Earlier this year I professed my love for this collective from Carlow and quite unbeknownst to me they’ve since gone on and released a full length. ‘Lo-Fi Love Songs’ was mostly recorded live and cocked some very important American ears (very few Irish ones mind). I am at this moment getting a copy couriered over the snow-capped Wicklow mountains and my expectations are higher than said peaks. Being drip fed Huts on Stilts goodies has just warmed the cockles for the full on experience that will follow shortly. The quartet are fans of the Frank and Walters and write songs about Estonian girls so what’s not the like. ‘Kopraonu’ is an altogether simple affair, blushing as it delivers its melody laden lines and barely raising the vocal parts above a glowing hum. KD

Huts on Stilts - Kopraonu

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Huts on Stilts
Year: 2009

This is so beautiful, something to keep you warm as the arctic gradually spreads its icy tentacles across the country. Patrick Watson won the Polaris Music Prize back in 2007 with his debut ‘Close To Paradise’ so there’s no mistaking his talent. The follow up ‘Wooden Arms’ appeared earlier this year and contained this impish delight. On this occasion he is joined on vocals by Katie Moore and the duo ably prove that sometimes simple is all you need. The piano and banjo parts are understated and at no point disturb the delicate crooning. Everything is in its right place and the gathering momentum towards the end does nothing except enhance the grandeur. Precious. KD

Patrick Watson - Big Bird In A Small Cage

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Patrick Watson
Year: 2009

Last night it was our favourite Irish album of the decade, tonight we look further afield and take a deep sigh because our overall pick from the noughties could have just as easily been one of the following ‘Asleep In The Back’, ‘Is This It?’, ‘Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place’, ‘In The Dream of The Sea Life’, ‘The Great Eastern’, ‘Source Tags & Codes’, ‘The Sophtware Slump’, ‘And The Glass Handed Kites’. Instead we’ve gone for ‘Funeral’, an album that is without weakness, an album with such an unshakeable sense of greatness it will likely be still be revered 50 years from now. What follows is a review I wrote in early 2005 about the album, it was yet to break but even at that stage it was sounding like a genuine classic.

"For those people who only read the first paragraph of a review I may as well let you know straight away that this is going to be the most important album of 2005. What we have is an album of ‘The Stone Roses’, ‘Loveless’, ‘The Great Eastern’ and ‘If You’re Feeling Sinister’ proportions. This Montreal 5-piece have pretty much come out of nowhere but as you know the best presents come wrapped as surprises. The Arcade fire have been together for a relatively short time (summer 2003). The seeds were sown at Concordia University where Wim Butler met Regine Chassagne (they later married). A little look back into their collective backgrounds reveals some diverse musical influences such as swing and jazz, which have filtered into the sound that they create. ‘Funeral’ was further shaped by the deaths of some of the bands family members during the recording of the album; despite this for most of the time the music is hugely uplifting. What you have (despite what the song titles might lead you to think) is 10 succinctly different pieces of music. If the songs were people they would deeply schizophrenic such is the volatility to which they veer from one persuasion to another. With adventures aplenty the album takes some getting used to but this also means its longevity is guaranteed. Trying to lump the Arcade Fire into any scene is redundant, their output is fresh and unique; dramatic and theatrical one minute, circular and upbeat the next.

‘Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)’ has a fairytale theme yet the soundtrack is like a cultured bull in an ornamental cake shop. The frenetic percussion bolsters Wim Butler who sings like he is about to cry. As the momentum gallops the singer can’t keep up and instead gleefully whoops to neck hair-raising effect. ‘Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)’ must be a fascinating place to live, what with vampires, French horns and neighbours dancing in the police lights. The Gallic influence (hey they are from Quebec after all) continues apace with ‘Une Annee Sans Lumiere’ that skips between serene peace and maracas inspired trip through the shadows with a guitar shakedown that is as reckless as it is inspired. As we hit the molten core Neighbourhood #2 (Power Out) provides a full-on indie escapade crammed full of scattered guitar playing and runaway choruses.

While the interlude provided by ‘Neighbourhood #4 (Kettles)’ and ‘Crown Of Love’ suddenly slows the tempo the shiny angles exposed titillate your aural cavities to such an extent that when ‘Crown Of Love’ swaps the genteel strings for its chariot joyriding friends you may find yourself manically jogging on the spot. ‘Wake Up’ play a similar hand, if a little more majestically. The background vocals boost the already deranged production that sprays sounds about like fireworks on New Years Eve. By now a familiar pattern has emerged. There is a distinct lack of 3-minute pop wonders, this is wonderful music but the reward is at the end of a long and windy yellow brick road. Take ‘Haiti’ which has that wonderful knack of sounding uneven without being abrasive. Chassagne is content to hide her vocals in the background while the machines provide the harmonies. About 2 minutes in the tune throws up pure jangle to solidify the amazing jingle. ‘Rebellion (Lies)’ is as close as you’ll get to a guaranteed instant hit on ‘Funeral’. Echoing the classic alternative romper stomper this wipes away the intricate web intricately weaved by previous tracks, think of it as a stereo sorbet. Chassagne comes across all Icelandic elfin towards the death on ‘In The Back Seat’. The crisp vocal delivery sits easily with the stirring string section and intermittent guitar rally generating a volcano of sounds where the lava is a sea of pentatonics. As the notes transform from major to minor most listeners will probably be aghast at the wonderful explosions of noise.

