See You Over HERE!

Evict the dreary Bon Iver, invite a galley of Scottish music aristocrats (there are 2 Canadians on board), swap your choice of rural desolation to the highlands and what you get is the Burns Unit. It's hardly a supergroup because that would denote a sense of the masses entirely knowing who they were. For me the headline grabber is ex Delgados singer Emma Pollock (also aware of Future Pilot AKA and King Creosote) but she had 7 others for company for the week it took to put 'Side Show' together. That shindig took place in December 2006 but it was wasn't until late 2010 that the ideas came to fruition. 'Since We've Fallen Out' is the album's opener and this version was recorded for a session on BBC Scotland. It is a distinctively native sound, a slow drift with a lyrical core that is not unlike the Second Hand Marching Band (another large troupe of wandering minstrels). Super all the same. KD

The Burns Unit - Since We've Fallen Out

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Burns Unit
Year: 2010

I'm kinda of annoyed with myself at how I could have come to miss the Twin Atlas (after writing this paragraph I discovered I hadn't, memory collapsing here). I mean they create the perfect template for every song that I hold dear, namely indie pop nuggets with lush harmonies and fine jangling chords. Think Teenage Fanclub or our very own the Very Most and you get the drift. Well, my annoyance was sparked by the realisation that Sean Byrne with Lucas Zaleski of the Twin Atlas are no more. After 10 years and 10 LP's they've decided to call it a day so I shall never get to savour that feeling on the day of a new release, pity. That said I'm only at the start of a voyage of discovery of their back catalogue so fun times ahead. If 'It Ever Happened' (and how could this warm breeze of loveliness not be) is your bag then all 10 Twin Atlas releases can be downloaded for free from their site, a world of happiness awaits. KD

The Twin Atlas - It Ever Happened

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Twin Atlas
Year: 2010

Promoters Hefty Horse go from strength to strength (they've even branched out into compilations) and last night in Whelan's, for the princely sum of €5, offered 3 really promising up and comers. First up was Carlow duo the Holy Roman Army who sound immeasurably better live than they do on record. The addition of the trumpet definitely bolsters their sound and beautifully defines Laura Coffey's soft Sarah Cracknellesque vocals. The highlight was undoubtedly their version of Pavement's 'Here' which is available on their EP of covers called 'Desecrations' which can be downloaded for free from bandcamp.

The Holy Roman Army - Here


Second band on the night We Are Losers are also generous with their music, offering their self-titled debut EP for nowt. Led by Gavin Elsted from Super Extra Bonus Party they play a lo-fi and very loud brand of 90's rock and for the most part are pretty successful at what they do.

We Are Losers - Empty Head


Sacred Animals were a totally different prospect after the white nose of We Are Losers. Led by ex Angel Pier singer Darragh Nolan theirs is a genuinely unique sound which has already gone viral within the music blog world. With a backing track playing throughout there was bound to be the odd technical hiccup but the genuine warmth between band and audience avoided any embarrassment. Drummer Marc Colbert was superb on backup but it was hard not to be drawn to Nolan's near falsetto singing which if anything appears to be blossoming as the years roll on. In what was a short set there were several spine tingling moments, 'Chosen Seed' was as spectral as expected, unrecorded new song 'As You Sleep' could be their best effort yet, 'Welcome Home' really reached for the stars and the cover of Twin Shadows' 'Castles In The Snow' felt all of their own making. Looking around the sizeable audience appeared entranced, no requests for hush as Sacred Animals had everyone in their gentle grip. Next up for the lads is a trip to Eurosonic in Groningen later this week. Can't see how we will have them to ourselves for too much longer.

Sacred Animals - Chosen Seed


Photo of Sacred Animals by John McRedmond.

