Elizabeth Morris is one of foursome Allo’, Darlin, an antipodean/anglo group who made waves earlier this year on foot of their gentle self-titled debut. We knew them (well, Liz at least) as her beautiful rendition of ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ made it onto our 2009 Christmas compilation. Seems the lass has an affiliation for this particular holiday as ‘Will You Please Spend New Years With Me?’ ably proves (it was those scorching Queensland Decembers that did it). This is as sparse as Allo, Darlin’ get yet for all the lack of ornamental detail it is as warm and inviting as a yuletide log. It also gives a good case for not following the herd and instead spending the change of the year with your love and a suite of Disney favourites. Fireworks will surely ensue whichever you choose. KD

Allo, Darlin' - Will You Please Spend New Years With Me?

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Allo Darlin'
Year: 2009

Hope you like our shapely (and I’m not referring to our ‘all the appearances of a fattened turkey without the feathers’ body) new design. Not a whole lot of difference from the way it looked before but it had been a couple of years since the last overhaul so it felt almost mandatory. Anyway, the bulk of what was for all intents and purposes a mad scramble around Ireland with tinsel and baby in tow has come to a halt and normality is returning. 2011 is going to bring fresh challenges as this blog is due to turn into a full time pursuit (along with other inventive meal winning endeavours). It is frightening the pants off me (were it not for my bloated hips they’d be flat on the floor) but in other ways this could potentially be a great experience. Anyroad, to kick start the new campaign here are our old friends (well aren’t everyone on Slumberland?) Black Tambourine with their 100% genuine retro classic ‘Dream Baby Dream’ (a Suicide cover). KD

Black Tambourine - Dream Baby Dream

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Black Tambourine
Year: 1991

There must be a thousand takes on ‘Little Drummer Boy’, the majority of which are pants but then you have exceptions like the Dandy Warhols ecstatic take. Nova Scotia band the Heavy Blinkers took a pithy view from a new perspective, that of the little boy through the eyes of Mary & Joseph. If that’s not interesting enough for you then Jenn Grant’s voice should be enough to swing it. This is the type of song I search all year for to sign off on before the Christmas break. It's perfect. Hope the next few days go well for you, we’re heading west through the snowfields to the land of midnight mass and midday drinking. Nollaig Shona! KD

The Heavy Blinkers - Silence Your Drum

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Heavy Blinkers
Year: 2009

37 hours of snow and already people here in Dublin are saying that Bing’s ‘White Christmas’ is giving them the chills. We are truly a funny sort, spend the whole year dreaming of a white one and then when it happens we’re complaining about leaky boots and slippy pedestrian thoroughfares. That gorgeous Guinness ad that used to send shivers down our spine is now doing exactly the same thing. No mind, here is a new entry in the classic crimbo collection from L.A. rockers Darker My Love. They wrote the song for a free Christmas album being pushed by of all things a big shop called Target. It ends up being totally wonderful, intensely happy and richly melodic, just perfect for a nation hung up on frozen fingertips and horses that should really be inside on subzero nights like this. Love you this time of the year. KD

Darker My Love - Snow Is Falling

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Darker My Love
Year: 2010

Besides Low’s ‘Just Like Christmas’ no contemporary festive number has hit me quite like Venice Is Sinking’s ‘The Grey Line’. Now while I like my December party numbers to be weighed down with sleigh bells as much as the next person there are times when the alternative can be just as satisfying. And what a heart filling distraction this song is, it’s completely perfect even before the trumpet kicks in at fade out and when it does I consistently fail to hold back on emotions not normally the preserve of a grown adult. It has so infected my pre Christmas psyche that I have resolved to feature the song henceforth on this blog for every year that it roams the web. So until we meet again in 12 months time thank you Daniel, Karolyn, Lucas, Jeremy, James and Aaron. By the way we're snowed in here again so looks like work is kaput early this year. Yippee. KD

Venice Is Sinking - The Grey Line

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Venice Is Sinking
Year: 2007

The now departed De Rosa from Glasgow were signed to Chemical Underground and like true nationalists never softened their brogue to bailout international ears. So it took a few go’s before lyrics could be deciphered and while it’s not exactly family friendly ‘Under the Stairs (Xmas Reverie)’ turned out not as stark as I’d originally imagined. Words aside this is a really nice tune, in keeping with the season it is all softly lit and open to mistimed handclaps if you're party to such admissions of jollity over the next few days. KD

De Rosa - Under the Stairs (Xmas Reverie)

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: De Rosa
Year: 2006

It’d be hard to score Sofia Talvik anything less than ten for her efforts to promote her own music. The Swedish singer has certainly got the internet down and uses each one of its promoing tools to the max. Now in somebody else’s boots this could turn as many away as it attracts but the ace up Talvik’s sleeve is her talent. From what I can gather she appears labelless which given her looks and undoubted gift for a pretty ditty is a bit odd. Not that I’m always completely enamoured with her output but periodically she hits the nail on the head. Like on last years Christmas single ‘Snowy White River’ which is a fragile and heartrending piece that’ll calm your head after 5 hours at the shops. Keep at it Sofia, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll be wrapped around your finger. KD