For those who only read the final paragraph of a review this is the most important record of 2005 and you must own it. It contains 10 pieces of music that will infect your world like a happy inducing virus inspiring the average and coaxing the talented. On this evidence the Arcade Fire could be the way forward. Their creative juices are as appetising as a desert trolley and their adventurous streak continually unearth priceless musical artefacts. Funeral is a precious wealth of engaging music to be cherished forevermore." KD

The Arcade Fire - Haiti

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Arcade Fire
Year: 2004

I was humming and hawing (mostly humming it must be said) about whether to do a list chronicling my fav albums of the noughties. This was more because it seemed as if everyone else was doing it rather than out of a great hunger to commit to a set of choices. The job proved more difficult than I’d expected and rather than let baby go hungry I decided to just focus on my choice of best Irish album of the decade. Somewhat despite myself at various points in the last 10 years I completely fell for ‘O’ and ‘For The Birds’, both resonated deeply but for all their genuine greatness it was the ‘The Big Romance’ that stole my heart. Again this was an album that I happened upon rather than seeking it out. We had decamped to Sydney for a few months and I had found this record shop that was selling ridiculously cheap CD’s and the primary colours of this album just stood out. The songs contained within revealed themselves slowly, the overriding soft focus slowly giving way to low slung melodies and deft instrumentation. The songs work best in the context of the album and as such it can be difficult to pick out an individual effort that would persuade newbies towards its gentle glory. Personal trauma involving the self same romance would soon rob Kitt of his mojo and his subsequent albums have been hit and miss affairs. The Dubliner is just better wired for writing music about bright love rather than its lost equivalent. Small moments rarely sound this good. KD

David Kitt - Song from Hope St. [Brooklyn NY]

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: David Kitt
Year: 2001

In the early days they made bass sounds like no other group (hats off you relative unknown Simon Jones). Dreamy and psychedelic Verve were on another planet both within and outside the environs of their musical creations. ‘A Storm In Heaven’ was their stunning debut (and far and away their best album) but you have to look a little further back, namely the ‘Verve’ EP, for an indication of their stupendous glory. It had the big hitters in the form of ‘Gravity Grave’, ‘She’s A Superstar’ (their undimmed genuine classic) and ‘A Man Called Sun’ but how’s about a closing track that weaves meticulously along for over 10 minutes. Some drug company might help but lets be content to let the post Christmas buzz work its magic. For some Verve never really occupied the ‘The’ and would never again reach the lofty heights of their early manoeuvres. Success while nice brought compromise which ultimately meant the shine turned a greyer shade of dull. They were once immense. KD

Verve - Feel

More Info: Myspace
Buy Songs: Verve
Year: 1992

It’s the best day of the year no contest, no other time can inspire such a wholesome feeling of elation than the day before Christmas. In lots of ways it is better than the day it precedes, the expectation is ripe and no matter the weather sodden hands are extended to friends and not so friendlies. Usually by now I am in a higher state of intoxication but this year due to the arrival of our own pair of tiny hands the drinks will be more formulaic (!) in nature. And what better way to greet this magic day than to grace it with a tune from those celestial oceanic’s Candy Claws. Here is a twinkle they dreamed up last Christmas that manages to sound just as good a year on. It is a short burst of luminous noise, a peephole into the rich pickings to be found on their debut album, which we released earlier in the year on indiecater. Ok, must run, the mistletoe has been hoisted by Mrs Hugger so it’s time for me to purse. Have a great one and see you in a few days when once comfy undergarments will have reached breaking point. P.S. If you are sick of Bing at this stage check this out! Nollaig Shona. KD

Candy Claws - Christmas Love

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Candy Claws
Year: 2008

I feel a cramp in the pit of my stomach because I haven’t been able to concentrate on the flood of tinsel tinted mp3s that have been arriving at my inbox since late November. I love Christmas, the music it produces and when it comes fitted with an indie aesthetic it really puts a twinkle in my fairy lights. Really gonna get stuck in over the next 24 hours. Thusfar, this little beaut from the Sky Drops has proven a standout. The Delaware duo are best known for their MBV stylings (Rob Montejo used to be in Smashing Orange) but here they strip back to a near Revolver like incarnation. The results are impressive, the tune has a classic early 90’s feel and it’s easy to swoon at the faultless harmonising. This is melt in the mouth stuff and will appeal to even shoegaze’s non-believers (how could you). ‘Bourgeois Beat’, the Sky Drops debut album was released earlier this year on hugger friends SVC records. KD

The Sky Drops - Christmas Feels Like Halloween

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Sky Drops
Year: 2009

With a record label, baby and new house fighting for my free time attention the number of posts on mp3hugger took a major nosedive in 2009. Ultimately it means that our 4th annual top 42 songs of the year is perhaps a tad less thorough that its 3 predecessors (2008, 2007, 2006). While 2009 proved capable of producing wonderfully realised tunes I can't help feeling it was marginally down in overall quality compared to recent years. The upward arc in the number of acts recording/releasing their own music for a fraction of the historically bloated budgets has been a joy to watch and listen to. Our favourite album came from our own in-house label, ‘In The Dream of The Sea Life’ by Candy Claws not only stands up to repeat listens it has in its short time span nudged its way into our top 10 albums of all time. It was such a proud moment for us when it became our first ever CD release.

As ever this top 42 is drawn from the songs that made up our short posts throughout the year. The rules remain the same so a band can appear only once on the rundown. Only seems fair really as a list containing a dozen or so Very Most tracks might seem a tad excessive (even though in a perfect world we should follow our heart).



42) Horse Shoes - Changing Winds

...Fey boy vocals and jangling chords twitter in unison...


41) Moon Unit - Connections (Ewan Pearson Dub)

...while admittedly slim in its range of ever changing guises it is nonetheless hopelessly enthralling...


40) Lotus Plaza – Whiteout

...bedecked in simplistic swirls and circular chords...


39) Wye Oak - Take It In

...nothing short of incendiary, brooding one minute, bursting into incandescent life the next...


38) Alash - Bashtak Joke

...Remarkably different sound from deepest Russia, it’s all in the exotic voices...


