I’ve loved this Swedish band (and its sometimes offshoot Gamba) since their debut left the environs of Labrador’s magnificent halls back in 2005. Their website might be headache inducing but their back catalogue is a faultless seam of gilded gems. There are shoegaze influences aplenty but its overriding nature puts lolloping melodies to the fore. ‘Die 5times times5’ should already be on your most prized mixtape (and you can nab it for free from the download section of the already mentioned red monster) and now EP#4 should be vying for your attention. The EP has just been released and contains this nugget of loveliness called ‘Davy Crocket’. In many ways it follows an unconventional path, blending 80’s stylings with lavish harmonies but the overriding feeling is one of blissfulness. If I were to worship this band any more my heart would surely explode. Would make for an interesting NYE fireworks display. KD

South Ambulance - Davy Crocket

Watch The Video To Die 5times times5

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: South Ambulance
Year: 2008

Matt Buszko is a nice lad, I know this having only communicated with him via several short emails. The most important missive included an attachment with this song of his called ‘Owl And The Crow’, a delightfully tailored piece of electronica, which has me swaying as if in a state of deep inebriation. It was probably conceived in Matt’s bedroom and executed on a laptop that you can now buy for less that €400 in the radical recession inspired sales. Sun Visor in creating an illuminating vision of the future marks his own arrival as a singular new talent. KD

Sun Visor - Owl And The Crow

More Info: Official
Year: 2008/9

Low Sea continue their evolution into one of the most interesting acts to come from Ireland (well partly Irish anyway) in recent years. Last time we looked Bobby and Billie were coming over all Jesus & Mary Chain yet within the space of a couple of months they’ve ditched the scraping guitars for something a little skimpier. 'The Crash' has all the hallmarks of an early nineties Curve, One Dove or even the dancier alter ego of St. Etienne. In essence it’s pretty ace, off-kilter and out of control but solid in its adhesion to a fluid song pattern. The Galway duo are currently working on their debut EP which will be a handmade effort which will doubtless set ebay auction records in years to come. Definitely a twosome to watch in 2009. KD

Low Sea - The Crash

More Info: Official
Year: 2009

Feeling very flubbly today. Not sure what that means but it’s certainly what came into my head as I dizzily awoke from another bout of overindulgence this morning. It all ends in a couple of days so while I drag my carcass sluggishly about indoors the Music Tapes are tending to my malfunctioning mind. Featuring Julian Koster and a gallery of instruments that have, in most cases, been long since been put out to pasture (including his beloved singing saw) his ‘Music Tapes For Clouds And Tornadoes’ is unlike anything else released in 2008. And even more pleasurable than the near shambolic nature of the music is Koster’s wasted vocals, which seals the deal on a dizzying record. The Music Tapes also have a Christmas album, but that will have to wait until next December when once again bodies and temperaments will be put through the ringer. KD

The Music Tapes - Majesty

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & @ Merge
Buy Songs: The Music Tapes
Year: 2008

Well it's almost time we started making merry so before we get snowed in mp3hugger is about to pull down the shutters for the festive period. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and remember if you really want to get rockin' round the Christmas tree then 'An Indiecater Christmas' is your only man. To sign off we present this delicious slowcore rendering of 'Silent Night' from Seattle punk outfit Suffering And The Hideous Thieves. This is the sound of Christmas in slow motion, a delicate waltz of a song that never loses its head despite the mayhem and excess that surrounds it. Nollaig Shona Duit! KD

Suffering And The Hideous Thieves - Silent Night

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Suffering And The Hideous Thieves
Year: 2004

Who’d have thought that the Parenthetical Girls and Christmas would have made such a wholesome partnership? Not me for one but over the course of 6 years the Portland act have released 3 festive missives. And surprisingly for the most part the songs are as quite as a mouse, not the noisy as a drunken party full of sailors that you’d expect. That’s the thing with PG (18, more like), you never quite know what their mood will dictate sonically. While their goods are always intriguing they are prone to dishing out tunes as mild tinnitus. ‘Festive Friends (Forever)’ however is about as perfect a tune as you’re going to hear with just a couple of days to go before the big one. KD

Parenthetical Girls - Festive Friends (Forever)

Watch The Video To A Song For Ellie Greenwich

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Parenthetical Girls
Year: 2006

Ok, I know I am retreading old snowsteps here (both the original and the anglicised Ingo version have appeared on this site in Christmas’ past). Low’s ‘Just Like Christmas’ is probably many people’s favourite Christmas song ever so it is with much trepidation that covers of said classic should be approached. But, Ingo Star Cruiser have managed to overcome the odds and give the auld standard a pleasant reworking (they also have an ace reworking of 'Hang Me Up To Dry' so check it). This version bursts forth with Swedish lyrics which given the locations mentioned in the original seems entirely appropriate and sorta neat. Just thinking now wouldn’t it just be the coolest thing ever to have a compilation made up entirely of cover versions of this wondrous Christmas song? Hmmm, a project for Christmas 2009 methinks. KD

Ingo Star Cruiser - Just Like Christmas

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Ingo Star Cruiser
Year: 2008

