The fact that I’m probably a generation older than your average music blogger means I have the edge when it comes to looking back on historical musical vehicles. Not sure if it helps or hinders though when I’m trying to establish whether a new act is any cop but one listen to the Permanent Smilers and I’d figured they’d be worth further inspection. Led by Richard Lemongrower (he has his own record label called Citrus Sounds you know) this is an act that pulls from the constituencies of a different time. The fact that the Permanent Smilers were there in the first place makes it all the more authentic. ‘Temporary’ has an early nineties feel that recalls the Wedding Present, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin and the Wonderstuff (check the grunge opening too). Nostalgia has an audience you see, even if that audience is now more preoccupied with nappies and mortgage rates than what is streaming piping hot from their stereos. If you’re still plugged in though the Permanent Smilers new album ‘Jazz Liberties’ is all the electricity you’ll ever need. KD

The Permanent Smilers - Temporary

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Permanent Smilers
Year: 2008

Cowbells will probably never go out of fashion once there are cows or at the very least a NYC band called Professor Murder stalking the earth. The band have a penchant for liberally lining their tunes with the instrument and it adds the requisite madness to what is already a ramshackle jamboree of sound. Must sound particularly satisfying within the sweaty environs of a tight venue when the punters are in the mood for shaking the trials of a working week from their hair. ‘The Mountain’ is a track from their 2006 release ‘Professor Murder Rides The Subway’ and is an eerie approximation of what Clinic and the Gossip would sound like after a couple of minutes in a high powered blender. This a jaunty and bone shaking piece of music that is out of step with current trends and all the better for it. KD

Professor Murder - The Mountain

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Professor Murder
Year: 2006

I wrote this in 2002 when And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead’s peerless ‘Source Tags & Codes’ album came out. ‘The post-rock encore is as frightening as it is revolutionary. 'Relative Ways' beams like a guiding light through a dense blanket of fog. As straightforward as a maze it bolts like a jackrabbit from a sealed box. The guitars have an elegant trippy edge, the rhythm takes the speed bumps with ease and the soft centre makes your hiccup with delight when Jason Reece swoons 'It's o.k. I'm a saint, I forgave your mistakes'. Not only is it one of songs of 2002 but it gives ‘Source Tags & Codes’ the top hat and tails it needs to be 100% suitable. Hopelessly wonderful and undeniably essential.’ I realise now I shouldn’t have held back (!), this song is one of the most memorable tunes of the decade. In fact it is thoroughly devastating, pity they’ve never recovered. KD

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Relative Ways

Watch The Video Another Morning Stoner

More Info: Unofficial & Myspace
Buy Songs: And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
Year: 2002

You may have heard of Allegories, an electronic duo who weave great sonic patterns and very confusing home pages. Well, now the Ontario pair of Adam Bentley and Jordan Mitchell have returned to their first creative outlet known as the Rest where they are joined by a group of their mates. The Rest’s second album ‘Everyone All At Once’ was recorded a la Bon Iver in sweet isolation, far away from concrete and rude shop assistants. The joyous results can be heard on primer ‘Walk On Water’, an assault on the senses that drifts from deep contemplation to rampaging blasts of sonic experimentalism. Sounds like a nightmare doesn’t it but in the hands of the Rest there are the sweetest of fruit hanging from the giant oak of noise. Sit patiently beneath its shadow and let it reveal itself slowly. ‘Everyone All At Once’ will be released through Auteur Recordings very soon. KD

The Rest - Walk On Water

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Rest
Year: 2008

Perhaps if the Killers were still making the type of tunes that so infected ‘Hot Fuss’ they’d be sounding like ‘Death’. ‘Death’ much like its namesake has an air of inevitability about it, namely its big and bold and spends its early passages building to what you know will be a hands in the air euphoric chorus. And when it finally arrives the freshly minted London trio White Lies don’t hold back. They were previously called Fear of Flying but when that crashed to earth last year Harry McVeigh, Charles Cave and Jack Brown reconstituted as White Lies. They’ve since signed to a biggie and this demo version will probably be made even more illuminating when it’s released as part of the bands debut album later this year. The potential is there for all to see, and no doubt we'll be hearing a lot more from them very soon. In fact you can scoop their first single 'Unfinished Business' for free if you sign up to their mailing list over at their place. KD