37) Coeur De Pirate - Comme Des Enfants

...building to a soft crescendo while effortlessly displaying why the French language is so alluring...


36) The Field - The More That I Do (Foals Remix)

...a swirling mass of electronica that says nothing at all but still steadfastly grips the imagination...


35) Chet - The Night The Night

...sold on its offbeat melodies and loose adherence to traditional templates...


34) Elephant Stone - I Am Blind

...so well endowed with honeyed melody it’s a wonder there’s not already a swarm domesticating in your speakers...


33) Lusine - Two Dots

...slightly unconventional but has the wherewithal to soothe even the ears of insurance people attempting petty small talk...


32) Black Moth Super Rainbow - Twin Of Myself

...if it doesn’t kick off your 2 week summer holiday on the right footing then you don’t deserve the time off...


31) Desolation Wilderness - No Tomorrow

...makes me want to be 15 years younger, get roaringly drunk and create a mini scene ...


30) The Ruling Class - Sleeping Beauty

...This is the sort of swagger Kasabian can only fantasise about, the sort of knowing sneer that Oasis were once capable of drawing and the sort of idolatry that must make Ian Brown feel very good about himself...


29) Here We Go Magic – Tunnelvision

...Sometimes I have dreams that sound like the noise that this song makes...


28) Black Gold – Detroit

...I wanna jump from our third floor balcony and don’t care whether the slightly brownish hedge fails to break my fall...


27) Yppah - Gumball Machine Weekend

...Topsy turvy ramble that dispels a slow graffiti...


26) The Crayon Fields - Mirror Ball

...gently tailored with melodies that hang in the perfumed air...


25) The Rest - Walk On Water (Auspicious Beginnings)

...allowing for adequate volume levels it could quite likely dust your house from top to bottom...


24) Zola Jesus - Clay Bodies

...Play this to the straights who have bowed to an ordinary playlist and watch them go rosy cheeked before your very eyes...


23) The Second Hand Marching Band - A Dance To Half Death

...adventurous blend of auspicious instrumentation and accented vocals...


22) Sister Cities - White Dress

...has the temperament and bolshie swagger to snag your affections completely...


21) exlovers – Photobooth

...They’ve got that classic indie sound down...


20) JJ - Things Will Never Be The Same Again

...a gushing delight and one that will lead to bleeding google fingers as the world attempts to uncover who JJ are...


19) The Ambience Affair - Fragile Things

...this is exciting, the first movements from a bright new Irish band...


18) The XX – Crystalised

...the tunesome chord volley and understated vocal interplay tend to appear randomly in your head for hours later...


17) South Ambulance - Davy Crockett

..a lolloping delight enriched with cascading chords and sprightly vocals...


16) Burning Hearts - I Lost My Colour Vision

...an instantly familiar sound infused with a chorus that should frequent indie disco’s for decades to come...


15) Dan Koshute - Double Dip

...I’m sure most acts don’t sound this lively at 78rpm...


14) Midnight Masses - Walk On Water

...the sound of the undead discussing the merits of purgatory...


13) British Sea Power - No Man Is An Archipelago

...a moody, largely voiceless yet exhilarating voyage...


12) Fanfarlo - Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time

...an epic in the body of a 4-minuter...


11) Cymbals Eat Guitars - The Living North

...I’ve heard the future and it’s called ‘Why There Are Mountains’...


10) Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work

...as alive with possibilities as bursting popcorn seeds...


9) The Subjects - Winter Vacation

...a tropical delight, feature an off-centre shuffle and all manner of colourful moving parts...


8) Dark Captain Light Captain - Questions (Hatchback Remix)

...almost 10 minutes of pure ambience and by the end I am clamouring for more...


7) Shout Out Out Out Out - Guilt Trips Sink Ships

...this is truly great great great great...


6) Candy Claws - Catamaran

...a remarkable effort, full of woozy effects, genuine sea sounds and full to the brim with memorable hooks...


5) The Very Most - You're In Love With The Sun

...a cloud busting delight...


4) Venice Is Sinking - Iron Range

...I listen and it feels like someone has run a tiny sprinkle of freezing water down my back and for some reason my head responds by pulsing in the strangest of ways...


3) Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader

...Voices mingle, disperse, reform and linger and the air is thick with creation...


2) Animal Collective – Brothersport

...has been known to kick start the economies of small nations...


1) The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

...indie gold, boasting a frenetic pacing and blessed with all manner of melodies...

KD

“What's Christmassy about tha?” were the scolding utterances that ended my contribution to the annual Christmas mixtape at work today. The arrival of Frightened Rabbit's ‘It's Christmas So We'll Stop’ had prompted it and despite sounding to me, at least, like a modern classic of the seasonal kind it seems like “it doesn't exactly make ya wanna to gerrup and boogie”. Oh dear, you got to feel sorry for these talented Scottish men and their almost annual attempt to have this cherisable recognised for the goodness that it is. Because we've had the original on this blog 2 years ago here is a version that's stripped of lyrics which instead relies on the choral bits. It gets me every time and that's what it is exactly Christmassy about it, I'll probably even dance to it at some stage over the next few weeks. KD

Frightened Rabbit - It's Christmas So We'll Stop (Choir Version)

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Have A Better Than All White Christmas
Year: 2007

Feel kinda overjoyed that the album that has touched me the most in 2009 has also found it's home on Indiecater. ‘In The Dream of The Sea Life’ has embedded it's intricate delights on my psyche to the same degree as ‘Giant Steps’, ‘Loveless’, ‘Funeral’, ‘The Stone Roses’ and ‘Screamadelica’. It is a staggeringly consistent joy, a rare work where each piece of woozy electronica and dreamy vocal plays a pivotal role. Due to a long list of reasons Candy Claws haven't been able to tour to support the album but they've dreamed up a winning alternative. For several weeks now the Fort Collins twosome have been popping up on blogs scattered all around the world as part of the first (we think) online tour ever. Tonight the tour bus is parked outside our very own underground bolt in huggerland. The presentation is an exclusive video of ‘Island Grows’ which you can also download in mp3 format below.