I’m not just including this here because the band are called Wintermitts and it’s a cold and wet December day. Nope, this is a group to embrace no matter what the weather is like because they always see fit to include handclaps or glockenspiel (they also whistle and do hand stands) and have a singer that sounds remarkably like Emma Pollock from the Delgados (yeah I know, I miss them too). They’re an environmentally conscious lot too because they’ve included a packet of tomato seed with every copy of their latest album ‘Heirloom’ sold at home in Canada. ‘Schoolyard’ is a blast, a giddy rampage of joy that’ll run riot in your ordered world. A year round treat then. KD

Wintermitts - Schoolyard

Watch The Video To Que Toi

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Wintermitts
Year: 2008

Could it have been simpler, probably not, could it have been more memorable, don’t think so. Yep, this really is something special and reminds me of Elephant Parade in it’s stripped back effortlessness. It comes from Elizabeth Darling who being an Aussie probably ain’t that used to frosty Christmas mornings but she has taken Deano’s classic and turned into a brand new seasonal treat. All is quiet, the only thing stirring is a soft mandolin, sparse maracas and Darling’s crystal tunings. It’s taken from her limited edition Christmas EP and will definitely be a fixture on my December playlist for years to come. KD

Allo Darlin' - Baby, It's Cold Outside

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Allo Darlin'
Year: 2008

We already know what Alejandro Cohen does during office hours but now he’s filling his free time with a side project he’s pulled together with Nik Brinkman called Psychic Powers. One of them is based in the States, the other in New Zealand and thanks to the wonders of the internet they make soft audio furnishings (not lounge I might add) like ‘Special Boy’ together. To these ears at least it’s as if New Order were cleansed of that harsh edge of theirs. As you can imagine what remains is downright adorable and even though ‘Special Boy’ stretches to over 6 minutes you may still be pining for more at fade out. Is their no end to this boy’s special talents? KD

Psychic Powers - Special Boy

More Info: Official
Download More Songs: Psychic Powers
Year: 2008

Adrian Crowley was all Bermuda Triangle on my radar prior to his last album 'Long Distance Swimmer' (and then it was only initiated through his association with man/god James Yorkston), despite having garnered a good deal of critical acclaim via his 3 previous efforts. While the idea of someone and their guitar might not be an entirely enticing one, 'Long Distance Swimmer' hauled me in slowly through its combination of exposed emotions and slowly engineered dynamics. The album is a (mostly) slow (always) engaging ramble that could provide a nice antidote for the upcoming seasonal madness. And the best thing is that you can snag it for free until Thursday courtesy of Jim over at On The Record. You'll then have some time to let it bed in, in preparation for Crowley's new album which is due in March. To send you eagerly on your way towards the freebie here is one of the album's highlights 'These Ley Waters' wherein our hero (for once) kicks out the jams. KD

Adrian Crowley - These Ley Waters

Watch The Video To The Wishing Seat

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Adrian Crowley
Year: 2007

This is just one of those tunes that got me from the getgo. Probably because of its shoegaze genes but celestial vocals in general also have that effect on me. Languis are based in Los Angeles but started out in Argentina and have a decade long career behind them already. This treasure is taken from a 2006 EP of their’s called ‘Other Desert Cites’ and is most reminiscent of the Reading shoegazers of yore Chapterhouse. The band recently released a new album called ‘Fractured’, their first in 4 years. We'll also feature their side project Psychic Powers here in the next 24 hours. So it seems times are changing alright, right back to the early nineties if you were going on this evidence. KD

Languis - Times Are Changing

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Languis
Year: 2006

We’re not ones for getting all glossy eyed by a lyric sheet but ‘24.12’ is threatening to change all that. It may well be a song set in December but it’s not one speckled with the normal jollity of the season. The subject matter may catch you off guard but it’s the beauty in the juxtaposition of the vocals that’ll take you over the line. This is mesmeric stuff from the Austrian artist and is taken from his third outing with a full band. If it whets your appetite there is a pocket full of free downloads at Bernhard’s site. ‘Angst Is Not A Weltanschauung’ can be found on Berlin based Morr Music label. KD

B. Fleischmann - 24.12

Watch The Video To Pass By

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: B. Fleischmann
Year: 2008

What a really odd one for Irish indie releases. For the first part of 2008 it was an absolute wasteland but something happened around September when suddenly there was goodness seeping from the bog dale every couple of days. You’ve probably guessed my favourites from reading this blog throughout the year but I’d like to put it on the record that my top Irish records of 2008 came from (in no particular order): Burning Codes, The Gorgeous Colours, The Dying Seconds, Dublin Duck Dispensary, The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock, Armoured Bear, Michael Knight and Fred. Now it’s your chance to vote on your favourite Irish records of the year via 2 online polls. Nialler9 is doing a catch all thingy which lets you vote for albums, EP’s or just songs so it should act as a nice document of where we’re at in 2008. Andy over at the Clare People is also looking for your favourite Irish music of the year but has cleverly included some mythical prizes to make it worth your while. Seems a band called Drugszilla are leading the way there (nope, me neither, wait, I lie, they're from Lisdoon, my holy jaysus) so it’s time to redress the balance. While you decide here is a track from Wicklow act Sunken Foal (taken from their album 'Fallen Arches'), a curious yet hypnotic addition to the great new music coming out of this country. KD