KD

No he hasn't deserted Oliver's Army, that is unless the bespeckled one has lost 30 years and gained a schloch of curly mane. This is instead San Fran duo Chris Owens and Chet White who stretch a really great idea to nearly 7 minutes. Towards the end it does tatter a tad but there's no denying the classic aesthetics inherent in 'Hellhole Ratrace'. If the Libertines had written a song this good then I'm sure the NME would have dedicated a whole issue to it and Pete would have had to, at the very least, upgrade his hat to XL. This song was the opening single taken from Girls only album to date, 'Album', which came out in 2009. KD

Girls - Hellhole Ratrace

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Girls
Year: 2009

The Last Night TV's story is something to behold, both inside (!, read on) and outside of what goes on in the studio. One of the more remarkable snippets being the fact that lead singer Spencer Bayles is in the Guinness book of records for having the biggest appendix ever removed (over 8 inches long). That's about as gut wrenching as the Leeds combo get however as they ply a distinctive indie pop template which as you'll have figured out by now is something that goes down very well in these parts. As well as being all appendix Last Night's TV also appear to be stuffed with much heart as the proceeds for their Christmas single 'Tinsel On The Town Hall' all went to charity. All told not just your average, so-so, run of the mill, middle of the road indie act. KD

Last Night's TV - We Fell Out

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Last Night's TV
Year: 2010

Unless the internet's collective search enginery are very much wrong it would appear that Portland indie popsters the Online Romance have stalled. Last update suggested a new album nearing completion with 'Ladybug, Don't Smile' being a forerunner for what was to follow. Not a peep for the longest time but a tweet last November would suggest that there are hopeful stirrings. For all our sakes let's hope the hibernation is temporary because this song is striking. Warmly produced with melodies from top to toe it has the makings of a classic pop song. On this evidence alone I'm sure we'll be more than maybe-friends for years to come.

Update: Jack from the Online Romance emailed with an update on the state of play with the album, cheers Jack!

"I realize now that we never posted the news to Twitter that we'd disbanded. (Announced it on Facebook, but neglected to do so elsewhere.) Part of the reason is because a few of us still plan to finish our abandoned album under a different name, but newer projects have taken priority for the moment."

KD

The Online Romance - Ladybug, Don't Smile

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Online Romance
Year: 2011ish

How about this for a period piece from the Madchester era? The year was 1991 when colloquialisms like Candy Flip probably meant a lot to much of the youth of the day (look it up). Hedonism was not confined to northern Britain but it was defined there in clubs like the Hacienda. Candy Flip only existed for a short period and put out just one album 'Madstock' which contained their megahit, an acid tinged version of the Beatles 'Strawberry Fields Forever', as well as this wonderful pop tune 'Redhills Road' which also encroached on the mainstream charts. If you can see past the of its time sound you'll be rewarded with a fine chorus and all round happy demeanour. KD

Candy Flip - Redhills Road

Watch The Video To Strawberry Fields Forever

More Info: Wiki
Buy Songs: Madstock
Year: 1991

Slowwave are a new band from Tacoma, Washington about to release their debut EP. 'Drag Lake Sin' is a surprisingly varied piece drifting from new romanticism ('Scraphead' is particularly noteworthy) to electronica and back to more traditional indie rock templates. It may or may not help their cause to have a lead singer that sounds like Chris Martin but looking beyond the obvious it's the cloak of off kilter surrounds that most impresses. Take 'Pour' for example with its pulsing and elaborately rhythms. It starts off acoustic and moody but it's not long before the grand sonic designs reveal themselves. A great start for Slowwave, 2011 should be a big year for them. 'Drag Lake Sin' is out on the Savings N Loan label on January 25 but is already streaming on bandcamp. KD

Slowwave - Pour

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Band
Year: 2011

The fab Shelflife label may be based all the way over in America but that doesn't stop them from tapping into some of Northern Europe's most precious musical commodities. To Champagne Riot, Burning Hearts and the Radio Dept. you can now add Finland's (they come from the same neck of the woods as Cats on Fire) Le Futur Pompiste to the list of deliciousness that call Shelflife home. The latter are certainly Stereolab aficionados, offering old synth exchanges and sultry vocals supplied by Jessika Rapo. The best part is that the chorus is really memorable, sometimes songs of this ilk can rely on their adherence to note perfect retro replication but 'Five Hundred Heartbeats' boasts a successful twin pronged approach. KD

