Ok, enough of all this experimental malarkey. How about some straight-ahead indie rock? And on a Sunday night I like nothing better than to feast on a bowl of easy thrills, audio escapades that must take some ingenious planning on the musicians’ side but provide a front door entrance for the listener. The A-Sides are a 5 piece from Philadelphia and have just released their second album ‘Silver Storms’. ‘We’re The Trees’ touches on Teenage Fanclub in so much as the twin axis of saintly endeavour that are the sweetly tugged chords and close harmonies are both executed in the prettiest of ways imaginable. The A-Sides even see fit to include a skirting brass and a noodle at the end that gives you a chance to grab your breath after the fireworks that precede it. As unexpectedly satisfying as a falling crust that manages to land butter side up. KD

The A-Sides - We're The Trees

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Silver Storms
Year: 2007

This picture of Frightened Rabbit is where I want to be just about now. Not location wise, more in a 40 winks state of unconsciousness way. This weekend's insomniac tendencies are all the more annoying because I’ve nothing too worrying to occupy my mind. So in an attempt to coax the plane that’s on its way to sleepyland to land briefly on my minds runway I’ve resorted to staring at pictures of a couple of Glaswegian brothers in various states of slumber in disparate places. It’s starting to work actually, helped all the more by their audio playing in the background. Frightened Rabbit's debut album ‘Sing The Greys’ may have been overlooked but for anyone searching for scatty melodic turns it’s hard to beat. ‘Be Less Rude’ has already been on these pages and now ‘Behave!’ makes it entrance. Acoustic and wide-eyed ‘Behave!’ gathers all the ingredients that made Alfie such a sweet shuffling wonder and adds Scott Hutchison’s meek yet utterly lovable vocals to seal the deal. Hey what’s the zebra doing on that cloud over there…z..z.zzzzzz…..

Frightened Rabbit - Behave!

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Buy Songs: Frightened Rabbit
Year: 2007

This is taken from a 2001 radio session (Today FM) so be sure to forgive the slight hiss and lack of production sheen. I’m sure you’ll look beyond this however and just marvel at David Kitt’s inspired take on the Prince tune. It came at a time when Kitt could do no wrong. His self-released debut ‘Small Moments’ had caught the attention of Blanco y Negro (Rough Trade offshoot) who went on to release his classic ‘The Big Romance’. Since then it has been a gradual decline with a failed romance robbing the boy of much of his laid back gusto. His latest ‘Not Fade Away’ is a mild return to form so Kitt’s undoubted talent may still receive a proper widescreen airing. In the meantime sit back and absorb the majestic simplicity of this fine cover. KD

David Kitt - When Doves Cry

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Buy Album: Not Fade Away
Year: 2006

An occasional series that attempts to apply the auld el kabong to the Irish man and his acoustic guitar.




Are you listening there Corgan at the back?

The Laundry Shop - Stranger In The Headlights

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Seeping into our hearts more like.

Seeping Into Cinemas - Chipped Teeth

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Put on your sad shoes and dance.

Paula Flynn - Too Much Time To Kill

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Unlikely to frighten rabbits.

Band On An Island - The Burning Shoulder

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This arcade's on fire.

New Amusement - Gone To Sea

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Reconnect with your inner director.

The Flaws - You & I

More Info: The Flaws

KD

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

Such an even keel, how does Ned Collette manage to keep it so uniformly straight when the obvious move would be to let rip or at the very least add some lush strings. I may be wrong but the Melbourne based artist sounds all the world like a less frenetic Gilbert O’Sullivan (less helium perhaps) and for this we should be very thankful. ‘The Country With A Smile’ is the lead track from Collette’s second album ‘Future Suture’ and quietly goes about its business in a most seductive way. You’ll feel like little is happening but all the while this cunningly hushed tune will rein you in. Before you know it, it will be on endless repeat where the subtleties inherent in a chorus that slightly raises the decibels suddenly becomes the work of genius. Perfect with a pair of woollen slippers, a warm pipe and an atlas of the world. KD