Sunken Foal - On Platinum Rays

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Sunken Foal
Year: 2008

He may have created a brand new nomenclature given the rapidity of his floating array of monikers but it seems mister Baird has finally settled on Sunset (thankfully shorn of the brackets) and now there’s nothing to distract us from the music he (and his band) makes. And when he hits the spot there's very little that can match him in indiedom, take this little beauty for example from Sunset's latest LP ‘The Glowing City’. ‘The World Is Awaiting’ is awash with moving parts but they move with such precision the whole event is a monument to audio engineering. At its epicentre are the thunderous beats, which create a neat opposite to Baird’s softly dispatched vocals. And the good news is that it gets even better on the forthcoming double A-side (pre-order the 7” vinyl here) which consists of 2 brand new dreamy numbers. Sunset could be about to embark on a bright new dawn. KD

Sunset - The World Is Awaiting

Watch The Video To It's Already Here

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Sunset
Year: 2008

Ok, enough already with all this Christmas music, we’ve got bigger fish to fry (love the season really but have to say that for dramatic effect to introduce this remarkable song). You’ll probably have gathered from my distinct attention to type that I don’t often take diversions off the indie rock highway but ‘What If Punk Never Happened’ is too big a distraction to ignore. It’s taken from London agit/punk collective the King Blues second album ‘Save The World, Get The Girl’. I’ve witnessed barely restrained anger like this before with Plan B but somehow the menace inherent in it’s grooves comes across as inspirational rather than disturbing, especially towards the tumultuous end. In fact I’m sure this could initiate a thousand bedroom rebellions were it to rightfully get the recognition its majesty deserves. Why have the clocks stopped. KD

The King Blues - What If Punk Never Happened

Watch The Video To My Boulder

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The King Blues
Year: 2008

Thankfully they’ve put the skids on their vastly inflated naming convention that turned Brakes into Brakes Brakes Brakes. Not only that but the Brighton band have recently signed to the legendary FatCat label who’ll be releasing their third LP ‘Touchdown’ in April of next year. ‘Give Blood’ was certainly an eye opening debut album, full of genre shifts, sardonic lyrics and songs that ended before the 10-second mark. Despite this undeniable off-kilter approach Brakes often craft songs of delicate beauty (‘You’re So Pretty’) so ‘Touchdown’ should really be a treat. And by the sound of the promo ‘Crystal Tunings’ the band have got deep down and dirty sounding like an agitated pair of Glaswegian brothers. KD

Brakes - Crystal Tunings

Watch The Video To All Night Disco Party

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Brakes
Year: 2008

When I say I could listen to this tune endlessly you’d probably be stumped but then that’s the magic of Loner Deluxe. There has always been a sense of the celestial about them and at this time of year ‘Frozen Grass’ sounds like the most seasonal composition imaginable. Loner Deluxe have consistently specialised in wintry song titles it must be said but ‘Frozen Grass’ readily conjures an image of a country door ajar with the cool night air teasing the wind chimes inside. The circular machinations of this beauty should entrance and if it doesn’t perhaps the drudgery of life has robbed you of your sense of childlike wonder. ‘Frozen Grass’ can be found on the double 3-inch presentation titled ‘Must Not Sleep Must Warn Others/Lost & Found’ on the increasingly brilliant Irish net label Rusted Rail. KD

Loner Deluxe - Frozen Grass

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Loner Deluxe
Year: 2008

2008 was a strange one, nowhere near a classic year for albums but for the task in hand we’ll just concentrate on the songs of the year. And in that department the first 6 months of the year was a wasteland for inspirational nuggets. Lucky then that part 2 of 2008 turned out some really memorable moments. In the real world CD sales continued to slump and in a devilish attempt to jump the digital gravy train we set up our own record label. It has been fun, fun, fun and right about now our Christmas compilation is starting to get noticed in lots of places we didn’t expect it to. There have been plenty of highs for mp3hugger this year but the most memorable moment came when our band of the year the Very Most recorded a theme tune for the site. So here we present in time honoured fashion (well for the third year running anyway, click here for 2007, 2006) our favourite 42 songs from the over 500 we featured on this site this year. Usual rules apply, only one song per artist, which meant picking a track from the likes of Marching Band ended up becoming a herculean task.



42) The Jimmy Cake - Jetta’s Palace

'a swarm of instruments led by an irrepressible piano riff, pounding drums and some of the best brass'

41) Empty Rooms – We’ve Been Waiting For You

'starts out all hallucinogenically dream pop before turning completely instrumental'

40) Pyramids – Sleds

'industrial frequencies pummel your senses and it’s left to the drifting out of reach vocals to reason with that finger of yours that hovers over the delete button'

39) The Gang – Rose Island

'noisy escapades that go nowhere in particular but still sound about as fetching as a stick loving springer spaniel'

38) The Uglysuit - Chicago

'easy on the ear and blessed with a chorus that has all the hallmarks of a perennial radio favourite'

37) crystalpalace – The Evolution of Hunger

'a downright fine piece of old skool electro with designs on the affections of contemporary dancefloors'

36) Said The Shark – All You Want

'they create songs that are something and nothing yet somehow everything'

35) The Gorgeous Colours – Means To An End

'a fascinating listen that never blows its own trumpet vacuously'

34) Cymbals Eat Guitars - Share

'the swells of melodic sound prove a stark contrast to the ragged advance and retreat of its early movements'

33) Orphans and Vandals - Mysterious Skin

'wildly original and a stark reminder of the quality that still inhabits the fringes'