Ryan from the band has more details about the tour and this video.

"Good evening, Huggerland! We finally made it, through storms and off the edge of the world! Here is Day 17 of our virtual world tour for "In the Dream of the Sea Life," released by your very own Indiecater Records. The song in the video is Island Grows, and in the footage you will see the lovely trees (both palm and fern) of Bucerias. We did a fancy chroma key through the branches to add interest and effect. Will it last forever?

You can stream the entire album, read reviews, and pick up a copy (digital or physical) at Indiecater. Visit our blog to catch up on the tour and see a full list of dates and links. Tomorrow we're off to Gopher Illustrated in Venezuela! Thanks for watching, see you soon!"

Candy Claws - Island Grows

Squeezing posts in between nappy changes and endless burping sessions is going to be a major challenge. But with Christmas about to raise it tinselled head fresh avenues for online verbiage distribution should be possible. I’ve been meaning to post this tune for the longest time, because amongst many other things it reminds of those great Danes Mew. This twosome come from nearby Sweden and appear to be in the throes of newbiesness given that their debut ‘Aurora’ only appeared in 2008. This is one of its finest tracks and specialises in a attractive refusal for linearity. That said it is still possesses a fine tune and one I intend to savour for many Decembers to come. KD

The Deer Tracks - Christmas Fire

More Info: Myspace
Buy Songs: The Deer Tracks
Year: 2008

This song and video provide more evidence, if any more were needed, that the Very Most deserve to be embraced the world over. You can start the embrace this weekend in fact because the band will be playing Whelans (as part of the Indiecater night) along with the Ambience Affair and Storkboy Choons. Tickets cost €8 (available from Indiecater or at the door on the night) and will be a wonderful way to kick-start Christmas! In other news baby hugger, aka as beautiful Eve, was born last night so I will be quiet (at least until Saturday) for a few days. KD

The Very Most - Away in a Manger

More Info: An Indiecater Night
Buy Songs: The Very Most
Year: 2009

It's great that in the age of rapid improving technology that the humble bike is still one of the most requested items on Santa's list. And the two-wheeled transporter has now been immortalised by Sheffield's Standard Fare via their festive 'Tinsel Politics' tune. It is a clever little thing, an alternative to the mistletoe and wine of the average Christmas feel-gooder. And what's even sweeter is that it is just one of 13 on our newest compilation 'An Indiecater Christmas 2009'. This is our second collection of seasonal treats from some of our favourite bands and it can be all yours for a paltry 6 Euro. Head over to Indiecater to stream the album in full and if its takes your fancy feel free to makes sure we can upgrade to alloy wheels on our broken down BMX. KD

Standard Fare - Tinsel Politics

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: An Indiecater Christmas
Year: 2009

Had to desist from writing about MPP for a number of reasons. First off, the hype was just too much to take, I mean this is one good album but it’s hardly the second coming. Time will tell whether people feel the same way about it in a couple of years. The second thing that put me off was the incessant and remorseless volley of ideas that the album threw skywards. There were so many I couldn’t make out whether they were winners or just a series of false dawns thrown into interesting patterns. Believe me I tried but it just seemed to me like the aural equivalent of watching a multicoloured wash on power spin. Despite the reservations there is undoubtedly bright talent on display and in ‘Brothersport’ Animal Collective have crafted one the most remarkable tunes of 2009. This is tropical on speed, multi-layered vocals splash off the rocks as the dayglo spaceships ingeniously replace the engines with relics from a human past. ‘Brothersport’ has been known to kick start the economies of small nations, someone should tell Eamon Gilmore. KD

Animal Collective - Brothersport

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Animal Collective
Year: 2009

While the wait for their debut album has been interminable the clues left by their releases so far indicate that something special could be on the way. 2009 has seen Angel Pier headline Whelan’s, play Oxygen and release a superb double a-sided 7-inch. And that’s where you’ll find ‘Align The Seas’, a torch song that is constructed so precisely you could remove a note and the whole thing would fall apart. The delicate structure is glued together by Darragh Nolan’s pre, during and post falsetto but like with all Angel Pier compositions the shiny instrumental dynamics manage to scoop plenty of the limelight too. ‘Align The Seas’ reaches for and almost outmanoeuvres the bands bona fida classic ‘Sprites’ which means the anticipation for their LP is almost too much to bear. KD

Angel Pier - Align The Seas

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Angel Pier
Year: 2009

When I look back at the 4 years that this blog has been on the road I see a handful of bands that have made the experience all the more worthy. Bands that continually reach and affect those medically unclassifiable musical membranes that control goosebumps, hairs standing on end and cold shivers when it’s 30C outside. Georgia’s Venice Is Sinking are certainly one of them, there is something intangible in their makeup that reduces me to a sniffling baby everytime. My favourites up to their 2009 album ‘Azar’ had been ‘Pulaski Heights’ and (the best Christmas song Low never wrote) ‘The Grey Line’ but those pristine numbers now have company in the form of ‘Ryan’s Song’ and this one, ‘Okay’ (written about the band of the same name). It’s so good VIS reckoned it deserved it’s own EP and of course they were right, they even made a video for it that is both low budget and high jinx. VIS are one of those special bands that appear below the surface and sadly we’ll just have to accept that it’s that great iceberg truth in a music world gone mad. KD

Venice Is Sinking - Okay

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Venice Is Sinking
Year: 2009