Ned Collette - The Country With A Smile

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Future Suture
Year: 2007

The musical landscape this year may have been decidedly colourless up to now but on the plus side a strong collection of artists are giving experimentation a good run for its money. A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Videohippos, Akron/Family and of course the Panda Collective (!) have provided many of the year’s brightest moments. To this group you can now add the Kildare based band of monkey’s (with the dog, koala, frog, panda, lion...) Super Extra Bonus Party. Their self-titled album is an absolute blast swinging from jangling instrumentation to gangsta rap within the space of a couple of minutes. Their expressed intention to not to dilly-dally on one particular theme is half of their charm but behind the genre jumping japery lies an inventive group of musicians. My 2 favourites are the charming instrumental ‘Propeller’ that closes the album and this absolute belter called ‘Softly’. And for a bit it lives up to its name (Sol Seppy-esque even) until it goes all Mr Hyde spinning completely out of control with a flotilla of searing chords and some heavily undulated beats. Cheers for this great tip Niall. KD

Super Extra Bonus Party - Softly

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Buy Album: Super Extra Bonus Party
Year: 2007

Could this be an ode to Henry Shefflin or perhaps Colm Cooper? Probably not because its makers Je Suis France are from faraway Athens (Georgia, U.S.) where hurling probably has more to do with excessive backstage drinking rather than an Irish field game. ‘Afrikan Majik’ is Je Suis France’s third album and was made with contributions from all of the bands 9 members. ‘Wizard of Points’ is something that could only have come from an eclectic bunch with their finger on the pulse of seventies prog. Naturally the thought of such a preposterous turn of events in the noughties would have many people running for their Coldplay discography but ‘Wizard of Points’ is nothing if catchy (wow, I promised myself I’d never use that word on this blog and here I stand almost 2 years down and it slips out). Catchy might be a description used by your grandmother to describe the latest local radio friendly hit but ‘Wizard of Points’ is splendidly overcooked and flightly. Imagine it would be something Daft Punk could throw together were they to ditch some of their Gallic cool. Now where are my skintight leather trousers? KD

Je Suis France - Wizard of Points

Watch The Video To Fantastic Area

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Afrikan Majik
Year: 2007

Even though this song made it into a lofty 35th position on this site's top 42 of 2006 (won’t feel it until the 2007 version, am getting nervous as it hasn’t been a vintage year) I’ve never sought fit to spam about it until now. ‘Brother’ is the work of a group of multi-instrumental nippers lead by Adam Baker and at 3:43 is seems much too short to adequately advertise all the ideas being thrown about. Put this sort of work in the hands of say Do Make Say Think and you'd have a classy centrepiece yet Baker and Co. let it fade before it’s fully exploited. To be critical would be to try and knock a near masterpiece however. ‘Brother’ sits amongst its siblings on Annuals debut ‘Be He Me’ just like one of the family. The thrills may be hard won but they are frequently engaging. Given that Annuals are from Raleigh, North Carolina maybe you should be on your bike to pick up this album. KD

Annuals - Brother

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Buy Album: [UK] Be He Me [US] Be He Me
Year: 2006

I don’t mind when the summer is over. Ok, it feels a bit odd writing about sunshine pop in late January but as far as I can see the best audio produce arrives when the days become short and cold. So to begin the season of wind and rain (and in this case ice and snow) here’s a wonderfully realised track from Danish band Efterklang’s new album ‘Parades’. Efterklang are all about atmosphere so don’t expect to be whistling ‘Cutting Ice To Snow’ on your way to work. The song recalls a host of greats including Sigur Ros, Animal Collective and even the Arcade Fire towards the end. It may take a bit of time to click but this is unspeakably beautiful music that draws a hugely impressive victory from the jaws of rampant experimention. Efterklang are coming to Dublin on the 28th of November with an 8-piece band. How they’ll negotiate the stage at Whelan’s remains to be seen, perhaps they'll cut some wood to stage. KD