32) Michael Knight - Dumbshow

'a gift for rotating harmonies and an ability to colour them with glossy orchestral manoeuvres'

31) Nouveaunoise - To Where It's Alright

'a highly original ensemble of digital drama'

30) Pomegranates - Thunder Meadow

'Pomegranates are not exactly pop but that’s not to say that they’re not entirely fruity'

29) Dublin Duck Dispensary - Rabbit In A Hat

'could easily become an essential fixture on a thousand different mixtapes'

28) The Ruby Suns - There Are Birds

'imagine Beach House were they to have at least one cup of coffee'

27) Noah And The Whale - 5 Years Time

'with enough cuteness to match even the biggest of crèches'

26) Starfucker - German Love

'You may not even hear the handclaps enclosed such will be your own joyful palm fleshing'

25) Alaska In Winter - Berlin

'just for one minute stop thinking that Cher killed the vocoder'

24) Au - RR vs D

'full of wispy drifting vocals and piano lines dispatched with the accuracy of a tap dancers best moves'

23) Chairlift - Bruises

'should provide the necessary attention for a band who originally set out to play live music in haunted houses'

22) Storkboy Choons - Rockfield Symphony

'a brand of bleepage that should appeal to anyone who thinks ‘From Here We Go Sublime’ could yet become the future of machine generated audio'

21) El Guincho - Palmitos Park

'it’s a riot, a samba parade of vibrant colour'

20) Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

'just press play and let the curious tango ensue'

19b) The Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock - In Country Dark

'a lively folk jamboree to be savoured'

19) Annuals - Sore

'a lowering of the experimental gears into full anthemic indie mode'

18) The Dying Seconds - Overtures

'so well endowed with lyrical (non-vocal) entities it sometimes makes me emotional'

17) The Honeyheads - Out Of Marseille

'displays all the magical characteristics of a perfect indie pop tune'

16) Mitchell Museum - Warning Bells

'this could be huge, perched effortlessly in an evening’s worth of the finest indie music down your local dungeon or delighting daytime radio enthusiasts used to soggy cabbage'

15) The Van Allen Belt - The Status Quo (A Line Dance)

'almost Motown in its scope (we kid you not), so much so that it really does require the full subwoofer experience to do it justice'

14) Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)

'soundtrack every fashionisto’s perfect soundtrack'

13) School Of Seven Bells - Connjur

'wispy guitars and soft ethereal voices tend to take my head for a spin and this is a road trip I will be taking many times'

12) The Very Most - This Year, Christmas Came November 4th

'driven by the melodic machinations of one Jeremy Jensen'

11) Violens - Violent Sensation Descends

'pristine melodies abound, quirky organs drift in the background and wholesome harmonies fill the sweetened air'

10) Deerhunter – Never Stops

'it felt as if Pavement had regrouped and made one of the best comebacks ever'

9) Stars and Sons - Fights Already Fought

'it is elusive, bewildering and downright heavenly through its stringent policy of non-linearity'

8) Mason Proper - Safe For The Time Being

'is an eclectic experience but one with iceberg potential'

7) The Ruling Class - Umbrella Folds

'this baggy little number may wear its inspiration on its sleeves but that doesn’t stop it from being totally inspirational in its own right'

6) Arsenal - Estupendo

'a pristine sliver of uncomplicated beats with undoubted mainstream appeal'

5) Marching Band - Aggravate

'damn, I hate waiting for choruses but in the case of Marching Band the lead up tends to be just as entertaining'

4) Burning Codes - Whirlwind

'sumptuously layered vocals and gentle chord changes are Burning Codes stock in trade and it is quite easy to find oneself immersed in the magic'

3) Elbow - Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver

'Guy Garvey has a voice full of character and persuasion so like me you may find yourself being whisked away on a tidal wave of lost love'

2) Sigur Ros – Festival

'a spirit so joyous and all encompassing they are even capable of creating temporary schisms in the course of true love'

1) Girls In Hawaii - This Farm Will End Up In Fire

'the funny thing is that that honeyed chorus really does take it’s time to unveil itself, a full 3 minutes in fact. When it does appear though you’ll shiver with delight, punch the air in appreciation and praise the Lord for priceless indie pop like this.' KD

Armoured Bear from west Cork are the neatest of propositions. Their wonderful website is the perfect compliment to their dreamy music and will suck you straight into their magical world. In many ways the quartet (led by Anthony Noonan) have appeared from nowhere but their debut album ‘Honeycomb Moons’ marks them out as one our most tantalising prospects. ‘Fall’ is the opening track from the album, a warm breeze of a tune, full of psychedelic harmonising and swirling instrumentation. The appeal is obvious, the charming understatedness could be rapidly replacing the comfort blanket as tiny tots security weapon of choice. KD

Armoured Bear - Fall

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Armoured Bear
Year: 2008

The name is a hindrance of course (an ice-hockey term) but that’s where the obstacles end because +- {PlusMinus} produced one of the outstanding albums of the year in ‘Xs In Your Eyes’. I expect to see it appearing in plenty end of year lists over the next few weeks and if you are still an unbeliever listen to this fragmented beauty. It takes a couple of minutes to fully kick into life (the journey to that point is pretty great it must be said) but what a shot in the arm it truly is. Splintered riffs fly through the air like shrapnel while at the same time James Baluyut shoots from the hip like a man convinced of his own convictions. It hugely impressive stuff, a neat summation of how indie rock can still bring us to our feet. KD

