Arne-J Rauan and a few others from Larvik in Norway play in a band called Bellman. Nothing too astounding about that but once you hear ‘Spaceship, Move Slow!’ you’ll probably be like me hanging on every factoid about this collective. The details are sketchy at best at the moment but I sense a robust and meticulously researched wiki entry once their debut drops this winter. ‘Spaceship, Move Slow!’ is a pert little thing, atmospheric, almost alien in nature (!) with it’s slowly revealing charms befitting the sort of addictive late night pleasures it will doubtlessly inspire. File under that yellow folder marked x-files. KD

Bellman - Spaceship, Move Slow!

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Soon
Year: 2007

One of Ride’s most beautiful compositions was tucked away as a b-side on one of their majestic EP’s from the early 1990’s. The subject matter will forever provoke morbid fascination mixed with a sneaking regard for the brilliant rogue that had the women swooning and who was to succumb to an unpleasant but highly preventable death. ‘Howard Hughes’ wasn’t your typical Ride song, stripped of the effervescent guitar rampages it instead relied on Mark Gardener’s voice, a haunting organ riff and Andy Bell’s echo filled chords. It proved once and for all what a gift the Oxford quartet were, as well as the inspired shoegaze din that they are best remembered for they were also capable of creating a beautiful tune. If you don’t believe me just listen to the final 2 minutes instrumentation on ‘Howard Hughes’, it still breaks my heart into little sparkly pieces 15 years after it did it for the first time. KD

Ride - Howard Hughes

Watch The Video To Vapour Trail (and then weep)

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Ride
Year: 1992

Glen Hansard has poured over half his life into the Frames but they have yet to taste success on the international stage. His acting work on the other hand, while minimal in quantity, has seen him star in the popular yet hugely overrated ‘The Commitments’ and the more recent indie production ‘Once’. The latter has been become a sleeper hit and its success seems to be gathering momentum. The evidence thusfar has tended to prove that Hansard’s celluloid appearances have had little sales impact on the Frames impressive back catalogue. Here is a band that are Irish to the core, boasting a devout set of fans but an equally large set of divisive detractors. Much of the animosity is as a result of Hansard himself who has a painful propensity for veering between awkward sentimentality and oily ego whenever he opens his mouth. But, that shouldn’t detract from what is an attractive musical proposition, one that has on occasion produced stone cold classics (‘For The Birds’ and live album ‘Setlist’ are near faultless). That and the bands periodic wondrous descents into all things Willy Wonka, as exampled in this marathon of a song ‘Dance The Devil Back Into His Hole’. KD

The Frames - Dance The Devil Back Into His Hole

Watch The Video To Star Star

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Frames
Year: 1999

Despite some frequent usage on big name adverts the Bees from the Isle of Wight remain curiously unheard of. It’s a mystery really as the collective produce a user-friendly line in sixties memorabilia. Their latest album ‘Octopus’ came out earlier this year but despite a raft of critical applause has remained distinctly under the radar. Perhaps their Christmas tour with Madness in December will change all that. What a house of fun that will be. ‘These Are The Ghosts’ is taken from their middle album ‘Free The Bees’ which was appropriately recorded at Abbey Road Studios. It features all the components that should turn you on to the Bees. Honeyed (!) harmonies, psychedelic instrumentation and a slightly bare cupboard production style applies context for an era the band so obviously wish to recreate. Buy their albums and treat yourself to more of their tricks. KD

The Bees - These Are The Ghosts

Watch The Video To Wash In The Rain

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Bees
Year: 2004

You should know Brian Sendrowitz’s Beat Radio by now. Just last year he presented his album ‘The Great Big Sea’ as a free download from his website. No contributions required, not even a fickle transaction fee (what was that all about?). The response from downloaders was positive and Beat Radio have a mountain of goodwill on their side. Doesn’t pay the bills but sometimes genuine acclaim is worth more than a vault of gold. Beat Radio are proving once again in 2007 that the first record wasn’t a fluke of charm. Just listen to this demo ‘Stranger Flowers’ which again recreates that universally warm feeling you get from listening to the New York based outfit. Softer than most lullabies it is characterised by an unhurried delivery and Sendrowitz’s gentle tones. Restores your faith. KD

Beat Radio - Stranger Flowers

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Beat Radio
Year: 2007

Makes you feel a bit inadequate when you happen upon artists like Peter Adams. Barely into his twenties Adams has an uncanny knack for knocking together splendid collections of songs. His star is in the ascendancy and when it finally hangs at its highest point in the sky it will outshine all others. ‘The Seventh Seal’ is evidence enough for his eventual world domination, glory in that voice (Kelly Jones without the annoyingly laboured husk factor), bask in the string arrangements (he has been playing the violin since he was 3) and revel in an idiosyncratic song structure (there’s gold in them thar rainbows) that announces a burgeoning talent about to explode. It is taken from Adams in-between record ‘Conversation With The Moon’ as a prelude to his next full length (his debut ‘The Spiral Eyes’ came out in 2005). Gasp, I almost choked. KD

Peter Adams - The Seventh Seal

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Peter Adams
Year: 2007

I am posting this song for no other reason than the fact that I love the sweet jangling chords. Byrdsian in their execution they could have been surrounded by a non-entity of a song and I would still have been enamoured. As it is the song isn’t half bad with Beth Filla’s seductive vocals proving the perfect foil for the chiming chords. The Trolleyvox have been around for a couple of decades yet their undeniable appetite for the game saw them recently release a double album titled ‘Your Secret Safe/Luzerne’. Andrew Chalfen’s guitar playing is reason enough to seek out the Trolleyvox, maybe then it can be their turn turn turn in the spotlight. KD