I haven’t felt like this since thirteen tales from urban bohemia or at least the last BJM song that tickled my lobes. But rather than being an unruly lot of elegant wasters from down Portland way Death Valley Sleepers turns out to be just one man from Denmark. ‘Seaside’ is one of Tobias Winberg’s newest tracks and it is a blinder, an epic, a contemporary bullseye in 2 parts (second part has that ‘Santa Cruz’ (FS) thing going on, so good). Winberg does some great press shots (Sonic Boom I hear you say – who says smoking kills your cool), recently came through his first gig unscathed and has a myspace awash with luscious demos. ‘Seaside’ is the pick of the bunch, a stone cold classic no less and try as it might to sound like the JAMC and the VU it still cuts it’s own green furrow. A blissful hit in your car. KD

Death Valley Sleepers - Seaside

More Info: Official
Year: 2009

Among the 10 million other things happening at the moment we are also moving from our Dublin city centre base to near suburbia. Near I say because it has always been a hugger stipulation that the metropolis be within walking distance. Always good to have one’s paw on the pulse even if the chances of adding to said excitement ceased years ago. Anyway, the main reason I am telling you all this is so that I can post this lovely little tune from Jeremy Messersmith. It sounds like a festive tune with Elliott Smith at the helm to me and for those reasons alone it is something to cherish. Messersmith is from Minneapolis and this tune is taken from his classy 2008 sophomore ‘The Silver City’. Seems he has made at least one friend in the fair city too. KD

Jeremy Messersmith - Welcome To Suburbia

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

Everybody go awwwwhhhh. Think this is the first time I’ve thought that shoegaze could actually sound sweet, normally my reaction to it is to well up inside or coil in the corner with near fatal goosebumpery. ‘Loveloops’ is taken from the Estonian’s 4th LP ‘After The Summer’ and was produced by Norman Blake. Wait, Norman flippin’ Blake, that explains things, he of the pole position monopolising Grand Prix making Teenage Fanclub. In truth Pia Fraus were always a step above the bandwagonesque of a torrent of nice indie bands, they like to pack lots of decent tunes you see. ‘Loveloops’ has me thinking of happy things, like the birth of a first baby…..due tomorrow in huggerland. Awwwwwhhhh. KD

Pia Fraus - Loveloops

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Pia Fraus
Year: 2008

Try this out on some decent earphones and prepare to be teleported to the sunshine stereophonics of the Dedrick family (aka the Free Design). ‘Love You’ has been snapped up by at least half a dozen contemporary adverts and it’s hard to argue with their decision given its downright perfect harmonies. Although the band released an album in 2001 the vast majority of their back catalogue was released in the late 60’s/early 70’s and it is from that era that this piece of adorability was created. The Free Design were a commercial flop despite harmonies like angel delight and a template that smoothed the rounded angles of the Carpenters. It this doesn’t get you the girl it might be time to change your aftershave. KD

The Free Design - Love You

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Free Design
Year: 2009

Health had evaded my affections for the longest time but I was finally persuaded by the video for this song. This is so Curve it could almost be a cover of one of that bands industrial tailored shoetronic classics from the nineties. Health are a entirely newer proposition however and come from L.A., or more specifically the DIY scene that conducts its business around the Smell venue in the city. ‘Die Slow’ (from this year’s ‘Get Color’) is initially abrasive but the circular dynamics and faded vocals finally create an impressive polished stain in the fog. This is a very clever invocation of history. KD

Health - Die Slow

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Health
Year: 2009

About half way through the Very Most’s version of ‘Away In A Manger’ you will hear a curious sound. It is that of the Doucaine (instrument) which we are reliably informed has only ever made it onto 3 recorded pieces of music before now. But that’s just the start of the charm contained in this rendition of the perennially favourite. Save for the words you’ll hardly recognise the original as the Very Most have lent such an air of jollity to proceedings it may even come across as a brand new standard for the season. ‘Away In A Manager’ is one of 3 festive tracks to be found on the ‘Winter’ EP which marks the concluding part of the Very Most’s ‘A Year With The Very Most’ project. The EP is available to buy from Indiecater for the scrooge like price of €2. KD

The Very Most - Away In A Manger

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Very Most
Year: 2009

I seem to remember JJ72 taking some flack from certain quarters for having that slow/fast dynamic and a lead singer with a voice that could manage a decent falsetto. In other words they had deviated from the staple configuration that had fuelled Irish bands for generations. Let’s hope we have all moved on from that and the Dirty 9s are acclaimed for the bright sparks that they are. ‘Lucky Opus’, their first ever single, is released this Friday and what a luminous nugget it turns out to be. And for all that it starts off quite underwhelmingly but the early lull is quickly replaced by a warhead fuelled by raging guitars/vocals. Whelan’s, prepare for the inevitable invasion of Dirty 9s t-shirt wearing kids with the moshpit on their minds. November swimmers choosing to do it freestyle. KD

The Dirty 9s - Lucy Opus

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Dirty 9s
Year: 2009

If they make a song as perfect as ‘Fire Escape’ again then they’ll truly enter the pantheon of the greats. Yep, for exactly 180 seconds this London act turned sonic alchemists with that particular pot of indie gold. There are incredible near misses scattered all over their debut album ‘Reservoir’ which came out earlier this year. This is one, an epic in the body of a 4-minuter it creates the tinder for another great arcade fire and towards the end it becomes an altogether impressive blaze. The subject is of a man for whom flying saucers were a reason to get up in the morning. Not your average boy meet girls theme then, nope Fanfarlo have the bigger picture in mind and thankfully can supply an impressive canvas each time. KD

Fanfarlo - Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Fanfarlo
Year: 2009

