Inu are a collective taken from disparate parts of the music industry. They sport impressive CV’s but it reads a bit hifalutin to me. The positive is how good the music they make is, polished no doubt but with a notable allure. ‘Captured’ was the final track on their debut EP ‘Monsters’ from late last year and makes like the best closing numbers in its epic reach. In fact I’m sure someday soon a thousand eastern factories will be going 24-hours to manufacture the cigarette lighters required for the bands world tour to push their upcoming LP. These dogs are cute in more ways than one. KD

Inu - Captured

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

Maybe it’s because I’m stuck in this internet vortex but I can’t for the life of me remember a time like now when so few good English bands were generating a lasting impression. So when I happen upon a notable group from that neck of the woods it is a lovely reminder of the halcyon days when we looked left rather than right for our kicks. Leeds’ Downtime are signed to the Ian Brown dissed Squirrel Records and released a short indie pop album sometime last year. It was blessed with precious nuggets at every turn, none more so than ‘Lessons’ with its slightly fuzzed but utterly dreamy outlook. The album ‘Knowing Too Much’ proves that there’s life in the old bulldog yet. KD

Downdime - Lessons

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

Enter the underground seam that has been tunnelled so expertly by the Ambience Affair. A space so vivid in its use of space, acoustics and imagination but one where the prevailing sense is of love's scorn. The feeling that things should have been so perfect but somehow ended up less so. It's hard to imagine how any of us mere mortals could etch the sonic for such a drama but in the hands of Jamie and Marc it becomes effortless. 'Lost At The Start' is the most startling track from their second EP 'Patterns' which has just be digitally released on our very own label Indiecater. The band are growing and fragile things are beginning to sound altogether more muscular. They'll leave the comfort of the seam soon and all the world will have no choice but to cave in to their charms.KD

The Ambience Affair - Lost At The Start

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Ambience Affair
Year: 2010

A quartet from Germany with their sights on the Go! Team Hanoi Janes get full marks for creating genuine retro. ‘Across The Sea’ was released on genuine 7” whale blubber, fizzed and fuzzed like something recorded in a back street basement and is bedecked in all the hallmarks of a classic sixties single. Pretty spectacular I think you’ll agree, given that it takes some talent to reconvene a classic sound and something even more impressive to include an effervescent tune while you are at it. This may even appeal to audiophiles normally appalled at the muddiness of a tune like this. This year's junior kickstarts for sure. KD

Hanoi Janes - Across The Sea

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Hanoi Janes
Year: 2009

Really holding a torch for this Filipino act who delve in the sort of classic jangle pop that we’d feature every day if there was enough good takes of it around. Moscow Olympics have been seen in all the right places (label wise) so you’ll not be alone in being swept away by their sweetness. ‘No Winter, No Autumn’ also has the distinction of finding itself on Rough Trade’s Indiepop Sampler from last year. The propulsive chime of the chords is one thing but when there’s ample fey boy vocals thrown into the bargain you know there was only ever going be one outcome. Adidas should really make a retro trainer and have this for the marketing campaign. KD

Moscow Olympics - No Winter, No Autumn

More Info: Myspace
Buy Songs: Moscow Olympics
Year: 2009

* pEtEr kAy - DiStIlLeD uNfUnNiNeSs
* FlOrEnCe AnD tHe MaChInE - nEw PoStEr GiRl FoR tHe AuRaLlY mIsGuIdEd
* TaKeAwAy CoFfEe – An AdMiSsIoN oF wIdE bOtToMhOoD

KD

Christian Marsac - L'Amour Conjugé

More Info: Official

Wherein a more appropriate name could have been Puppy Power but who are we to argue with such conflicting signals. And anyway when the music spirits forward with such twee pop glee the only dignified response is to clap along in time. Thunder Power come from Omaha and produced a debut EP called ‘Love Yourself’ in 2008 and quite like a drawer full of colourful socks it is a glorious jumble of small diversions. ‘(Why Don't You Go) Take a Hike?’ appropriates Belle before she met Sebastian, the melodies are there but they come hitched with a genuine sense of wide-eyed spontaneity. As you can probably gather we’re quite taken by it, even if it’s unlikely to be on the turntable the next time the lads call around for football. KD

Thunder Power - (Why Don't You Go) Take A Hike?

