They’re back! And this time thankfully they’ve packed the codes to blow our socks off. If like me your socks had been steadfastly stuck to your feet after the last couple of limp efforts masquerading as TOD albums then ‘Isis Unveiled’ may be the antidote because it’s a winner. It’s taken from AYWKUBTTOD’s new album ‘The Century of Self’ and I for one am excited with the prospect of discovering another ‘Relative Ways’ or something even better. ‘Isis Unveiled’ is a colossus of energy, a rampaging torrent of guitars and verbal machine gunnery. And then it goes on a slow funeral descent towards complete darkness before emerging like a stallion rigged up to a tiny nuclear reactor. They’re back and I for one am completely delirious. KD

And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Isis Unveiled

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Year: 2009

Boise is home to Built To Spill and most of the other bands from that neck of the woods tend play catch up. It easy to see why because Built To Spill really are a classic sort of band, banging out quite brilliant albums to a measurable yet understocked audience. To assess their worth one only has to acknowledge the brilliance of this b-side from their ‘Carry The Zero’ import single. The slacker drift supplied by Doug Martsch’s low slung drawl is hypnotic as are the slide/jangling guitars which make for a perfectly realised instrumental fade out. A million thanks for the heads up to my only friend with a beard who also writes and plays music for the best indie pop band from Idaho. KD

Built To Spill - Now and Then

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Built To Spill
Year: 1999

Last time we looked these 2 Chicago DJ’s were making a great fist of mashing Sigur Ros and Twista into a compromising position. It worked and almost 3 years on the pair are creating their own sounds from scratch (!) via their forthcoming LP ‘Big Bills’. This is the title track or rather the boys own power house remix of it. And what a super-styler it is too, a potentially gynormous dancefloor hit in the making with an intelligence to appeal to the less nocturnal as well (the vocals of Caroline Polachek are particulary alluring). Apparently MTV have taken the video to heart which means our 2 slims could soon be giving guided tours of their cribs to an adoring public. Hardly overnight stars then but ones we've got great time for. KD

Flosstradamus - Big Bills

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Flosstradamus
Year: 2009

A new Camera Obscura record is something to celebrate, so pop open the sparkling wine because ‘My Maudlin Career’ is on the way in April. And to heighten the anticipation the band are giving the title track away for free. It’s no Lloyd (that'll be first single 'French Navy') but it’s still a pretty little thing with the lilting instrumentation sounding almost as enticing as Tracyanne Campbell’s tender vocals. The band recently signed to 4AD and are down to play SXSW later this Spring so let’s hope 2009 is the year that finally catapults their gorgeous indie pop nuggets skywards. KD

Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

Watch The Video To Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Camera Obscura
Year: 2009

I probably go on a bit about the music we are reissuing on our sister label Indiecater so may I apologise for the rampant effusiveness that follows. I am literally jumping up and down with excitement with the reissue of one of my favourite records ever 'The Language of Everyday Life' from Dublin's In Motion. Not sure exactly how I found this record back in 1994 (there was only one thousand copies released, both of mine are stored in a fireproof cabinet) but I'd just moved to the metropolis at the time and was pretty much glassy eyed with how exciting the place was. No Disco were mad about the band with 'Hollow Blow' appearing on pretty much every show and despite its hazy visuals nothing could distract from the heart stopping music. Over the years I've returned to the album and each time I find a new centrepiece (at the moment it's 'Five and Twenty Thousand Miles') but there's no denying the power and immediacy of 'Hollow Blow'. The 'Language of Everyday Life' is selling for 4 euro on indiecater and courtesy of the band we've also bundled in 2 wonderful non album tracks as part of the package. Those of a certain stock will read Liam Ryan's illuminating walk through a very exciting time on the Dublin music scene with tears in their eyes. KD

In Motion - Hollow Blow

Watch The Video For Hollow Blow (a little bit)

More Info: In Motion
Buy Songs: In Motion
Year: 1994/2009

I can’t help thinking that this sounds like October era U2. And that’s a compliment believe me especially when ‘Albatross’ starts to go all And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead about half way through. This is a strange and welcome turn for the San Francisco band who’ve already spoilt us on their debut the ‘Lacuna’ EP (the lead song, 'We've Been Waiting For You', appeared on our first compilation). ‘Albatross’ is an absolute epic, mostly instrumental and full of interesting ideas that vie for you attention. Like the bumbling bass, ragged beats or the searing riffs that are only partially blunted by the distant celestial vocals. This is remarkable stuff and it can be found on the split ‘Wedding’ EP Empty Rooms have done with another SF band they have close ties with called Finest Dearest. KD

Empty Rooms - Albatross

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Empty Rooms/Finest Dearest
Year: 2009