Idlewild used to be very loud, they also used to be very good. At least until commerciality (as opposed to Roseability) stole their imagination and mushed it into a digestible-for-mass-consumption pulp. Along with ‘Is This It?’, ‘100 Broken Windows’ (the bands sophomore) soundtracked our 15 month trip around the world. The former for that most obvious of reasons, it being the incessant torrent of incandescent tuneage. ‘100 Broken Windows’ had a different tact, its huge swathes of violent guitar noise were on the closer inspection home to the cuddliest of sweet melodies. They were there on every tune, hidden in the crevices, extending a soft welcoming embrace. We were smitten which makes their later defunct works so utterly objectionable. A great band which took the carrot and completely lost their sight, what they'd give for a one idea track now. KD

Idlewild - Idea Track

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Idlewild
Year: 2000

Because I couldn’t give a fiddlers for those who say it comes earlier every year (2000+, given that logic it should be all year round at this stage) but mostly because along with the Doucaine (all will be revealed on Monday week) the Singing Saw is my favourite new (old) instrument. You will know Julian Koster from the Music Tapes and Neutral Milk Hotel but he has a particular affection for the wood slicer come vibrating instrument come where did that index finger disappear to. KD

Julian Koster - Jingle Bells

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Julian Koster Never Bleeds
Year: 2008

It turns out that the Jason Reece of Midnight Masses is the self same Jason who wrote one of the best albums this century (‘Source Tags & Codes’ if you must know). While his main band continue to freefall after that epic high there are grounds for optimism given the early movements of this supergroup of sorts (Here We Go Magic, TV On The Radio members also contribute). This is the closest thing I’ve heard to mount a serious challenge to the utter redemptive bleakness of that Late Cord record from 2006. ‘Walk On Water’ is the sound of the undead discussing the merits of purgatory before realising that like or not they are stuck there for eternity. Lucky us if they continue their wonderful dialogue. Even the drunks at the back will bow to this sublime artistry. KD

Midnight Masses - Walk On Water

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Midnight Masses
Year: 2009

It’s been a while since we’ve featured a Labrador band on mp3hugger but thankfully the new Mary Onettes album ‘Islands’ means that wrong can now be righted. And like many things from that label POP seems to be the operative word. Or more precisely POP music that emerged from the dayglo ‘80’s, because ‘Puzzles’ triggers a hotch potch of memories, among them OMD, Erasure, T’pau, Fiction Factory and quite bizarrely the more recent phenomenon that is the Frank and Walters. While it lacks the chiselled chorus of their classic ‘Lost’ it nonetheless shoulder pads with epic production values and leg warms with a gloriously grand ambition. Proof if it were needed that real bands still stalk the underground. KD

The Mary Onettes - Puzzles

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Mary Onettes
Year: 2009

It’s creeping closer, the shop tills are beginning to ring and fairy lights will soon be adorning every dwelling in the city. Yep, don’t you just love the build up to Christmas? This year is going to be a bit more exciting than usual for us. Not only is baby hugger on the way (3 weeks time), a new house to move into (1 day shy of 3 weeks) but we are holding our first ever Indiecater gig in Whelan’s in the middle of December. We’ve invited 3 special acts for the occasion. Irish audiences should know the Ambience Affair and Storkboy Choons but our main act is travelling all the way from the good oul United States of America to be with us on the 12th. They are of course called the Very Most, a band who have spent more time in mp3hugger’s ears than any other act these past few years. Hard to resist their pristine melodies, charm and downright way with an indie pop tune so it seems sorta right that they should be releasing their brand new album on the occasion of the inaugural Indiecater night. Tickets are just €8 and are available to buy from the indiecater site right now. We promise it’ll be more headnod than eggnog. KD

This Year, Christmas Came November 4th

Watch The Video For Good Fight Fighting

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Tickets: The Very Most & Friends
Year: 2008

Ok, this is more than a little odd (I’ll stop short of saying it is scary even if it is the scariest night of the year); a band in 2009 without a website or a myspace page. Yep, despite at least 8 seconds scouring google for all its worth it appears as if the Wales' Black Hand Laser Band are cyber virgins. It’s as if someone in authority had told them it was the psychedelic sixties and info that resides on non-geographically defined locations was only for those with mind-altering tendencies. The lack of info although mildly annoying hardly detracts from the vast open sound of ‘The Open Hour’. Right from Dracula’s organ to the beautifully paced BJM momentum Black Hand Laser Band display enough creativity to have their very own wiki page assembled in their honour some time soon. Be ghoul. KD

Black Hand Laser Band - The Witching Hour

More Info: A Tiny Severed Pinky Worth Of Info

This is so Mew the Danish lads should be calling up to nearby Oslo to pick up their royalties. But as Mew’s current album is scaring me from their door (and this despite ‘And The Glass Handed Kites’ being by some distance my favourite album of 2005) I have instead become utterly consumed by another Scandinavian beauty. ‘White Shade’ is taken from last years ‘Lake Toba’ record and specialises in peculiarity. There are elements of at least half a dozen different songs here but the patchwork somehow manages to sound a convincing whole. The only pity is that it is so short, there’s acres of background to be coloured but instead the quartet choose to extenuate the illusion. KD

Lukestar - White Shade

Watch The Video

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

Crikey, it must be at least 2 weeks since we’ve had a Brooklyn band on here. How feckin’ remiss of me, apologies to the epicentre of cooldom, I shall try and rectify the error of my ways by introducing the Subjects to you all. ‘Winter Vacation’ (appearing appropriately enough on the darkest Monday in Ireland for yonks) is a tropical delight, feature an off-centre shuffle and all manner of colourful moving parts. It’s taken from the band’s latest EP (‘New Soft Shoe’) and is certain to be propping up the bar in our Top 42 songs of the year (appearing here in a few weeks). The Subjects are most probably so called because they were once 2 teachers and 2 students (at the same time) who decided the chemistry was sufficient to form an indie pop engine. Their instincts were sound as ‘Winter Vacation’ is perfection. KD

