If you are tracing the Byrds family tree then the Young Tradition are going to prop up a particularly fruitful branch. The reason, put simply, is that they create the sort of loose jangling moments and fuzzed up vocal parts that could only have originated in a time when the love was free. Made up of equal parts Swedish and Japanese creators the band don't peddle anything that could be considered fully original yet their take on the classic imprint is both enticing and refreshing. Hardly surprising then that they are signed to Matinee Recordings which is home of such other tweesome delights as the Snowdrops and Pale Sunday. KD

The Young Tradition - Now You Know

Slightly More Info: The Young Tradition
Buy Album: [UK] Northern Drive [US] Northern Drive
Year: 2005

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In the mid nineties a small pocket of bands from Dublin hinted that something wonderful could be on the horizon. The Jubilee Allstars, In Motion, Bawl, the Sewing Room and Sunbear were all fashioning alchemy from base instruments. Luggage weren't entirely in the same league but still produced a couple of terrific EP's over a short time. The 'Comical Life' EP was one such, four strong tunes with 'Show Me Around' being the obvious highlight. Think Tindersticks as the gloom is about to lift and you'll be ballpark. 'Show Me Around' exhibits lazy, shambolic chords thrown together like forgotten CD's in a bargain bin float by as Barry O'Mahony's laconic utterances transform the vocal slouch into an art form. Just perfect for those mid-term mornings when getting up isn't really a runner. KD

Luggage - Show Me Around

More Info: Luggage
EP: Comical Life
Year: 1995

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Casimer Pascal's band have somehow stayed out the limelight despite a melody charged run of EP's, Christmas singles and a contribution to the Donovan tribute album. Think early Belle & Sebastian b-side with a lorry load of sweetly tugged instruments propping up Pascal's high pitched vocals. 'Poor Maude' is elegantly tailored even if it plays like a song with a thousand different winning ideas, harmonies drip from its sides like ice-cream from an abandoned cone in mid summer. And for such a perfect pop song it somehow extends beyond the strict 3-minute guideline. That said the crash and tumble of the finale brings us back to dull life as seen through the eyes of a 115-year-old woman praying that the end is near. Ah, such a precious dichotomy in a straight ahead pop world. KD

PAS/CAL - Poor Maude

More Info: PAS/CAL
Buy Album: [UK] Oh Honey, We're Ridiculous [US] Oh Honey, We're Ridiculous
Year: 2004

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The making of a band.....

A Young Boy Kneels









I Wear Warm Garments Early Each Day










Hooray For Lively Equine Receptions










KD

Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake

More Info: Band of Horses
Buy Album: [UK] Everything All the Time [US] Everything All the Time
Year: 2006

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When Sice decided to take a temporary break from the Boo Radley's and write his own music he chose the highly suitable Eggman monikor (legendary slaphead that he was). Sice's gift as a singer was never in doubt so it comes a bit of a surprise to hear him on 'Not Bad Enough' where he approximates his less gifted partner Martin Carr's solid yet unremarkable voice. Thankfully 'Not Bad Enough' doesn't suffer because it also boasts a jovial riff that breathes life into the music. Eggman only produced fruit on one occasion, the gravitational pull back to base seemingly too strong to resist. For Boo Radley's fan it is an enjoyably less frenetic romp through the bands unmistakeable sound. As you should know yourself they remain one of the nineties biggest treats. KD

Eggman - Not Bad Enough

More Info: The Boo Radleys & Eggman
Buy Album: [UK]First Fruits [US] First Fruits
Year: 1996

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Neutral Milk Hotel, the Apples In Stereo and Olivia Tremor Control were part of the famed Elephant 6 movement. These were a group of experimentalists who used the Beatles and Beach Boys as a reference to create sumptuous new creations of their own. 'Hideaway' was taken from Olivia Tremor Control's 1999 album called 'Black Foliage: Animation Music', a sprawling affair over 27 tracks that dealt out some many ideas it took quite an effort to absorb in totality. 'Hideaway' is a beacon of amiability, however, that married the aforementioned influences into a lush carpet of sound. Feel the Wilsonesque harmonies, bathe in the delicate kaleidoscope of 'Magical Mystery Tour' fab four but most of all genuflect at the altar of OTC for creating a modern day pop classic. This will whisk you off your feet but is guaranteed not walk out on you the next morning. Treasure. KD