+- {PlusMinus} - Snowblind

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: +- {PlusMinus}
Year: 2008

There are a couple of free albums doing the rounds that really deserve a hefty price tag such is their goodness. The Dying Seconds eponymous is certainly one of them, it so well endowed with lyrical (non-vocal) entities it sometimes makes me emotional. This is a duo (David Cantan and Jack Quilligan) who have the gift of making machines sound almost human, electronica with a beating heart and a spirit that needs to be nourished through people interaction. There is a hint of voice on ‘Overtures’ but it’s the sound that comes from the Dying Seconds laptops that communicates even more effectively. This may contain the spillage from another tune (‘Goodnight Satellite’) but it unmistakably ploughs it own furrow in a way that is nothing less than epic. Tears cascading down a cheek were made for audio like this. KD

The Dying Seconds - Overtures

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Dying Seconds
Year: 2008

Bergen is at it again, another stellar act from a part of Norway that seems intent in making the country at least partially as musically attractive as their near neighbours. This time it’s Sissy Wish and this feisty track called ‘DWTS’ (Do What They Say) which should have the likes of Pink admitting she’s a bona fide fraud and finally hanging up her bottle of peroxide. That’s because ‘DWTS’ is exhilarating and bedecked in a safety net of essential mainstreamism, which means it has a steady foot in both camps. This lady (and gentleman) is unsigned, remarkable, would be labels take note (hmmm) is what I say. The track is taken from last year’s ‘Beauties Never Die’, an album that should be nestling on your trying-to-impress-your-mates-with-something-great shelf in the shortest possible time. Karen O, your crown is wobbling. KD

Sissy Wish - DWTS

Watch The Video To Float

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Sissy Wish
Year: 2007

You know, I know but do the young folks know who this sounds like? In many respects who-gives-a when a song sounds as peachy as ‘Franklin Avenue’. It comes from Jeremy Messersmith, a bespeckled tunesmith whose sophomore ‘The Silver City’ dropped earlier this year. ‘Franklin Avenue’ is drop dead gorgeous, fleet of foot and nimble of wordage. It ticks all the boxes necessary to gain entry into that fictitious gallery exhibiting the most perfect indie pop ever drawn up in the whole of indiedom. We love it, you love it and wouldn't mama be ever so proud? KD

Jeremy Messersmith - Franklin Avenue

Watch The Video To Miracles

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Jeremy Messersmithh
Year: 2008

Last year we posted a new Christmas song every day in December and also made a page where some of indie’s finest discussed their favourite Christmas songs. This year as you know we actually released a festive record but we’ll also make every effort to ensure the run up to the 25th is as jolly as possible. Here is a lovely start from Topanga duo the Weepies who have done very well for themselves of late by signing to a major label. And it’s easy to see why when perfectly crafted songs like ‘All That I Want’ slip out of them with consummate ease. There is a touch of Aimee Mann about Deb Talan’s vocals which makes every word that she utters so warm but very cool at the same time. KD

The Weepies - All That I Want

Watch The Video To Can't Go Back Now

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

Between this and those NZ lads Cut Off Your Hands powerpop could well be about to make a late surge into our favourite songs of 2008 and this was a year when the Shins didn’t even put out a record. ‘Violent Sensation Descends’ is immaculate, pristine melodies abound, quirky organs drift in the background and wholesome harmonies fill the sweetened air. The Zombies are liberally quoted as these New Yorkers primary influence but since I know little or nothing about that 60’s act I’ll have to go on their word. Makes me wonder how I’ve missed that particular boat but sailing in the glorious technicolour yacht steered by Violens seems like the most joyous experience imaginable so it hardly matters. And at just over 2 minutes long you’d be left with a very runny egg. KD

Violens - Violent Sensation Descends

Watch The Video To Doomed

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Violens
Year: 2008

Pity poor Simone because she’ll have to wait at least another 6 months before she can fix the wrongs of last summer. To make matters worse (from a can’t be good for building up a stock of relationship advice) she’s now gone and recorded a Christmas song with those eternally heartbroken sorts the Wedding Present (it’s called ‘Holly Jolly Hollywood’, I’ll try and dig it out before the 25th). It’s plain to see Simone White is a free spirit so I’m sure she’ll survive and given the beauty of tracks like this she’ll have more than enough attention to ward off the threat of loneliness. This is beautifully understated indie pop, wispy and softly focused it may be the perfect calm before the storm of the next few weeks. KD

Simone White - I Didn't Have A Summer Romance

Watch The Video To The Beep Beep Song

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Simone White
Year: 2007

Christmas is far and away my favourite time of the year. That’s why come December my normal petty indie snobbery is thrown out the window and material from the likes of Shakin’ Stevens, Mariah Carey and Wham start giving me hailstone sized goosebumps. That’s the magic of the season really so ‘An Indiecater Christmas’ is our attempt to provide it with a new soundtrack. As soon as the indiecater compilations started to make some noise back in the summer I knew I couldn’t let December pass by without putting a seasonal compilation together. So towards the end of July we started pestering some of our favourite bands to write a Christmas song for that very purpose. The response initially was icicle cold but come the end of September the endless begging started to bear fruit. By November there were over 50 original Christmas songs sitting on my computer and I was panicking as to how to prune it down to a more manageable collection. It was a job and a half and I probably ended up disappointing a few people along the way. ‘An Indiecater Christmas’ is an album of 17 original songs and it might take a few days for you to warm to its twisty-turny directions but I’m confident that this is a record that you will be toasting this December and many more December’s to come. It costs €6.50 and the majority of this goes back to the artists, so not only will you be dancing to a different drum this Christmas but you’ll also be giving these great bands a helping hand along the way. Here is a sublime little taster from the album from our own Nina Hynes. KD