Sofia Talvik - Snowy White River

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Sofia Talvik
Year: 2009

By my reckoning Candy Claws are up to half a dozen in their campaign to write the most songs by any band containing snow in the title. Given that they are nestled at the foot of the snowy Colorado hills it probably isn’t all that surprising though. We ourselves spent a winter’s month in New Zealand and drew so much inspiration from that white topped landscape. ‘Snow Girl’ is something Ryan and Kay recorded last Christmas and is indicative of Candy Claws Mark I as opposed to the direction that they took on their forest treks this year. As ever the childlike innocence is effortlessly genuine and the softly frosted harmonies dispatched with the skill and finesse of one of the best acts in the world today. We love them so much and not just at Christmas. KD

Candy Claws - Snow Girl

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

Really surprised myself with what finished on top, maybe hugger is maturing. For those who've missed the journey to this point | part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 |

You'll find the player controls on the top left and click the info bottom on the bottom left for more info on each of the songs.



The rest of the story.....

No. 7 Washed Out - You'll See It
No. 8 School of Seven Bells - Babelonia
No. 9 Emily Jane White - Liza
No. 10 Kowalski - Get Back
No. 11 Four Tet - Plastic People
No. 12 The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo
No. 13 Low Sea - Alex
No. 14 The Radio Dept. - The New Improved Hyprocrisy
No. 15 Chappo - Come Home
No. 16 Champagne Riot - Heart Stab
No. 17 The Gorgeous Colours - The Creatures Down Below
No. 18 Venice Is Sinking - Tugboat
No. 19 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
No. 20 Gloria Cycles - Diplomatic Dining Cycles
No. 21 The Leisure Society - Inchworm
No. 22 The Coral - Walking In The Winter
No. 23 Hosannas - When We Were Young
No. 24 Beat Connection - In The Water
No. 25 Seaside Stars - Darlin'
No. 26 Stars & Sons - Untested, Untried
No. 27 Spirit Spine - Flashes
No. 28 Lower Dens - Hospice Gates
No. 29 Cotton Jones - Glorylight And Christie
No. 30 The Golden Filter - Hide Me
No. 31 Clean Equations - Haitian Noise Piece
No. 32 The Walkmen - Stranded
No. 33 Houses - Endless Spring
No. 34 Pantone247 - Maybe Tonight
No. 35 Coltrane Motion - I Forgot There Was A War On
No. 36 The Winks - Wildlife Of The Desert
No. 37 Jonsi - Go Do
No. 38 The Selfish Replicators - Strands
No. 39 Canoe - Three Birds
No. 40 Kill Krinkle Club - 59
No. 41 Common Loon - Mexico
No. 42 Rudely Interrupted - Close My Eyes

KD

The penultimate gathering of the coven of songs that filled our hearts this year, here's the story so far | part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 |

Presenting our 12th to 7th fave songs of 2010.

You'll find the player controls on the top left and click the info bottom on the bottom left for more info on each of the songs.



The story so far.....

No. 13 Low Sea - Alex
No. 14 The Radio Dept. - The New Improved Hyprocrisy
No. 15 Chappo - Come Home
No. 16 Champagne Riot - Heart Stab
No. 17 The Gorgeous Colours - The Creatures Down Below
No. 18 Venice Is Sinking - Tugboat
No. 19 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
No. 20 Gloria Cycles - Diplomatic Dining Cycles
No. 21 The Leisure Society - Inchworm
No. 22 The Coral - Walking In The Winter
No. 23 Hosannas - When We Were Young
No. 24 Beat Connection - In The Water
No. 25 Seaside Stars - Darlin'
No. 26 Stars & Sons - Untested, Untried
No. 27 Spirit Spine - Flashes
No. 28 Lower Dens - Hospice Gates
No. 29 Cotton Jones - Glorylight And Christie
No. 30 The Golden Filter - Hide Me
No. 31 Clean Equations - Haitian Noise Piece
No. 32 The Walkmen - Stranded
No. 33 Houses - Endless Spring
No. 34 Pantone247 - Maybe Tonight
No. 35 Coltrane Motion - I Forgot There Was A War On
No. 36 The Winks - Wildlife Of The Desert
No. 37 Jonsi - Go Do
No. 38 The Selfish Replicators - Strands
No. 39 Canoe - Three Birds
No. 40 Kill Krinkle Club - 59
No. 41 Common Loon - Mexico
No. 42 Rudely Interrupted - Close My Eyes

KD

Despite what you might think we don't know what number 1 will be ourselves! Catch up on what's been covered so far | part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 |

Getting so close now, it's 18 to 13!

You'll find the player controls on the top left and click the info bottom on the bottom left for more info on each of the songs.



The story so far.....

