Bloc Party - Banquet

Ambulance LTD - Primitive (The Way I Treat You)

The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

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This record sounds out of time as if jettisoned in from the previous decade. It is the sound of This Mortal Coil, Slowdive, Lush or (dare I say it) Cock Robin at their most effervescent. The truth is that it was only created in 2005 by Sydney 6-piece Decoder Ring for their 3rd album. The year before the band had penned the music to Aussie film ‘Somersault’ which was universally acclaimed and scooped the band an Australian Film Institute soundtrack of the year award. ‘Fractions’ builds so incrementally you could be genuinely jolted when it finally bursts into life with softly flickering guitars and torrential electronics filling the air like a million butterflies. The effect is spine tingling, made all the more alluring by lead singer Lenka Kripac’s smouldering vocals. The most forward thinking record to take you back for quite some time. KD

Decoder Ring - Fractions

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Somersault
Year: 2005

Lock a chart aficionado in a padded cell for 24 hours with this on repeat and perhaps they'll see the light. On the other hand there are probably laws against such radical treatments so don’t attempt this with any square family members. Instead you could slip this song into their consciousness at opportune moments. Not all at once mind as there is far too much going on for the innocent bystander to absorb. Buttonhead are from London and their ‘Lucerne’ is most likely from the outer reaches of the galaxy. It can be close to infantile at times but rather than boring us adults it engenders a lust for life. Just warning you though, I am saying all this after a clutch of listens that bore reactions that ranged from frustration to downright exhilaration. Where your opinion will rest is open to question but while you decide Buttonhead will hopefully have found a replacement for Thomas Fuglesang who is now spending all his time with his other band ‘Infants’ (hmmm). KD

Buttonhead - Lucerne

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Buy Album: Weetabix Gigabyte (soon)
Year: 2007

I have loved juicy bass lines ever since ‘early Verve/Jah Wobble on Screamadelica’ in the 90’s showed what could be achieved. So I was suckered into loving ‘Seeds of Night’ almost straight away (that and the fact that the band use a washboard and melodica in some of their tunes). Right now I’ve gone through about half a dozen listens and I’m slowly beginning to appreciate how special the Cave Singers might be. Their debut ‘Invitation Songs’ is about to premier on Matador and by this taster I’ll be returning my RSVP before you can say ‘Higher Than The Sun’. ‘Seeds of Night’ pops out all over the place with slick quirkyness, one moment it is as regular as a heartbeat, the next it is showing the effects of years of greasy breakfast rolls. If I was a DJ this would be the closer every Saturday night, by then the well oiled crowd could make a good fist at the sort of schizophrenic moves required to shimmer in unison. TKD

The Cave Singers - Seeds of Night

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Buy Album: Invitation Songs
Year: 2007

Of course there are going to be the inevitable Beatles comparisons thrown at Dublin’s Las Vegas Basement but despite their derivative ways you’ve got applaud a near precise take on the art. The quartet released their debut ‘End of an Era’ in 2002 through Mundy’s Camcor Records and quickly disappeared without trace. The album is never less than a pleasant listen, perhaps low on original thought processes but sprinkled with memorable hooks and harmonies (and it never harmed Jellyfish did it?). The follow up has been a long time coming and given the dearth of quality Irish releases at the moment it is badly needed. ‘Mr. Lane’ drips with psychedelia, sweet coos, one-dimensional yet utterly appropriate hammond and a note perfect reconstruction of the sound of 1967. For those who don’t get it, that is you can't, you know, tune in it's gonna be all right. KD

Las Vegas Basement - Mr. Lane

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Year: 2002

For a man with a gift for simple yet spellbinding melodies Steve Goldberg has chosen a background cast with elaborate guises including Mink Shoals and the Duke. Thankfully the subterfuge ends with the nicks and the Arch Enemies let the music they were born to make flow instinctively. The glorious results are all too apparent on ‘Summer’s Ending’ which is the closing track from the bands sophomore eponymous album. The instrumentation is lush and swoonsome and augment vocals that on their own could have descended into twee noodling (not that I’d be complaining). ‘Summer’s Ending’ has the gorgeous technicolor of a Ryan McPhun (who curiously also has an elaborate army behind him called the Ruby Suns) track and proves conclusively that you should keep your enemies close but your arch enemies even closer. KD