The Trolleyvox - Jean Jacket

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Trolleyvox
Year: 2007

Some songs are just nice, some even go so far as to not sound icky. ‘Ghetto Tested’ is one of those, so perfectly harmless but with enough gumption to get to the third listen. You'll find it on John Ralston’s ‘Sorry Vampire’, a set of emo tinged vignettes that are assured of at least a medium sized audience. There is nothing particularly challenging about ‘Ghetto Tested’ yet it’s hard to discard it due to Ralston’s mazy vocal dribbles that more often than not hit their target. The sound is polished, something you’d expect from an artist on his 4th full length (1 as the Legends of Rodeo). One imagines that if Ralston could wield a little more of the experimental spirit that permeates at the start of the song he could be onto something altogether more special. KD

John Ralston - Ghetto Tested

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: John Ralston
Year: 2007

Dale Grundle is probably tucked away in a long forgotten part of your heart. He was a central cog in the Catchers, an act from Northern Ireland with a gift for understated beauties. The band even swayed Richard Kirby of Nick Drake fame to do the arrangements on their second album ‘Stooping To Fit’. Alas it wasn’t meant to be and the Catchers have been inactive since 1999 (apart from a small reunion tour late last year). Grundle it seems is determined to break our hearts all over again though with his new solo project the Sleeping Years which he only initiated a few months back. And thusfar he has succeeded with the first two of a proposed trilogy of 5 track EP’s which have had limited runs of 500 and 750 apiece. ‘You and Me Against The World’ is the title track from the first release and amounts to a fragile piece of acoustic pop recorded in the singers’ own home. Intimacy on this level rarely comes along so like the previous EP’s upcoming release ‘Clocks and Clones’ should sell out in a nanosecond. Expect plenty of blogger love and tear drowned cardigans. KD

The Sleeping Years - You And Me Against The World

Watch The Video To Macosquin, Coleraine

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Buy Songs: The Sleeping Years
Year: 2007

‘Never Loved Elvis’ was their biggest success but for me the quintessential Wonder stuff album was ‘Hup’. Just browsing through the track listing it is difficult to pick out any filler but maybe it’s just the fog of my lolloping youth that makes ‘Cartoon Boyfriend’, ‘Piece of Sky’ and ‘Can’t Shape Up’ feel like a never ending party. A party that is about as relevant as Joe Bloggs jeans at this stage but there were always something adorable about the sub 3-minute gems that Miles Hunt and his posse created. Despite an acrimonious break up in the mid-nineties the Wonder Stuff reformed in the early part of this century. They even recorded 2 new albums but I daren’t step within their vicinity, it’s one thing listening to an ego like Miles Hunt with a head full of curls but something altogether more distressing about the wiser and overly gelled version. Long live the eight legged groove machine I say. KD

The Wonder Stuff - Can't Shape Up

Watch The Video To Don't Let Me Down Gently

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Buy Songs: The Wonder Stuff
Year: 1989

Flippin heck, I’ve just spent the guts of half an hour trying to find a place online that stocks 6pm’s ‘Far From Perfect’. Ok, the beast that is itunes seems to have it but I don’t feel like going through a computer crash this evening. The reason I am so determined to find a source for this album is because it’s pretty ace and deserves to get a decent airing outside of its native Spain. ‘Far From Perfect’ is a rambling experimental juggernaut that also bursts forth with freshly prepared pop tunes. The vocals and general demeanour is that of a Scandinavian product (Iceland territory, Leaves-que) but that might be just be a general feature of voices that don’t have English as their natural tongue. ‘Homemade Screener’ is the obvious lead single but if you look beyond the initial pleasures there are some gorgeously unwieldy affairs that will linger longer in the memory. ‘Crossfading Natures’ is one such, always seductive it grows with every listen to become at some point down the line a handsome treat. Damn you google, why are you failing me now? KD

6pm - Crossfading Natures

Watch The Video To Homemade Screener

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: 6pm (?)
Year: 2006

Surely anyone with a sense of what perfect pop should sound like would be floored by the purest melodies that Camera Obscura produce? That and the fact that a Camera Obscura record so often sounds like it could have been made back in the time when buying a piece of vinyl was almost as important as picking up the weekly groceries. Led by the dreamy tonsilled chanteuse Tracyanne Campbell Camera Obscura are a multi-membered pop combo from Glasgow. Their career has been closely aligned with their neighbours Belle & Sebastian with Stuart Murdoch going so far as to producing their earlier records. Of late (to these ears at least) Camera Obscura have even surpassed their more illustrious contemporaries with their spellbinding 3rd album ‘Let’s Get Out Of This Country’. Boasting their best ever song ‘Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken’ it is littered with at least another half dozen gems including this one ‘If Looks Could Kill’. This is how Motown should sound in the noughties and if you are of a mood it will reduce you to a blubbering crybaby. Absolutely magical. KD

Camera Obscura - If Looks Could Kill

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Buy Songs: Camera Obscura
Year: 2006