No. 19 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
No. 20 Gloria Cycles - Diplomatic Dining Cycles
No. 21 The Leisure Society - Inchworm
No. 22 The Coral - Walking In The Winter
No. 23 Hosannas - When We Were Young
No. 24 Beat Connection - In The Water
No. 25 Seaside Stars - Darlin'
No. 26 Stars & Sons - Untested, Untried
No. 27 Spirit Spine - Flashes
No. 28 Lower Dens - Hospice Gates
No. 29 Cotton Jones - Glorylight And Christie
No. 30 The Golden Filter - Hide Me
No. 31 Clean Equations - Haitian Noise Piece
No. 32 The Walkmen - Stranded
No. 33 Houses - Endless Spring
No. 34 Pantone247 - Maybe Tonight
No. 35 Coltrane Motion - I Forgot There Was A War On
No. 36 The Winks - Wildlife Of The Desert
No. 37 Jonsi - Go Do
No. 38 The Selfish Replicators - Strands
No. 39 Canoe - Three Birds
No. 40 Kill Krinkle Club - 59
No. 41 Common Loon - Mexico
No. 42 Rudely Interrupted - Close My Eyes

KD

We've reached the halfway stage in our best songs of 2010. If you've missed the countdown up to this point click away to | part 1 | part 2 | part 3 |

Let's here it for 24 to 19!

You'll find the player controls on the top left and click the info bottom on the bottom left for more info on each of the songs.



The story so far.....

No. 25 Seaside Stars - Darlin'
No. 26 Stars & Sons - Untested, Untried
No. 27 Spirit Spine - Flashes
No. 28 Lower Dens - Hospice Gates
No. 29 Cotton Jones - Glorylight And Christie
No. 30 The Golden Filter - Hide Me
No. 31 Clean Equations - Haitian Noise Piece
No. 32 The Walkmen - Stranded
No. 33 Houses - Endless Spring
No. 34 Pantone247 - Maybe Tonight
No. 35 Coltrane Motion - I Forgot There Was A War On
No. 36 The Winks - Wildlife Of The Desert
No. 37 Jonsi - Go Do
No. 38 The Selfish Replicators - Strands
No. 39 Canoe - Three Birds
No. 40 Kill Krinkle Club - 59
No. 41 Common Loon - Mexico
No. 42 Rudely Interrupted - Close My Eyes

KD

Part 3 of a 7 part epic on the road to this year's top song. The countdown to date (part 1 & part 2) can be found under the player.

Ladies and gentlemen may I present numbers 30 to 25.

You'll find the player controls on the top left and click the info bottom on the bottom left for more info on each of the songs.



The story so far.....

No. 31 Clean Equations - Haitian Noise Piece
No. 32 The Walkmen - Stranded
No. 33 Houses - Endless Spring
No. 34 Pantone247 - Maybe Tonight
No. 35 Coltrane Motion - I Forgot There Was A War On
No. 36 The Winks - Wildlife Of The Desert
No. 37 Jonsi - Go Do
No. 38 The Selfish Replicators - Strands
No. 39 Canoe - Three Birds
No. 40 Kill Krinkle Club - 59
No. 41 Common Loon - Mexico
No. 42 Rudely Interrupted - Close My Eyes

KD

Briefly sweeping aside that top song from 2010 countdownery I just wanted to mention that Christmas is not far away. That makes me very happy because it means lots of nice things happening all at once. Not least the opportunity to dance to songs that have been popping up since the year dot. Cosily familiar as all that is though it’s always nice to have new stuff to add to the canon of festive favourites. The Keys’ ‘Queuing Up For Christmas’ makes a good argument for inclusion, offering as it does their knowing way with retro sounding harmonies. The song came out as part of their Christmas EP, which was one of four that the Welsh lads put out last year. If you’ve come for something else then mid-table placings will be posted soon. KD

The Keys - Queuing Up For Christmas

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Keys
Year: 2009

Part 2 on our countdown to the best song of 2010 (as voted by me). The songs from part 1 can be found under the player.

Tonight it's the turn of numbers 36 to 31.

You'll find the player controls on the top left and click the info bottom on the bottom left for more info on each of the songs.



The story so far.....

No. 37 Jonsi - Go Do
No. 38 The Selfish Replicators - Strands
No. 39 Canoe - Three Birds
No. 40 Kill Krinkle Club - 59
No. 41 Common Loon - Mexico
No. 42 Rudely Interrupted - Close My Eyes

KD

In a shameless copycat tactic we’ve taken it upon ourselves to reveal our Top 42 songs of the year over the course of the next week as opposed to all in one go like the last 4 years. This year it made sense to leave Indiecater to one side and give the shoddiness of non-indiecaterland a chance to shine. All the other rules remain the same, only 1 song per artist and only songs that have appeared on mp3hugger throughout the year could make the cut. All told my gut feeling for 2010 was that is was a really lousy year for classic albums and the well of memorable tunes was also down on previous years. That said by whittling it down to our top 42 it measures up quite well.

Tonight we present numbers 42 to 37.

You'll find the player controls on the top left and click the info bottom on the bottom left for more info on each of the songs.