The Subjects - Winter Vacation

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Subjects
Year: 2009

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so taken by an album. Back as far as ‘Funeral’ I’d say. You know one of those LP’s where every track is vital, where turning it off midway through would feel wholly disrespectful. The love affair began in early summer when Ryan Hover of Candy Claws got in touch asking if we’d take a listen to his album ‘In The Dream of The Sea Life’. From the off we were awestruck and that feeling has if anything blossomed. The album bubbles with melodic creativity, the thrills mature wonderfully and the shivers I’m now feeling aren’t swine flu but the euphoria of listening to one of the most remarkable albums of the decade. ‘Lantern Fish’ should sway your thinking but listening to all 10 cuts on indiecater might just also kidnap your affections. KD

Candy Claws - Lantern Fish

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Candy Claws
Year: 2009

The pristine jangle swooped high above the unedifying brouhaha that about a dozen open browsers tend to create. As you can imagine it took some time to find the source but 11 closed windows later and the instrumental gold had revealed itself to be the soundtrack to a promo for an Irish recording studio. Several emails/texts ensued and before long the mp3 was in hand (or more precisely in ear) and once again causing lump in throat moments. ‘Rise Fore The Human Race’ stirs up something inside of me, it has a fluid delivery and the fact that it is an instrumental hardly seems to matter as the music speaks volumes. A couple of seconds was all it took to steal my affection but it will remain in the upper echelons of the library of music I turn to time and again. Thanks to Ryan from Shiversaint and Dermot from Ashtown Studios for making this happen. KD

Shiversaint - Rise For The Human Race

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Shiversaint
Year: 2008

Just another in the long list of bands who couldn’t think of a name for themselves and decided to turn on the telly for inspiration. The Boston Celtics picked the sports news for their eureka moment and somehow it fits as they are confirmed basket cases. ‘Send It Out (That Way)’ is more than a little creepy (the band have a Halloween compilation for free download on their myspace), as if the duo had climbed into a vat of treacle with a poltergeist and forgot to turn off the 8-track. It’s a delicate shuffle really, pockmarked by witty asides and misadventures that are cuter than they are cloying. They are planning a Christmas song for us so I better be very nice to them from now on. KD

The Boston Celtics - Send It Out (That Way)


More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Boston Celtics
Year: 2009

Guess there was little point in mourning the death of shoegaze all those years ago when in truth it has continued to thrive in darkened tiny pockets on both sides of the water. The Pains of Being Young At Heart, Mew and M83 have refocused things of late proving that all the doubters were shortsighted after all. Away from the main stage there are even more thrills to be had (if you have not fallen for A Sunny Day In Glasgow or our own South Ambulance you are missing out) like the softly focused Floridians Starring Me who have just released their new 7-track CD ‘Parallels Are Endless’. This is the title track, which manages to conceal its offbeat tendencies in the icing of a tender piece of dreampop cake. KD

Starring Me - Parallels Are Endless

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Starring Me
Year: 2008

You’ll be hearing a lot more about these Dublin lads (or ladies?) sometime very soon but not from me because I know about as much as you. Yep, despite glazing over every visible particle of their myspace I cannot glean a single fact apart from an impression that they have a certain sense of humour (how come I’ve never heard that Inisman joke before?). But lackage of factoids aside Alphamono are an act to celebrate, someone to challenge the emerald electronic crown currently residing at the Dying Seconds residence. And this was achieved with a tune that is liberal in its use of the vocoder (it was never the same after Cher took her perm to it). But ‘Laynod’ has something, a spark, a heart, a personality that indicates that creativity is stirring. Turns out indications were correct as I’ve already heard ‘Fanfaidh Me’ and it’s rekindling my love for nicely turned out chilled up bleeps. KD

Alphamono - Laynod

Watch The Video To Fanfaidh Me

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Alphamono
Year: 2009

Exclamation points in a band’s name doesn’t necessarily make the music they create any more interesting, if anything it’s a pain for those of us onliners not familiar with the shift key. But, allowances will definitely be awarded for acts from my home town especially when they ditch the fiddle for some decent electronics and traditional indie sensibilities. C!ties debut self-titled EP is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but is populated with enough ideas to point to an act with oodles of potential. The ‘C!ties’ EP casts its net far and wide, is loud in places, tender in others and downright unclassifiable elsewhere. ‘!’ is by far my favourite moment, not going anywhere in particular it would have made a most wonderful audio interlude on No Disco if that ship were still sailing. Sorta like Super Extra Bonus Party where they to ditch the superfluous audio widgets. Elsewhere tracks like ‘Satellites’ and ‘4+1=5’ start out wonderfully before somewhat losing their way in a haze of faux drama. This EP is available for free download from the C!ties myspace and with a bit of luck it should soon be knocking the concrete smile off Sharon Shannon’s face. KD

C!ties - !

More Info: Official & Myspace
Download Songs: C!ties
Year: 2009

Not sure quite how some indie music making folks get it on with the opposite sex given the amount of time they spend in their bedrooms twiddling with their computers and laying down chords. That said long may they cluster in the dusty half light if it means pale beings like Ryan Beal (aka Norse Horse) continue to conjure underground magic of this ilk. Norse Horse has some very obvious reference points but his exhaustive repeating electronica and vocals hovering like winter fog does more than enough to distinguish itself from the maddening. ‘Swamp Trotter’ is from his new CDR (and cassette, respect) ‘Secret Geographies’ which is selling for pennies from Family Time Records. The tune travels at a slow canter, hardly moving from its original declaration yet it never feels worn. This norse horse will surely stay the course. KD