Drakes Hotel is more than a place to eat and sleep, it’s now a destination to rest your weary ears from the sewer that is the mainstream. Despite their widescreen approach Drakes Hotel are only 2, a girl named Amy Drake and a man who is enigmatically titled Chris Y. Together they blaze a trail that should appeal to a shoegaze audience who have really been spoilt of late. ‘Broadcast To The Addicted’ opens the bands new album 'Tell Me Everything' with a big and bold statement of intent. The drums are pronounced and loud, the chords melt with sonic ingenuity and the 2 protagonists chew on a slogan that should be sprayed on walls wherever graffiti is practised. There is certainly a sense of the nocturnal about Drakes Hotel, a feeling that if the vampires of this world were to scrawl band names on their school bags then this would be a likely candidate. KD

Drakes Hotel - Broadcast To The Addicted

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Buy Songs: Drakes Hotel
Year: 2007

Remember this song is over 9 minutes long so don’t be giving up the ghost after the opening minutes of strung out guitar feedback. Sure there are some industrial strength waves of screeching chords present throughout but beneath the mayhem there is a living and breathing tune. Brad Laner was responsible for the terrific racket but he took his inspiration from several European shoegazing outfits (most especially My Bloody Valentine and the Jesus & Mary Chain, if one could ever label the latter a shoegaze entity). ‘One More’ was the cataclysmic opener on Medicine’s debut album ‘Shot Forth Self Living’ and it will probably be a case of love or hate for most people. Give it a go on the morning commute and see how your day transforms from the humdrum to the remarkably invigorating. Even at the height of their fame Medicine were virtual unknowns but at least they are guaranteed a never ending audience after their inclusion on the soundtrack to the gothic masterpiece ‘The Crow’. Take one of these at regular intervals, it may even make you feel like the Stereophonics never existed. KD

Medicine - One More

Watch The Video To Aruca

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Buy Songs: Medicine
Year: 1992

You just can’t beat a twee bit of indie pop. Descendants of the Beach Boys and masters of the glockenspiel the Crayon Fields are that rare breed that follow in the same vein as the Boy Least Likely To but whose audio alcopops never taste icky after several servings. Led by Geoff O’Connor the Melbourne quartet sound remarkably young yet they have 5 years playing together behind them already. ‘Animal Bells’, their debut, only appeared in Europe this summer and it’s a wonder we’ve survived so long without it. ‘Do It First’ has an effortless swagger, that drains vital ingredients from the musical heritage of the Monkees, the Byrds and Brian Wilson’s crew. The result is wonderfully executed pristine pop that retains a wide-eyed sense of adventure that should see the Crayon Fields plough even richer pastures on the follow up. KD

The Crayon Fields - Do It First

Watch The Video To Living So Well

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Buy Songs: The Crayon Fields
Year: 2007

If you don’t know by now Test Icicles were dropped or decided to drop from view and are no more. The surprising thing is that this happened early last year and I’ve just found out. The reason, well with a name like that (they were previously called Balls) I didn’t think they were worth the effort. Foolish me, ‘What’s Your Damage’ is utterly brilliant even if the tune I’ve fallen for is an elaborate Alan Braxe and Fred Falke remix of their single ‘What’s Your Damage’. In fact this take is several planets away from the original, being bolstered by an inspired trance like forage, a mammoth hairy beat and blood thirsty rabid vocals. For a band so seemingly in touch with the power of the internet Test Icicles have left little or no official trace apart from a random Wiki and their Domino page. They will be remembered though (in these ears anyway) for their collaborators truly lucid moment of genius. KD

Test Icicles - What's Your Damage (Remix)

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Buy Songs: Test Icicles
Year: 2006

Ben Cooper is one half of Electric President but he also moonlights on his solo project Radical Face that had its inaugural (LP) release earlier this year. It is called ‘Ghost’ and anyone with a certain gra for low ebbed electronica will be sold on its charms. In fact if I’d been clever I could have waited a week and posted ‘Haunted’ and thereby given this blog the sort of topicality it so desperately lacks. But, as ever I let the music that stokes my heart rule what ultimately ends up here. And heck, with the cold days and long nights drawing close ‘Winter is Coming’ does have its foot half way in the door. The song is a driven affair, constantly changing pitch; its shifting momentum will make your heart swell, as much it will confuse your head. Lyrics swish by with the intensity of a gale while the instrument blizzard will makes driving over 20 mph a near impossibility. KD

Radical Face - Winter Is Coming

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Ghost [US] Ghost
Year: 2007

Could Brooklyn be the new Sweden? Just about now there are more bands spilling out of that neighbourhood than anywhere else. Elephant Parade are a boy/girl combo with a lo-fi aesthetic which saw them recording their debut album in the comfortable surroundings of several New York bedrooms. That description and you can pretty much picture how it’s going to sound. The catch is that no matter how many times they play their calling card it’s impossible not be enamoured. Estelle has been with us before with Human Television and her voice seems to have been made to tip toe around fragile instrumentation. ‘Goodbye’ is perhaps as technicolor as Elephant Parade get with the playful organ challenging the sweet vocals for the most precious ingredient award. Sadly this fragile piece of music is over before the 90-second mark so to compensate ‘For You’ is also included here. File under bedroom recordings to rock you to sleep. KD