KD

I posted this a whole 5 years ago so figured it deserved a second airing given its redemptive powers at this time of year. Of course it made complete sense that power poppeteers Grandaddy record a Christmas song but who could have guessed that they’d make awkwardly long, imperfectly sown lyrics sound so ridiculously cute (don’t answer me)? ‘Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland’ appeared on one of the best contemporary festive collections called ‘It’s A Cool, Cool Christmas’ which fetches quite the pretty penny on ebay these days. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wish they reformed all within the space of the quickest 3 minutes ever. Lytle rarely sounded this large. KD

Grandaddy - Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Jason Lytle
Year: 2000

It's ye auld hugger's first foray into the land of script writing so bear that in mind as your sharpen your virtual knives. Apt Red is an internet based programme by RTE (Irish national broadcaster) aimed at teenagers which is starting to branch out into music, or more precisely the music that can be sourced on the web. Anyway's a couple of week's ago they got in touch suggesting we put a script together for the show. The nice part was that they gave us complete editorial control so sorry Kings, Lady and West you'll have to look elsewhere for your airtime.

The finished product can be streamed below, see what you think. KD



More Info: Apt Red

Not sure what kept me from their door for so long, I mean I’d gotten serious prompts from someone I respect and yet I turned my cheek and chased the indie dragon elsewhere. Thankfully a rumble through a miscellaneous bunch of mp3’s set me on the right road and Pittsburgh’s Lohio are now painting a Technicolour (not sure whether to drop the U or not) canvass for my ears. This beaut is taken from their self-titled debut EP that came out last year (a newbie called ‘Family Tree’ has since dropped, more soon) and contains most of the ingredients of an indie pop classic. One such characteristic being that of salivation creation, in that the tune seems to end way too quickly and no amount of rambunctious repeat plays can sully its bright exterior. Joy to the world. KD

Lohio - Waiting For The End Of The Summertime

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Lohio
Year: 2009

Before it was turned into Japanese whale meat primalscreamremixed.com actually contained some cool remixes (undeniably not sanctioned) by the Glasgow band who trade under the name of Primal Scream. I visited on occasion but purely for the kicks supplied by the Screamadelica reimaginings. The band have never quite come close to replicating the magic of the grooves inherent in that release so it made my little ticker go pitter patter when news broke that they are to tour the album from start to finish. It was the occasion of Feile, in a soon to be redeveloped hurling field, in the early 90’s that I witnessed my favourite gig of all time. Bobby and Denise led the troops immaculately and even though the crowd had thinned to near baldness levels they still served up a quasi-religious level of devotion in the direction of the Glaswegian’s. Still get tingles thinking about it, not least for the positive effect it also had on my normally muck adoring chums of the time. Here is a neat little uplifting number that takes the normally sedate ‘Shine Like Stars’ and turns it into something altogether more bombastic. KD

Primal Scream - Shine Like Stars (Empire State Human Remix)

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Primal Scream (know what I mean?)
Year: 1991 & 2005

Seems I am incapable of extricating myself from the sound of Christmas or in this case from the songs whose natural habitat is forever blanketed in fluffy ice matter. ‘All The Things We Were Supposed To Be’ is really quite heartbreaking and is taken from Amy Bezunartea’s current album ‘Restaurant & Bars’. Being someone who has never picked up as much as a triangle I am obviously open to contradiction but it sounds like this song is composed purely of a voice and some sparse piano keys. Why then am I so teared up that a trip outside in the subzero could render my eyes as close to their teddy equivalent as to have our little bundle plucking them from my head with barely a second thought for the future footballing exploits of her dearest daddy. All told this is a pretty devastating piece of music. KD

Amy Bezunartea - All The Things We Were Supposed To Be

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Amy Bezunartea
Year: 2010

If you get a sense of the familiar then you are probably as big a Candy Claws fan as I. Like much of what happens on their Colorado label (Act So Big Forest, hello everyone!) interchangability among its roster of bands is a consistent theme so much so that Ocean Bump! often has vivid dreams of the sea life. Hardly surprising given the sweet nature of the people involved but it does give some credibility to a world hung up on budgets and bailouts. ‘A Day In December’ is not even close to being the best Christmas song ever written, in fact it is more a lullaby for baby’s bedtime than an actual tune, yet there is something so cherishable at work that is hard to dismiss. Picture a little one peering out a frosted window and glimpsing the first falling snow of her life and you will appreciate the innocence and wonder imagined by Ocean Bump! KD

Ocean Bump! - A Day In December

More Info: Official
Free Songs: Ocean Bump!
Year: 2009

As Christmas songs go it ain’t your normal snow blitz but then who wants to endlessly retread the same old jingles every year? So Boca Chica from Pittsburgh decided to kick some sawdust in Santa’s face and not even the beacon that is Rudolph could get him out of this scrape. ‘Not On Christmas Eve’ turns out to be mighty fine tune too, just like the 10 others that join it on our very own An Indiecater Christmas 2010. Someone has got to bring forth the music now that Spector is tied up for the foreseeable future. As always the album is streaming in full on Indiecater so see ya over there y’all. KD

Boca Chica - Not On Christmas Eve

More Boca Chica: Valentine EP
Buy Christmas Songs: An Indiecater Christmas 2010
Year: 2010

