Awhhhh, sweet indie pop, promo’d with a video parodying those scallywag Monkees. Doesn’t get much better in our book, a pretty jangle and lilting vocals will always catch our attention and ‘Dear Arthur’ is a classic of the kind. It comes from the imagination of Chris Linnane and is played in note perfect style by his band Boxboro. They are from Arlington and their recently released debut ‘You are the Hope, I am the Anchor’ should appeal to all those B&S fans who’ve felt a tad short-changed of late. Back in the day perfect little nuggets like this used to fill my mixtapes and my heart. Right now the latter's all aglow. KD

Boxboro - Dear Arthur

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Boxboro
Year: 2010

‘I Want A House’ is characterised by empty spaces, floating wispiness fills the air and nothing of consequence can be deciphered. Why then do I adore this little tune so much? It’s one of those imponderables that only music can throw up, a most simple of shakedowns closes the piece down from about half way through and it’s altogether hypnotic to these ears. Twin Sister are a New York 5-piece who dished out their first release for free but are going all vinyl on us for the soon to be unleashed follow up. For fans of Stereolab 45’s spun at 33 1/3. KD

Twin Sister - I Want A House

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Twin Sister
Year: 2008

Pour some sugar on husker du, add in a drop of pixie milk for taste and you soon arrive at Blank Dogs, a riotous act from contemporary times bleaching earth with their late 80’s carnage. And it’s all the work of Mike Sniper, a man so prone to creation he spent much of 2008 releasing recorded works (a dozen or so). 2009 wasn’t too shabby either with the ‘Under & Under’ 2 x LP unveiling wild vignettes such as ‘Tin Birds’ on a gaga obsessed world. This is deep down and dirty but ultimately a most beautiful artefact from a rich period in underground noise. I’m almost in tears.KD

Blank Dogs - Tin Birds

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Blank Dogs
Year: 2009

Of course it all hangs on the cute piano line, which will see girls with clips in their hair nod approvingly. The sugar doesn’t end there though as the voice that stands imperiously over everything else is noteworthy. Francis are a band with no names (I don’t for one second expect Jerker to be a real name, but thanks for the lovely email!) who are about to release an album that has no working title (or at least one they are willing to divulge). In the end it’s all cosmetic anyway, who gives a toss for packaging, band names, bio, stories about the producer when 95% of the reason we like music is because it sounds nice. This delicate number achieves what most songs fail to deliver, a memorable 3+ minutes that withstand the ravages of repeated exposure. KD

Francis - I Was Never Bored At All

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Francis
Year: 2010

Yep, we’re heading North via the quaint village of Camera Obscura towards the hamlet of Labrador. Melodies never sleep there, they endlessly reinvent themselves and circulate through its mazy corridors like a warm spring air. We’ve visited plenty of times and stayed at the Hotel Sambassadeur at least once before. Such a lovely place, grandeur and a welcome sense of the familiar means it’s an easy choice. The establishment will upgrade next month when the finished renovation job will make this a top class 4-star ‘European’ destination. We enjoy our ‘Days’ there and hope word of its class spreads. KD

Sambassadeur - Days

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Sambassadeur
Year: 2010

Silly me, I thought Rimer London was a lady’s eyeshadow or something along them lines. Turns out it is the moniker of a Dutch artist who does a neat line in near trance, a bleeptastic vision that doesn’t necessarily require dancefloor ability just an appreciation of stuff outside the guitar arena. ‘Go Away’ is a video game called centipede shredded through the bristles of a sonic hedgehog. Its arcs and contours are perfectly judged and in no need whatsoever for a random vocal to steal the lightly applied bumble. One for those foolish enough to think Sunday nights are a weekly horror comic without illustrations. KD

Rimer London - Go Away

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Rimer London
Year: 2010

Oh the intrigue, an email with fwd in its subject line denoting that it was sent as an afterthought or ended in my inbox in a sullied second-hand way. The innards consisted of a solitary line and an appended tune which if it hadn’t sounded like a classy Swedish Grizzly Bear from the mid-eighties would not have stood a chance. This ‘covert side project’ certainly has legs and no amount of cold trails (cute blank myspace page fellas and I'm crap at anagrams) is going to detract from it. The revelation may or may not come but the Selfish Replicators ‘Strands’ has at the very least left an indelible mark in this tiny corner of cyberspace. I’m guessing Sincerely Yours already has plans to sign them by the close of the weekend. KD

The Selfish Replicators - Strands

More Info: Emptyspace
Year: 2010

Here’s a song that stole a line from Willy Wonka (1971) and came away with a honeyed chorus. Of course the peddling Mr Wilder also plundered but who cares when the indiefication at the end of the quadruple century old saga is a delight. ‘The Only Pretty Ring Time’ was originally released on the Very Most’s download only ‘Spring’ EP but has now been joined by 14 others on their new CD ‘A Year With The Very Most’. Understandably we believe it’ll be the best indiepop record of 2010 and for €9 you can see if we’re right. A full album stream, 4 free tunes and those cuddly buy links can all be found over on the Indiecater website. KD