Elephant Parade - Goodbye all is not lost

Elephant Parade - For You all is not lost

Watch The Video To Goodbye

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Elephant Parade
Year: 2006

Reading Jon Hardy’s story made me happy and then it made me sad. There is certainly less emotional drainage in listening to his hushed music and that’s what I am going to concentrate on for this paragraph. But, then again ‘Cassius Clay’ isn’t exactly ideal material to back up a casual trot through the Sunday newspapers. Melancholy just seeps from its melodious spine, the male/female (I can't stop hearing Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue in his voice) dynamics create a sense of deep loss and the effect could likely have you welling up like me just now as I tissue a battered keyboard. But, that’s music in a nutshell, pretty much disposable unless it has some effect on you whether it be to make you smile, give you the goosebumps, have you dancing or in this case wishing that Jon Hardy and his band can someday be venerated at rock’s highest altar. KD

Jon Hardy & The Public - Cassius Clay all is not lost

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Jon Hardy & The Public
Year: 2007

For anyone who’s never being to their part of the universe welcome to the land of Sigur Rós. It’s a barren place but one where the lonely yet inspirational souls that live there do their best to make you feel welcome. In truth Sigur Rós are a quartet from Reykjavík, Iceland and have no peers. They make the most wondrous music imaginable. The words they use are for the most part defunct, or gibberish as the band describe it, a hybrid not accessible to anyone. While this may smack of smug elitism to some, looking at it another way it would be pretty nigh impossible to find the right words to soothe the uniformly beautiful music that Sigur Rós make. So lead singer Jónsi Birgisson’s utterances never deflect attention with, say, boy meets girl scenarios instead they become part of the cathedral of sound. It has been 2 years since their last release ‘Takk’ and the follow up, which is due out next month, will be a mix of the visual (‘Heima’ tour documentary) and audio (the soundrack ‘Hvarf-Heim’). Sigur Rós videos tend to be open mouthed affairs so expect plenty of tear inducing moments as the band play shows across their homeland. ‘Starálfur’ is a track from the bands debut ‘Ágætis Byrjun’ which still sounds utterly magical 8 years on. KD

Sigur Rós - Starálfur all is not lost

Watch The Trailer For Heima

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Buy Songs: Sigur Rós
Year: 1999

Imagine toiling away in the music industry for 15 years and then having to pick up the courage to create a myspace page. Must take enormous self-belief and a deep love for creating music and for that reason alone Swivel Chairs must be applauded. And that’s all before you even hear the honeyed melodies that spill from their current record ‘The Slow Transmission’. Jeremy Grites and Jason Brown musical journey started out in a dorm room way back in 1992 and over the intervening period they happened upon a beautiful sound that defines their latest LP. Easy on the ears this is the sort of charming pop that should be on radio playlists the world over. But as we all know the world is a cruel place and most playlist makers tend to be cloth eared gombeens. ‘Easy Now’ drifts in and out of alt country yet the harmonies wouldn’t sound out of place on a stellar Teenage Fanclub album. KD

Swivel Chairs - Easy Now

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Swivel Chairs
Year: 2007

How to replicate the sound of a whistling man on a text space? Pretty much impossible but perhaps if you listen to this song a couple of times you’ll be able to supply the low piercing noise yourself. You see ‘Walk In The Park’ is a perfect little record, soft and clean lined and at just 2.23 perfectly suited to timing your morning runny one. The Austin based quartet Oh No! Oh My! appear to be big fans of the exclamation mark yet their music betrays that sense of dramatics, instead they concentrate efforts on sublimely simple melodies that are beyond the comprehension of most bands. There’s a certain sense of Belle & Sebastian to the twee utterances (with the lyrics deliciously falling right out of sync with the glee music on occasion) of ‘Walk In The Park’, which if you are in the know will brighten your day. This has appeal for every surviving member of your family tree, it may even save Christmas after the remote refuses to budge. KD

Oh No! Oh My! - Walk In The Park

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Oh No! Oh My!
Year: 2006

Ok, I am really going off on a tangent tonight. For this evening alone I will discard a natural tendency for jangling pop wonders and instead focus on something a tad meatier. This time the music comes from Copenhagen but was conceived by solo artist Jannis Noya Makrigiannis, who trades under the Choir of Young Believers, after creative stints in Berlin and a small Greek village. As growers go what Makrigiannis produces is akin to a Mendocino. Initially you’ll flap about for your kicks but this one takes a good deal of time to ferment. And when it does you’ll drink copiously from the sonic stew. ‘Apart’ directs its overwhelming passion through discrete prisms of noise, catching you off guard along the way and rendering all other distractions in this fast moving world totally defunct. KD

Choir of Young Believers - Apart

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Buy Songs: Choir of Young Believers
Year: 2007

Oh the pleasure in hearing something so utterly unique and so oddly appropriate for this ghost laden time of the year. Condor Moments are a 22 year old prospect and come from Blackpool but they could have so easily have been formed last January in an arty Berlin suburb. Unclassifiable you see, perhaps the only way I could pinpoint their sound is if Super Furry Animals were to record (Akron/Family’s) ‘Ed Is A Portal’, then shredded the master tape and put it all back together in no particular order. You see ‘(I Hope) Raymond (Is Still Alive)’ is completely bonkers. And not mad as in angry, just plain nuts, I mean this is the band who turned down J Masics (Dinosaur Jr) when he auditioned to be a guitarist with the band. Apparently the long hair dude was super distraught with the negative reaction and caused a bit of a freak scene. And you can recreate that magic moment over and over on Condor Moments brand new album, the hardly trips off your tongue, ‘And Though We're Told We've Got It All, the All We've Got Is Freezing Cold’. If you've got any sense you'll put this in your pipe and smoke it. KD

Condor Moments - (I Hope) Raymond (Is Still Alive)