Nina Hynes - Twinkle

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: An Indiecater Christmas
Year: 2008

Christmas officially starts today on mp3hugger and more especially over at our record label indiecater. We are releasing our Christmas compilation this afternoon and we can’t wait. Much more about it later on but for the moment here is something to get you in the mood. Vermont’s My First Day on Junk have already left a big impression with their molten guitars and shimmering vocals readily finding favour with our shoegaze obsessed ears. The bands debut album ‘No Order’ came out in the summer and I put this song aside for frostier times. ‘Heavy Winter, Heavy Snow’ comes in at under 2 minutes but has the intense persuasion of an 8 minute epic. It’s the all encompassing sound that does it but being the experts at this neugaze lark that they are My First Days On Junk never forget to pack a lovely tune too. Like a blizzard then, only warmer. KD

My First Days On Junk - Heavy Winter, Heavy Snow

Watch The Video To From A Parked Car

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: My First Day On Junk
Year: 2008

At this stage Brooklyn can probably be crowned the centre of the indie universe. It was a remarkable year for the borough (a quick search on mp3hugger alone will prove that) as each new week brought forth exciting newbies (the way Canada used to). The City and Horses come from that neck of the woods and although they’re not exactly new they have just released their charming debut LP. ‘I Don’t Want To Dream’ contains a batch of easy going gems. Putting it another way it is ideal listening for watching things gently falling to earth, be it snow, dandelion seeds, autumnal leaves or for that matter stock markets. In essence it’s a year round pleasure, a gentle stroll that’ll bring some order to your chaotic life. Take ‘I Love The Girls’ for example and realise that life’s simple pleasures has a brand new addition. KD

The City and Horses - I Love The Girls

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The City and Horses
Year: 2008

Oh the beauty of the internet. An email arrives in my inbox wearing only a link to a myspace in which the party in question has the sum total of one friend. Not much to go on so some careful email probing reveals that Stroik is actually Dru Walker from Las Vegas. And he’s a prolific sorta chap, he claims to write a new tune every day and by the looks of his volumious freebie catalogue of tunes it’s hard to argue. He thinks that most bands being blogged today are overhyped and not very good. And he’s probably right and if it makes him feel a bit better I'd like to say that this is better than good. Ok, it is undernourished from a production point of view but it possesses a certain fizz that we don’t come across too often. I’d go so far as to say that ‘In The Fresh’ could be quite niftily used in an advert for comfy shoes or colourful umbrellas such is its vibrant disposition. Let the hype begin. KD

Stroik - In The Fresh

More Info: Official
Year: 2008

It has been a pretty good year for Irish music, more for the burst of top notch random tunes that arrived merrily on our doorstep since early September. The album front has been the usual mix of the great and the not so. Falling squarely (although you could never accuse this band of being square) into the former category is the self-titled debut from Dublin’s the Spook of the Thirteenth Lock. Here is a band with one foot stuck in the glorious past and the other firmly dug into a bright future. We’ve featured ‘In Country Dark’ previously (in fact we loved it so much it made it onto one of our compilations) and the album is awash with similiar leftfield diversions. In the main they leap from the speakers at full throttle, a glorious barrage of sound with distinct vocals and an identity all of their own making. On occasion though they just plump for the profound and so ‘Christchurch, 6 Bells’ floats enigmatically for several minutes like a classy seasonal stream of quiet triumphalness. KD

The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock - Christchurch, 6 Bells

Watch The Video To The Hare

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock
Year: 2008

Mew are one of the best bands of the new century, I mean ‘And The Glass Handed Kites’ couldn’t have been more perfect could it? It balanced the excesses of prog with the all-encompassing noise of shoegaze to create something epic. And that’s what instantly jumped into my mind when I heard Vadadi and this song in particular. ‘Loveless’ as a term has been patented by an Irish band of a certain vintage but Vadadi has still gone and used it to tag this wonderfully blissed out piece of neugaze. And what’s more amazing is that Vadadi is the work of just one man from Sweden. His self-titled debut has surprising depth, in parts it is quite tender and is currently on sale for the steal-at-twice-the-price of €2.50. You know what to do. KD

Vadadi - Loveless

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Vadadi
Year: 2008

This would probably be better suited (as much of Lake’s music would) to warmer weather but I guess someone somewhere is reading this wearing a sun hat so we can get away with it. Anyways Lake’s music is an all year round pleasure, how could any sensible ear turn away the loose delivery and off kilter charm of ‘Heaven’ taken from their third LP ‘Oh The Places We'll Go’. This is a constantly shifting collective with as many past members as present, which will hopefully ensure that their material will forever remain as fresh and interesting as this. In some ways it’s completely incidental and in many other ways it is utterly vital. KD