Steve Goldberg And The Arch Enemies - Summer's Ending

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Buy Album: Steve Goldberg And The Arch Enemies
Year: 2007

It may be over 15 years since My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless' appeared but the thirst for new material from the Irish group has never been stronger. Kevin Shields has dropped in and out of hibernation in the intervening period with stints in Primal Scream and a well regarded turn on the 'Lost In Translation' soundtrack. Of course the rumours regarding a possible reunion have been about for years but of late the indications are that someday soon we'll be basking in My Bloody Valentine’s next record. It's going to have to be something magical but given Shields immaculate attention to detail and most of all his unquestioned genius it’s hard to expect anything less. So until we get the wires reporting it as gospel we'll have to make do with robust covers by bands like Japancakes to remind us of what could be in store. In fact Japancakes have gone the extra yard and reworked the whole ‘Loveless’ album. Even though MBV were overwhelmingly instrumental Belinda Butchers voice often stole the show so it's interesting how Japancakes have approached ‘Only Shallow’. There are no vocals in tow but Japancakes have still conjured the majesty inherent in ‘Only Shallow’ wherein several layers of seemingly disparate forces form one complete whole. KD

Japancakes - Only Shallow

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: Loveless
Year: 2007

Seen as it’s gone what better time to listen to James Yorkston’s ‘Summer Song’. A man for every season Yorkston remains curiously sidelined despite a talent of ridiculously gargantuan proportions. Perhaps the world is not ready for another troubadour but maybe next time it could be better served giving the blunt instruments a miss for something altogether more wholesome. ‘Summer Song’ is taken from the Fife mans’ third album and retains an ingenious hold on ones attention no matter how many times you’ve heard it play. The acoustics are certainly nimble but nothing can distract you from Yorkston’s delicate as a snowflake vocals. Of late Yorkston has been making a few visits to Ireland to record material with Galway’s own Adrian Crowley. His label have been busy themselves putting together 'Roaring The Gospel', a collection of Yorkston b-sides and rarities. KD

James Yorkston - Summer Song

Watch The Video To The Hills And The Heath

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Buy Album: The Year Of The Leopard
Year:

As crazy as it may seem it is quite possible that the Go! Team’s latest missive (‘Proof of Youth’) could make them household names. If this oddity were to become reality then bands as lavishly quirky as Akron/Family could surely bask in the slipstream. For those of us skirting on the edges of the music industry cocking a keen ear to anything that sounds remotely brand new and interesting then ‘Ed Is A Portal’ is like manna from heaven. Devilishly assembled by what sounds like an army of musicians (there are only 4 of them) this is a song to brighten up the dreariest of winter nights. Skirting through a mix bag of genres each and every one of its detours blooms into a rollicking good time rather that the expected creative cul-de-sac. Exhilarating, yet never in a way that could become tiresome. KD

Akron/Family - Ed Is A Portal

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Buy More Songs: Akron/Family
Year: 2007

She will probably forever be remembered for who her father is (Serge, her mother is Jane Birkin with whom he ‘starred’ with on ‘Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus’) or by her movie roles (The Science of Sleep, Jane Eyre) but that would be a shame because as well as all that Charlotte Gainsbourg is also a fine music artist. Her 2nd album appeared last year, a full 2 decades after her debut. ‘5:55’ has some pedigree, the music was directed by Air’s Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, the lyrics dreamed up by Neil Hannon and Jarvis Cocker and the whole thing was pulled together by Radiohead’s producer Nigel Godrich. ‘Songs That We Sing’ was the lead single and proved to be a lush vehicle for Gainsbourg’s elegant and smart vocals. It has huge scope and would clearly fill any movie scene were it to make its way onto celluloid. KD