The Very Most - The Only Pretty Ring Time

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Very Most
Year: 2010

Crikey, this is stunning. Another peach from the Chicago act named Office (they've appeared on one of our Indiecater comps!). Led by Scott Masson the band are an entity in touch with modern realities. Office offer their music up for free and live from day to day on the income earned from the vinyl equivalents. It’s brave and not entirely revolutionary but when you clasp your ears on the produce you’ll agree that this is not another fly-by-night outfit and are fully deserving of having this as their occupation. Their latest LP ‘Mecca’ is a high-octane mix of vibrant classic pop (70’s era, Webb Brosesque) with giant rolling choruses. ‘Aphrodisiac Missiles’ is drop dead gorgeous, a lost E.L.O. classic and something that everyone who has ever enjoyed a piece of popular piece of music will lap up. Scott you'd melt the Antarctica. KD

Office - Aphrodisiac Missiles

More Info: Office & Myspace
Buy Songs: Office
Year: 2009

Fuck it, Monday tomorrow. Time to don those slightly crumpled black slacks, lace up those terribly beaten but well polished comfy brogues and remove ones brain for the necessity that is reality. It’s punishment but the daytime torture makes the evenings all the more delightful. Ain’t nothing like that post clocked out feeling with new tunes spilling into ears and the promise of family at the end of the walkable commute. So with increasingly upturned lip I often like to spend Sunday evenings looking for a positive mood shifter. Tonight it comes from Spirit Spine, a young man called Joseph Denney who spends his time between the endless crammed life of a student writing electronic sounds like foraging creatures on the jungle floor. It’s subtle stuff, low on meaningful narrative but high on propulsive melody and bodes well for his sophomore, which is out in a couple of days. Nessum dorma, if Joseph gets his way. KD

Spirit Spine - Flashes

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Spirit Spine
Year: 2010

While their tunes could never have been labelled timeless their signature organ did recall an era that is the most revered in rock and roll history. And for all that the Inspiral Carpets left an indelible impression on those who fell head over heels for their early albums (patchiness bedevilled album 3 and its successors). Hailing from Oldham the Inspirals seamlessly jumped the madchester bandwagon (geographically they were entitled to) and became one of its leading lights. While they lacked in Stone Roses cool, Happy Mondays authenticity and Charlatans youthful vigour they more than made up for in good humour and a sprinkling of outstanding tunes. ‘She Comes In The Fall’ is one of their best, an indie disco staple of the day it still sounds impressive bedecked in faux sixties machinations and a distinctive drumroll that Reni himself would have been proud to call his own. Cool as fuck in other words. KD

The Inspiral Carpets - She Comes In The Fall

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Inspiral Carpets
Year:

When the band found this song amongst the dust of a decades old master tape the memories came flooding back. Little band from Dublin on the cusp of something big, major’s knocking down their door, big name producer in the studio doing his thing with their magical creations. But like so many almost could have beens before them things ultimately fell apart. ‘Somebody Change The Season’ hurts more than most, despite sounding to these ears like recovered bullion it pains Sunbear’s 4 players. Apparently the big name turned out to be a big so-and-so and amongst the fallout gems like this lay undiscovered. It took the bright endeavour of one of the 4 to make the MBVesque sweetness see the light of day. For students of shoegaze it’s an exercise in hearing it from the masters. As you’d expect I still haven’t stopped salivating. KD

Sunbear - Somebody Change The Season

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Sunbear
Year: 1994/1996/2009

Time to pump up the jam but not in the traditional sense, no that would be too easy and probably appeal to more people than would be palatable for our nietzsche tastes. The Swedes tend to do it their own way anyway and Norma from good auld Hägersten flutter and wow using a pairs of eyes that only have the inclination for their own vision. ‘You Go, We Follow’ comes from their own personal readings that can be found in the ‘Book of Norma’. It is to their credit that the near cult like trance that develops brings forth disciples as opposed to lost souls. Wipe the sleep from your eyes and dance in that boxed up pair of vintage runners. KD

Norma - You Go, We Follow

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

I wonder when other bands slouch on a couch and listen to Grizzly Bear whether they accept with cloudy eyes that they are never going to reach the peaks set by the Brooklyn act. GB are purveyors of classic tunes even if the elaborately laid sequences take persistence, the nooks and crannies are deep but once explored they reveal glacial pools of ingenuity. ‘Cheerleader’ almost topped our Top 42 of last year and in truth ‘Two Weeks’ could have easily done even better had my mood been different the day I made the list. ‘Veckatimest’ from whence it came was easily the most difficult album to pronounce of last year but the hope is that it will also lay some sort of exciting roadmap for indie’s new explorers for years to come. KD