White Lies - Death

Watch The Video To Unfinished Business

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: White Lies
Year: 2008

Perhaps I should have kept this for the upcoming sportathon but I’ve just spent a near perfect day in the sun listening to Belle & Sebastian’s back catalogue. I’d forgotten how good they were, I somehow lost them an album or 2 back and that had tainted impressions. But, there is no denying that a hazy lazy day spent in the company of friends with these lavishly gifted Glaswegians playing in the background is one of life’s sweet pleasures. 1996’s ‘If you’re Feeling Sinister’ is far and away my favourite album and the opening salvo of ‘Stars of Track and Field’ and ‘Seeing Other People’ my favourite sequence. You’ve probably guessed by now that I’m not one for pouring over lyrics but I make an exception for Belle & Sebastian, their pithy little inlay notes alone are worth their weight in gold. With a back catalogue that is rich and varied, cerebral and so injected with winning melody it’s a wonder other bands even bother trying to keep up. KD

Belle & Sebastian - Stars of Track and Field

Watch The Video To A Century of Fakers

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: If You're Feeling Sinister
Year: 1996

Like an amalgam of And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead (stop with all that Trail of Dead text like revisionism) and little known (but much loved, in my heart at least) Derby band Cable ‘The Pacific Has No Memory’ is the first track from Super Tennis that I have adopted. There will be more as this North London band has just fallen together into the twisty and irregular shapes I always crave. Wimbledon may be over but the threesome take no greater delight in donning the white gear and fluffy headbands. Tom McEnroe, Bob Becker and Kev Perry (hee hee) have released 2 free-to-download (FOD in other words, hey that might catch on!) EP’s so far and I really like what I hear. The yelps might be off putting for some but when a bag of jangle roves alongside the combination becomes irresistible. ‘The Pacific Has No Memory’ floats about the place for over 7 minutes, swerving, swooping but generally going in no particular direction whatsoever. It’s ace (!) in other words. At the end of it you might be asking what are they on but then that wasn’t chalk dust you saw in their rehearsal space. Above all though they were just Bjorn to do this. KD

Super Tennis - The Pacific Has No Memory

Super Tennis - Super Tennis Theme Song

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Super Tennis
Year: 2008

We don't talk about enough fine Irish acts on this blog for good reason; there just aren't an awful lot of them around. When something worthwhile does come along we tend to break open the champagne and jump up and down while chanting 'there's more to this country than just U2'. Tis' a rare enough scene to be honest but a certain Dublin band named Angel Pier have been on my radar for a while now and with their second EP 'Sacrifice' about to be released here's your chance to get in on the action. 3 lucky readers will have a smashing Angel Pier prize (Darragh from the band expressly allowed me use the word 'smashing' as he and I both agreed it is much underutilized in modern society) winging its way to them and all you got to do to be in with a chance of winning is to send an email with your name. Each of the winners will receive both Angel Pier EP's, an Angel Pier t-shirt, badge and 2 slots on the guestlist for their upcoming Whelan's gig on Saturday the 9th of August. If that wasn't enough you'll also become the owner of a freshly minted mp3hugger t-shirt made from the finest Connemara fabrics. If all that doesn't get you emailing then take a peek at this beauty called ‘Emily’ from the 'Sacrifice' EP and before you know it you'll be clogging up the information superhighway with your hot emerald tips.

Update: Congrats to Peter, Paul and John! (Pity Bjorn didn't win, drat) KD

Angel Pier - Emily

Watch The Video To Sprites

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Angel & Pier
Year: 2008

Boasting a crew of 7 Midi & The Modern Dance are a Connecticut collective I’ve had my ear on for a while now. I’ve featured their talented mates the Seascape a while back and it’s good to see that both are on an upward trajectory. Midi’s myspace is stocked high with top quality downloads and I’ve yet to get through them all. In fact they now have an self-titled EP up for grabs which I will be checking out pronto. At this moment in time ‘Baby, Don’t Deprave Me’ is certainly the one that sticks out because of Omeed Goodarzi’s part fragile/part brazen vocal turn and the intricate instrumentation. It all adds up to a near epic listen, the baby steps of a group that have the potential to go the whole way. KD

Midi & the Modern Dance - Baby, Don't Deprave Me

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Midi & the Modern Dance
Year: 2008

This is not really post-rock although it could quite easily be shelved in that particular genre. For me ‘James Trent’ comes from further back before Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky took the rock instrumental and made it into an artform. ‘James Trent’ could have come with or without an ethereal female vocal but it chose the former, its beauty makes it impossible to be critical of this decision. Matt Gagin is Immovable Objects only constant, he plugs in the guitars and weaves his magic aura over the base materials until a slipstream of luscious dreamgaze bursts forth. And there are 9 other tracks of similar distraction to be found on his inspirational debut ‘hoping it stays just this broken’. His music remains relatively undiscovered lying in wait to sweep you off your feet. KD