This will suck you in on the very first listen and with good reason given the day today. God knows how loveable it will be after the tenth one but for now I as happy as a june bride. Miniature Tigers are a relatively new proposition, springing from the concrete deserts of Arizona. Charlie Brand writes the tunes that have a spring in their step and a glint in their eye. ‘Cannibal Queen’ is the proof, spinning deliciously on its own honeyed axis. There are no unexpected turns but when a chorus like this comes along you’ve just got to sit back and bask in its slipstream. It’s taken from Miniature Tigers debut ‘Tell It To The Volcano’ which is out now on Modern Art Records. KD

Miniature Tigers - Cannibal Queen

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Miniature Tigers
Year: 2008

You must have heard of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, that twisted psychedelic pop group that world cruelly continues to shun? Well here is one of their former guitarists and his band the Lovetones. The Lovetones have been about since the early noughties and ‘Journeyman’ is the lead single from their 4th album ‘Dimensions’. It’s a jangling delight with chords set to Byrdsian like templates (with a retro heel turned in the direction of the La’s). Matthew J Tow’s vocals are no slouches either providing an able foil for the chime filled instrumentation. This is big, bold and only slightly obvious which means it should be consumed wherever good music is appreciated. KD

The Lovetones - Journeyman

Watch The Video Everybody Hides Away

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Lovetones
Year: 2009

Burning Hearts could soon be breaking them such is the effervescence of their recordings. Made up of fragments from 2 other acts the Finnish duo have made an uncomplicated indie pop gem in ‘Aloa Sleeping’, their debut album. ‘Iris’ just bursts with masterful indie pop nuances and is typical of the delights strewn across the album. If you’d like in on the action we’ve got 3 signed copies of ‘Aloa Sleeping’ up for grabs, courtesy of the swoonsome Shelflife Records, so get in touch if you’d like one.

Update: Congrats Todd, Jakob and Rich, CD's on the way!

KD

Burning Hearts - Iris

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Burning Hearts
Year: 2009

Fabrizio Moretti is the drummer with the Strokes and he is at this very moment in time their most gifted songwriter. The gift of course is not being pursued via his more illustrious pastime but elsewhere on a moonlight shift entitled Little Joy. Little Joy came about after a chance encounter in Lisbon and the end game was a self-titled debut that appeared at the tailend of last year. It’s a good story and the music is just as wide-eyed and refreshing, tropical even in ‘No One's Better Sake’ case (oh no it’s reggae, oh no it isn’t!). Rodrigo Amarante owns the vocal, velvet or what? If ever there was a band selling itself short in the name stakes it is this one. KD

Little Joy - No One's Better Sake

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More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Little Joy
Year: 2008

‘Everything is Green’ is about as pastoral and soothing as a song can get. It comes from Brooklyn outfit the Essex Green who’ve done the rounds on several labels of note (Elephant 6, Merge and Kindercore). It’s easy to see the attraction as the groups airy harmonies really are a thing of beauty. This song was the title track from their 1999 debut and is marked by the beautiful soft rolling vocals that recall the Mamas and the Papas. Given the classic nature of their sound it seems a bit bewildering that the band haven’t infiltrated the masses. KD

The Essex Green - Everything Is Green

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Essex Green
Year: 1999

What about this lolloping epic to get you out of bed on a Monday morning? It comes courtesy of Fridge and given the unseasonable weather it seems all the more appropriate that their scattershot approach should be now spiking our ears. Fridge are more or less dormant having let their side projects take precedent (Kieran Hebden of Fourtet being the most famous of their alumni). ‘Astrozero’ is one of 18 tracks taken from the 1998 retrospective ‘Sevens and Twelves’ that gathered the bands early singles together and now it is more or less been given the re-release treatment courtesy of Temporary Residence. Despite the early diametric forces ‘Astrozero’ does eventually pull all the strands together into a focused and memorable post rock assembly. KD

Fridge - Astrozero

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Fridge
Year: 1998

This has that MGMT hook, you know the one where the song might fall on its arse were it not for that memorable synth line. The Toronto duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass tend to shift from one minor skirmish to the next and in the process swell their army of devotees. Said army tends to be of the rabidly youthful and skin obsessed kind yet it’s easy to see the attraction when the goodies shimmy as fluidly as on ‘Vanished’. Funny that because their parents probably have one ear trained on the goings on such is its peculiarly retro vibe. A definite case of history repeating but this time with much cooler haircuts. KD

Crystal Castles - Vanished

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Crystal Castles
Year: 2008

Desolation Wilderness is a destination for backpackers to go and find themselves. In many ways given the bare yet enthralling noise of this Olympia band the region could now have its own branded soundtrack. For Desolation Wilderness don’t get caught up in padding out their music and in many ways theirs is a successful stateside take on the Clientele (with several parts Luna). This means that there are abundant languid melodies and hooks strewn around their album of late last year ‘White Strobe Lighting’. ‘Come Over In Your Silver Car’ may be as tranquil and lonely as the dawn but you can’t beat the reassurance that the long cold night is about to end. KD

Desolation Wilderness - Come Over In Your Silver Car

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Desolation Wilderness
Year: 2008