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Songs That We Sing

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Buy Album: [UK] 5:55 [US] 5:55
Year: 2006

If one was into shoddy category’s for the forthcoming HWCH showcase you could easily lump this lot in with the interesting yet slightly headache inducing Twinkranes and the similarly tailored side project inspired Neosupervital. Channel One aren’t always noisy but are genetically programmed to create avalanches of electronically derived pulses. Thankfully somewhere along the way they always see fit to include a hook. The Channel One express has been on the go for 5 years now and they have built up a fair amount of glowing local press. Indications are that they are beginning to prick up some ears from further afield but it is slow progress. ‘These Roads’ is laden with influences from David Byrne to Krautrock and straight back home again to My Bloody Valentine. It’s a full on aural assault that starts out with fast tracked guitar parts and ends up in a quickly advancing flow of molten beats. KD

Channel One - These Roads

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Buy EP: Permissions
Year: 2007

I was surprised at how less than chaotic Brisbane felt when we dropped by there a couple of years ago. Despite being one of Australia’s bright lights it’s got a certain rural feel to it, something that the big casino or the man made beach can’t camouflage. Couldn’t pick out a discernible scene either so it comes as all the more surprising that a band as perfect as the Zebras should be born there. Jangle is their weapon of choice and boy are they able to nail a killer tune. Their songs are generally fitted with oodles of chiming chords and seaside buckets stuffed with playful harmonies. ‘You Look Ready’ is a case in point, a short yet extremely pleasant exercise in why indie pop will always have an adoring audience. As fizzy as pop has a right to be. KD

The Zebras - You Look Ready

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Buy Album: Worry A Lot
Year: 2006

Sound Team - Your Eyes Are Liars

It hasn’t been the best of years for San Francisco's Film School. They say bad things happen in three’s and so over a period of just 12 months the band has had to endure the departure of several members (including guitarist Nyles Lannon), Greg Bertens' mugging and also having their tour van stolen. Probably not the best run in for a 3rd album but indications are that ‘Hideout’ is set to be a cracker. ‘Lectric’ has already done the rounds on the blogs and is a fantastically retro shindig that recalls many of the highlights from last year’s self-titled LP. ‘Two Kinds’ is less pronounced but all the more precious for it. For once the instrumentation is held in check, an organ provides a Cure like atmosphere while Bertens vocals are allowed space to prove how sweet they really are. 'Hideout' was released last week and includes a contribution from Colm O'Ciosoig of My Bloody Valentine fame (in training for the mooted new album?). KD

Film School - Two Kinds

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Buy Album: [UK] Hideout [US] Hideout
Year: 2007

Last year I featured a mash-up by Sam Flanagan that pitched the Stone Roses ‘Waterfall’ with Lily Allen’s ‘LDN’. It was hugely impressive with Allen’s giddy vocals perfectly matched by the Roses shimmering chords. When they work mash-up’s can be exhilarating, all the more so if you like the songs being used. Parrka has worked wonders with these two tunes. You’ll more likely know the Jose Gonzalez version of ‘Heartbeats’, which stripped away the electronica but there is much to saviour in the original. Grizzly Bear’s ‘The Knife’ is an altogether softer anthem that benefits from getting roughed up a bit by the industrial beats. Initially the lumbering texture might confuse but careful attention reveals a near perfect symmetry between the opposing forces. KD

Grizzly Bear V The Knife - Heartbeats On A Knife (Parrka)

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More Info: Grizzly Bear & The Knife
Buy Album: [UK] Deep Cuts [US] Deep Cuts
Buy Album: [UK] Yellow House [US] Yellow House
Year: 2007