Olivia Tremor Control - Hideaway

More Info: Olivia Tremor Control
Buy Album: [UK] Black Foliage [US] Black Foliage: Animation Music By The Olivia Tremor Control
Year: 1999

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How do you justify a tune without words that runs for 61 seconds? Surely a case of a throw away idea tacked on as a filler or a hastily arranged b-side to make up the numbers on an EP. Well in this sense 'It's-ok' breaks all the rules because its short stay is both insightful and exhilarating. Like a baby 'Surface To Air' (Chemical Brothers) is beats a path to your heart with the efficiency of a freshly sharpened surgeons knife. Wingdings is the side project of Limerick man Steve Ryan, his main job being with spunky guitar necks giveamanakick. Wingdings has supported an Arab Strap, Smog and a mouldy piece of Sugar in the last few months and his self-titled debut has been on the shelves since last summer. On this evidence he could be soon breaking hearts as well as the rules. KD

Windings - It's-ok

More Info: Windings
Buy Album: Windings
Year: 2005

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Even Cud fans will struggle to get their hands on this barnstorming effort as it never featured on any of the bands albums. Mike Dunphy's liquid guitar play is the songs central feature; at one point the spiralling dynamics threaten to simulate a fractious riot. Carl Puttnam's heavy toned vocals are refreshing, his verbals matching his colleague for sheer energy. Of course things never worked out for Cud despite widespread critical acclaim and their dedication to covering cheesy numbers from the likes of Hot Chocolate. They had their brushes with the mainstream when 'Rich & Strange' and 'Once Again' became minor hits but their patience ran out in 1995. Puttnam has since forged a solo career and managed to pull a DJ slot on Galaxy FM. KD

Cud - Oh No Won't Do

More Info: Cud
Buy Cud's: [UK] Asquarius [US] Asquarius
Year: 1992

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On! Air! Library! self-titled album was one of the undiscovered joys of 2004. With a palette that swung from shoegaze to introspective moog dalliances you never quite what this experimental crew were about to throw out (Curve and Stereolab come to mind). A challenging listen, only one or two of the tracks made sense straight away; with the result that only the patient would be fully rewarded. 'Feb.' might be rolling down the track to nowhere but it is a very pleasant journey all the same. Claudia Dehaza (her twin sister Alley also plays in the band) supplies the understated singing while an sweet eclectic jamboree of noise spins about around her. 'Feb.' only stays around for about 2 minutes but it has the elegant grandeur that means you have to rerun the thrills ad nauseum. Sadly On! Air! Library! broke up late last year. Watch out for the split EP they recorded with The Album Leaf called 'A Lifetime Or More'. KD

On! Air! Library! - Feb.

More Info: On! Air! Library!
Buy Album: [UK] On Air Library [US] On!Air!Library!
Year: 2004

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Ok, it's Sunday morning and I have a headache, the birds are tweeting too loudly in the trees and I have to play football in an hour. Coffee, cigarettes (I don't smoke) or Panadol won't be enough to shake this leaden feeling. Perhaps some audio intervention is required, something that is always sitting there on the edge of my consciousness. Something that went through a period of getting the proverbial rotten vegetables thrown at it but still came out the other side with its shiny exterior intact. As a teenager I was transfixed by the promo with its Sin City style characters and wonderfully romantic ending. Yep, you know the story of the 3 Norwegian lads with the funny hair. This hasn't aged one iota for those who were there way back then and is as bubbly as a bottle of cheap cider. It had to be released 3 times before it became a hit. It was the first piece of vinyl that I ever owned and it's worth lots of money now. Right, pass me the ball. KD

a-ha - Take On Me

More Info: a-ha
Buy Album: [UK] Hunting High And Low [US] Hunting High and Low
Year: 1985