Is 2 great records enough to make a great band? The answer is quite simple really and it goes something like yes and no. Yes, Idlewild appeared to be onto something really special after their 2nd and 3rd (‘Hope Is Important’ & ‘100 Broken Windows’) releases announced an act unafraid of tearing strips off the walls in pursuit of the perfect melody. And no because since ‘100 Broken Windows’ they’ve increasing tarnished what was shaping up to be a distinguished legacy. God knows how you’d classify them at this stage, boring probably sums it up best. And this from a creative that wrote songs like ‘Quiet Crown’ which for a while (during a long sojourn in Bali) had us staring dewy eyed into the sinking evening sun. Still gives me tingles. KD

Idlewild - Quiet Crown

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Idlewild
Year: 2000

You’ve gotta credit Ohbijou for coming away from this cover of Wham’s sonic demigod with little or no eggnog on their faces (the slight drift into munchkin vocal early on excepted). It’s not that they’ve altered the piece that radically but by infusing it with their own quirks it gives ‘Last Christmas’ a new lease of life. The strings certainly add a touch of class but almost despite myself I keep drifting back to the land of Oz. Perhaps that is something Ohbijou are aiming for because they recently recorded a lullaby version of ‘Dear Prudence’ for the really sweet compilation ‘Sing Me To Sleep – Indie Lullabies’. All told a quiet success.

P.S. There is about a foot of snow outside our door here in Dublin so I feel no embarrassment whatsoever in admitting that I’m about to see if the fairy lights from last year are still working? Hooray. KD

Ohbijou - Last Christmas

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Ohbijou
Year: 2009

I’m not sure if there are many people in the world who think Scott Masson is a musical genius but there is at least one and you are reading him now. Not only does the Detroit based artist throw open the gates to the urban field he cultivates with colourful melodies under his Office project but he also has a side project known as Glossies. An entirely ridiculous name I know but who cares when you’ll be kissing your love under the mistletoe with ‘Glossy Xmas’ on the stereo (note the jolly holiday parts where a kissing moratorium must be observed and replaced by inane grass skirtesque swivels). Masson writes an entertaining blog at his site where he decries the loss of magic that people’s short attention spans have had on albums. He himself has decided to just focus on individual tracks from now on (ADD's up I guess) and what a glorious flotilla of ditties awaits us. KD

Glossies - Glossy Xmas

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Glossies
Year: 2009

Something to cast you adrift from the inclemency all around. Yeah, we definitely need our escape routes and I find it’s hard to beat a few minutes of twee pop to lift the gloom. This one is courtesy of Michigan trio Lightning Love who last put a long player together about 2 years ago. I really like the female vocals, which somehow model the sound of Northern Europe, perhaps that was an obvious ploy but regardless it makes a whole lot of fun (and given the output from up there, entirely appropriate). The other fascinating observation has to be the percussion, which is a close relation to Asobi Seksu’s ‘Thursday’. Budget, wha, ain’t that a caged bird? KD

Lightning Love - Girls Are Always Wrong

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Lightning Love
Year: 2008

As part of my daily crunch I try to clean out the tags on the countless songs that are arrive inbox inadequately labelled. On inspection this perfect little nugget from Hamfatter expressed the notion that the recording was owned by one Hamfatter Ltd. Little surprise really given that the band received a sizeable investment from Peter Jones via Dragon’s Den in 2008. The grands' that came for free barely impacted on the trio unfortunately and if anything what was recouped from the business world was quickly eroded by its sneering musical equivalent. Shame really because Hamfatter are a decent act as evidenced by ‘The Girl I Love’ (written post Jones injection it must be said), something that would be equally as comfortable on a 9am as a 9pm playlist. Perhaps the lads could borrow a phrase from another similar BBC programme and show Mr. Jones the door. There should really be no limits in their world. KD

Hamfatter - The Girl I Love

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Hamfatter
Year: 2008

If any sound could capture the mood of my head of a Sunday evening it would be this one. It comes from a French duo who have turned the act of being an artist into an artform (they write, record, print a handful of copies, go to ground). Mehdi Ameziane and Solange Gularte call them themselves Natural Snow Buildings, an entirely appropriate moniker it must be said, and turn out LP’s like confetti. For the most part they are deep affairs, this is a band that are not noted for choosing the easy option. So while ‘All Animals In The Form Of Water’ could indeed pass for a piece of ornamental soundtrack it could also double up as a thought provoking mood piece for those in dread of the weekly mundanity. KD

Natural Snow Buildings - All Animals In The Form Of Water

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Natural Snow Buildings
Year: 2006

It’s been bitter in Dublin for the last 48 days and for once it has nothing to do with the harsh economic climate or our biggest export. The degrees have really nosedived and last night we had the pleasure of trying to sleep through endless thunder/lightning/hail, not exactly the soft fluffy snow we prefer at this time of year but if landscapes in blanket white are your thing then you should swing by. So in an attempt to defrost blue fingertips I decided to take a trip back to Candy Claws last album but one (the snow reference). Note the warm fuzzy feeling inside your pit once it works its magic, before too long those watery melodies will render you akin to that kid all aglow in the readybrek ads from yesteryear. What a special gift they truly have. KD