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy The Album: Condor Moments
Year: 2007

Ever wondered what a lottery winner on acid would be like? Thought not, but for the curious you can find all the answers on this Camden 5-piece’s debut album ‘Tragedy Rocks’. Despite producing a hit single the Crimea were dropped by their label soon after the album came out. Their reaction was typical for a band who have were once called the Crockettes, they decided to give their sophomore away for nowt. And as you know the best things in life are free which makes the ‘Secrets of the Witching Hour’ one of the albums of the year. Davey MacManus’s voice may take a little getting used to but you’ll soon learn to cherish the little bugger as well as the sometimes baggy instrumentation. ‘Loop a Loop’ is one of my favourites, it just charms its way into your world much like a newborn puppy. Believe me you’ll be singing along to this by the end of the evening but make sure the kids are in bed before you do owing to lyrics like 'Throw another small child on the fire. I'm trying to build an empire.' You can download ‘Secrets of the Witching Hour’ here and be glad that you don’t even have to pay an admin fee. Almost 67,000 people have done so already. Label schmable. KD

The Crimea - Loop a Loop

Watch The Video To Lottery Winners On Acid

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Buy More Songs: The Crimea
Year: 2007

It was sitting there for the longest time. Adem it said and ‘Launch Yourself’ it was named but I had resisted believing that such an alias could only be the work of a rapper or hip-hop artist. Now, I must say I’m partial to a little Plan B, Streets and Beastie Boys but these genres are generally just not my bag. So largely thanks to a mistimed shuffle ‘Launch Yourself’ appeared from the speakers. It was enticing, sparse and had me jumping from my Porridge. You may have already come across Adem Ilhan on his work as bass player with British instrumentalists Fridge but his solo work has seen him travelling down a completely different path. ‘Launch Yourself’ is taken from his second LP ‘Love & Other Planets’ which came out last year. The song is delicately patterned, nothing is overdone just neatly polished for maximum impact at minimum volume. By the finish you’ll likely be fully mesmerised by Ilhan's softly repeating mantra. A work of quiet genius. KD

Adem - Launch Yourself

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Buy Album: Love & Other Planets
Year: 2006

It may not be that old but ‘To Live and Die in the Airport Lounge’ from Brooklyn’s My Teenage Stride sounds like it could have come from about 1986, perhaps stuck to a weekly music magazine and contained in a crude media device known as a cassette tape. This is representative of a time when the plume of jangling guitars filled the air and voices like the one Jedediah Smith owns were the thing of legend. But, My Teenage Stride are from the here and now and quietly go about their business releasing albums dotted with crested pop gems. At times they employ a technique that reminds one of a charging Wedding Present with chords spun with the dynamism of an airplane propeller. I’d take this over a caffeine fix any day of the week. KD

My Teenage Stride - To Live And Die In The Airport Lounge

Watch The Video To They Are Alone In Their Principles

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Ears Like Golden Bats
Year: 2007

This could so easily have fallen off the assembly line of Sesame Street songs that didn’t quite make the cut. Or, since these 2 ladies are from Waterford perhaps it would have been more appropriate as an entry in Bosco’s catalogue of lost songs. ‘Sugar Shake The Cool Away’ is near infantile but with those accents mixed in with what sounds like the lite version of fruity loops the result is a genuinely quirky treat. Maebh and Megan are undoubtedly lasses about town and ‘Sugar Shake The Cool Away’ is a gentle hopscotch through a lively evening with the pair. Could be an interesting journey for You’re Only Massive and one that could ultimately lead them to the magic door of success. KD

You're Only Massive - Sugar Shake The Cool Away

More Info: Official & Myspace
Year: 2007

Perhaps I am getting older but the more life ticks by the more I find myself falling for the sound acoustic troubadours make. Whereas once I would have discarded anything resembling a snotty short-trousered balladeer with his stories of unrequited love I now let them have their say before casting judgement. The most recent to pass the test with flying colours is Jacob Golden from down Oregon way. Quite how he manages to continually invent with just the basics of the trade is one of life’s sweet mysteries but his burning talent is there for all to see on his new album ‘Revenge Songs’. The album is for the most part low ebbed and atmospheric yet it is a wildly exciting listen. And to think that many of the songs on show are little more than demos pieced together in scattered bedrooms. If you are one of privileged few to have fallen for the sadly departed Matthew Jay then there are likely to be more than crumbs of comfort in this immaculate new talent. KD

Jacob Golden - On A Saturday

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Revenge Songs
Year: 2007

You can now buy this song and the rest of the album on our record label Indiecater Records here!

Some things just weren’t meant to be, no matter how beautiful the creation. Sunbear were a short-lived quartet from Dublin who produced a spellbinding album and follow up EP way back in the mid nineties. Martin Kelly was the lead vocalist with the choirboy dream pop tonsils who could propel the jangling instrumentation into the realms of greatness. Of course, that greatness was under appreciated despite a pocket of critical love. One wonders how they would fare in an internet age where a small budget doesn’t necessarily hinder the distribution possibilities. ‘Flutterbye’ is a fey runaway, infested by a melancholic disposition yet ripe with possibilities. You’ll cherish the innocence and in an effort to embrace the sadness softly pinch its rosy cheek. KD