Immovable Objects - James Trent

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Immovable Objects
Year: 2007

It may sound like a Father Ted catchphrase but My Brother Woody’s debut ‘It's a Long Way From That Sort of Thing You Were Raised’ draws from an altogether different inspiration. Attempting to top the west coast harmonies of the Beach Boys is a dangerous preoccupation but in the hands of Pugwash’s Thomas Walsh and My Brother Woody’s Mike Cleare the results are almost always satisfying. ‘Wish I Was A DJ’ had been knocking around my music player for a few years so I was really looking forward to hearing how a My Brother Woody long player would sound. I wasn’t disappointed as the album contains a clutch of low-slung beauties to watch the sun go down. The frothy swish of ‘When Summer Comes Around’ is probably my favourite but it was a close run thing with both ‘Another Wave of Harmony’ and ‘Getting Old Goes With Getting Fat’ hauling a trawler’s worth of sweet hooks. It all points to a great future, if My Brother Woody can build on his undoubted potential there should be plenty of thrills in store. KD

My Brother Woody - When Summer Comes Around

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: My Brother Woody
Year: 2007

This is the sound of twisted computer wires on fire, a dying modem. Hence the joy is two-fold, firstly the computer is probably broken and there’ll be no work done today and secondly I kinda dig noises that should grate but somehow conspire to be joyful. So if it’s pretty indie patterns you are after then you’d better not press play or save target as, your ears will thank you for it. Not sure I could stand an album’s worth of this (even if ‘Ghost Town’ is garnering adulating reviews) but much like I really enjoy Dan Deacon in small doses this is really clicking with me at the moment. For most of the time Dan Friel is leadman with guitar noise terrorists Parts & Labor but on his own he seems determined to lift the lid on preconceptions about how recorded music should sound. This is experimental at its most aggressive; cheerfully it’s also a challenge work taking. Friel is signed to Important Records for a reason you know. KD

Dan Friel - Ghost Town Pt. 1

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Dan Friel
Year: 2008

First we had the Fifa Records label, then along came Air France the band, what next - Vatican the venue? Joel Karlsson and Henrik Markstedt are from Gothenburg, are signed to Sincerely Yours and are the fuel that propels Air France. ‘Collapsing At Your Doorstep’ is probably too obtuse to become a dancefloor hit but my how its grooves make swivelling torso movements a distinct possibility. Imagine St. Etienne circa ‘So Tough’, especially those radical dance infested numbers towards the end of the album, and you get where Air France are headed. ‘Collapsing At Your Doorstep’ takes a few spins to seep in but its raw potential should ensure it is decorating your Saturday night stereo for the remaining days of summer. KD

Air France - Collapsing At Your Doorstep

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Air France
Year: 2008

Hull was recently voted the worst city to live in the U.K. but hey who cares when the Premiership is coming to your doorstep in a matter of weeks. I almost went to University there actually, lucky escape you might say but I prefer to look on what might have been when I hear bands like Salako announcing that Hull is their homestead (under a picturesque electricity pylon). I spent part of the late nineties (3 weeks of it to be precise) trying to convince anyone who would listen that this band were the future. I even dragged a couple of them along to a Salako gig in Whelans. It was a disaster, Salako's 60’s infected grooves went down like a lead balloon as did the small army of ears that once gave a smidgeon of credence to my eager predictions. That said I do still hold 1999’s ‘Musicality’ close to my heart, as much for this tune (and this one) as anything else. Oh, it may end being a church going clap-a-along (the choir was actually made up of 200 people) but I like the way it starts off somewhere and then branches off elsewhere. Gone but not forgotten these bumblebee loving Northerners. KD

Salako - Look Left

More Info: last.fm
Buy Songs: Salako
Year: 1999

Mercury Rev were our first band. With ‘Deserter Song’s’ coming out soon after we met and the band seemingly in love with playing Dublin they became the perfect soundtrack for our courtship. Up to that point I had been a fan of their ‘Boces’ album (the cover was a laugh), especially that woozy classic ‘Bronx Cheer’ with its ear-splitting molten chords and those chaotic vocals. Fast-forward to the next century and my interest began to wane as ‘All Is Dream’ and ‘The Secret Migration’ sounded as if the well was beginning to run dry. Really shouldn’t have worried though, as the Rev’s capacity to reinvent itself is alive and thriving judging by the intoxicating sound of ‘Senses On Fire’, which will be taken from one of 2 new albums on the way in September (released quite sweetly on the 10th anniversary of ‘Deserter Song’s’). ‘Snowflake Midnight’ is the one you must pay for and ‘Strange Attractor’ is the one you can download for free. An extensive tour will follow which includes 4 Irish dates. Looks like this particular love affair is back on and we’ll be there holding hands. KD

