Charlie Bucket was a tad drippy for my liking, the real star of the kids in Willy Wonka was always Mike TV. Pretty neat character, full of his own self-confidence, a total brat but engaging all the same. So it was a no brainer purchase when a Leitrim quartet (a novelty in itself) decided to use the underage gunslingers character as their band name. Headed up by Rory McPartland Mike TV’s time on earth was short but they left us with at least one memorable moment in ‘Money Shot’. The guitars are off the cuff, the rhythms are quirky and the whole piece approximates a winning They Might Be Giants effort. It could probably drive some people insane while others will lavish in its non-linear approach. As a bonus please also find attached the brash charms of Veruca Salt’s ‘Seether’. KD

Mike TV - Money Shot

Veruca Salt - Seether

More VS Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Veruca Salt's: [UK] American Thighs [US] American Thighs
Year: 1994

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Who said the underground music scene had gone stale? Not with these itsy bitsy weeny wonders doing the rounds. The Archie Bronson Outfit were discovered in a bar by the Domino label. You can see what attracted them, the freewheelin’ instrumentation is top notch even if it sounds as if Sam Windett has a tarantula down his trousers. Jamie Radford comes from R.E.M. country but he orbits a different solar system altogether such is his mishmash of styles and genres. ‘You’re So Warm’ is evidently Animal Collective after they’ve smashed all their instruments and taken to a broken down play room in search of replacements. ‘Hi On Wade’ is the loosest canon of the three, so indelibly off its rocker it’s a wonder Sigue Sigue Sputnik didn’t think of it themselves. Vic Thrill used to live in a petrol station you see, the fumes were bound to seek some retribution some day I guess. KD


Archie Bronson Outfit - Dart For My Sweetheart
More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Der Dang, Der Dang [US] Derdang Derdang


Jamie Radford - You're So Warm
More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Athens


Vic Thrill And The Saturn Missile - Hi On Wade
More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] CE-5 [US] CE-5

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Jimmy Lavalle is the man behind the Album Leaf although he has a full live band to call upon. Many were first drawn to them through their collaboration with Sigur Ros on the third album ‘In A Safe Place’ which was recorded in the mercurial foursome’s own Icelandic studios (a converted swimming pool no less). The results were faintly disappointing yet there were moments of genuine beauty like the opener ‘Window’. Simplistic, sparse yet so wholesome of personality this is a piece of music for contemplation. While that may sound like an opportunity to soundtrack another wrought scene from the OC (often taken up) there is so much more to the composition that boasts a faint classical edge (TAL was named after a piece by Chopin) but owes much to modern day mechanics. The Album Leaf’s new album ‘Into The Blue Again’ is released in September through Sub Pop and was crafted in both Iceland and Seattle. KD

The Album Leaf - Window

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] In a Safe Place [US] In a Safe Place
Year: 2004

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In an effort to shun his metal adoring chums Ryan McPhun decided to split from his home in California and put down roots in faraway New Zealand. A little over the top I’m sure you’ll agree but in musical terms it proved to be a canny move. Ryan McPhun & The Ruby Suns is what he calls his band and together they make sweet music using themes as quirky as the story of the lonely Kenyan Zebra named Ulysses. Of course it’d all fall apart quite rapidly if ‘Maasai Mara’ didn’t sound so utterly contemporary yet have the intricate harmonies normally associated with music from the sunshine states. Not sense Mike Batt decided to adopt a group of furry creatures has a song so captured the majesty of wild earth. Ryan also moonlights as the drummer in another NZ band called the Brunettes, just for the phun of it I guess. KD

Ryan McPhun & The Ruby Suns - Maasai Mara

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Ryan McPhun & The Ruby Suns
Year: 2005

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Segueness is a curious random occurrence where two tunes ultimately beat as one. It's what the best DJ's call the moment they turned down a pretty girl. Segueness will attempt to extract some fine tunage from disparate artists, put them in close proximity and hope the listener establishes a true lineage. Take a listen to these up and coming Scandinavian’s who process beats and flutterbye melodies with a curious consistency. There's Serena Maneesh who come close to repeating the heady daze of 'Whirlpool' Chapterhouse and Peter Bjorn and John whose only crime is in their failure to choose a name that befits their sunshine wares. Audio bliss thanks to some segueness. KD

Serena Maneesh - Candlelighted

Watch The Video For Drain Cosmetics

Peter Bjorn And John - Up Against The Wall

Watch The Young Folks Video

More SM Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Serena-Maneesh [US] Serena Maneesh
Year: 2005

More PBJ Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Writer's Block [US] Writer's Block
Year: 2006


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Tasty morsels from the land that made Richie Kavanagh a star. An occasional series that promises the best of Irish without the Concertina.





