friends as you can imagine). That said, there was still more than a smidgeon of satisfaction to be gleaned from the album whose premise was built around samples taken from music recorded between 1964 and 1995. The pulsing ‘The Shouty Track’ comes across a little more aggressively than Nick Franglen and Fred Deakin’s previous material but it is a none the less ear catching piece of music. The snot can be forgiven considering the sample used (chunky sample this one) was taken from ‘Horror Show’ by a Scottish punk band called the Scars (take a listen to it here). This is wide angled dance music for a hedonistic weekend. KD

Lemon Jelly - The Shouty Track

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] '64 - '95 [US] '64-'95
Year: 2005

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My Brother Woody is the work of a one man band called Michael Cleare and it’s obvious he’s well eared in the art of the pop hook. He’s already released a 7 song self titled EP and since that didn’t set the world alight he is about to go the whole hog and release a full LP. The indications are good, for a singer songwriter much of what I’ve heard goes beyond the delicately strummed guitar and into the fertile landscape of crystal harmonies, wandering brass and the odd shot of glockenspiel. Teenage Fanclub and the Beach Boys spring to mind when cosying up to the layers of melodies provided by ‘Wish I Was A DJ’. Probably won’t surface, any day soon, on daytime radio but when there’s a continental college scene to harvest it hardly matters. This is precise indiepop with enough gadgetry to capture the attention of an army of fans. KD

My Brother Woody - Wish I Was A DJ

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: It's A Long Way From That Sort of Thing You Were Raised
Year: 2007

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Bis fans, awake from your slumber because Bearsuit are about to sweep you off your lightly tinselled feet. Blasting at the face of MOR Bearsuit have been contributing fresh pieces of fantastic plastic out of Norwich since 2001 but it seems that it’ll be a song that takes the name of a famous Hollywood director in vain to shoot them to semi-fame. ‘Steven F***ing Spielberg’ is pretty gorgeous with its erratic strings and a slingshot boy/girl partnership. The promising signs were there for all to see for some time though, with scuzzy masterpieces like ‘Rodent Disco’ preaching from a hymn sheet that neither adheres to old testament nor ditchforks prediction for 2007’s most bankable genre. ‘Rodent Disco’ is deceptively all over the place, like an unleashed Cocker Spaniel in a pedigree chum producing facility. Pull your rainbow jumper over your face and down an ice-cream. KD

Bearsuit - Rodent Disco

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Buy Album: [UK] Cat Spectacular [US] Steven F***ing Speilberg
Year: 2004

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There is probably a part of me that adores ‘Video Kid’ because it could only have come from someone with an appreciation of that section of 80’s music that wasn’t disposable. Struggling to be heard above this songs gene pool of influences are slices of electro pop, new romanticism and a liberal spray from the Joe Elliott School of anthemic guitars. The Birthday Massacre are from Toronto, sport inordinate amounts of makeup and should be rightly proud of the click rate for their songs on myspace. ‘Video Kid’ is a galloping monstrosity, best served at weekends when its frantic diversions can be enjoyed with a glass of alcohol. Just perfect for those Placebo fans who’d like to wig out and enjoy what’s bubbling under from the other side of the pond. Enjoy these gloriously dark times. KD

The Birthday Massacre - Video Kid

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Violet [US] Violet
Year: 2004

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San Saba County lies on the skirts of Austin and from its dusty populace of 6,000 came forth a band headed by one John Saba with bushels on their mind. The scraps I’ve heard tend to suggest that San Saba County are keen to play the pleasant alt country card. ‘More Than Me’ is perhaps a short scenic detour but it had me lassoed immediately. It’s taken from the bands second album ‘Its Not The Fall That Hurts’ and provides an entrée with an altogether pleasant aroma, gentle jangling and a vocal that never strays too far from its musical backdrop. It’s subtle and perhaps too genial for many but it could be all you’ll need to make a 10-minute session on a rocking horse feel like you are sashaying into a golden sunset. KD

San Saba County - More Than Me

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Its Not The Fall That Hurts
Year: 2006