Candy Claws - Snowflake Eel Wish

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

Things could get a whole lot mushier around here over the next few weeks as hugger goes all sentimental and douses himself in liquid tinsel to celebrate our favourite time of the year. A couple of years ago we successfully executed a Christmas post every December day up to the 25th and while we probably won’t reach such lofty heights this year you can expect a veritable compendium of festive sounds between now and the big day. And that’s even before we start jabbering about this years Indiecater Christmas compilation which will have about a dozen or so brand new original sonic puddings. To kick off the season here is a soft and gentle ditty from Munich’s Mexican Elvis. It’s to their credit that all of their pronouncements are in their native tongue but unfortunately it means we have to rely on our imagination to fill you in. So in an bout of Friday evening laziness we’ll sum up by saying that Mexican Elvis are really well worth checking out further (try ‘The Washington D.C.’ first, it’s ace). KD

Mexican Elvis - National Holiday

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Mexican Elvis
Year: 2008

I listen to a lot of music, tons of it in fact and it's not confined to what presents itself via headphones. I could be watching an advert for blueberry juice and the interesting background sound will have me hurtling towards search engines to see who the song is by. But, for all the music I have listened to over the last few years I have never knowingly (as in later found out it was by them) heard a song by Kanye West, Jay-Z or 50 cent. Granted I don't listen to the radio that often but even when I do I can't recall a single occasion where the mid-Atlantic twang announces that the song just played was from one of the trio. Kanye appears to have a huge profile, he's everywhere, mentioned in dispatches far and wide and yet I know everything there is to know about his teeth and nothing whatsoever about his voice. Now I'm not saying that I couldn't find the goods on youtube yet there's no need to do that for Lady Gaga and I could whistle all her big hits. What is it about rappers, are they part of the biggest secret club in the world or do I have a congenital condition that blocks out music where the artist employs a shimmying pitter patter rather than the traditional vocal harmony? KD

The Streets - Empty Cans

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Streets
Year: 2004

As music CV’s go he’s got one that is hard to top. Jim Fairchild was an integral part of Grandaddy, plays guitar with Modest Mouse and produced albums for, amongst others, hugger faves Dappled Cities. He also makes music for his own project All Smiles, titled as you’ll soon discover with a sense of knowing (much like his name really). He is currently running a kickstarter campaign to record a third LP so while you ponder a pledge let this tune win you over. Crucially for those of short attention spans the core of melody appears somewhat late on ‘All You Are Is A Human Sir’ bit it’s definitely worth the wait. Proving yet again that everything beautiful is far away. KD

All Smiles - All You Are Is A Human Sir

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: All Smiles
Year: 2009

Given his way with a tune it is a bit of a mystery why Derry man Conor Mason has so far eluded widespread attention in Ireland. His wistful Matthew Jayesque compositions peppered last year’s ‘When It’s Over’ and in many ways it made complete sense when he was asked to support Brendan Benson a few months back (the Benson of ‘Lapalco’ fame anyway). ‘Luck’ is the shy creature that lives in your garden, which you’d love as a pet but know it probably would never work out. It shimmy’s and slides gracefully and in the process highlights Mason’s soft vocal brogue. Everyone say awwwwhhhh. KD

Conor Mason - Luck

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Conor Mason
Year: 2009

There’s no doubting Leeds' Insect Guide harbour desires for past decades and given the dearth of contemporary movements who could blame them. The fact that they include the drummer from the Pale Saints helps to bridge the gap of course yet there is so much more to ‘Bats’ that is admirable. For one Su Sutton’s vocals are an able match for the densely fuzzed out chords and the impression is that of a Jesus & Mary Chain tune were Hope Sandoval given vocal domination. This should appeal to fans of Sweet Jane, an Irish act that convey a similiar post shoegaze sound. 'Dark Days & Nights', Insect Guide's second album, is out now on the Ian Brown franchised Squirrel Records. KD

Insect Guide - Bats

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Insect Guide
Year: 2010

So the house of cards that was Ireland fiscal well-being has finally come crashing down. God knows what awaits us now that the vultures are circling. Perhaps we’ll again become the people that was loved the world over, happy with our lot and not trampling our neighbours to fill our boots with the loot. In the end it will take a malevolent force to bail us out and the repercussions will ripple through Irish society for a decade at least. Thank the lord then that the news came now and not in January as we’ve got the festive season to shield us from the real world. And to kick start the party here is a delightful piece of hokum from Santa Cruz artist Carolyn Sills called ‘George Bailey’. In fact it is so note perfect in its retro stylings were Spector not incarcerated I’m sure he could have had a ready-made star for a reworked ‘A Gift For You’. Mostly is a wonderful life. KD

Carolyn Sills - George Bailey

Watch The Video

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Buy Songs: Carolyn Sills
Year: 2007

If you were to throw the couple thousand songs that have appeared on this blog since 2005 into a blender the unholy and glorious mess might not be too unlike ‘Open Season’ by New York band High Highs. The duo Jack Milas and Oli Chang pursue a sound that ticks all our critical boxes and have just sent our salivating glands into overdrive with the news that they are prepping their debut album at the moment. Not that ‘Open Season’ is particularly revolutionary, just ridiculously cute in a murky production/honeyed melody kind of way. KD