Lake - Heaven

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Lake
Year: 2008

A short one this. Pity really because it could have been something even more special. As it is it is a pretty fine way to spend 81 seconds of your day. It comes from Poughkeepsie man Jon Sebastian (moonlighting away from his day job with the Color Wheels) whose solo album ‘Goodbye God’ consists of 9 other similarly curtailed ditties. Not that you could call ‘The Pendulum’ a ditty per se as it is more an excerpt of brilliant noise. Fast and furious it is like a mouthwash in the antiseptic bland conveyor belt of haircut obsessed wannabes. Wow, where did that come from? Oh, I know, it was the song that made me do it. KD

Jon Sebastian - The Pendulum

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Jon Sebastian
Year: 2008

What a ripe sugarplum of a song. I mean have your heard any other song in indiedom this year that is so euphoric, so irresistible, so jump up and down happy as ‘Happy As Can Be’? It also sounds a bit Christmassy too so given the time of year that's in it it seems even more delicious. Cut Off Your Hands are from Auckland, are mostly based in the U.K. and now find themselves signed to NY label Frenchkiss Records who released their ‘Happy As Can Be’ EP last month (their debut album ‘You and I’ has already been released in the southern hemisphere but will be introduced oop North in early 2009). And what an introduction it turns out to be. The band cite Phil Spector as an influence and the wall of melodic sound they create is certainly comparable in its magnetic power. This’ll sweep you off your feet from the getgo, returning your shaking torso a couple of minutes later after what may have felt like an celestial encounter. Heavenly in other words. KD

Cut Off Your Hands - Happy As Can Be

Watch The Video Oh Girl

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Cut Off Your Hands
Year: 2008

Lo-fi doesn’t get much better than this and with Bobby Aherne treating us to his hi-fi popcorn at an alarmingly prolific rate there’s no time to waste. He’s already released 28 tracks this year in 3 batches through the Dutch label Rack & Ruin Records. And as is R&R’s want all their records are free to download. Dublin Duck Dispensary is Bobby’s moniker and in many cases the music he makes is just as quirky. But that doesn’t mean it is in anyway disposable, in fact you’ll greet each new DDD effort as another bold attempt to write the perfect underground anthem. I keep hearing Daniel Johnston, which as you’d expect will mean that DDD will never truly appeal to a mass audience. That said tracks such as ‘Rabbit In A Hat’ could easily become an essential fixture on a thousand different mixtapes. It really is a scatty gem. KD

Dublin Duck Dispensary - Rabbit In A Hat

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Downloads Songs: Dublin Duck Dispensary
Year: 2008

In a fortnight or so this site will be listing its Top 42 songs of the year. It’ll be our third and I must say I always look forward to the annual trawl through the archives. At this stage you’d think the list would be more or less complete but then songs like ‘Bruises’ come along and instigate a revision. It comes via Chairlift (perfect name) who are based in the centre of the indie rock universe (at this moment in time anyway) Brooklyn. The song and the band have been catapulted to fame already courtesy of a music player advert and we gotta hand it to that particular marketing department for they sure do know a catchy number when they hear it. Chairlift’s debut album ‘Does You Inspire You’ was released in September and ‘Bruises’ should provide the necessary attention for a band who originally set out to play live music in haunted houses. One of the songs of the year no doubt. KD

Chairlift - Bruises

Watch The Fan Video Version!

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Chairlift
Year: 2008

What happens when a couple of your favourite bands from yesteryear collide in wholesome creativity? Well you end up with sweet things like Ride’s cover of the Pale Saints ‘Sight of You’. Dreamy doesn’t begin to describe it even if the Pale Saints were probably a softer sonic proposition that the Oxford foursome. How else can you explain the wig out of the last few minutes, where clouds of explosive chords replace Mark Gardener’s fey vocals. The recording was made for a BBC session some time in the early nineties and later found its way onto the band’s ‘Waves’ collection. Many thanks to the excellent new Shelflife blog for the reminder on this one. KD

Ride - Sight of You

Watch The Video To Leave Them All Behind

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Ride
Year: 1993

I’m sure it’s pretty obvious where our affiliations lie given that the Van Allen Belt have already graced one of our compilations (and appeared here too). To be honest we are besotted by their psychedelic retro futuristic sound. Granted on first listen their grandiose sound can be a tad overwhelming but once conquered you could well be salivating to within an inch of drowning. Their debut album ‘Meal Ticket to Purgatory’ is a lavish affair, almost Motown in its scope (we kid you not), so much so that it really does require the full subwoofer experience to do it justice. Add the fact that they are supreme purveyors of sarcy observations and you have a lethal cocktail of ingenuity. So here is ‘Vancouver’, a city made famous by a band from Pittsburgh. KD

The Van Allen Belt - Vancouver

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Van Allen Belt
Year: 2008

On the occasion of Cass McCombs awkwardly sublime performance in Whelan’s last weekend those in attendance were also treated to a fresh new band from Dublin called Villagers. There was so many of them (well, 5 anyway) the stage seemed a bit strangled but all that was forgotten when the Conor O’Brien led troupe caught fire. And believe me we are going to be hearing plenty more from this band, their songs are alive with potential and their polished delivery on the night proved that recordings of note can’t be that far away. In the absence of anything concrete I badgered Mr. O’Brien to give us something to feast on until the fireworks are released next year. And back popped this home demo (which will appear in sleeked up fashion down the line) called ‘Twenty-Seven Strangers’. Yikes, if this is what they do in their bedrooms imagine what’ll happen when they get the run of a studio. Talent fills the air, it’s inevitable, this is the start of something cherishable. KD