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You’ve got to admire Owen Ashcroft’s do it yourself style. His early albums as Casiotone For The Painfully Alone took the bedroom recording process into the cupboard as battery operated keyboard met analogue 4-track cassette (Daniel Johnston springs to mind). This year’s album ‘Etiquette’ fleshed out his sound and spawned the fragile single ‘Bobby Malone Moves’. Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ is initially resembled yet the piano parts that define the musical backdrop pull plenty of magical strokes of their own. Ashcroft’s near spoken vocal style means his lyrics are readily accessible. The theme might be about ordinary people but it’s a tale you won’t mind being recalled time and again. Also included here is ‘Cold White Christmas’ from a Daytrotter session that CFTPA recorded in April. Another Ashcroft with plenty of verve. KD

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Bobby Malone Moves Home

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Cold White Christmas (Daytrotter Session)

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

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Tantalising titbits from the isle that scooped 3 consecutive Eurovision Song Contests. An occasional series that promises the best of Irish without the wild leg movements. KD





The Claremen pluck for a stunning chord volley.

The Walls - To The Bright And Shining Sun

More Info: The Walls


Making cool electronica a reality on the freezing western seaboard.

Cane 141 - Foxy Trot

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Touted and doubted in equal doses, Humanzi finally come good.

Humanzi - Out On A Wire

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Sometimes David Kitt backing band prove they’re capable of small moments themselves.

Jape - Floating

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Ginger haired, wired to the moon yet they still steal our attention.

The Revs - You Shine

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Seems that last verse of their dumb punk song sunk the good ship Woodstar.

Woodstar - Sorry Skin

More Info: ?


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

Michigan band Sa Sevol are short on the details. Apart from cobbling a myspace page together and announcing that they are working on an album called ‘The Sea of Showers’ there is precious little other facts to be cosseted into neat little word packages. Until we know more it will be all about the music however. And what a pleasant dash Sa Sevol cut, melancholic electronica hasn’t been drafted this spectacularly since the last Broadcast album. Synth’s may be omnipresent but it’s the female vocals (like Sarah Cracknell convening a side project) that truly haunt as they aggregate slinky allure with the menace of a spectre. There are other goodies to be had too from their page, all of which means that ‘The Sea of Showers’ could be something well worth waiting for. KD

Sa Sevol - The Little Ones

More (cough) Info: Myspace
Year: 2006

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What have we here? ‘Lazy Susan’ being a distinguished beast with a multi-faceted personality that skirts through enough genres to appeal to the broadest cross section. My Dad could have his Kenny Rogers urges sated and yet I’d also be there approximating a ridiculously impoverished attempt at a dancing Dandy Warhol. This is raw and dirty yet as aspiring as a Clinic track that has somehow taken the wrong exit off the dusty farfiso highway. The drums are precocious and the dual boy/girl vocals recall a time when wearing flowers in your hair didn’t necessarily mean that you’d just crashed into the botanic gardens. ‘Lazy Susan’ are from Brooklyn, an epicentre of all things necessary at the moment, and seem the hold the expressed intention to make alt country at least palatable to rock audiences. Well, they’ve succeeded and matched their achievement with a tour with Calexico. Keep it country. KD

Oakley Hall - Lazy Susan

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Gypsum Strings [US] Gypsum Strings
Year: 2006

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Leaving aside my silly attempts at trying to twist my last.fm profile into what I think it should read I’d have to say that no other group in the last few years has given me more pleasure than Explosions in the Sky. This from a Texas band that never utters a single word, often commit constructs of interminable length and can search in vain for the holy grail that is the memorable riff yet still bring something worthwhile to the table. Their most recent release ‘Earth Is A Cold Dead Place’ is undoubtedly their classic yet a casual trawl through their discography uncovers an enviable wealth of post-rock masterpieces. No more so than ‘Yasmin The Light’, a song that could break Waterford crystal with its early shot of white noise. This is Mogwai at full tilt and it really could scare small woodland creatures so be warned. What follows is a ragged chime fest that is remarkable for its lucid dexterity. EITS are due to perform twice in New York this month a European tour is planned for early in the new year. KD

Explosions In The Sky - Yasmin The Light

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Explosions In The Sky
Year: 2001

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