High Highs - Open Season

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Buy Songs: High Highs
Year: 2010

Despite initially sounding all the world like a geriatric ‘Rebellion (Lies)’ Deerhunter’s ‘Desire Lines’ does an about turn to instead fall into the arms of Sonic Youth. And for all that the band I most associate with them is Pavement for they are, within the space of a couple of songs, capable of writing the prettiest song flush with vivid melody and one you’d likely bring to the toilet in an effort to shift the cramps. It is very frustrating and all too apparent on their generally wonderful current album ‘Halcyon Digest’. This is perhaps my fave (along with ‘Memory Boy’) for it beats like all great indie anthems should with bulbous guitar lines and swaggering vocals. Deerhunter are as good as 2010 gets, if they could just paper over their idiosyncratic tendencies then we’d be talking all time. KD

Deerhunter - Desire Lines

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Buy Songs: Deerhunter
Year: 2010

Given the number of girls with guitars doing something similar to what Natalie Prass does isn’t it just dandy to discover how much better she is than most of them. The Nashville girl was an unknown quantity to us up to recently but with introductions quickly dispensed with we decided to capitalise on the moment. So much so that she is apperaing on our upcoming Christmas compilation, after which she’ll likely get picked up by the best label in the world bar none. The Christmas song is pretty special, just like the track below from her recently released ‘Small & Sweet’ EP. The magic occurs as vocals seamlessly engage with the music resulting in endless pretty patterns. The sweetest thing. KD

Natalie Prass - Deer

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Buy Songs: Natalie Prass
Year: 2010

To call them the US Kasabian could be to damn the Constellations with faint praise but then I’m sure they’d put up with that in exchange for some of the former’s gazillion sales. It hard not to get suckered into their vibrant all encompassing sound, a perfect example of which you can find below. ‘Setback’ is a rhino charge of a single from the Atlanta acts’ debut album ‘Southern Gothic’. Words like big, bold and mountable (rhino theme poorly sequelled) spring to mind, I mean I feel about 10 times cooler even listening to it. Who’d have thought that an old man could still come approach something approximating hip (no operation jokes now). If only it was warmer outside I could roll down the panes and get down with the coolers with this on the boombox. KD

The Constellations - Setback

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Buy Songs: The Constellations
Year: 2010

We’ve dabbled with Four Tet a couple of times before because Hebden is capable of greatness. Unfortunately it’s what happens between the greatness that bothers us enough to not laud him for the genius he may well be. This years ‘There Is Love In You’ is perhaps the one LP that we’ve toyed with the most but inevitably it was thrown out of the pram before too long. The only difference this time though was that it left enough of a mark to ensure return visits. These have seen us fall head over for the closing trio of tracks (including the untitled hidden track) with ‘Plastic People’ (the name of the club in London where Kieran DJ's) particularly arousing our inner dancing gombeen. I don’t take illicit drugs but if I did this would be playing in the background. Maybe there's love in me after all. KD

Four Tet - Plastic People

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Buy Songs:
Four Tet
Year: 2010

Apart from every evening at bedtime I can’t imagine a better time of the year for ‘Sing Me To Sleep (Indie Lullabies)’, an utterly charming release from American Laundromat Recordings. The label chose some of indie’s leading lights and asked them to record a tune in the form of a lullaby (with all proceeds going to the Valerie Fund for sick children). Some of the bands went for reworks on traditional standards, while others went for indie/elsewhere classics. The results are uniformly brilliant and little hugger seems set up for several years (what will Daddy do?) worth of journeys to nod nod land. Experimenting with the 21 tracks it seemed that the Leisure Society’s ‘Inchworm’ (Hans Christian Anderson) had the most soothing effect, by the time it had raised the tempo our little feast of cuddles had already been transported to the jelly sea. KD

The Leisure Society - Inchworm

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Sing Me To Sleep
Year: 2010

Much like Eno, Arketek are unlikely to appeal to anyone under 25. Something to look forward to then once that landmark is reached as the Galway electronic act have a soft dynamism that makes for perfect coffee-table-free lounge music. The driving force is one Biggley who used to be part of Halfset (Dot Creek also) and has a back-story dowsed in tragedy that gives the already affecting electro compositions genuine sadness. ‘Tiny Screws For Tiny Hinges’ is simple yet utterly haunting, the title sets the scene and your sensory drift should supply the tarmac for a trip like no other. Arketek’s debut album can be downloaded for free from his website, just perfect for a Sunday afternoon. KD

Arketek - Tiny Screws For Tiny Hinges

More Info: Official
Free Songs: Arketek
Year: 2008

This is indeed a dirty squall and against most people’s better judgement it doesn’t actually originate from deepest L.A. circa the Smell. Who’d have given Dublin a chance at producing something this experimentally lo-fi for your hi-fi (ok maybe Bobby from Dublin Duck Dispensary also fits the bill) yet Andy (from no surname land) of I ♥ The Monster Hero has not only achieved the feat but also pointed two well aimed fingers at the parts of the internet that can’t deal with characters shaped like a heart. Makes for day long searches but who cares when the ‘Loveheart’ EP is blazing a trail inside ones head. The EP is not all glorious loud noise either, there is a little gem called ‘Little Gem’ that reveals this monster hero has a soft kong inside. ‘Fuckfuck Yourself’ is the cream though because it exhibits extreme korg tendencies and such behaviour leaves us with no option but to roll out the failte doormat. KD

I ♥ The Monster Hero - Fuckfuck Yourself

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Buy Songs: I ♥ The Monster Hero
Year: 2009

Not the phrase.
Not the movie.
Not the website.
Not the flick.
Just the band.