Le Futur Pompiste - Five Hundred Heartbeats

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Le Futur Pompiste
Year: 2010

Unfortunately all 5 members of Athens band Easter Island have regular shaped heads, thus making it near impossible to pull jokes about the moniker they chose for themselves. Might be a little bit harsh to do so anyway given the shimmying artistry displayed on ‘Proud’ which is the first taste from their upcoming EP called ‘Better Things’. Ok, the guitars might sound a bit like ‘Yellow’ in places but the fey boy vocals are so in touch with the jingle jangle that such comparisons are soon forgotten. As clean shaven a song as you’ll get nowadays and pretty nicely sculpted too. KD

Easter Island - Proud

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Easter Island
Year: 2011

What is it about a song that features whistling that makes it all the more memorable? Probably best to ask Otis Redding or Monty Python for the definitive answer but it may be down to the fact that everyone can do it making the song somewhat more accessible. While air expellation doesn’t always hit the bullseye (‘November Rain’ by GNR being the excretable poster boy in that regard) it tends to pop in many people's all time favourite tunes. At mp3hugger we’re no exception so we’ve patched together our top 10 songs (in no particular order) that feature the noble art of whistling.



This bird dispensed with the tweets a long time ago and appears to have made a conscious decision to incorporate whistling into each and every one of his songs. On ‘Dark Matter’ the decision was made for him because it slots in so seamlessly with the songs' epic approach.

Andrew Bird - Dark Matter

More Info: Andrew Bird


This band are perhaps better known for their day job as Electric President but that didn’t stop them from creating this marching epic. Who needs flutes and drums when the sound of a thousand men whistling into battle is enough to carry the day?

Radical Face - Glory

More Info: Radical Face


The sine wave in this case stands apart from the others because it melds itself seamlessly with the singing. A case of a champion whistler at the height of his/her powers but you'd nothing less from a band signed to a label called Labrador.

Club 8 - Whatever You Want

More Info: Club 8


This only came out in 2010 and the whistling offers so much to the success of the tune that removing it would take much of the sheen from the glorious opening passages. Suited to intermediate whistlers only as beginners may be flummoxed by the elastic pitch changes.

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros - Home

More Info: Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros


An obvious choice because the whistling is so central to the song’s overall thrust. This London troupe will have to work very hard to top this slice of jollity for it also supplies one of the cutest mandolin lines heard in years.

Noah And The Whale - 5 Years' Time

More Info: Noah and the Whale


The Happy Mondays were Madchester kingpins who could have skied down the mountains of white stuff they consumed through the years. Their beacon was of course 'Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches' which included about half a dozen baggy classics, chief amoung them this one and the hyperactive sound coming from its resonant chambers.

The Happy Mondays - Step On

More Info: The Happy Mondays


Ferghal McKee gave inexperienced and amateur whistlers the world over some light when he offered the patently out of tune air warbling at the end of this tune from his band’s remarkable debut album ‘Submarine’. He was an angry boy and gnarl’s aren’t conducive to the particular art being discussed today.

Whipping Boy - Bettyclean

More Info: Whipping Boy


Taken from the equally superb ‘Writer’s Block’ LP the threesome managed to capture the zeitgeist on this particularly obvious choice. Also helped that the video that came with ‘Young Folks’ was as near as we’ve come to a contemporary ‘Take On Me’.

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks

More Info: Peter Bjorn and John


The most contemporary of our top 10 and if anything on the occasion pursed lips are overshadowed by the beefy and wonderfully memorable bass line.

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing

More Info: The Drums


Given Gedge’s track record the last thing we’d expect him to be doing is whistling but then this song did come out in 1987 so we’ll put it down to youthful exuberance. And anyway who could be anything other than jolly with choppy chords like this flying around.

The Wedding Present - Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft

More Info: The Wedding Present


What did we miss?