Norse Horse - Swamp Trotter

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Norse Horse
Year: 2009

For those of you old enough to remember a time when you couldn’t rely on a hard drive to preserve the music from your past I understand your pain. Mixtapes for all the accolades are a pain in the reflection stakes, especially if the last time you used a working player Gabriella Sabatina was creating all sorts of dribbles (she subsequently butched up something awful). One song that made a late push for entry onto my Golden Greats (copyright Lawrence Gogan) mixtape came from the Charlatans greatest (and most aged) album ‘Some Friendly’. Back in 1990 ‘The Only One I Know’ was everything (The Stone Roses apart), the hair, the video, the shuffle, the ‘Looking For The Orange One’ t-shirt all infected my life to such a degree I must have been close to intolerable. I remember one Christmas eve playing the album to death in our banger as me and my Dad drove around the markets. By the end he was so brainwashed that almost despite himself he had amassed half a dozen pudding bowls (for DIY mop styling later) and several pairs of chinos (very unbaggy like it must be said) that could have fit a man twice his size. I sniggered, turned on my floppy fringe and promptly tripped on a wind propelled Joe Bloggs trouser leg. Fine times but looking back I wish there had been a digital depositary that I could have used to amass all those songs, instead I’ll have to leaf through several years worth of unlabelled spools. Oh yeah, Tim Burgess looks really silly nowadays. KD

The Charlatans - Believe You Me

More Info: Wiki & Myspace
Buy Songs: Some Friendly
Year: 1990

If this song wasn’t enough I then find out that the Travelling Band are soon to be joined on stage by none other than Dodgy (yep, those self same underrated 90’s rascals). But, back to matters in hand, here is a new band from rainy Manchester with a particularly sunny disposition and not a particularly British sound. ‘Only Waiting’ is stripped of studio fandango yet still packs plenty of punch through some lovely morning after vocals and perfectly pitched instrumentation. Why shout it from the rooftops when you’re hovering majestically over earth in a zeppelin. And they also do a nice understated reworking of one of the highlights from the best album ever released (it’s called ‘Waterfall’). What’s not to like? KD

The Travelling Band - Only Waiting

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Travelling Band
Year: 2008

You may have guessed it by now but we’re pretty partial to a good dollop of Princeton (they appeared on our last compilation). So you can imagine the broad smiles when we heard that ‘Cocoon of Love’, the band’s debut, was about to arrive. Yep, with twilight hours appearing earlier and earlier it’s always a good idea to have something from a different age (namely Summer) belting out from the nearest stereo. Tends to frighten the ghouls away and that feeling of regret because we've failed to replace the windows in time for the colder months. ‘Calypso Gold’ is a sprightly cherub, bouncing it’s way through almost 4 minutes without the slightest sense of adulthood. Class acts are made of these. KD

Princeton - Calypso Gold

Watch The Video To Martina and Clive Krantz

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Princeton
Year: 2009

The crux of this wonderful tune reminds me of something else but I can’t pinpoint it, could be another Italian band. Le Man Avec Les Lunettes come from Brescia and are led by Alessandro Paderno. Prolific set they appear to be too with a great pile of releases put out since they formed over 5 years ago. ‘The Blogger And The Dandy’ appeared on a Series Two compilation from the band called ‘La Belle Epop’ and is a near surreal experience. At times it gets woozy, almost ragged yet the tune that pulls the levers is utterly captivating. I’ve had it on repeat for the last 24 hours and it’s still gently tickling my insides. KD

Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - The Blogger And The Dandy

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Le Man Avec Les Lunettes
Year: 2008

Gotta pity Autumn, I mean it’s not even mid October and already some of us are beginning to think of evenings by the fire admiring that brightly lit Christmas tree in the corner. Yep, it seems that Winter has a stronger hold on our senses despite the often colourful nature of it’s nearest competitor. Well, perhaps our old friends the Very Most can finally put Autumn on the pedestal it deserves via their new EP of the same name. ‘Autumn’ is TVM’s 3rd release on indiecater in 2009 and the good times just keep rolling. ‘Autumn Air’ is a effervescent indication of the fare on offer with its lush streams of cascading harmonies and intricate vocal interplay. You should know by now that every new Very Most song is something to cherish; they remain the contented person’s most essential indie pop combo. KD

The Very Most - Autumn Air

More Info: Autumn & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Very Most
Year: 2009

The shutter comes down on mp3hugger for 24 hours as another weekend of international football is upon us. This time Ireland face the Italians who only need a point to qualify, a win for us would have them sweating a little in the last round of games next Wednesday (Cyprus you owe us dear). Croker will be full as will most of the supporters given that today is Saturday, kick off is not until 8pm and there is a German beer festival in full swing in the city centre. Fitting then that a random search for football phraseology threw up Oppenheimer and their shiny gem ‘Only Goal And Winner’, this act are the true heirs to the Ash juggernaut which has completely stalled of late (or at least is spluttering uncontrollably). Finger nails, prepare for a right auld seeing to later on. KD

Oppenheimer - Only Goal & Winner

More Info: Myspace
Buy Songs: Oppenheimer
Year: 2008

We could probably all the tell the game was up when Niall absconded and they started using gimmicks like cute girls on keyboards but we all just chose to close our eyes and block our ears and just dream that the most underrated band to emerge from these shores would finally reach the promised land. The return while glorious in its live incarnation never truly ignited in the studio but no matter how many times the Franks shimmer into view smiles are guaranteed to follow. Sigur Ros may have invented their own language but this Cork threesome were there nearly a decade earlier. It was funnier too especially as it spouted from a collection of hairstyles as lavish those found in Africa's largest pride. Here’s a cover of Tone Lōc’s ‘Funky Cold Medina’ that the band released as a b-side on one of their iconic early singles (After All). Despite a suspended official website the F&W are current planning a small tour around wee Scotland. With Christmas coming some dates back home are inevitable. KD

The Frank & Walters - Funky Cold Medina

More Info: UnOfficial & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Frank & Walters
Year: 1992