Efterklang - Cutting Ice To Snow

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Buy Album: [UK] Parades [US] Parades
Year: 2007

No other song at the turn of the century was as wholly ambitious and wildly tailored as Clinic’s ‘The Return of Evil Bill’. Between the start/stomp momentum, haunted house melodica and Alan Blackburn’s partially stunted vocals this song still sounds possessed. Clinic notched up album number four ‘Visitations’ late last year but none have captured the intensity and rampaging ambition of their debut ‘Internal Wrangler’. Despite appearing alongside Radiohead (and upstaging them on the Irish leg of the tour) in 2000 Clinic have yet to grip the imagination outside of their devotees. Lately their ‘If You Could Read Your Mind’ has appeared on the well received ‘Hallam Foe’ movie (Juana Molina and James Yorkston also, yeeees!) so perhaps it’s not too late. And Clinic certainly have a lot of offer, their clapped out keyboard sound alone could likely have Doors/Inspiral Carpets fans in raptures (Altern 8 fans in need of a new surgical mask could also be interested). KD

Clinic - The Return of Evil Bill

Watch The Video If You Could Read Your Mind

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Internal Wrangler [US] Internal Wrangler
Year: 2000

Somewhat incredibly Elbow supported Snow Patrol in Manchester last December. This is probably more down to the fact that the band are Mancunians than a direct result of their ‘up tempo’ last album ‘Leaders of the Free World’. We love Elbow, as much for their arch miserabilism as their dedication to always seeing fit to include a slice of melody. But, things changed (slightly) when songs like ‘Forgot Myself’ sounded as if Guy Garvey had suddenly arrived with a pep in his step. No longer shall he trudge through the weightier issues that dominate his creative mind. Perhaps that’s the effect of working with the likes of Editors (probably not though) after Garvey had produced their debut album. Then again it's probably just a temporary ray of sunshine after which Elbow will once again entertain our waking hours with their dark memories from the night before. Elbow are currently in the studio working on their 4th album. KD

Elbow - Forget Myself

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Buy Songs: Elbow
Year: 2005

{album review written in 2005, pulled from the indiecater archives, rated 3/5}

What a curious band British Sea Power truly are. Here you have a band that are seemingly enthralled with nature, the countryside and rose tinted nostalgia but are also open to playing a gig on a North Sea oilrig. Their live performances sees them dressed in World War One regalia and a propensity for audience bound propulsion would do any grenade worth its salt proud. If this sort of behaviour sets the bait it’s their song writing talent that will have you coming back for more. Their debut 'The Decline Of British Sea Power' was an understated gem full of camouflaged melodies that ensured that the Brighton based quartet would have their hands full to build on the promise. ‘Open Season’ may lack the weighty numbers like ‘Heavenly Waters’ and ‘Lately’ that so illuminated their debut but British Sea Power have crafted an affable, inviting and memorable follow-up. Here the tunes are less confrontational, the melody is openly divulged and the hit is almost immediate. That’s not to say that after a few spins that the whole thing becomes listless, as there is an unmistakable panache in the way the songs are put together.

‘Open Season’ could easily be a greatest hits collection such is the innumerable pointers to greatness on show. Take ‘Honeycomb’ which sees frontman Yan sporting what sounds like a slight head cold. His nasally afflicted vocals summon the wherewithal to turn a warm chorus into an intimate experience. The chord playing, keyboard dashes and punchy drums all add up to a hugely dramatic event. Yan can sound like a young Bowie and there is an edge to his singing as if the words are digging into his cheekbones. On ‘How Will I Ever Find My Way Home?’ the singers delivery descends from rational to chaotic within the space of a couple of minutes. Thankfully these unsettling experiences are countered when the band veer closer to pure pop like on the incandescent ‘The Land Beyond’. Straight-forward gorgeous melodies meet a melancholic string section that’ll tug at your heartstrings.