KD

If ‘It’s Because of People Like You’ were an item of clothing it would be a slinky night dress, nothing too sexy just a piece of cool frockery to enhance it’s wearer. The song has a delicious awkwardness that only enhances its aura, perhaps that comes from the drifting organ which resembles those great Inspiral Carpet moogles of yesteryear. Alex Lilly’s voice never falters so it’s no wonder she has guested with the Bird and the Bee and Rilo Kiley, talents like this need to be showcased. You can find ‘It’s Because of People Like You’ on Obi Best’s 2009 debut ‘Caspades’. KD

Obi Best - It's Because of People Like You

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Obi Best
Year: 2009

Christopher Willits ain’t your common-or-garden artist, there are many strings to his bow (teacher, philospher) so even if his music doesn’t do for him what he wishes then a life on social welfare remains unlikely. His musical output is staggering, as ‘Tiger Flower Circle Sun’ is his latest in a 20+ LP discography. Willits occupies the foggy electronica/dream pop divide as evidenced by the intricate ‘Light Into Branches’ (the light of which doesn’t appear until the 2 minute mark, but what a bright shot it is), which was inspired by an serious injury that self healed (told you he was one of a kind) against the better wishes of medical advice. Slightly challenging ‘Light Into Branches’ offers plenty of rewards and even for the casual listener trips along like a swoosh of airy background noise. KD

Christopher Willits - Light Into Branches

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Christopher Willits
Year: 2010

With only a smidgeon of evidence in the case for Jonny I have finally been able to get over my reservations about Teenage Fanclub’s recent output. That’s because the Norman Blake/Euro Childs (Gorky’s) collaboration sounds like things used to sound for the fabulous Glaswegian outfit. The first single is called ‘Candyfloss’ and represents classic jangle pop. It is due to be released in mid January with a self-titled LP to follow next month so as a taster the duo have released an EP of 4 non-album tracks. It’s a particularly lo-fi affair but you can’t keep a good song down and it looks like there is genuine magic sprouting from the new (old) union. The sub 2 minute ‘Beach Party’ is the pick of the bunch with the retro silliness of ‘Continental’ a close second and all four can be downloaded for free over here. KD

Jonny - Beach Party

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Jonny
Year: 2011

If this be Math (Maths?) Rock give me sum more please. Yes, a track from the new year and it only 5 days old (‘Good Luck’ originally surfaced last summer but in the spirit of presenting things as if they were just off the press and we were the first to mention it let's gloss over this truth shall we). Something tells me that this will be turning up in our best of 2011 in 11 months time and this despite sounding as bare as a supermodel’s dinner plate in the opening passages. There’s a time for stripped down sound clouds and London’s finest CYMBALS (caps off to them) have it down to perfection. The vocals by Jack the lad are suitably laconic in a sleepy half dozen red bulls downed kind of way, kinda sorry he doesn’t yelp at any stage such are the teeth that are so carefully gritted. These CYMBALS eat guitars and any other instrument they can lay their hands on. KD

CYMBALS - Good Luck

More Info: Official
More Songs: CYMBALS
Year: 2011

This could be the Wendys from Edinburgh were it not from this century and by a band of a different name from Sweden. I instantly thought of the baggy standards when this flew into earshot but then it has a production sheen that the floppy fringe sorts wouldn’t have reached for. ‘God’s Will’ is taken from Norma’s last album ‘Book of Norma’ and is an immaculate pulsating vehicle for their elaborate jaunts. Seems there are few others of the same name so just look up the ones that are prefaced by amazing. Confident buggers but then it’s hard to argue with their assessment. KD

Norma - God's Will

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

Pop noir eh? Didn’t quite exist until I heard this classy production from Dusty Brown, a Sacramento musician/producer with a bevy of complimentary musicians at his side. The highlight on this occasion is provided by his sister Jessica's sultry vocals, which round off what is already an exotic piece. I’m sure ‘Back To Back’ could swirl endlessly in the background of every café from here to Timbuktu and find an appreciative audience seeing as it is the equivalent of an glossy mag with exemplary staying power. You can download the ‘This City Is Killing Me’ EP it comes from for free from Dusty's website, tipping while not mandatory is encouraged. A band that sure leave their own distinctive trail. KD

