I’m funny like that. Christmas Eve and all my presents are distributed, 24 hours 'till birthday time and already I’ve handed over the goods to the nearest and dearest. So it should come as no surprise that tomorrow (not today) this blog turns half a decade. Yep, 5 years old and still crawling (the web). It's at times like this that we feel as special as the lady in red, without the cheek to cheek action, highlights in our hair, smouldering frock or that annoying little 2-timing twerp obviously. I was going to pick a long list of fav tunes from our time with you but then I remembered what short attention spans you all have. Instead I've plumped for perhaps the saddest songs I’ve ever heard. It is also one of the most beautiful. Here’s to the next 5, hope it's as much fun.....KD

The Late Cord - Lila Blue

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Buy Songs: The Late Cord
Year: 2006

This is so reminiscent of ‘Betty Clean’, the song that opened side B on Whipping Boy’s incredible debut. Of course ‘Take Me Home’ has been drained of the vitriol that so propelled that record and in the hands of retro romantics Sweet Jane you’d hardly expect anything else. The song is an early demo that didn’t make the cut for their first LP ‘Sugar For My Soul’ released on Irish label Reekus Music. It could do with some tidying up production wise but this psychpop yummyness hardly deserves to become a forgotten cast off. Overdrive is reached when Lydia Des Dolles enters the fray and what started out as a colourful jam becomes a sun drenched opus. P.S. for those into small indie factoids Sweet Jane are mentioned in the hugger theme tune (link above). KD

Sweet Jane - Take Me Home

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Buy Songs: Sweet Jane
Year: 2009

It says a lot about how much the Smashing Pumpkins stock has fallen that they can release a free album (44 tracks in all, to be set free one at a time from the bands website) and yet fail to register a decent presence on the blogosphere. Guess that’s what happens when fashion deserts you or more pertinently your bandmates. So 6 tracks in and the hype machine seems decidedly unimpressed with Billy’s two fingers to the music industry. To be fair the quality is decent with ‘Astral Planes’ being the pick of bunch as it closely matches the ferocity of yore and sees fits to include a pretty nifty chorus (that sadly only materialises once during the 4 minutes). There is certainly enough to warrant a degree of anticipation for the upcoming 38 tracks, heck, this could be the most unexpected second coming so far this decade. KD

The Smashing Pumpkins - Astral Planes

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Free Songs: The Smashing Pumpkins
Year: 2010

Given that ‘Halcyon Digest’ is released tomorrow it might make sense for the rest of indie rock world to invest in jim-jams for a sensible early winter hibernation. Save for a few outfits that is, the handful that can successfully hold a candle to Bradford and his chums. There’s no denying the Walkmen fall into that category even if their pedigree of late might have dipped a tad. Let’s hope new album ‘Lisbon’ has the kids playing bows and arrows all over again. Things certainly sound promising on ‘Stranded’, which manages to sound regal while still exuding the classic Walkmen traits. There is the sadness, the little boy lost routine, which perversely ends up fuelling a grand triumph of the spirit. KD

The Walkmen - Stranded

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Buy Songs: The Walkmen
Year: 2010

The suits ask us through elephant tears where the next stars will come from if the money continues to leak from the industry. Well, Mister Suit, it is still being spent but this time round it’s not just your pockets that are bulging. The truth of course was that most of the best music was always recorded by bands with a hole in the arse of their pants. Once the meagre resources ran out, the clock-in card ran back in. Thankfully today’s creatives can put together a tasty little package for the price of a fast food coffee. Acts like Washed Out (Ernest Greene) recorded his ‘Life of Leisure’ EP in a backroom of his parents gaff and now his endeavour is reaping rewards as Mexican Summer have turned it into a piece of precious vinyl (sold out too). ‘You’ll See It’ from side 2 is remarkable, a gorgeous piece of electronica that bears endless repeats with ease. KD

Washed Out - You'll See It

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Buy Songs: Washed Out
Year: 2009

While it might not challenge ‘Fire Fire Fire’ in the greatest song ever written by Sydney band Dappled Cities ‘The Price’ is nonetheless a taste of grandeur. It is taken from their 3rd album ‘Zounds’ which confusingly just dented the charts back home in Oz. Now the antipodeans as a whole have been succeeding in upping the ante on the quality of their indie rock output but if one of their leading lights fails to register then it could result in a mere blip of activity. ‘The Price’ is a tangled glory, in your face epic that does its best to find a cul-de-sac down a six lane motorway to the outskirts of alt classic city. It might run out of juice before it gets there but boy what a trip to remember. KD

