You know it’s quite likely you’ve heard Clinic on the TV, it seems they have a knack for getting the marketing men to come with a begging bowl to their door (Levi’s, Heineken). It’s easy to see why because Clinic conjure aural backdrops that are breathtakingly unique. Central to their cause are heavy-duty organs that run riot throughout their albums. Combine this with the unfettered abandonment of some surging guitars and what you get is a melting pot to catch the attention of even the most casual of ears. ‘Distortions’ is a rare example of the Scousers concentrating on the melody even if the main thrust of the song comes from a pre-programmed drum machine and a lingering synth. The lyrics are uniformly dark (‘You never now how often, I’ve pictured you in coffins, My baby in a coffin. But I love it when you blink your eyes’…come back Guy Garvey, all is forgiven) yet this is essentially a tale of love. The coup de grace arrives when the machines get excited, scuttling about like insects that have been freshly released from a jar. This is so clever you could wet your hair and it’d wash it for you. KD

Clinic - Distortions

Album: Internal Wrangler
Year: 2000
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Aside from the odd slice of craft (check out the nimble guitar turns on ‘Oh No, Won’t Do’) Cud never really matured into enough of a prospect to produce a classic album. That said they did leave us with several pieces of sonic cotton wool. ‘Once Again’ is one such; supplying several minutes of tenderness through the gentlest of instrumentations and a vocal that is as effective as a head massage. The intricate playing is transparent enough to pick out the finger movements during the chord changes lending an added intimacy to the recording. Aside from the odd charged riff it’s the acoustics that drive the tune, a brief burst of strings is the only thing that raises the pulse of this even-tempered piece. Imagine a clear frosty morning where the birds have been replaced by a group of hushed players and you’ll get the drift. KD

Cud - Once Again

Album: Asquarius
Year: 1992
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You won’t be playing this at your grandfathers 90th birthday party yet ‘Early Whitney’s grumpy stance might sit well with him the next day as he suffers his over indulgence. Yoni Wolf runs the Why? show, a one man creative force that has fleshed into a full band in recent times. ‘Early Whitney’ sways back and forth with little or no consequence but there’s drama in spades. The twinkling guitars sound as if they are half cut, almost demo like but that’s what makes the descent into polished chaos all the more satisfying. ‘Early Whitney’ takes a cynical view of the world (‘that ain't no god it's just a burning bush’), throwing observed vignettes at a world/girlfriend not prepared to listen. It all culminates in a buffet of noise as the singers’ exasperation manifests itself through bashed drums, snares masquerading as rattlesnakes and a southern drawl that borders on invective. Turn up your hearing aid and let the younger ones have a moan for a change. KD

Why? - Early Whitney

Album: Early Whitney EP
Year: 2003
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Souless self-promotion doesn’t seem to be in Wheat’s handbook; in fact if ever there was a band that let the music talking this would be it. They now have 3 albums behind them and each release sees them getting progressively more ambitious. ‘Be Brave’ comes from the middle album ‘Hope & Adams’ and beautifully exhibits Wheat’s intentions. The opening straddles a fine line between low-key feedback and rising intensity until inevitably it engineers a thundering montage of lashing drums and lacy guitars. At intervals Scott Levesque voice breaks the door down delivering a single refrain only ‘standing on high facing love try what are you going to do’. Together he and his band portray the chaotic and often awkward situations experienced on the way to happiness. With Dave Fridman (Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips) on production was it ever gonna be any other way? KD

Wheat - Be Brave

Album: Hope & Adams
Year: 1999
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No, not a cover from the small balding buster’s back catalogue, this is something altogether more interesting. This and its ilk are the reason why Scandinavia is becoming Europe’s most prestigious hub for fresh talent. The Concretes create ostensibly happy music and ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ is no exception. The song is driven by the bands flighty horns that scuttle about with flavoursome abandon. Victoria Bergsman takes a trip to Motown, the distorted guitar chugs are a box of energetic puppies and the korg is given a workout worthy of Robby Krieger. Not a bad way to spend less than 2 minutes then. Hey, it that a unicorn outside the door? Yeah there’s definitely something in the air tonight. KD

The Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love

Album: The Concretes
Year: 2004
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Joy Zipper can take depressing subjects but all it takes is a simple spin from their collective sun drenched harmonies to mask the potential unpleasantness. In fact, the guise is so good that their music is best enjoyed on a balcony in the Balearics at sunset. ‘Dosed & Become Invisible’ apes My Bloody Valentine in their more reflective moments and its impact is no less dramatic. It opens eerily with a mock quartet practising before the curtain falls, the twist occurs when Vincent Cafiso appears like Jason Spaceman on a flotilla of hushed aural aroma’s. There are guitars, strings, flutes and a pinch of bass yet the blend is so fine it is difficult to pick out where each makes its contribution. But it’s Cafiso stoned delivery that steals the show, appearing like a hot current of air on a balmy evening it is totally unassuming yet intensely appealing. As the brass sinks in and out of the mix you can’t help feel that some day there will no such thing as work or Alzheimer’s. KD