Mercury Rev - Senses On Fire

The Magic Has Returned To The Tour Bus


Watch The Video To Opus 40

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Mercury Rev
Year: 2008

They come from Leeds, not some sun bleached stretch of nowheresville as you might expect from a name like that. I fell for their unpretentious bio straight away and the music backs up their uncomplicated approach. You will neither be bowled over by the arch creativity or spend endless hours unscrambling their ambiguous lyrics. Instead they’ll butter you up with their caressing melodies, soft brass interjections and the general atmosphere of quiet contemplation. Sounds good doesn't it? And if your name happens to be Rosie Taylor the collective will throw a free gig in your honour at your choice of location. Pretty sure they’ll play lots of tracks from their brand new album ‘This City Draws Maps’ too, right better be off, lots of important things to do. KD

The Rosie Taylor Project - Maps For Lost Lovers

Watch The Video To Black and White Films

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Rosie Taylor Project
Year: 2008

My Morning Jacket are a bit of an anomaly for me, I really like them but cannot pull any of their tunes out of the hat and say it deserves a place on whatever mixtape I am putting together at any one time. ‘Can You See the Hard Helmet On My Head’ could be about to change all that though because it distils all the vital functions that make them so attractive. Enough has been said about the similarity in Jim James vocals to you know who but it hardly detracts when such distinctive utterances are twinned with a glorious ramshackle in the background. The tune is taken from 2002’s ‘Chocolate & Ice’ EP, the last recording they did before their breakthrough classic ‘It Still Moves’. Sorry this is cut short in its prime but you get the jist. KD

My Morning Jacket - Can You See the Hard Helmet On My Head

Watch The Video To One Big Holiday

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: My Morning Jacket
Year: 2002

Isn’t this fabulously simple yet utterly clever? Don’t they sound polished while on the verge of falling apart? Thought this was the noughties so why does this sound like the nineties? If black magic is evil what does that make the white version? Dat Rosa Mel Apibus, so what do the Birds have? Wonder what old Egypt sounded like? How does Analog cope with something so obviously steeped in stereo? Have you got your billotte’s for the Mira show? Is this the future? Yes. KD

White Magic - Winds

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: White Magic
Year: 2007

Of all the bands I’ve come across over the last few years perhaps the most impenetrable has been the unpronounceable (you’d think) Xiu Xiu. Despite the scrape and tear and general industrial sequences I am unable to totally distance myself and as time goes by songs like ‘Muppet Face’ do become quite adhesive. And that’s before you even go near the task of unscrambling the themes present in Jamie Stewart’s lyrics. But anyone who labels one of their tunes ‘Bog People’ and commercially releases it has my seal of approval. Makes you wonder why Bord Na Móna haven’t been in touch doesn’t it? ‘Muppet Face’ is taken from 2005’s ‘La Forêt’ and despite some eardrum perforating moments it tends to focus on being a pop song for the most part. You may love it, you may loathe it but you certainly won’t forget it. KD

Xiu Xiu - Muppet Face

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Xiu Xiu
Year: 2005

Linköping may sound like the coolest networking site yet to be invented but it is also the hometown of Marching Band’s Jacob Lind and Erik Sunbring. Sweden has a peculiar knack of unearthing precious indie pop outfits (c’mon Canada, get out of hibernation) and Marching Band are rapidly rising to the top of the pile. The main reason being their stunning new album ‘Spark Large’ which I was initially remiss in ignoring but was I was thankfully woken from my slumber by another blogger whose judgment I trust. The last Swedish release to give me this much pleasure was from Loney, Dear (that line should get me some interesting search engine traffic). ‘Spark Large’ is a boisterous homemade effort with the collective wit and imagination of a hundred indie bands. ‘Travel In Time’ is an absolute knockout, a song swollen with glee and including a chorus so nutritious and life affirming you’ll hardly have to water the plants for a week afterwards. Sunbring, even in an Irish summer. KD

Marching Band - Travel In Time

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Marching Band
Year: 2008