Dappled Cities - The Price

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Dappled Cities
Year: 2009

Back in ’08 Stars and Sons scored a top 10 in our best songs of the year. While such events normally kick starts a full on year of hedonistic celebration with the subsequent loss of all artistic merit down a succession of filthy toilet bowls it seems to have propelled the Brighton band to even greater heights. And delighted we are too because it leaves us with songs like the popsicle wind tunnel that is ‘Untested, Untried’. Furnished with all manner of pleasant musical devices it nonetheless swings from an axis laden with rich vocal harmonies. The production is slick but not sickly and the propulsion might just snag those not normally accustomed to Simon Cowell free enterprises. KD

Stars And Sons - Untested, Untried

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Buy Songs: Stars And Sons
Year: 2010

This is a review I did about 9 years ago for My Vitriol's debut 'Finelines. They feted and ridiculed in equal doses but they certainly had 1990's sound down.

"Don't let their name put you off. If you've imagined leather-clad hair balls shouting from the top of their lungs over a sprawl of loud and aimless guitars motions then you you'd be wrong. My Vitriol have a much clearer agenda; at their best they can create clean harmonious vocals with clever guitar accompaniments. The band was formed when Som Wardner and Ravi Kesavaram met at college in London in the late nineties and their music owes a lot to the sound of the early part of that decade. 'Alpha Ways' is the enjoyable instrumental that opens Finelines, the bands debut album. It could easily be an outtake from the Cure's 'Disintegration' sessions with a shimmering guitar at its core that is both feisty and appealing. As well as having a great title 'The Gentle Art Of Choking' possesses lots of interesting sonic avenues. There is an unbridled feel to the guitar directions and the ragged vocal tendencies merely add to its ragged glory. Other tracks like 'Static' and 'Losing Touch' bluster like a gale but the dust that frequently flies about is a golden colour.

When My Vitriol hit the jackpot they uncover a rich, almost endless seam of ideas. 'Grounded' is close to being the perfect pop song. Things start off innocuously enough in a sub jam type refrain, but then the cleanest of guitar cuts washes over vocals as fresh and untouched as falling snow. 'Always Your Way' was the perfect choice for release as a single. It exposes My Vitriol breathlessly following their own instincts with dramatic effect. 'Always Your Way' is furious in its pursuit of perfection, the guitar tomes are heavenly and the chorus is sweetly addictive. It's a shame that the band didn't follow this lead more consistently throughout the album. That early nineties feeling is alive and well on 'Pieces' (which lasts a meagre 19 seconds) and 'Kohlstream'. They both resemble the Cocteau Twins frazzled sound minus the eternal vocals. Striking from the same persuasion 'Under The Wheels' and 'Windows and Walls' inhabit unadulterated shoegaze territory. Initially they sound well past their sell-by-date, but repeated listens does pull you closer to falling for their unrequited beating hearts.

Unfortunately the album falls down badly on occasions. C.O.R. (Critic Oriented Rock) may have been written with an ironic shirt but it is music with so many creases, not even an industrial iron could sort it out. 'Taprobane' is so forgettable; it forgets to include a tune. The aptly title 'Cemented Shoes' plods along failing to twig any sort of reaction from the listener. 'Infantile' is less disappointing, those whispered vocals are an embarrassing mistake but at least the spiralling chorus is quite uplifting. A knowing, limited cull could have prevented these three non-runners. My Vitriol are definitely worth investigating. There's nothing revolutionary on show but they are capable of producing a deep fried indie noise. 'Finelines' is three-quarters a very good debut. With 16 tracks it would have been easy to separate the wheat from the chaff and still be left with enough to chew on. It's up to you to choose which course you skip." KD

My Vitriol - Always Your Way

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Buy Songs: My Vitriol
Year: 2001

Songs that give me a shiver don’t happen so much these days but for the opening 2 minutes of the Harriman Exit’s ‘Shoot The Breeze’ I was positively polar. The duo come from Wyoming and despite the tenderest of years have amassed a scatter of electronic gems. I know it is probably easy enough to knock out a tune from a computer but the trick is to make it legible for hard to please ears. ‘Shoot The Breeze’ is certainly attractive with its wonderful shimmering Edge guitar lines and the sense that given the right remixer it could fill dancefloors to overflowing. Things might go askew towards the end but for the most part it proves the effortless talent of the Harriman Exit. KD

The Harriman Exit - Shoot The Breeze

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Buy Songs: The Harriman Exit
Year: 2010