British Sea Power oft stay clear, in as much as is possible, of the generic theme of boy meets girl. Instead under the guise of chirping birds Yan implores all to ‘Drape yourself in greenery, Become part of the scenery’ over and over again on ‘North Hanging Rock’. While this could all sound about as interesting as watching said greenery grow the band deliver such a heated brew of delicious sounds the singer could be waxing about an oily stage from the previous night and we’d still be transfixed. ‘Oh Larsen B’ is undoubtedly the best song ever written about a continental ice shelf. The bass structures are predictably towering and aloof and Yan does his best to sound serious when he begs the monolith not to fall on him. 'True Adventures' may appear at the end but it sticks out like a sore thumb even if it’s covered in a rich blend of flavoursome toffee. The ideas splatter about like a fan with plastic streamers. While so many jolting arrangements might seem contradictory on a single tune, a couple of listens reveals a composition that is perfectly coherent. This is about as challenging as ‘Open Season’ gets, elsewhere wholesome tunes like ‘Be Gone’ flitter about like young cottontails.

'Open Season' flows like a mountain stream, its ideas are clear, melodies pour freely and its stock cleverly navigates against the current mob of new-wave sycophants. Paradoxically, from time to time the album feels as if it has emerged from an earlier decade. That said this collection sees the band take a giant leap forward in sales potential. There is very little (aside from ‘True Adventures’) to startle those who dine on the top 40 and with some careful promotion British Sea Power could soon stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Snow Patrol or Coldplay. ‘Open Season’ is an engaging listen from start to finish and British Sea Power seem to be well on their way to becoming one of this century’s true contenders. KD

British Sea Power - North Hanging Rock

More free tracks from 'Open Season' here.

Watch The Video It Ended On An Oily Stage

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy More Songs: British Sea Power
Year: 2005

Andrew Weatherall will be forever be remembered in indie circles for his monumental efforts on the seminal Primal Scream album ‘Screamadelica’. Of course he had a life outside the mortgage repaying remixes for which he is best known for. One ingenious scheme was the Sabres of Paradise who recorded a number of ambient albums. Even though the concept was a winner in the post-acid fallout the Sabres of Paradise never attained the sort of kudos that much lesser acts like the Orb had heaped onto them. ‘Smokebelch ii’ is pretty much flawless and if it had made it onto its natural home ‘The Beach’ soundtrack perhaps it could have rightly invaded the consciousness of the public at large. As things stand it remains an early ‘90’s classic, a spine tingling and softly euphoric piece of magic. KD

The Sabres of Paradise - Smokebelch ii

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Sabresonic Vol.2 [US] Haunted Dancehall
Year: 1993

It is almost a decade ago since Lab Partners was formed in Ohio but 2007 is shaping up to be a vintage year for them. As well as supporting Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and releasing the ‘Keep Quiet’ EP they can now celebrate the fact that this track ‘Love Don’t Care’ (from their 3rd album ‘Wicked Branches’) is being used in a new movie called ‘The Speed of Life’. No doubt there’ll be a knock on effect for the band and with the current swing back towards shoegaze they would seem to be decked out appropriately (Spiritualized are a underlying influence). ‘Love Don’t Care’ is languid and slow moving but bears deep veins pumped full of melody. The soft spots generally appear from Mike Smith’s vocal chords, which appropriate a young Mark Gardener (they have a track called ‘Ride’!). The music is equally powerful veering majestically from soft jangle to bluster and mayhem with consummate ease. KD

Lab Partners - Love Don't Care

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy EP: Keep Quiet
Year: 2007

Bloc Party - Banquet

Ambulance LTD - Primitive (The Way I Treat You)

The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

Enjoy the disco?