Given that one of our favourite blogs comes from Mexico it is probably a bit remiss of us not to not feature more bands from that neck of the woods. Well, Hello Seahorse! are here to redress that particular anomaly. And what better way to introduce them than with this freight train of a song. If you’ve already claimed School of Seven Bells as your own well here is a dishy companion piece. It’s taken from the bands ‘Hoy A Las Ocho’ album of last year which has some lovely contrasting styles going on. I’d put this in the electronica arena yet Hello Seahorse! are equally adept at pulling some lovely indiepop faces. Good to see they haven’t sacrificed their native tongue and in ‘Universo 2’ the effect gives the piece an even greater ethereal quality. KD

Hello Seahorse! - Universo 2

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Hello Seahorse!
Year: 2008

I was a little surprised to read about the arrival of a new monthly club in the Academy called Freaky Dancin’ based around the sounds of the Madchester scene. The club will run on the last Friday of every month and the launch will have none other than Tom Hingley of the Inspiral Carpets spinning the baggy anthems. Much as I adore that scene I just can’t see it sustaining a regular club. I mean how many times can you listen to ‘Kinky Afro’ or ‘Waterfall’ before the law of diminishing returns kicks in. I guess Whelan’s have survived on that particular diet for nearly 2 decades now and if the folks at Freaky Dancin’ could pull out some of the lost classics like this one from the Wendys they might actually be onto something. I may even dust off a pair of Joe Bloggs for the occasion. KD

The Wendys - Pulling My Fingers Off

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Gobbledygook [US] Gobbledygook
Year: 1991

Fanfarlo may be from London but met while hiding in a forest during a wintry outburst. Every time we look they appear to be making the sort of music that quickly has us swooning. ‘I’m A Pilot’ continues their impressive progression even if it sounds (initially at least) like a retread through the same snow (slightly more crystallised) that Sigur Ros used circa Glósóli. This time the Fanfarlo sound is augmented by strings so as well as boasting the best choruses in indiedom they now have the grandeur to impress your normally less than impressed friends. All told it’s a super precursor to the bands upcoming debut album ‘Reservoir’ which will be available from their website in the next few weeks. Now they've got the pilot watch them skyrocket. KD

Fanfarlo - I'm A Pilot

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Fanfarlo
Year: 2009

Back in mid 1990’s I happened across an electronic compilation called the Trans Siberian Express, which I liked a great deal. It was made up of mostly unknown twiddlers, although on mature recollection I think Aphex Twin was in there somewhere. If such compilations were still doing the rounds (they could be I suppose, I haven’t checked) these 2 tunes would be absolute bankers. There is giddiness at work that I just adore. In truth nothing too substantial happens but they play like those non-single tracks in Orbital’s mid-career albums used to, background music to lighten the load of the daily slog. Throcke is Brooklyn based Chris Carson who is giving his album (the fabulously titled) ‘Sometimes Not Unpointful’ away for free. It is an auspicious introduction and I for one can’t wait for Throcke’s next move. KD

Throcke - Matriculate Yo

Throcke - Yes, Inform

More Info: Official & Myspace
Get Songs: Throcke
Year: 2008

It had to happen sometime. Our indiecater label has been on the go for over 6 months but we’ve yet to put out something that we could truly call our own. Well, we’ve set the record (!) straight with the release of the Very Most’s ‘Spring’ EP. We can’t think of a better band with which to announce ourselves as a purveyor of fresh new music. We’ve been fans of the Idaho band ever since we clasped ears on the sweet melodies that flowed from their sophomore ‘Congratulations Forever’. Getting to work with them was initially a grand aspiration but as indiecater started to sprout roots it slowly became a reality. The ‘Spring’ EP is part 1 of a 4 part series entitled ‘A Year With The Very Most’. Each seasonally adjusted digital release will have a quartet of melodious gems and will retail for a pocket friendly €2.50. We’re even giving a track away for free. And what a honeycombed piece of audio ‘April Is The Kindest Month’ is. So even though the recession might be bringing us all back down to earth the Very Most will be endeavouring to keep our heads firmly positioned in the silver lined clouds. Special thanks to Jedrzej for his photos which adorn the EP's artwork. KD

The Very Most - April Is The Kindest Month

More Info: Indiecater & The Very Most
Buy Songs: The Very Most
Year: 2009

Cute is what they aim for and on ‘The Hollow’ they pretty much succeed. Self-released by Charlie Crimando and Stephen Kemsley Aviary Ghost’s debut album was conceived in a small cold place over a number of years. Despite the sub zeroness the duo still produced ET’s bleeting heart as audio. ‘The Hollow’ is premium advert material because it is blessed with a sincere outlook, a dual paced progression and alarmingly good production values. At the very least it should form one of the thousand sonic microbes that go to make up the body of your music collection. If you look in the right places you can even scoop their album 'Memory Is A Hallway' for free but where's the fun in that? KD

Aviary Ghost - The Hollow

Watch The Video For The Brain Is A House

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Aviary Ghost
Year: 2008