Given the squalid reports of moral and monetary bankruptcy occupying the wires daily (the media have to take a lot blame themselves for protecting their drinking buddies in power) is it not somewhat reassuring that we were able to find the necessary to occupy these pages with superb acts from our doomed little island. They say the best music (and footballers) spring from hard times so here's to the expected front pages on Rolling Stone and easy passages to major tournaments. If only. Today's instalment comes from Dubliner's (well half of them anyway) Kill Krinkle Club who used to prefer guitars but have opted instead for electro devices on their debut LP 'Abandon'. I've yet to be convinced that this was the correct course of action but then they've never quite recorded anything as mesmerising and complex as '59' so perhaps they were right all along. Take some time to absorb as this is really beautiful. KD

Kill Krinkle Club - 59

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Buy Songs: Kill Krinkle Club
Year: 2010

Monica and Celsey may indeed be an electronica duo for the purpose of this piece but it seems their repertoire extends to Jazz, Bossa Nova and Latin. Probably explains why ‘Time Wants To’ is so at odds with its contemporaries as it pulls in all sorts of otherworldly effects. Tea-Tronic as the pair call themselves appear to have parachuted out of nowhere from the dank dark Irish skies but their arrival is to be welcomed. For once we have something from these shores that is not wacky, acoustic or an extension of ones own guitar. It is refreshing and if Tea-Tronic can develop on this auspicious of starts the stagnant whiff from the other villagers could once and for all be vaporised. KD

Tea-Tronic - Time Wants To

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Buy Songs: Tea-Tronic
Year: 2010

[the] caseworker, a Dublin duo who've been plying their trade on foreign shores for over 8 years are finally coming home. Not literally but their newest EP is the first to appear on an Irish label. With 3 albums and praise from the likes of Allmusic and Rolling Stone magazine 'Boats' provides the perfect bridge between the old and the new, containing as it does 2 tracks from the band's last album and 3 from their upcoming LP. The EP is a jangle pop revelation with 5 intricately woven tales containing Eimer and Conor Devlin's sucrose vocal sea-saw. It may appear about as hushed as a new parent's cotside manner but the tunes linger long in the memory. None more so than title track 'Boats' which is a fluid statement of intent. If you'd like more you can listen to 'Boats' in full on Indiecater where if you are so taken you can also buy it for 3 spondulics. KD

[the] caseworker - Boats

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Buy Songs: [the] caseworker
Year: 2010

There’s no doubting that the Harvest Ministers’ new record ‘Strange Love Letter’ will be at home on a turntable on a postprandial Sunday afternoon. It is a lushly produced affair complete with an even tempo that’ll neither startle nor give you reason to ever doubt the strength of the tunes on offer. And with each one rolling sumptuously into the next it makes for an album that even the shufflers can enjoy. ‘Tombstone Eyes’ is a definite highlight, replete with orchestral strings and Will Merriman’s textured vocals. The Harvest Minister’s have always had that touch of class but on ‘Strange Love Letter’ they appear to have found a beautiful groove. Give them a chance and they will do your world the world of good. KD

The Harvest Ministers - Tombstone Eyes

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Buy Songs: The Harvest Ministers
Year: 2010

Photo: Loreana Rushe

Our 9 month old has fallen in love with her first hipster band. Thinking about it logically however that last sentence is built on completely false pretences. First of all Grand Pocket Orchestra are not hip and probably will never be at the cutting edge of cool. Secondly my instinct for Eve’s sleep eyed glee is more down to GPO’s use of sounds that closely mimic the plastic toys that sing songs to her and are forever in places that make daddy slip to the ground in a twisted heap. But for all GPO’s twee excursions I can’t help but love the cut of their jib. Their chaotic debut album ‘The Ice Cream’ flaps about with uncontrolled abandon, herds of sonic furry darts consistently missing the target by a country mile. In many ways it hardly matters because with 18 tracks (many sub 2 minute affairs) there is nearly always a bullseye diversion just around the corner. ‘I Deal In Bits And Bobs’ is one such, disorder is ditched for once and what emerges, while still eclectic, amounts to an utterly loveable tune. I really don’t know what I’m gonna do with GPO, for all the time they are sent to the bold corner I can’t help but givie them an loving embrace before they toddle off for another day. KD

Grand Pocket Orchestra - I Deal In Bits And Bobs

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Buy Songs: Grand Pocket Orchestra
Year: 2010