This record sounds out of time as if jettisoned in from the previous decade. It is the sound of This Mortal Coil, Slowdive, Lush or (dare I say it) Cock Robin at their most effervescent. The truth is that it was only created in 2005 by Sydney 6-piece Decoder Ring for their 3rd album. The year before the band had penned the music to Aussie film ‘Somersault’ which was universally acclaimed and scooped the band an Australian Film Institute soundtrack of the year award. ‘Fractions’ builds so incrementally you could be genuinely jolted when it finally bursts into life with softly flickering guitars and torrential electronics filling the air like a million butterflies. The effect is spine tingling, made all the more alluring by lead singer Lenka Kripac’s smouldering vocals. The most forward thinking record to take you back for quite some time. KD

Decoder Ring - Fractions

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Buy Album: Somersault
Year: 2005

Lock a chart aficionado in a padded cell for 24 hours with this on repeat and perhaps they'll see the light. On the other hand there are probably laws against such radical treatments so don’t attempt this with any square family members. Instead you could slip this song into their consciousness at opportune moments. Not all at once mind as there is far too much going on for the innocent bystander to absorb. Buttonhead are from London and their ‘Lucerne’ is most likely from the outer reaches of the galaxy. It can be close to infantile at times but rather than boring us adults it engenders a lust for life. Just warning you though, I am saying all this after a clutch of listens that bore reactions that ranged from frustration to downright exhilaration. Where your opinion will rest is open to question but while you decide Buttonhead will hopefully have found a replacement for Thomas Fuglesang who is now spending all his time with his other band ‘Infants’ (hmmm). KD

Buttonhead - Lucerne

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Buy Album: Weetabix Gigabyte (soon)
Year: 2007

I have loved juicy bass lines ever since ‘early Verve/Jah Wobble on Screamadelica’ in the 90’s showed what could be achieved. So I was suckered into loving ‘Seeds of Night’ almost straight away (that and the fact that the band use a washboard and melodica in some of their tunes). Right now I’ve gone through about half a dozen listens and I’m slowly beginning to appreciate how special the Cave Singers might be. Their debut ‘Invitation Songs’ is about to premier on Matador and by this taster I’ll be returning my RSVP before you can say ‘Higher Than The Sun’. ‘Seeds of Night’ pops out all over the place with slick quirkyness, one moment it is as regular as a heartbeat, the next it is showing the effects of years of greasy breakfast rolls. If I was a DJ this would be the closer every Saturday night, by then the well oiled crowd could make a good fist at the sort of schizophrenic moves required to shimmer in unison. TKD

The Cave Singers - Seeds of Night

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Buy Album: Invitation Songs
Year: 2007

Of course there are going to be the inevitable Beatles comparisons thrown at Dublin’s Las Vegas Basement but despite their derivative ways you’ve got applaud a near precise take on the art. The quartet released their debut ‘End of an Era’ in 2002 through Mundy’s Camcor Records and quickly disappeared without trace. The album is never less than a pleasant listen, perhaps low on original thought processes but sprinkled with memorable hooks and harmonies (and it never harmed Jellyfish did it?). The follow up has been a long time coming and given the dearth of quality Irish releases at the moment it is badly needed. ‘Mr. Lane’ drips with psychedelia, sweet coos, one-dimensional yet utterly appropriate hammond and a note perfect reconstruction of the sound of 1967. For those who don’t get it, that is you can't, you know, tune in it's gonna be all right. KD

Las Vegas Basement - Mr. Lane

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Year: 2002

For a man with a gift for simple yet spellbinding melodies Steve Goldberg has chosen a background cast with elaborate guises including Mink Shoals and the Duke. Thankfully the subterfuge ends with the nicks and the Arch Enemies let the music they were born to make flow instinctively. The glorious results are all too apparent on ‘Summer’s Ending’ which is the closing track from the bands sophomore eponymous album. The instrumentation is lush and swoonsome and augment vocals that on their own could have descended into twee noodling (not that I’d be complaining). ‘Summer’s Ending’ has the gorgeous technicolor of a Ryan McPhun (who curiously also has an elaborate army behind him called the Ruby Suns) track and proves conclusively that you should keep your enemies close but your arch enemies even closer. KD