Joy Zipper - Dosed & Become Invisible

Album: American Whip
Year: 2003
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It’s near impossible to describe Sigur Ros without resorting to all things Polar or Heavenly but let’s give it a go. For a decade now the Icelandic band have cut a deep impression, standing apart from their peers in the sheer scale of their music. The words they expel are often indecipherable but it’s the atmospherics that are created from all manner of quirky instrumentation that creates the spellbinding magic. ‘Olsen Olsen’ is taken from their sophomore album ‘Agaetis Byrjun’ that so cast their legend. The bulbous bass is initially what catches the attention but it is soon surpassed by the ghostly singing that appears out of nowhere from a distant snow-capped mountain range (see what I mean!). ‘Olsen Olsen’ also boasts one of Sigur Ros’ most expansive orchestral forays; as the song appears to tail off it is suddenly kicked into life by a series of slalom strings, a host of brass and a cast of thousands. With the season of goodwill on its way why not wrap this in a bow and send it to a forgotten friend. KD

Sigur Ros - Olsen Olsen

Album: Agaetis Byrjun
Year: 1999
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New Yorkers Panda Bear and Avey Tare aint your average duo, you can probably deduce that from their names alone. Signed on the deliciously appropriate Fat Cat label they are on a mission to record the sound of the schoolyard in dolby stereo. Their compositions are generally as dysfunctional as a family at Christmas yet the cobbled together mess can quite often breach even the hardest of hearts. Take ‘Winters Love’ for example that for the longest time scratches about in the back garden, voices hum in no particular pattern and the acoustics are as shaky as a freshly potted sprig. The change of direction in the middle is far more discernible as the celebrating Apaches clasp hands and sway around the mock fireplace. Animal Collective will likely flabbergast most, 10 seconds can often be enough to have the impatient running for a polished Chris Martin vignette. But, why would you deny yourself the chance to look through the portal that leads back to your childhood. These might be the boys least likely to but along the way they will lift the souls of many of the disenchanted. KD

Animal Collective - Winters Love

Album: Sung Tongs
Year: 2004
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It’s about time you discovered one of the most promising urban poets of our time. Conor Oberst may be only be 24 but his album ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning’ is destined for greatness. While his trademark compositions lie in gentle brooding masterpieces ‘Road To Joy’ is about as lively as a double-saddled rodeo horse. This is a song in 2 parts; the first is restrained, calculated and tuneful. Oberst lashes out the wry couplets at a breathtaking pace so toe tapping will be tempered by a studious ear. Then as the listener enters the comfort zone, all hell breaks loose, brass sections flit about with gay abandon and the rest of the playing becomes as uneven as a silicon implant. When this boy decides to make some noise you'd better sit up and listen. KD

Bright Eyes - Road To Joy

Album: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Year: 2005
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Her voice is like an icicle, cool, detached and sharp yet always alluring. She comes from Sweden and was announced to the world by way of a little star that barely twinkled such was its demur attitude. ‘Something Nice’ comes from the same album and bears all the hallmarks of a great Stina Nordenstam record. The music is unhurried and hushed to the point that you could be at max volume before all of its subtleties are unveiled. There is a childlike quality to the singing, a purity that only Bjork can match. The playing is sparse; a guitar is plucked delicately while a steady trumpet swerves into view at opportune moments. To the uninitiated the whole thing can seem a little odd. This is a world away from the mainstream diet of polished mediocrity, Stina Nordenstam is a singular talent doing something different and doing it with sumptuous verve. KD

Stina Nordenstam - Something Nice

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Stina Nordenstam
Year: 1994

It can be hard to figure how bands like the Killers can sweep to success with comparative ease while equally talented acts like the Shins continue to inhabit the fringes. Notwithstanding the by now compulsory appearance on the O.C. it seems the world has largely chosen to ignore James Mercer’s bands languid take on the sound of the sixties. ‘New Slang’ is a crushingly beautiful effort, the ante never lifts beyond the acoustic drifts yet there is enough melodrama within to fill a seasons worth of soap operatics. ‘Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth’ is how it begins and no amount of harmonious cooing can distract you from experiencing the singers’ world-weariness. The understated country licks and gentle tambourine scene setter reveal a beating heart among the debris, so much so that despite the sardonic lyrics its quite likely that this perfect piece of pop will put a coiled spring in your step. KD

The Shins - New Slang

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Oh Inverted World [US] Oh, Inverted World
Year: 2001

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Ah bedroom electronica, ya can’t beat it. Get yourself a clapped out 16mb computer, download a free version of fruity loops, add in a spot of ingenuity and the world is your oyster. And that’s exactly what’s on show here from this castaway from the Isle of Skye. While Mylo’s debut album may dip its toe in enough strands of dance to keep an eclectic audience amused ‘Muscle Cars’ is unashamed trance with added brain cells. The busy synths have the horizons to themselves, which produces a rush that is refreshingly clean and the inevitable beats do little to detract from what could be a page from Orbitals handbook on how to create vivid landscapes using primary numbers only. ‘Muscle Cars’ also straddles the grand blueprint as laid out by Sacha's 'Xpander' which means it can easily stand the test of repeated exposure. We could possibly forgive the man his threat to destroy Rock & Roll when the alternative he proffers is as noteworthy as this. KD