The dope rock scene moves into 4th gear with the addition of Thunder Power. They’ll need to pull some serious shapes to knock King Issak the XX off his throne but such is their languid movements they could well sneak in via the back porch. With Christmas shops already appearing up and down the land I’m sure you’ll appreciate ‘Jack The Tripper’s use of seasonal bells. Entirely misappropriate for mid-September but this is a place to put rules and more importantly calendar’s to one side and instead embrace the noise of a group of young ones just 6 rapid eye movements away from slumber. Tuck them in before you tuck into their glorious ramshackle. KD

Thunder Power - Jack The Tripper

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Buy Songs: Thunder Power
Year: 2008

When they’re good they’re supersonic, when they’re not they can be a little forgettable. So things were looking a bit ominous when their super label wrote about the Radio Dept.’s new song, which had a distinct political bent. Luckily for Cowen it was written before Tuesday night so the band instead directed their ire towards the Swedish equivalent. Not that we’d be drawn into that sort of thing if the music wasn’t any cop but thankfully on this occasion the results are completely effervescent. This is the Radio Dept. in not trying too hard to evoke scenes-gone-by mode, instead they let the melodies that inhabit their minds slip by unhurried via sublime vocal/instrumental devices. Suddenly and without warning their newbie ‘Clinging To A Scheme’ feels like an essential acquisition. KD

The Radio Dept. - The New Improved Hypocrisy

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Buy Songs: The Radio Dept.
Year: 2010

For someone not totally enamoured with ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ I must say I’ve fallen into bed with more of its clones than I care to remember. Perhaps it was the endless chorus of approval that got to me, or maybe it was just the tsunami headfuck of ideas that recalled the endless nights where my brain raced so fast it broke olympic records for events not yet concieved. Regardless, Big Spider’s Back’s ‘Warped’ has hit a chord and Yair Rubinstein ain’t gonna stop until he has evoked holiday time involving sand, sea and coconuts full of brightly coloured poisons. My favourite part comes near the end when the electro nuances suddenly cannibalise each other to leave ding a ling ling expresso version of itself to close the hut for another sunny day. KD

Big Spider's Back - Warped

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Buy Songs: Big Spider's Back
Year: 2009

Mani is generally about as reliable as Noel Gallagher in bestowing greatness. So I hardly broke a sweat to hear the new Coral record ‘Butterfly House’ on foot of his fanciful claims that it was the best record since the Roses' debut. It’s not, in fact it’s not even close but it is still a charming collection of jangling 60’s retroactivity. To date it was their short and quite magical ‘In The Morning’ that I held closest to my heart but it has a competitor in ‘Walking In the Winter’ from the new record. And it’s probably not even the most striking effort but there is something so cherubic and loveable at work, like one of the better tunes from the first Alfie album. There’s strings to boot making up a package that could pass you by but could just as easily make your day. Might have to buy Mani a bass after all. KD

The Coral - Walking In The Winter

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Buy Songs: The Coral
Year: 2010

In a line-up that would have had hugger in eye-wetting mode the Very Most and Candy Claws sang on the same stage in Boise with these upstarts Magic Kids just last night. I’m sure all who attended will reflect on the occasion years from now and admit they were there; it’s likely that their non-attending friends will lie and admit the same thing. If you’ve read this blog for any considerable time you’ll know the first 2 bands mentioned above as well as your extended family yet Magic Kids remain a mystery. That won’t be the case for long given the prettiness of songs like ‘Summer’, an old time Belle & Sebastian roll with more moving parts than an Octopus caught up in a field of seaweed. Given their influence and location it would be so easy to coin a new genre for them, Memphis Belle, but given we’ve more to do than go all NME on you we’ll desist. Instead focus on the picture above and ask yourself did they get detention for that targeted destruction of school property? KD

Magic Kids - Summer

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Magic Kids
Year: 2010

I’m definitely a stubborn bastard sometimes; I mean there is no logical reason why I shouldn’t be pouring over the newbie from Caribou with salivating juices threatening to flood the qwerty. Right the way from Manitoba to several Caribou albums I’ve always adored Dan Snaith and his merry band of korg’s. But then the relationship soured with ‘Odessa’ and somehow I feel cheated. FFS it is pathetic, so instead of gorging in pastures new I am chewing the cud with the milk of human kindness or scaling the snowy peaks of Andorra. Today I’m flying a kite, no ordinary kite, a brahminy kite if you don’t mind. As soon as I find out it’s a bird I prey to the almighty barn owl to save me from the destruction of my instincts. How else can I find out whether the once great Caribou has gone into creative hibernation, up in flames as it were? KD

Caribou - Brahminy Kite

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Buy Songs: Caribou
Year: 2005