Steve Goldberg And The Arch Enemies - Summer's Ending

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Buy Album: Steve Goldberg And The Arch Enemies
Year: 2007

It may be over 15 years since My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless' appeared but the thirst for new material from the Irish group has never been stronger. Kevin Shields has dropped in and out of hibernation in the intervening period with stints in Primal Scream and a well regarded turn on the 'Lost In Translation' soundtrack. Of course the rumours regarding a possible reunion have been about for years but of late the indications are that someday soon we'll be basking in My Bloody Valentine’s next record. It's going to have to be something magical but given Shields immaculate attention to detail and most of all his unquestioned genius it’s hard to expect anything less. So until we get the wires reporting it as gospel we'll have to make do with robust covers by bands like Japancakes to remind us of what could be in store. In fact Japancakes have gone the extra yard and reworked the whole ‘Loveless’ album. Even though MBV were overwhelmingly instrumental Belinda Butchers voice often stole the show so it's interesting how Japancakes have approached ‘Only Shallow’. There are no vocals in tow but Japancakes have still conjured the majesty inherent in ‘Only Shallow’ wherein several layers of seemingly disparate forces form one complete whole. KD

Japancakes - Only Shallow

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Buy Album: Loveless
Year: 2007

Seen as it’s gone what better time to listen to James Yorkston’s ‘Summer Song’. A man for every season Yorkston remains curiously sidelined despite a talent of ridiculously gargantuan proportions. Perhaps the world is not ready for another troubadour but maybe next time it could be better served giving the blunt instruments a miss for something altogether more wholesome. ‘Summer Song’ is taken from the Fife mans’ third album and retains an ingenious hold on ones attention no matter how many times you’ve heard it play. The acoustics are certainly nimble but nothing can distract you from Yorkston’s delicate as a snowflake vocals. Of late Yorkston has been making a few visits to Ireland to record material with Galway’s own Adrian Crowley. His label have been busy themselves putting together 'Roaring The Gospel', a collection of Yorkston b-sides and rarities. KD

James Yorkston - Summer Song

Watch The Video To The Hills And The Heath

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Buy Album: The Year Of The Leopard
Year:

As crazy as it may seem it is quite possible that the Go! Team’s latest missive (‘Proof of Youth’) could make them household names. If this oddity were to become reality then bands as lavishly quirky as Akron/Family could surely bask in the slipstream. For those of us skirting on the edges of the music industry cocking a keen ear to anything that sounds remotely brand new and interesting then ‘Ed Is A Portal’ is like manna from heaven. Devilishly assembled by what sounds like an army of musicians (there are only 4 of them) this is a song to brighten up the dreariest of winter nights. Skirting through a mix bag of genres each and every one of its detours blooms into a rollicking good time rather that the expected creative cul-de-sac. Exhilarating, yet never in a way that could become tiresome. KD

Akron/Family - Ed Is A Portal

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Buy More Songs: Akron/Family
Year: 2007

She will probably forever be remembered for who her father is (Serge, her mother is Jane Birkin with whom he ‘starred’ with on ‘Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus’) or by her movie roles (The Science of Sleep, Jane Eyre) but that would be a shame because as well as all that Charlotte Gainsbourg is also a fine music artist. Her 2nd album appeared last year, a full 2 decades after her debut. ‘5:55’ has some pedigree, the music was directed by Air’s Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, the lyrics dreamed up by Neil Hannon and Jarvis Cocker and the whole thing was pulled together by Radiohead’s producer Nigel Godrich. ‘Songs That We Sing’ was the lead single and proved to be a lush vehicle for Gainsbourg’s elegant and smart vocals. It has huge scope and would clearly fill any movie scene were it to make its way onto celluloid. KD