The best music tends to reveal itself over time. While immediacy is great for Friday nights it’s the ones that requires extra work that will stay with you all week. Chet’s 3rd album ‘Fight Against Darkness’ is certainly a piece of ear candy that won’t be absorbed on the first listen. What you’ll get straight away though is Ryan Beattie’s infectious whine and instrumentation that is 1 part experimentation 1 part melodious invention. The most noteworthy effort is an epic of 11 minutes known as ‘Ships Sink In The Fall’. Better to not start off here though as there is tracks like ‘By Night Into Paradise’ that’ll sweep off your feet without the need to lose half of the afternoon. This is as close as you’ll get to a happy song from Chet as evidenced by its giddily frantic momentum. The track is made all the more ebullient by its sweeping brass and Beattie’s incessant chirps and hollers. KD

Chet - By Night Into Paradise

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Buy Album: Fight Against Darkness
Year: 2007

The song as a 6 minute humalong is put through its reflective paces on the Harvey Girls ‘Lazlo, Buddy’. You can just imagine Melissa Rodenbeek, Hiram Lucke and cat breezing through a field of dandelions with this tune whistling through their brains until it finally manifests itself into a melodious drone from their lips. For its duration the world doesn’t change, in fact you could quite literally lose all attentive responses while it ambles right in front of your aural enclaves. That’s not to say it’s not nice, in fact were you to find it an appropriate host it could be quite wondrous. Imagine they dropped the whales and lightly rung bells and put this in its place, it could transform any rejuvenation suite into the coolest wash-the-charts-from-your-hair therapy known to indiedom. The Harvey Girls give most of their precious music away for free so there's an incentive for any would-be entrepreneurs. KD

The Harvey Girls - Lazlo, Buddy

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Buy EP: Declinate
Year:

Leanbh (pronounced lan-iv) is Gaeilge for child but it's also the name of another band to appear from county Meath in the last couple of years (also check out the more appropriately labelled (for a Meath band) Ham Sandwich). Leanbh are quite glorious for a couple of reasons. Firstly it affords us Irish the chance to boast about how fertile our local scene is (it isn't) and secondly much craic can be gleaned from the inevitably hopeless pronunciations from non Irelanders. Leanbh may be fresh out of their cots but they've hit the ground running with songs like ‘Carousel’ and with an appearance at HWCH on the way it’ll be interesting to hear how Odette Hopkins vocals fare when faced by Ciarán Duignan’s Rollerskate Skinnyesque chord outbursts. In this regard Leanbh should be both seen and heard. KD

Leanbh - Carousel

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Year: 2007

Ok, the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue but then who cares when you’ll probably be whistling their tunes for the rest of year. No doubt there's a deep and meaningful behind why this Swedish quintet decided to call themselves Hari and Aino but for the moment we’ll swap idle speculation for overdone superlatives. Yeah, ‘Second Song’ is that good, a touch of Blondie and acres of chiming chords will get you far in my book, in fact it’s already made its way onto the cobbled together follow up. Mostly unsigned but getting the royal Cloudberry Records single treatment this is just another reason to believe that at this very moment in time Stockholm, not NYC or London is the centre of the indie pop universe. In this regard Hari and Aino might just be its milky way. KD

Hari and Aino - Second Song

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Buy The Single: Your Heartache and Mine
Year: 2007

You probably already know that the Mock Turtles wrote ‘Can You Dig It?’ but did you know that their lead singer Martin Coogan is Alan Partridge’s brother? Even more startling is the revelation that their major hit was originally a b-side to ‘Lay Me Down’, a pseudo psychedelic effort with an altogether easy charm. The Mock Turtles were an enigma who were capable of bright rays of glorious pop as well as a fair percentage of pedestrian gambles on what a madchester anthem should sound like. But any group capable of the kaleidoscope of noise that is ‘And Then She Smiles’ deserves a mention in the annals of rock history. The song flings shards of Hammond and knits threads of jangle into a vocal turn that portrays all the excitement of what it feels like when a girl you fancy smiles back. KD

The Mock Turtles - And Then She Smiles

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Buy Album: [UK] Turtle Soup [US] Turtle Soup
Year: 1990