Dusty Brown - Back To Back

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Dusty Brown
Year: 2009

I know we will be back to them so if Philadelphia’s Reading Rainbow (named after a children’s programme that ended on US TV a couple of years back) don’t grab you on this occasion they will down the line. It’s safe to say we’re fans, appealing as they do to our greying ears where snippets of old sounds that are given fresh paint somehow add a tad of lady grecian to the aforementioned appendages. In this case there is more than a dash of the Pains of Being Pure at Heart but with a satisfying enlarged aorta. The noise while strictly white has that dreamy edge that gives it a soft edge, I mean it could be 1992 were it not for the fact that it hasn’t taken a good deal of >> or << or pencil spooling to get to this gem on a friends mix tape. Lots of colours and it’s not even springtime yet. KD

Reading Rainbow - Euphoria

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Reading Rainbow
Year: 2010

A good soundtrack isn’t everything in a movie but it certainly helps (in so much that it kept my interest in the otherwise quite dull live action ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’). Without James Murphy’s (yes, he of LCD Soundsystem) interventions ‘Greenberg’ would still have been memorable (Ben Stiller as vulnerable yet near objectionable world weary 40-something, fresh out of the madhouse and still haunted by that decision to turn down a major record label’s advances 15 years previous while all the while dousing the emotions of a naive 25 year old with heated petroleum – somehow, inconceivably, I identified with his character) but the levity supplied in the background was a classy touch. None more so that this precious one-minuter which appeared as the credits rolled. KD

James Murphy - If You Need A Friend

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: James Murphy
Year: 2010

It took about 3 reads before I saw Parson Red Heads instead of Parsnip Red Heads, not that I’ve anything resembling a passion for vegetables, just a minor glitch in ye auld hugger's speed reading faculties. The miscalculations were all on my side though because this Oregon group (relatives and others) are keen on delivering perfect pop documents. This one comes from their last EP (proper), 2008’s ‘Owl & Timber’, which like all their output wears retrobility right down to its psychedelic drenched artwork. At nearly 5 minutes you might have thought ‘Got It All’ was a bit of a stretch but the spacey doodling is quite the distraction as the second half wears on. KD

The Parson Red Heads - Got It All

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Parson Red Heads
Year: 2008

One of the things I am looking forward to most in 2011 is spending more time with LP’s rather than just jumping into hammock with any loose mp3 I can get my grubby little hands on. Goes with the territory of having more time to do such things I guess but then I won’t be depending on adverts from the makers of the black stuff to inform my ears to bands as special as Beach House. I’d twigged their gift as far back as ‘Master of None’ but our contact since then has been fleeting especially since the lead track from last year’s ‘Teen Dream’ (‘Norway’) was such a stilted affair. The aforementioned ’10 Mile Stereo’ is of course a better indication of the album’s worth, even better though is album opener ‘Zebra’ – a song that earns its stripes through elegantly turned out jangle and queen Vic’s sumptuous presence. KD

Beach House - Zebra

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Beach House
Year: 2010

It may be tempting, without knowing for sure, to announce that Antimagic are the first Irish band (or band from any other nation for that matter) to appear on this blog in 2011. You see with names like Ted McGrath and Marcia Cahill it could be a fair enough assumption but then they are based in Brooklyn so it may just be a beyond first generational thing. Matters not anyway because as soon as ‘Inner Most Secret Shogun Heart’ obliquely rolls into town your brain will be fried at its compelling non-adherence to conventional song structure. The song is the b-side (strictly true on this occasion as it is a vinyl single) to flipside ‘Shake Shake Shake’ and reminds one of Liars on a trip to the fairground. New York pulls another rabbit from the hat. KD

Antimagic - Inner Most Secret Shogun Heart

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Antimagic
Year: 2011