Sunbear - Flutterbye

Watch The Video To Notebook

More Info: Official & Myspace
Year: 1994

If you're searching for a cushion for your senses this bright Sunday morning then you should try this particularly comfy one for size. Philadelphia’s the Capitol Years are pretty much a perfect fit actually because they like to drench their ditties in sucrose harmonies. And why rush onwards to the chorus when the bridge can be just as disarmingly beautiful. You’ll appreciate the Capitol Years even more because they are giving their first 2 albums away free (you can donate something if you must, what a novel idea). Before you do that though just bask in the warm summer haze of ‘Let Them Drink’. Analysing the sweetness you’ll spot that there are only 2 moving parts, the acoustically drawn chords and Shai Halperin’s sixties tinged vocals. This is a sound that just hovers in the air majestically like a hummingbird with a beak filled with nectar. KD

The Capitol Years - Let Them Drink

Watch The Video To You Can Stay There

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Buy Songs: The Capitol Years
Year: 2006

If one was to be suckered in by the hyperbole surrounding Radiohead’s latest release you could be forgiven for thinking that they are the great innovators (musically certainly but otherwise read on). Up to this point trying to get a worthwhile free download from the Oxford lads would have required a PHD in html mp3 extraction. The truth is that they are the highest profile act to jump on to the mp3 give away bandwagon, which is the music bloggers lifeline and one we have pinched from for several years now. Some careful searching pre the ‘In Rainbows’ roadshow would have revealed a raft of top quality free album’s from artists with an already good profile. Examples include Explosions In The Sky ‘The Rescue’, The Crimea ‘Secrets Of The Witching Hour’ and pretty much all of the Brian Jonestown Massacre’s back catalogue. So Radiohead have tapped into an already vibrant car boot giveaway, from which they will extract the maximum ticket sales, merchandise and limited edition hard copy editions. Many are sure to follow in their wake (hurray, it must be said). They are undoubtedly clever blokes but not quite the wide eyed visionaries the press would have you believe. For that particular accolade here are the BJM. KD

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Prozak Vs Heroin

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Prozak Vs Heroin Revisited

Watch The Video To Here It Comes

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy BJM Merch: T-Shirts
Year: 2006

If ever a man was made to do the job he does it is Thurston Moore. Seemingly ageless his slacker sense of style never looks awkward on a man who is well into his late forties. His band Sonic Youth have enough songs to fill a decent sized hard drive and for the most part the quality is high. Despite a deep groundswell of love for the group they have never moved beyond the sidelines, in fact at this stage you couldn’t even call them impact subs. That said they continually rewrite their own unblotted copybook, even going so far as adopting a fresh melodic approach over the last few albums. And now we have Thurston going out on a limb with a solo album (not his first mind, 'Psychic Hearts' came out way back in 1995) that confirms his new found love for the sweeter side of an underground seam he virtually dug himself. ‘Trees Outside The Academy’ has a fluffy welcome mat at its door so even those who shy away from frenetic feedback invention will be enamoured. ‘Fri/End’ is the happy go lucky promo from the album that sees Moore in particularly jaunty humour. The chords dance a merry jig while the string section ferret about like a squirrel just minutes before winter hibernation. So Thurston has finally dropped the dirty and in the process become Moore the merrier. KD

Thurston Moore - Fri/End

Watch The Video To SY's Bull In The Heather

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Thurston Moore
Year: 2007

***This is this site's 1,000th post, here's to the next millenium***

Five men from Atlanta is all it took to make this 3 and a half minute wonderment. The group are collectively known as Slushco and despite having been on this earth together for over 3 years they only have 2 EP’s to show for their efforts. Further inspection reveals a quality over quantity aesthetic, dip in wherever you want in either release and you’ll be taken in by the beautiful noise on offer. Grandaddy are a close relative and following in that grand tradition Slushco aren’t scared to sandpaper their clean harmonies with fuzzy instrumentation. ‘Getting Through A Normal Day’ starts unremarkably like a Coldplay dirge and were it not for the introduction of Brian Slusher’s (see, Slush and Co.) warm vocals a couple of megabytes of honeyed noise would soon have been vaporised to the recycle bin. But, things improve drastically and ‘Getting Through A Normal Day’ quickly becomes a thing that most people could end up humming uncontrollably. KD

Slushco - Getting Through A Normal Day

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Slushco EP
Year: 2005

For many reasons this song takes the biscuit in the naffness stakes but for some untold reason it has worked its wicked way into my affections. Giving disposability a fighting chance of reasonable longevity White Shoes & The Couples Company can’t be faulted for their endless enthusiasm. This is quite simply a song that could have been produced in any one of the last 4 decades such is its timeless take on the art of pop. Then at times it sounds like latter day Belle & Sebastian after they decided to get out of the dorm and into the sunshine. The Jakarta foursome have been together since college and were recently snapped up by the Chicago label Minty Fresh which should ensure that there are some good times ahead. The bands current album was originally released in Indonesia in 2005 and picked up a very respectable 15K sales. ‘Tentanng Cita’ has huge potential to reach a wide audience, in fact it could just be the soundtrack to trigger a thousand smiles. KD

White Shoes & The Couples Company - Tentanng Cita

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: White Shoes & The Couples Company
Year: 2007