Forget for one minute that this is an indie emporium. You see there was a time around the turn of the century when I wandered from the chosen path, to a place where the thrills were much easier and suited to copious saturday night consumption. The promised land was called Gatecrasher and it’s ruler more often than not came from a european country more recognised for its footballers than its music output. It’s shocking to look back but this evening by the coincidence that is mediamonkey’s shuffle mode this behemoth hoved into earshot. Without warning I made like it was 1999 and it took the intervention of the baby’s startled cries to kick me back me into the reality that is adulthood. Can't say I miss those days but boy were they fun. KD

Art Of Trance - Madagascar (Ferry Corsten Remix)

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Buy Songs: Art Of Trance
Year: Late 90's Haze

I wouldn’t trust my daughter with anyone called Romeo either but what can you do when the chap can write top songs at the drop of a hat to win her heart? Or so it used to be when Stodart and co. surfed a wave of exuberant acclaim. That was 2005 and despite 2 albums since the buzz surrounding the Magic Numbers is altogether a more deflated affair. I actually preferred their second album ‘Those The Brokes’ but then they were probably pushing things by releasing it so soon after their all-conquering self-titled debut. Difficult to work out how this fame lark presents itself but while we ponder there are songs as effortless and jolly as ‘Take A Chance’ to nod along to. Pretty instrumental patterns so joyfully augmented by neatly appointed male/female vocals are all wrapped up in a speeding ball of candyfloss. Suitable if you're not ealing sinister. KD

The Magic Numbers - Take A Chance

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Buy Songs: The Magic Numbers
Year: 2006

Mr Haynes of the Derbyshires set himself the tough task of recording a new album every year from 2009 onwards. Sadly, owing to the onerous weight of his other projects/beings the scheme has already failed to meet its objectives one year on. We’re not here to point out shortcomings however as the tropical delights of ‘The City That I Know’ from ‘Up After Dark’ is too much of a distraction. And even if the LP’s are thinner on the ground that expected there is a Christmas EP from last December to enjoy again once it has been undeleted. KD

Mr Haynes - The City That I Know

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Buy Songs: Mr Haynes
Year: 2009

Could be showing the gap in my knowledge of the Austin music scene but I think of that town and a thousand unironed bands with guitars strapped around their torsos spring to mind. That’s why Belaire sound so out of step with that impression, despite the shiny chords they seem altogether less male dominated. And the entirely bouncy ‘You Really Got Me Goin’ is a fabulous introduction to their modus operandi. So for anyone planning on organising the world pillow fighting championships there’s no need to commission a theme tune because it has already been written. KD

Belaire - You Really Got Me Goin'

Watch The Video: You Really Got Me Goin'

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Buy Songs: Belaire
Year: 2008

Yep, this really is them when they were just a bad pun and Dolores O'Riordan a schoolgirl like a thousand others from Limerick. The difference of course was her voice and the fact that she could pen a killer tune or two (with Noel Hogan). I remember taping this session from the radio and passing it on to my brother who held me in the highest regard when the band went supernova at Suede's expense stateside. In truth the Cranberry Saw Us weren't much better than plenty of other bands at the time but in O'Riordan they had the genuine article. She might be the antithesis of it now but back in 1991, when this was recorded for a 2FM session on Dave Fanning's show, O'Riordan was a shy flower who was the last one you'd expect to become a star. The sessions included future megahit 'Dreams' and this song which was the title track from the band's debut EP. As often turns out fame takes as much as it gives but it is heartening to listen back at the unbridled innocence of the bands early days. Thanks to the excellent Fanning Sessions blog for passing this on (also on the lookout for the Emperor of Ice Cream session from around the same time if anyone out there can help?). KD

The Cranberry Saw Us - Uncertain

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Buy Songs: The Cranberries
Year: 1991

This is so old (2007, internet derived franchises age in dog years) that the thing that announced it – the Chamber of Commerce label – has crashed and burned. Well, the site has anyway which is a shame because Lucas Jensen (of Venice Is Sinking fame) who ran the joint is a man made up entirely of musical instruments. Blak Thor is/was another of his side projects which yielded several EP’s including one that went by the name of ‘That's The Thing About Blak Thor’ that came out 21 internet years ago. Blak Thor kept their compositions to a minimum and most had ceased to exist by the 2-minute mark. Flush they were with ideas too, the sort that others would have eloped with or at least used to make the album of their career. ‘Rascal’ reminds me of Folk Implosion’s ‘Natural One’, it’s all over the place but boy does the place look a whole better. KD

Blak Thor - Rascal

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Blak Thor
Year: 2007