Villagers - Twenty-Seven Strangers

More Info: Official
Year: 2008

Seems This Scarlet Train missed out on the services of the internet chroniclers. Well, it was 1987 after all and I’m sure the countless fanzines that featured their mugs on the front cover back then have long since succumbed to that aging brownness. ‘Picture Frame’ was the lead track on an extended EP of theirs called ‘Fimbria’ which came out on the Scottish label Nightshift Records. And what a package of delights it was, full of tempestuous chords, understated vocals and primeval beats it goes straight to my heart and steals a little bit of it. They probably do make them like this somewhere but I’ve yet to uncover where they are. KD

This Scarlet Train - Picture Frame

Year: 1987

‘The Captain & The Sea’ EP is Automatic Drawing’s second introduction to the world and I for one am glad for the meet. The L.A. 5 piece have a rambling, almost shambolic approach to indie rock but that gives them the edge over your standard alternative assembly. Drew Kirkpatrick’s vocals are warm and wholesome, displaying a certain George Harrison persuasion, and the music is loose limbed and inventive. ‘Appalachia’ is my favourite track from the EP (a difficult choice as it is uniformly strong) due to its raw and spontaneous nature. In fact it almost sounds as if it was recorded in one take, that’s the attraction I suppose because there’s a bundle of kinetic energy stored between the grooves. A lovely find and we'll await further developments with anticipation. KD

Automatic Drawing - Appalachia

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Automatic Drawing
Year: 2008

Happy New Year! Oh shit, it’s not even Christmas yet and I had been holding this over to announce 2009. But, I love it too much to shelve it until then and I’m a bit odd that way (like preferring Christmas songs in July and such like). To tell you the truth I have a love/hate relationship with the Walkmen, sometimes they press all the right buttons (‘Bows + Arrows’ for e.g. where they displayed some AYWKUBTTOD genius) but sometimes I get a headache searching for the hook which is undoubtedly there but fastidiously hidden amongst the guitar carnage. ‘You & Me’ is their latest opus and as well as arriving really cheaply with profits going to a worthy cause it has tracks like this brightening our day. This has pretty much everything a good Walkmen record should have, Hamilton Leithauser’s signature screech, elegantly turned out rambling guitars and a drifting yet still leading the way percussion section. On such things are made life changing resolutions. KD

The Walkmen - In The New Year

Watch The Video To The Rat

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Walkmen
Year: 2008

This is not what you’d expect coming out of the west of Ireland (it’s been that sort of year though) and a little investigation reveals that Low Sea aren’t Galway natives. The duo actually started out in France and their template should be instantly recognisable to anyone familiar with a certain Glaswegian pair. For newbies I’m sure ‘Couldn’t Help Myself’ will sound like a champion new sound. Moody, dark but inherently elegant it might just be the perfect soundtrack for afternoon sulks. For the rest of us it is a faithful reconstruction, a smile inducing memory tinkler and an opportune time to wipe the dust off those enduring classic’s of yore. KD

Low Sea - Couldn't Help Myself

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Low Sea
Year: 2008

Grant Birkenbeuel and JinJa Davis are Utah Carol and that simple structure is carried through to the music that they make, a lazy hazy stroll through the country with a warm breeze in your hair. ‘I’m Sorry Maria’ is taken from 2007’s ‘Rodeo Queen’ and won’t ruffle many feathers as it slowly meanders to the finish line. It’s sedatary and delicate but that doesn’t mean it's incidental; in fact due to its slim running time it might take a few listens to truly appreciate the charms it can bestow on the attentive listener. KD

Utah Carol - I'm Sorry Maria

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Utah Carol
Year: 2

This is a song that doesn’t really want to be one. It could quite easily have been a conversation were it not for the understated musicianship and pretty vocal patterns weaved by eternal wanderer Tim Howard (he used to be in the Mobius Band). But for all its awkward posturing it leaves an impression, one that won’t be all that memorable initially but as the play counts add up it’ll slowly encase you in its delicate web. It’s taken from Soltero’s current album ‘You’re No Dream’, a confusing title that subtly introduces this most enigmatic of artists. KD

Soltero - Out At The Wall

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Soltero
Year: 2008

For those who’ve been out of the loop here is a quick recap on what has been happening on our sister pursuit the record label Indiecater Records. The latest release on our rapidly expanding catalogue is the debut from Finglas band the Brilliant Trees. ‘Friday Night’ was originally released in 1996 and despite widespread critical acclaim and a Top 20 hit in Ireland with ‘Talent’ the album has disappeared from view. Now thanks to the wonders of the technological age and much help from the band themselves we have reissued ‘Friday Night’. The album is awash with jangle pop classics and indie anthems and you can listen to them all on this page. Before you do that why not sample the band via ‘Don’t Believe The Right’ which features the not insubstantial charms of an AM radio on speed dial (before that sort of thing was invented). Once the hiss subsides you’ll be accosted by flickering chords, blissful harmonies and the sort of medicine you’d need to start any day on a bright note. All this and more for just €3.50, it's time to wake up and dream. KD

The Brilliant Trees - Don't Believe The Right

More Info: Indiecater
Buy Songs: Friday Night by The Brilliant Trees
Year: 1996 & 2008