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Songs That We Sing

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Buy Album: [UK] 5:55 [US] 5:55
Year: 2006

If one was into shoddy category’s for the forthcoming HWCH showcase you could easily lump this lot in with the interesting yet slightly headache inducing Twinkranes and the similarly tailored side project inspired Neosupervital. Channel One aren’t always noisy but are genetically programmed to create avalanches of electronically derived pulses. Thankfully somewhere along the way they always see fit to include a hook. The Channel One express has been on the go for 5 years now and they have built up a fair amount of glowing local press. Indications are that they are beginning to prick up some ears from further afield but it is slow progress. ‘These Roads’ is laden with influences from David Byrne to Krautrock and straight back home again to My Bloody Valentine. It’s a full on aural assault that starts out with fast tracked guitar parts and ends up in a quickly advancing flow of molten beats. KD

Channel One - These Roads

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Buy EP: Permissions
Year: 2007

I was surprised at how less than chaotic Brisbane felt when we dropped by there a couple of years ago. Despite being one of Australia’s bright lights it’s got a certain rural feel to it, something that the big casino or the man made beach can’t camouflage. Couldn’t pick out a discernible scene either so it comes as all the more surprising that a band as perfect as the Zebras should be born there. Jangle is their weapon of choice and boy are they able to nail a killer tune. Their songs are generally fitted with oodles of chiming chords and seaside buckets stuffed with playful harmonies. ‘You Look Ready’ is a case in point, a short yet extremely pleasant exercise in why indie pop will always have an adoring audience. As fizzy as pop has a right to be. KD

The Zebras - You Look Ready

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Buy Album: Worry A Lot
Year: 2006

Sound Team - Your Eyes Are Liars

It hasn’t been the best of years for San Francisco's Film School. They say bad things happen in three’s and so over a period of just 12 months the band has had to endure the departure of several members (including guitarist Nyles Lannon), Greg Bertens' mugging and also having their tour van stolen. Probably not the best run in for a 3rd album but indications are that ‘Hideout’ is set to be a cracker. ‘Lectric’ has already done the rounds on the blogs and is a fantastically retro shindig that recalls many of the highlights from last year’s self-titled LP. ‘Two Kinds’ is less pronounced but all the more precious for it. For once the instrumentation is held in check, an organ provides a Cure like atmosphere while Bertens vocals are allowed space to prove how sweet they really are. 'Hideout' was released last week and includes a contribution from Colm O'Ciosoig of My Bloody Valentine fame (in training for the mooted new album?). KD

Film School - Two Kinds

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Buy Album: [UK] Hideout [US] Hideout
Year: 2007

Last year I featured a mash-up by Sam Flanagan that pitched the Stone Roses ‘Waterfall’ with Lily Allen’s ‘LDN’. It was hugely impressive with Allen’s giddy vocals perfectly matched by the Roses shimmering chords. When they work mash-up’s can be exhilarating, all the more so if you like the songs being used. Parrka has worked wonders with these two tunes. You’ll more likely know the Jose Gonzalez version of ‘Heartbeats’, which stripped away the electronica but there is much to saviour in the original. Grizzly Bear’s ‘The Knife’ is an altogether softer anthem that benefits from getting roughed up a bit by the industrial beats. Initially the lumbering texture might confuse but careful attention reveals a near perfect symmetry between the opposing forces. KD

Grizzly Bear V The Knife - Heartbeats On A Knife (Parrka)

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More Info: Grizzly Bear & The Knife
Buy Album: [UK] Deep Cuts [US] Deep Cuts
Buy Album: [UK] Yellow House [US] Yellow House
Year: 2007