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Thunder Power
Year: 2008

Everything But The Girl may have been amongst the wettest duo’s of the 1990’s but to their credit were savvy enough to orchestrate a screamadelica like about turn when a remix of one of their tracks ‘Missing’ became a huge hit in 1994. Respect but the consistent nag that they could easily slip back into syrupy self-indulgence never went away. So it came as a bit of a surprise when I fell so madly in love with a track from (one half of EBTG) Tracey Thorn’s third solo album ‘Love And Its Opposites’ (due in May). ‘Oh, The Divorces!’ is expertly constructed but the most pleasing aspect is the strength of the tune. That and the fact that Thorn has shorn the piece of production effluent, this is stripped back and effortless. A wonderful tune from a late bloomer (for these ears at least). KD

Tracey Thorn - Oh, The Divorces!

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Tracey Thorn
Year: 2010

That Tears Run Rings tune of last night has definitely set me off on a shoegaze buzz. Jumping in the delorean back to the time when floppy fringes, copious on-stage fog and dangerously wide flares were de-rigour we come across a band of young chaps from Reading. Chapterhouse released just one album of real cop but what a piece of work it was. 1991’s ‘Whirlpool’ could up to recently be picked up on ebay if you have a few hundred lying around and it’s easy to see why when you clasp ears on the majesty of its lead single ‘Pearl’. This is shoegaze so perfectly executed its no wonder Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell stepped in to provide a hand on vocals. Not many things on earth are this beautiful. KD

Chapterhouse - Pearl

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Chapterhouse
Year: 1991

No its not another of the seemingly endless artefacts culled from the Slowdive locker, ‘Forgotten’ is in fact something from 2010. It might not be precisely how the song will sound on Tears Run Rings soon to be released second album ‘Distance’ but it's close. This is a demo and has the scratch marks to prove it but for those still hung up on shoegaze this is exhilarating stuff. Can’t beat the white noise din and background vocal hum of that particular genre and ‘Forgotten’ recreates it with undoubted elegance. The 4 parts that make TRR a whole live in different cities throughout the US helping no doubt to create the sense of isolation that their sound so craves. If you’re 20 this may all mean nothing to you, if you’re twice that you’ll probably be in a crumpled heap at this moment just like me. KD

Tears Run Rings - Forgotten

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Tears Run Rings
Year: 2010

Ok, the Housemartins may almost have had a Christmas number one with a acapello version of ‘Caravan of Love’ (oh I know there was the Flying Pickets too) but despite this it seems the form is criminally underused. Perhaps it’s the fact that this niche requires a tad more imagination and guitars tend to not get hoarse. Thankfully that hasn’t stopped Jorge R-Escudero from recording his remarkable album ‘Largo Bailón’ and he brings his instrumentless roadshow to Dublin this weekend (Button Factory, Sat 20 Feb). Promises to be an electric affair as circular voicelets merge to form patterned quilts of the likes of ‘Sunshine Juice’. This is drama, this is cinema, this is an altogether human story with a heartbreaking finale. Unmissable. KD

Hyperpotamus - Sunshine Juice

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Hyperpotamus
Year: 2009

Never has the word lush been more appropriately applied to a piece of music than on Boca Chica’s ‘Lake Erie’. It’s got the lot, the gently plucked banjo, the glowing atmosphere, the angelic vocals and to crown it all off the string laden climax. What more could you want for Valentine’s weekend? The Pittsburgh band have been on our radar for about 6 months now so when the opportunity arose to work with them we jumped at it. So can we present the ‘Valentine’ EP which has 5 tracks of hushed glory, unsweetened sentimentality and a rarely encountered sense of peace. ‘Lake Erie’ is the EP’s opener and sets the scene for the signature Boca Chica sound. The ‘Valentine’ EP can be fully streamed on Indiecater and is available to buy for just €2.50. KD