Beard stroking electronica from the man with no fixed monikor.

Si Schroeder - Lavendermist

More info: Si Schroeder


Pavement reform in a remote village in county Longford.

Glenwash - Uptown Outpost

More info: Glenwash


Aphex Twin finds his long lost sibling.

LPX - Chambers

More info: LPX


As inoffensive as a bottle full of baby's milk.

Pharmacy - Tears

More info: Pharmacy


Brian Wilson reincarnated as a burly Irishman.

Pugwash - Apples

More info: Pugwash


Purty little tunes fall off this band like autumn leaves.

Delorentos - Leave It On

More info: Delorentos

KD


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St. Etienne are such a sweet combo, still on the go and consistently creating music to revere. The threesome consists of Bob Stanley/Pete Wiggs electronic machinations and Sarah Cracknell’s faint Motown wispiness. The effect is a magical brew that could decorate the bleakest of coffee houses with velveteen atmosphere. The band have generally kept their motives London-centric despite being called after a French Football team. ‘Kiss And Makeup’ is taken from the early days circa 1990 as the band were finding their creative feet. The piano riffs are simplistic and the bass bumble may be obvious but there is such an exciting sense of chemistry between the players to suggest theirs would be a fruitful alliance. Paradoxically (eek) the vocals were supplied by a Cracknell clone (even if she hadn’t arrived yet) called Donna Savage. This song was originally recorded by Sarah jangle heads the Field Mice (‘Let’s Kiss And Make Up’), a band Stanley was a big fan of. Colin has immortalised this song forever over at the wonderful LKAMU. KD

St. Etienne - Kiss And Make Up

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Too Young to Die [US] Pale Movie
Year: 1990

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Of late I haven’t been able to shift my focus from Austin, Texas. Not because of SXSW, that isn’t for at least another 6 months. It just seems that there is remarkable crop of new bands appearing over the brow of the hill from that part of the world. Not your average spotlight-hogging indie types either, sure there is a tad shoegazing going on but for most part a well conceived talent is the order of the day (don’t mind the Pitchfork barbs either). For Those In The Know are certainly ones to watch as their self-titled EP (7 tracks, which makes it a full blown album in most peoples books) ploughs exciting new pastures as much as it ingeniously plunders from the past (SY, 4AD, MBV, J&MC). The guitar is the focus although the rhythms for the most part are no pushover either. ‘Competition’ is the EP’s savvy opener, all Thurston Moore vocal embellishments and drifting chords in a twin tub it will doubtless make the hares standing on the back of your neck wish they had a better view of the 4 cool types making the music. For Those Who Know will presumably not be just for those in the know for much longer. KD

For Those Who Know - Competition

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy For Those Who Don't Know: Those In The Know
Year: 2005

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Can there be anything more exciting than discovering an unsigned gem amongst the plethora of musical resources spread throughout myspace? Probably a few I suppose but right at this moment Austin 5-piece Loxsly are consuming me. Not in an agonising Ebola like way, more in a fuzzy first date type of one. ‘Stethoscope’ could be the most affable piece of awkward pop I’ve heard this year. It mixes equal parts Mercury Rev and Grandaddy to stir up a cocktail that shoots the summer breeze. There is scattiness in abundance by way of a flailing organ yet when the chips are down ‘Stethoscope’ goes supernova on a trip fantastic chorus. Cody Ground provides the clean vocals while his cohorts manage to concoct a swirling mass of sweet audio distractions. Loxsly have an album out called ‘Maps And Organs’ (recorded in all of 4 days) and with gems strewn about the place like ‘Card Gauge’ it’s surely only a matter before Loxsly become Lords of the Manor. Hey, what’s that noise; well, it’s the sound of your heart skipping a delighted beat. KD

Loxsly - Stethoscope

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy: Maps And Organs
Year: 2005

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If you like your harmonies to be bludgeoned to within an inch of their lives then you'll be salivating over A Cricket In Times Square’s ‘Fast, Cheap, Out Of Control’. Don’t know whether it was recorded in an airport hanger or if they dispensed with the noise reducing microphones but this thing springs from the speakers with more ingrained spirit and joie-de-vivre than a thousand soppy Jack Blunt numbers. The saving grace of course is the choppy riffs and distant vocals that recall shoegaze during one of its more lucid moments. Of course, Sweden’s South Ambulance produce this gold by the bucket load so if you are enamoured make your way down Labrador way. ACITS have good form boasting a couple of members from Alcian Blue at various stages of their development. Before you ask they actually come from Washington D.C. and all reports suggest they are releasing an album this summer. KD

A Cricket In Times Square - Fast, Cheap, Out Of Control

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy the bands s/t: [UK] A Cricket in Times Square [US] A Cricket in Times Square
Year: 2004