That's The Spirit - Always Coming Back

Bombadil (a character from LOTR) are a band with extremely strong body parts and short of engaging in an arm wrestle with the chaps who are we to argue. For all their manly boasts however this threesome are quite capable of exposing their fragile sides as all 90 seconds of ‘I Am’ ably proves. It all adds up to a lovely introduction to the Durham (US version) outfit that reminds one of certain parts of the classic ‘Wrecked By Lions’ by Number One Cup. Something precious requiring further investigation this weekend. KD

Bombadil - I Am

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Buy Songs: Bombadilmusic
Year: 2010

Featuring Dean Wareham (yes he of Galaxie 500 and Luna fame) it says but unless my intuition is way off the mark his contribution is of the chord variety only on this occasion. We’ve always liked Mr Robot’s voice anyway so it hardly matters especially as ‘By Your Side’ is a particular dishy offering. It is taken from his album ‘Soft-Core’ which came out last year, which included ‘Mean’, which we’ve already written about in glowing terms. No mean feat pulling in a Wareham contribution and he repeated the trick with none other than 80’s goddess Alison Moyet for the distinctly Yazooish ‘Waiting’ which like all the other tracks from the record is streaming on MRF’s website (there are a bucket of remixes too, the Solvent mix had us glued to our earphones). Don’t underrate this robot, he has his heart set on world domination. KD

My Robot Friend - By Your Side (feat. Dean Wareham)


Update: Howard from My Robot Friend kindly passed this our way....

My Robot Friend - Waiting (feat. Alison Moyet) (Solvent Remix)

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Buy Songs: My Robot Friend
Year: 2009

Jacob Graham may well be better known for his involvement with hip kids the Drums (‘Let Go Surfing’…) but in the distant past (in internet terms) of 2009 he also put out a record with Drew Driver as Horse Shoes. We spotted them when ‘Changing Winds’ (‘The Imperial School’s opening track) was a mere demo floating around interspace like a well-groomed piece of sonic fluff. While ‘The Perfect Combination’ is not as arresting in the immediacy stakes it sure does creep up on you. This is more than a rose tinted reminisce for fans of Sarah Records and all that conjures up, it is also a fine piece of melancholic pop. Like what China Crisis used to do with their two pronged assault of neat electro diversions and cosy fey vocals. KD

Horse Shoes - The Perfect Combination

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Buy Songs: Horse Shoes
Year: 2009

Owing to the crippling insurance claims in the wake of numerous tongue trips Shimmer Kids Underpop Association decided it easier to remain in business as the Society of Rockets. That nomenclature also afforded them the opportunity to shorten their naming structure to Society thereby greasing entry into celebrity haunts. Seems to have worked as they have a new LP called ‘Future Factory’ that is worming its way into the right ears. Listening to ‘We’ this turn of events is not at all surprising given that it reminisces on ye olde Stereolab sound (before they grew up and decided to write real but pointedly dull compositions). Yep, there ain’t a decipherable lyric but who cares when night becomes day-glo with this on the turntable. KD

The Society of Rockets - We

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Society Of Rockets
Year: 2010

Willy Mason is one of the few genuine artists I’ve met in an official capacity and boy was I nervous. Not half as shaky as him though, reckon he was tired. Once we got over the usual awkward early exchanges it felt good to be talking to someone who I had theretofore believed only communicated in verse. I’d worn his 2004 record ‘Where The Human’s Eat’ to a point where the hiss and pops almost drowned out the carefree but quietish pieces so it came as a nice surprise when his live incarnation turned out to be a much louder affair. Apart from the title track ‘Oxygen’ (did Electric Picnic ever think of using it in the summer festival wars?) was probably the star turn on his debut. Here is a tune that is delicately crafted, involving lots of subtle tones and unexpected detours. And all that is present is the singer and his faithful instrument. Pity the music took a turn for the worse after such an auspicious start, that said young Willy is still only 26 so time is very much on his side. KD

Willy Mason - Oxygen

More Info: Wiki
Buy Songs: Willy Mason
Year: 2004

Some bands just take this online promo to extremes, not content with going down the usual route of email blasts and myspace bulletins Stockholm band Panter instead teamed up with the Firefox (AK) browser on their indie pop nugget ‘Tulips & Six Flags’. As you’d expect from such a collaboration there are plenty of add-ons, the twee template being particularly effective. The magic of course appears as the vocals swap the limelight, that age old trick that can’t help but be shiver inducing no matter how many times it plays out. KD

Panter - Tulips & Six Flags

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Panter
Year: 2010