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Grizzly Bear
Year: 2009

Despite only coming from up the road in Derry it took a note from his Glasgow record label Antimatter to make Conor Mason appear on our radar. And glad we are too because the warm embrace from his ‘When It’s Over’ album has been making the deep snow in our back garden slowly melt away. The first thought that shot into my head was Elliott Smith but then similarities aren’t close enough to be distracting. ‘When It’s Over’ is a lovely listen, a gush of melodies accompanied by delicately woven arrangements. Mason’s vocals are a soft velvet rush of niceness and when things really take off like on ‘Before You Run’, ‘When It's Over’ and ‘Luck’ you have the makings of an artist that could soon win over a slew of hearts. KD

Conor Mason - Before You Return

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

After a barren number of years something in my waters is telling me that England could be in 2010 about to leave us with a raft of vital new bands. Hope so, its just not fair leaving Sweden and the States with such a ridiculous burden. The first shaft of light comes from London 4-piece Fez who along with their 2nd hand ebay acquired equipment have amassed a tiny set of sparkling tunes. Said tunes arrived in my inbox about 24 hours ago and instantly set an overfed pulse racing. Those seeking the multi weaved genius of Grizzly Bear should look away because Fez’s in your face approach provides nothing more than an uncomplicated delight. Happy music for happy people as someone famous from Glasgow once said via a loud guitar. KD

Fez - Lowlight

More Info: Myspace
Year: 2010

Had to be Hot Lava on the day the capital of Ireland was slain by several fluffy flakes and a dearth of gritters. Actually Hot Lava are pretty much essential any day of the year such is their cutesy ability to coin sonic gorgeousness. This tune is far less than 2 minutes long but when you are wedging 6 songs on a piece of 7” vinyl (split evenly between our heroes and the Sad Cobras) space is always going to be at a premium. But what ‘Lady Postman’ achieves in those short few seconds might take other acts a career to imagine. This is just pristine pop and if like me you are still basking in post ‘Lavalogy’ sunshine it is the perfect tonic until Bar/None releases what should be an all conquering sophomore. KD

Hot Lava - Lady Postman

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Hot Lava/Sad Cobras
Year: 2009

The longwinded name intrigues and ever so stealthily the music ices the hypnotic brew. These Canadians are certainly earthly and you’ll gather as much from the themes that traipse through their tunes. ‘Hometowns’ was the Rural Alberta Advantage’s first LP and fetched enough critical adulation to lift them imperiously above their maddening indie cohorts. The attraction is obvious, a show burning one, their ideas rarely bolt for the finishing line especially as the winding road offers far more sonic possibilities. They also take a mean promo pic, which probably wins over those who are swung by aesthetic cues. A different breed and ultimately a different class. KD

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Sleep All Day

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Rural Alberta Advantage
Year: 2008

2 thoughts rang out in the night sky, what a pretty Catatonia tune and one that sports such an elastic Joy Division bass line. The facts however will show that ‘Midas’ is in fact the product of 2 girls and 2 boys from London who go by the name of Rubicks. They’ve been knocking around since the early part of the century and their last EP ‘Idiot Time’ came out April last year. ‘Midas’ comes from 2002 but somehow found it’s way onto the SXSW music torrent in 2007. Got to be thankful too because this is a feisty little number, one designed to tear indie dancefloors apart through its adherence to creative multi-tasking. Could be kids singing at the end too and despite the danger of this decision it actually works pretty well. KD

Rubicks - Midas

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Rubicks
Year: 2002

Oh Hjaltalín, where have you been all my life or at least since 2007 when it seems your ‘Sleepdrunk Seasons’ LP was released? Could have done with the brightness, the cascading waterfall of bumbly noise that gushes from tunes like ‘Traffic Music’. This is wildly eclectic stuff from the Icelandic troupe but is styled in such a way that sets it free from accusations of arty fartyness. No, this smells, feels and sounds very palatable even for those not inclined to stray too far from Simon Cowell’s retched bag of tricks. This is music designed to make you happy, its twitches so well timed it may even make sense of a world that is utterly confusing most of the time. KD

Hjaltalín - Traffic Music

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Hjaltalín
Year: 2007

Little known, low aged and currently signed to that beacon of cool Sub Pop it really looks like California’s Avi Buffalo could be ones to watch. Having a moniker that appeals to both the youthful and ancient markets certainly helps but it’s the sounds that will turn a thousand cursory inspections into wholesale fandom. The debut album is due later this year so for now we’ll have to dine on the scraps from the table of heavenly indie rock. And what a feast 7-incher ‘Whats In It For?’ (nice to see they don’t have a me complex) lays on, the singer Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg is young and it thus seems apt that he boasts Neilesque vocals. The instrumentation for its part is languid, cool and in places quite deft. This has the feel of a classic heard (sic), but one with modern day interneticisms. KD

Avi Buffalo - What's In It For?

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Avi Buffalo
Year: 2009