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The word of mouth on Matt Pond PA's genius is getting louder by the day and it's easy to see why when you listen to this soft bundle of joy. With the last vestiges of winter about to depart our shores for a few months this could be its lush death kick. The parts that make the whole are many and each is beautiful in its own right. Instantly affecting vocals, childlike fidgety acoustics and atmospheric cello moments all add up to a pretty mosaic. This is the sort of stuff that should pervade on radio stations the world over; you can't but feel that if it were the world would be a better place. 'Snow Day' is taken from the 'Winter Songs' EP that rivals Low's 'Christmas' in the bearing of holiday audioments. Just in case you are wondering the PA in the bands name stands for Pennsylvania. KD

Matt Pond PA - Snow Day

More Info: Matt Pond PA
Buy Matt Pond PA's: [UK] Winter Songs [US] Winter Songs
Year: 2005

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The Happy Mondays were always good copy being to drugs what Shane McGowan is to drink. Ryder and Mark Bery (Bez) were a devilish combination and their live shows were ecstatic affairs. 'Pills, Thrills & Bellyaches' is their high watermark, containing pretty much all their essential moments. The rest of their back catalogue has instances of greatness but lacks clear consistency. 'Hallelujah' is taken from the revered 'Rave On' EP that boasted a gaggle of remixes. This version is my favourite even if trims Kirsty McColl's screeching vocals to a minimum. This is the quintessential baggy anthem, pitching acid house atmospherics alongside accomplished guitar asides and Bez's flailing maracas. Ryder gruff vocals are superb, almost out of tune and laboured they provide the perfect foil for the hedonistic rhythms. Ryder's slow metamorphosis into a mongoose is sad to watch but thankfully Bez remains the stick insect of yore even finding time to win a celebrity reality TV show in-between those 10-hours-long practise sessions in his front room. The band are scheduled to appear this summer in London at the prophetically titled 'Get Loaded In The Park'. KD

Happy Mondays - Hallelujah

More Info: The Happy Mondays
Buy: [UK] Hallelujah [US] Hallelujah
Year: 1989

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I nearly loved the Unicorns' 'Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone' but an overused slab of piercing organ ruined it for me. Now that that band has subsided ex-Unicorns Nicholas Thorburn and Jamie Thompson have reconvened to form Islands. Their debut has just been released and includes bit parts by fellow Canadians the Arcade Fire. The Unicorns sense of whimsy has been side stepped a tad and although the roots are awash with giddy melody 'Return To The Sea' has the maturity to become a classic. The album sweeps from cute archetypal indie tune to wispy instrumental at will, even stopping off at one stage to comment on all that avian flu fearmongering. A good example of the dinky tunes on offer is the lavishly angled 'Tsuxiit' which may take some time to win you over such is its awkward directions. Sounding like a close relative to a cute furry Mogwai it scuttles about with gay abandon but denys all attempts to dance to it. This is the tonic for those who want to ditch the prosaic for something more addictive. One other thing, is the cover art taken from Superman: The Movie? KD

Islands - Tsuxiit

More Info: Islands
Buy Album: [UK] Return to the Sea [US] Return to the Sea
Year: 2006

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To wrap up tonight's hat-trick of understated beauties here is the Belfast's very own Panda Kopanda (named after a 1970's Japanese cartoon). The band somehow finds themselves label-less after the collapse of Howl Records but they shouldn't be short of suitors if the 'The Letting Go' EP is anything to go by. Panda Kopanda present subtle melodies by way of Gavin Reid's velvety indie-boy vocals and a backing band that are trying to redraft the jangly parts of 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain' all on their own. 'If I Could Make You Happy' is particularly precious, even if it initially sounds like Trio's 'Da Da Da'. Soon enough, however, it develops a premium set of shimmering riffs, a focused percussion and the general disposition of an encore classic. The cascading layers of musical melodrama that close the song are as inspired and life affirming as the story of Mimiko and her adoptive family. The band are about to release a new EP called 'Ocean of Fire' so adopt it asap. KD

Panda Kopanda - If I Could Make You Happy

More Info: Panda Kopanda
Buy Panda Kopanda's: The Letting Go EP
Year: 2005

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