The best music tends to reveal itself over time. While immediacy is great for Friday nights it’s the ones that requires extra work that will stay with you all week. Chet’s 3rd album ‘Fight Against Darkness’ is certainly a piece of ear candy that won’t be absorbed on the first listen. What you’ll get straight away though is Ryan Beattie’s infectious whine and instrumentation that is 1 part experimentation 1 part melodious invention. The most noteworthy effort is an epic of 11 minutes known as ‘Ships Sink In The Fall’. Better to not start off here though as there is tracks like ‘By Night Into Paradise’ that’ll sweep off your feet without the need to lose half of the afternoon. This is as close as you’ll get to a happy song from Chet as evidenced by its giddily frantic momentum. The track is made all the more ebullient by its sweeping brass and Beattie’s incessant chirps and hollers. KD

Chet - By Night Into Paradise

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Buy Album: Fight Against Darkness
Year: 2007

The song as a 6 minute humalong is put through its reflective paces on the Harvey Girls ‘Lazlo, Buddy’. You can just imagine Melissa Rodenbeek, Hiram Lucke and cat breezing through a field of dandelions with this tune whistling through their brains until it finally manifests itself into a melodious drone from their lips. For its duration the world doesn’t change, in fact you could quite literally lose all attentive responses while it ambles right in front of your aural enclaves. That’s not to say it’s not nice, in fact were you to find it an appropriate host it could be quite wondrous. Imagine they dropped the whales and lightly rung bells and put this in its place, it could transform any rejuvenation suite into the coolest wash-the-charts-from-your-hair therapy known to indiedom. The Harvey Girls give most of their precious music away for free so there's an incentive for any would-be entrepreneurs. KD

The Harvey Girls - Lazlo, Buddy

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Buy EP: Declinate
Year:

Leanbh (pronounced lan-iv) is Gaeilge for child but it's also the name of another band to appear from county Meath in the last couple of years (also check out the more appropriately labelled (for a Meath band) Ham Sandwich). Leanbh are quite glorious for a couple of reasons. Firstly it affords us Irish the chance to boast about how fertile our local scene is (it isn't) and secondly much craic can be gleaned from the inevitably hopeless pronunciations from non Irelanders. Leanbh may be fresh out of their cots but they've hit the ground running with songs like ‘Carousel’ and with an appearance at HWCH on the way it’ll be interesting to hear how Odette Hopkins vocals fare when faced by Ciarán Duignan’s Rollerskate Skinnyesque chord outbursts. In this regard Leanbh should be both seen and heard. KD

Leanbh - Carousel

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Year: 2007

Ok, the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue but then who cares when you’ll probably be whistling their tunes for the rest of year. No doubt there's a deep and meaningful behind why this Swedish quintet decided to call themselves Hari and Aino but for the moment we’ll swap idle speculation for overdone superlatives. Yeah, ‘Second Song’ is that good, a touch of Blondie and acres of chiming chords will get you far in my book, in fact it’s already made its way onto the cobbled together follow up. Mostly unsigned but getting the royal Cloudberry Records single treatment this is just another reason to believe that at this very moment in time Stockholm, not NYC or London is the centre of the indie pop universe. In this regard Hari and Aino might just be its milky way. KD

Hari and Aino - Second Song

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy The Single: Your Heartache and Mine
Year: 2007

You probably already know that the Mock Turtles wrote ‘Can You Dig It?’ but did you know that their lead singer Martin Coogan is Alan Partridge’s brother? Even more startling is the revelation that their major hit was originally a b-side to ‘Lay Me Down’, a pseudo psychedelic effort with an altogether easy charm. The Mock Turtles were an enigma who were capable of bright rays of glorious pop as well as a fair percentage of pedestrian gambles on what a madchester anthem should sound like. But any group capable of the kaleidoscope of noise that is ‘And Then She Smiles’ deserves a mention in the annals of rock history. The song flings shards of Hammond and knits threads of jangle into a vocal turn that portrays all the excitement of what it feels like when a girl you fancy smiles back. KD

The Mock Turtles - And Then She Smiles

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Watch The Video To Lay Me Down

More Info: The Mock Turtles
Buy Album: [UK] Turtle Soup [US] Turtle Soup
Year: 1990