I think it’s fair to say Dan Deacon is comfortable in his own skin. And why shouldn’t he be allowed to wear outlandish gear when he can pull songs as wildly electrifying as ‘Crystal Cat’ from his innards. You’ll read much about Deacon’s famed live shows but even if you are scared to go outside the door his new album ‘Spiderman of the Rings’ can supply you with the inside track. The most pronounced example of Deacon’s genius can be heard on the dance insanity that is ‘The Crystal Cat’. Deacon keeps his vocal in line for a bit before unleashing his strangled Daffy Duck impression that may take a bit of getting used to. As you attempt to weld your severed listening nodes back together again witness how the rest of your body has swung into a routine not unlike an overloaded twin tub. And the best news is that Deacon and the ace Videohippos are hitting Irish shores late next month. Could be the perfect introduction to the mayhem of the holiday season. In the meantime put this sigue sigue in your spudnik. KD

Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Dan Deacon
Year: 2007

Brooklyn bound again dear readers even if Ola Podrida’s mainman David Wingo comes from much further south. For the most part his laid back self-titled debut is not much more than a whispered tale over a bed of acoustically manoeuvred guitar strings. For those who find this sort of prospect a tad wearisome it must be remarked that Wingo has a masters degree in making the unremarkable sound fresh and interesting. And there are times like on ‘Cindy’ when he even leaves his rocking chair to wig out in a whirlwind of activity (see also ‘Lost and Found’). ‘Cindy’ starts out like most of ‘Old Podrida’ all hushed and moody reminding one of Iron and Wine. But, Sam Beam’s beard is soon dispensed with amid a charging cavalcade of instrumentation that tops off Wingo’s slightly raised wails. This is akin to a breath of fresh air in the unrelenting midday heat of a Texan desert. KD

Ola Podrida - Cindy

Watch The Video To Photo Booth

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Ola Podrida
Year: 2007

MGMT’s debut ‘Oracular Spectacular’ was produced by Dave Fridmann and already I can picture ears being cocked all over the place. If that wasn’t enough they have just signed to Columbia Records who probably have a huge wallet preparing a media onslaught to blind our senses. Not terribly indie you might say but who cares when the Brooklyn duo can turn what initially sounds like a tinny Snow Patrol cover into a blazing electronic montage to light up your aural cavities. Yep, ‘Time To Pretend’ may have its motivation birthed in soft MOR but MGMT see fit to serve it up amid a cloud of vibrant digitalisation. The effect is an uplifting fuzzy delight that should knock a few Of Montreal fans sideways as the 2 bands tour together over the next few months. KD

MGMT - Time To Pretend

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Oracular Spectacular (somewhere?)
Year: 2007

Bottom of the Hudson have had to deal with unspeakable tragedy over the last couple of months after their tour van was involved in an accident and bassist Trevor Butler was killed. Drummer Greg Lytle was also seriously injured but thankfully is out of harms way. The bands label Absolutely Kosher has set up an appeal fund for Trevor’s family and Greg’s medical bills. You can make a donation here. Bottom of the Hudson had been touring to promote their new album ‘Fantastic Hawk’ when the accident occurred. KD

Bottom Of The Hudson - Bee Hive

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Bottom Of The Hudson
Year: 2007

I put this song to ground about 3 months ago with the intention of returning at a later date to dissect. The reason, well it’s a pretty torrid listen, at least until you crack its near impenetrable code. Yep, a cursory look at my last.fm account shows I’m well into double figures in the listening stakes and only now has the fog that surrounds ‘Bag of Bags’ started to clear. But it has been worth the effort, think Animal Collective at their least forgiving but with all the nice bits hidden in corners you didn’t even think existed. The Brooklyn quartet are your quintessential bedroom experimentalists, destined to inhabit the margins but also capable of deeply touching those who suffer to make the connection. ‘Bag of Bags’ is the opener from their soon to be released long EP called ‘Red Bloom of the Boom’ (they don’t make it easy for us do they!). Approach with caution, this bears' got plenty of teeth. KD

Bear In Heaven - Bag Of Bags

Watch The Video To For Beauty

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Red Bloom of the Boom
Year: 2007

Oh no you say, not another indie take on Baltic music that became so de rigour for a time last year. Thankfully, before you can say Tallinn those initial impressions are pushed to the side by the bright-eyed movements of Manchester’s Kni9hts. Still unsigned but displaying an uncanny knack for dreamy harmonies this is an act with most of the essentials to succeed. The most obvious drawback could be that awful name, I’ve already misspelled it about a dozen times in this short paragraph alone (i was never good at texting). Moniker aside ‘Day of the Dove’ is a lush reminder of the power of a winning chorus with Carlo Briffa’s vocals picking up where Ride’s Mark Gardner left off. The angular chords give the tune that extra cinematic feeling, something that close neighbours Doves would be proud to call their own. In fact, like Doves, Kni9hts could yet become the football fans' favourite new band after a recent appearance on MUTV. KD

Kni9hts - Day Of The Dove

Watch The Video For The Dig

More Info: Official & Myspace
Year: 2007

Miss the urgency and melody rush of the first couple of Strokes albums? Well, a perfect tonic could be on its way from one of the least expected sources. British Sea Power come from the south of England and on their last album ‘Open Season’ seemed more taken with the Great War and shrubbery than any wilful desire to create a blistering classic. But, there are clues to this delightfully surprising turn of events given the links to madcap sonic adventurists Brakes (x3 if you live stateside). Anyway, as a taster for the 3rd BSP album the band are about to unleash the 'Krankenhaus' EP. The lead track is called ‘Atom’ and it should go down a bomb with lovers of spiky student anthems. For once this most cerebral of bands drops its bookcase of hardbacks and instead bursts forward with a dedicated passion. KD