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Of course she’s as mad as a brush but that doesn’t stop Sinead O’Connor having one of the most moving voices to ever pass through the pop sphere. Her association with movie soundtracks began in 1987 when her collaboration with the Edge (U2) produced ‘Heroine’. Back then a balding female singer from Dublin was something to behold but it was her crystallised voice that truly enchanted. Since then her material has appeared in numerous cinematic moments including ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street 4’, ‘The Butcher Boy’, ‘Vanilla Sky’ and ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’. ‘Haunted’ is taken from the 1997’s ‘The Matchmaker’ and included the not so cute charms of Shane MacGowan. The contrast between beauty and the beast works remarkably well with deep seethed melodies present throughout. The soft-lit instrumentation exemplifies the varying vocal styles and one is left with a warm feeling in the tummy by the finish. KD

Sinead O'Connor & Shane MacGowan - Haunted

More Info: Sinead O'Connor & Shane MacGowan
Buy Album: [UK] I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got [US] I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Year: 1990

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It’s hard to suss whether Remy Zero still exist having broke up initially in 2003 there are indications that they are presently recording new material. ‘Save Me’ is their most well known track having being adopted as the theme tune to Smallville. The band are named after a railway worker who recorded dozens of demo tapes that somehow fell into the hands of Remo Zero lead man Shelby Tate. Much of Remy Zero’s music can be traced back to these tapes or so the story goes (and you thought the Spinto bands cracker box story was far fetched). While most appraisals of the band seem to suggest a Radiohead likeness ‘Fair’ has its sights firmly set on Damien Rice. This is fine acousticism with a great chorus that found its way on the universally colourful ‘Garden State’ soundtrack. KD

Remy Zero - Fair

More Info: Officially Dead? & Myspace
Buy Remy Zero's: [UK] Villa Elaine [US] Villa Elaine
Year: 1998

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I don’t think electronica has ever sounded like this. I mean Underworld could pretty much isolate their human thought processes and feed them through the machines but then Hyde and Emerson were always level headed fellows. Now imagine a room full of freethinking, multi-spirited young things who don’t care for the devices, only what comes out the other side. Well, this is Holy Fuck, or Holy F**k as they are destined to be referred as. Let ‘Cadio Bossa Nova’ be an introduction to their take on music. The tune not only scares small household creatures but could also be the start of a supercult that bore witness to celestial beings who had ditched their craft building ways in order to soundtrack the inaugural winning performance of the inter planetary dance off. Oh boy, this is good stuff, probably won’t be getting much sleep tonight. KD

Holy Fuck - Cadio Bossa Nova

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy An: Unholy Racket
Year: 2006

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‘Let Them Drink’ was Shai Halperin's 3rd studio album in 4 years as the Capitol Years. It also announced Halperin’s decision to expand the bands membership and finally become a fully-fledged outfit. Up to this point Halperin had doodled successfully but for the most part he did so alone. The move meant that songs like ‘Juicers’ had a wider angle, the 60’s sensibilities and full blown harmonies remained intact but now came complete with shiny wings to elevate the ideas into the stratosphere. The dynamics on ‘Juicers’ are straightforward and most have been revealed within the first minute but such a propulsive avalanche of catchiness deserves many replays. Teenage Fanclub have been doing it this good for years so it is a genuine feather for Halperin that he more than matches the Glaswegian’s harmony drenched opuses. The Capitol Years are due to release their new album ‘Dance Away The Terror’ in September. KD

The Capitol Years - Juicers

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Let Them Drink [Us Import] [US] Let Them Drink
Year: 2005

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Everybody has their own story about how they stumbled upon Regina Spektor’s music. The Russian born singer with the big apple accentuated warble is certainly destined for big things. I had read that Spektor had been the girl who broke James Levy’s heart and in an apparent subtle move focused her attentions on one Julian Casablancas of the Strokes. Levy went on to write one of the most beautiful tunes about owning a broken heart and in the process Spektor’s act of betrayal was somewhat soothed. Then I heard ‘Us’ from Spektor’s 2003 album ‘Soviet Kitsch’ and I thought I was back listening to the theme tune to St Elmo’s Fire. Kudos to Spektor’s cascading piano riffs and the elaborate strings but they merely apply the icing on the cake because Spektor’s wonderfully expressive vocals are her trump card. It is a thing of rare beauty and her performance on ‘Us’ brings to mind early Kate Bush moments. Spektor’s new album ‘Begin To Hope’ is out now, as is the European introduction to the chanteuse called ‘Mary Ann Meets the Gravediggers and Other Short Stories’. KD

Regina Spektor - Us

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Regina Spektor
Year: 2003

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