Boca Chica - Lake Erie

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Boca Chica
Year: 2010

Utterly ridiculous name for a band that I shall use to taunt my friends at the exact point they usually ask me why I only go for bands with ridiculous names. The tried and tested conversation continues when I tell them that I tend to listen to the music before making up my mind, don’t care if they’re monikered with something along the lines of The Small and Big Hand of the Clock Held Hands and Fell In Love. Labels are only cosmetic anyway, it’s what’s contained within that counts. And in the case of the Nightgowns, the forbidden fruit is totally voluptuous. Untie the oft used indie tricks that line the shell of this tune and standing before you is an utterly purdy song. The Washington 4-piece really know how to coin a come to bed and make love to me sound for those hung up on alternative sonic stylings. KD

The Nightgowns - Buoy

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

Bands that sound like the Smith eh? Must admit I prefer them over their inspiration. Never could quite fall for the quiffed ones voice but then I could quite easily take in a pleasant afternoon in the company of these Danes. This spangly number is the title track from their debut album, which came out just last month. Everything is in its right place, the slightly melancholic vocals, the preppy jangle, artful artwork and the sense that smoking at bus shelters is really one of the coolest pursuits known to pre-man. For all that you don’t need to be in on the knowing references because behind the scenery stoops a really fine song. KD

Northern Portrait - Criminal Art Lovers

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Northern Portrait
Year: 2009

An artist from Austin and not a subtle chord change in sight. Yep this tune from Kat Edmonson is shorn of much of the decoration that you’d expect from that neck of the woods. That doesn’t in the least bit inhibit its ability to sound spellbinding however; all you’ll need this cold winter evening is Kat’s voice and some background sounds made with a Fisher-price toy. ‘Lucky’ clocks in at sub 3 minutes but is blessed with such clarity you can be assured of a genuine jolt of happiness. KD

Kat Edmonson - Lucky

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Kat Edmonson
Year: 2007

The Van Allen Belt from Pittsburgh are a singular outfit and one we hold dear to our hearts. They even let us release their debut on indiecater last year and we know that some day it will be heralded for the genius piece of bonkers that it is. A knowing bonkers it must be said however because even if the shapeshifting drama knocks you off your feet the home truths in the lyrics will apply the requisite damp cloth to your sweaty forehead. And now and then the words are as hilarious as they are destined to hit the truth bullseye. ‘Superpowerfragilis’, the follow up to ‘Meal Ticket To Purgatory’ is no less dramatic than its predecessor and if anything is even more cinematic in its vision. Daytime radio this is not but it could quite easily fill the dark hours with an unparalleled soundtrack. Destiny is on their side and success will be theirs, so join up before it gets too crowded. Don’t believe me? Well then let the following piece open your mindsear. KD

The Van Allen Belt - Over The Dream

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Van Allen Belt
Year: 2010

This one came from out of the blue (or if I’m being less economical with the truth via an email from a fan of the band…cheers dave) and immediately sat at the top of the pile. Details about Manwomanchild are scant save for the fact that they live in Chicago. They could also read he for that’s what the press pics would tend to suggest. ‘Reasons’ is raw, adventurous and a wonderful reminder of an Irish band of yore called the Ultra Montanes who delivered a clutch of sparkling singles in the mid-nineties. It’s the juxtaposition of the shiny chords and the slightly coarse vocals where the alchemy happens and for that reason my groaning index finger is cursing me for organising endless replays. A band that all the family can savour. KD

Manwomanchild - Reasons

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

On the 23rd of April 2007 the server that hosted Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s website dramatically crashed. It returned later that week but despite a thorough investigation and sincere soul-searching the cause of the blackout remains a mystery for the Missouri 4-piece. SSLYBY are an example of the archetypal indie act who are forever within a whisker of widespread success. Of course album number three, which is soon to be released (with Death Cab For Cutie fingers on production duties), could change all that and most probably will if they can conjure memorable numbers in the vein of ‘Murder Mystery’. It is taken from their last album ‘Pershing’ and features dextrous jangling chords as well as a bag of other fresh ideas. It’s not inconceivable that sometime soon website downtime might be as a direct result of an overwhelming new fanbase. I'll drink a vodka to that. KD

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Modern Mystery

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Year: 2008