British Sea Power - Atom

Watch The Video It Ended On An Oily Stage

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy More Songs: British Sea Power
Year: 2007

Not the game, more the one man army from Northern Europe. Little Big Adventure (previously Penny Century) uses a ‘mediocrity is me’ tagline on his myspace page, hmmm, a pessimist in an industry rife with egos is something to embrace I suppose. Little Big Adventure pedals a neat line in down tempo electronica that often transforms itself into a bold and brave sound. In fact ‘The Easiest Thing’ has the potential to be a discerning dancefloor favourite were such a thing to exist. It might not stack up that linear yet its grooves are at least a match for anything the Knife or Royksopp could invent and you know how good they are. Little Big Adventure doesn’t like to give much away apart from a raft of mp3’s which are evenly spread throughout his near wordless site. For once the music is left to do all the talking. KD

Little Big Adventure - The Easiest Thing

More Info: Official & Myspace
Year: 2007

Nothing surprises me more than finding out that a band I love have to work a 9-to-5 to make ends meet. Must be a bit soul destroying knowing that there are countless people out there who think you are genius and next thing you’re in a dusty office taking a dress down from a square in a crumpled suit. Ah well, such a cruel world, a world where Scott Reitherman gingerly files a clump of papers while dreaming about what his new record is going to sound like. Hopefully not too different from his current one because Reitherman as Throw Me The Status has crafted a colossus on his debut ‘Moonbeams’. Savvy but not afraid to wear a youthful demeanour it is a excellent addition to the record label Reitherman and his mates have set up (Baskerville Hill Records) down Seattle way. ‘Conquering Kids’ is a song for the Grizzly Bear generation with a slow tempo and a sweet chorus you’ll struggle to sing along with. Somehow I think this temping lark will only be a short term gig. KD

Throw Me The Statue - Conquering Kids

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Moonbeams
Year: 2007

These shards of electronic pulses are obscure I guess and I must apologise for hoisting them upon you on a day of rest but I’m too enraptured to desist. Redmalm is one David Redmalm from Uppsala in Sweden who has his fingers in several different musical enterprises including an ace band called Frankly My Dear. The latter dish out sweet indie pop numbers like they are going out of fashion so Redmalm must be a nice excuse for David to let his inner oddball run riot. ‘Things and Thoughts’ and ‘The Bravest Person I Know’ are certainly quirky but there are seismic ideas at work here. And if you look beyond the wild experimentation and stop/start momentum you’ll pick up generous nuggets of melody in the well turned out brass and fleeting female glances. Fans of lights.on and/or We Will Build are going to love this. KD

Redmalm - Things and Thoughts

Redmalm - The Bravest Person I Know

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: any day now from here
Year: 2007

There are 2 ways you could have heard Victoria Bergsman’s voice up to this point. Firstly she spent over a decade with one of Sweden’s most priceless exports the Concretes (go seek ‘Sugar’, ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’) and secondly just last year she was the dreamy female foil on Peter Bjorn & John’s ‘Young Folks’. It’s been 15 months now since she decided that the solo route was where it was for her and by the sounds of ‘Lost and Found’ we should be thankful for her decision. Taken from Taken By Trees (Bjorn Yttling produced) debut ‘Open Field’ it displays a minimal of effort for the maximum of undiluted pleasure. Camera Obscura certainly spring to mind as a worthy contemporary but Bergsman’s uncluttered musical vision is one that feels unique. Her voice is the chief selling point but you can’t help admiring the delicate instrumentation (which is normally only added as a aside after the vocals have been put down) that colours the background. Bergman’s chronic stage fright means that Taken By Trees are currently on a micro tour to promote ‘Open Field’. KD

Taken By Trees - Lost and Found

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy More Songs: Taken By Trees
Year: 2007

As you probably know by now I am prone to extreme bouts of effusiveness on occasion. Sorry about that, it’s just that once in a while I become so smitten with a particular song that I drop all my calm-down-you-idiot self control mechanisms. Well, it’s happened again with Pinkie (named after a character in Graham Green’s book ‘Brighton Rock’), an artist I had never heard of up to last night. But a tip from Alex Sharkey, the lead singer with the band has turned my world upside down (see I told you!). Alex Sharkey has considerable pedigree, being a part of Brighter who were signed to the hugely influential Sarah Records. Pinkie is his latest project and his new album, the appropriately titled, ‘Lush’ is about to drop. This will be Pinkie’s third record, its predecessor ‘Sharon Fussy’ plied its trade between the good ships Teenage Fanclub and the Field Mice. And if that is not enough to get you warmed up then ‘Say After Me’ should. Sporting jangling guitars and tender vocals it spills from the speakers like recently distilled indie gold. Hip hip hooray for this perky little record. KD

Pinkie - Say After Me

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Pinkie
Year: 2004

This song makes me chuckle, it sounds as if it was put together haphazardly by a band in the throes of a come down jam after a bout of creative writing. And for all that I can’t stop listening, there’s method to the madness even if straying onto Elevado’s decidedly off the wall 4th album ‘This World Is On Fire’ is akin to absorbing a chapter from Ulysses. Elevado occupy a wing within the ISP space in Atlanta, a roomy expanse that gives experimentalists a breeding ground to feed their imaginations. While this may have certain people coughing up carrots it’s hard to be critical when you take a look at the universally high standard of bands leaking out of ISP. KD

Elevado - Indigo Torch Serenade

Watch The Video To Postcard From Four Walls Down

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Elevado
Year: 2007