Mylo - Muscle Cars

Album: Destroy Rock & Roll
Year: 2004
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Continuing the John Peel theme, the bearded one was so besotted with Glasgow’s the Delgados that he once invited them to play at his wife’s birthday bash. Sadly both the man and the band have now departed. Peel’s legacy is obvious and the case for the Delgados is crystal clear if you have the time to spend an afternoon in the presence of their stone cold classic ‘The Great Eastern’. Even if you take this epic out of the equation the band were responsible for a basket of gloriously off-kilter gems. None more so than ‘Everything Goes Around The Water’ which has a childish sense of glee with beautifully delivered boy/girl refrains. The song staggers from one high to the next as the fleeting strings, starry guitars and some fumbling bass lines sketch a piece of pure pop out of what could have become an uneven mess. But that was the Delgados great gift, the multifaceted junkets they broadcast could have been construed as awkward and unwieldy but as everyone knows it’s what’s inside that counts. ‘Everything Goes Around The Water’ is truly one of the most magical pieces of contemporary music. It’s the Princess Bride put to song. KD

The Delgados - Everything Goes Around The Water

Album: Peloton
Year: 1999
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Smack bang in the middle of the broken box John Peel used to keep his favourite (142) 7-inch singles is a copy of Revelino’s ‘Step On High’. Probably not too surprising to most people considering that the collection is as obscure as a creature from the ocean bed. But, for Brendan Tallon and his cohorts you can be sure it means a damn lot. Over an unblemished career (including the short-lived Coletranes period) Revelino steadfastly stuck to their guns, in a Teenage Fanclub like stand they know what they were doing was good and it was just up to the public to perk up and listen. I once met Tallon in Whelans (Dublin) and I asked him what he thought were the best songs from their sophomore album ‘Broadcaster’, he casually remarked that they were all brilliant. I was a bit surprised, as the album seemed a bit of a letdown. With his self-confidence ringing in my ears I decided to give the album another go. And do you know, he was right. Ingrained in the piece are so many joie-de-vivre moments from the pop masterclass that contemporary artists like Snow Patrol pale in comparison. ‘Step On High’ is indeed a bon bon assortment of twinkling poptastic ideas but ‘Been & Gone’ that closes the album is the one that truly stands out. The tune sounds like it was recorded on a trampoline such is the way it bounces from ear to ear on your headphones. The Byrds chords are omnipresent and the dual-layered vocals are so infused with the spirit of athletically vocalled Lennon and McCarthy it can be hard to breath. The fade out is a psychedelic trip that goes so right it could turn the listener into an addict. So thanks Mr Peel for reminding us that the best stuff might be out of sight but with a little of effort it can be uncovered archaeologically-like to (hopefully) widespread acclaim. KD

Revelino - Been & Gone

Album: Broadcaster
Year: 1996
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Chapterhouse have been ignored for too long so here’s a belated attempt to get these dreampop evangelists back into people’s music players. This is music from a more innocent time, when you didn’t have to look back to march forward. ‘Pearl’ is a swirly concoction of featherlite vocals and jangling guitars. Add in a dose of chords that churn backwards in a meandering pattern and Rachel Goswell’s ethereal utterings and what you get is one of the most distinctive sounds from the scene that celebrated itself. ‘Pearl’ sounds so earnest when placed amongst the current crop of new wavers, the soundscape is broad and embracing often leaving the listener with little else to do but hum along. Chapterhouse never really progressed beyond their debut’s albums shimmering origins although the follow up single ‘Mesmerise’ floated piano keys and wandering vocals in the direction of certain g-spots you didn’t think existed. KD

Chapterhouse - Pearl

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

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Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty must go down as two of the oddest creatures in history of pop. Together they were the creative forces behind the KLF (Kopyright Liberation Front) and long before they had struck commercial gold with ‘The White Room’ they had written a manual on how to score a number one hit. Along the way they incurred the wrath of Abba and delivered several gallons of animal blood at the doors of an award ceremony to which they were invited. Not content with such daft manoeuvres they deleted their whole back catalogue and eloped to northern Scotland to burn one million sterling all in the name of art. The event was filmed with the intention of selling the recording for vast sums of money, sadly no eccentric could be duped into the sale. ‘What Time Is Love?’ is acid house/rave in a nutshell. It starts out like a cut from a schmoozy Alexander O’Neal’s album but quickly descends into a riotous example of what the Hacienda was pumping to back in the late eighties/early nineties. Listening now the song has retained an incredible energy even if it sounds completely of its day. It’s hard not to be taken in, I’ve already lost half a day searching for my moo moo whistle. KD

The KLF - What Time Is Love?

Album: The White Room
Year: 1991
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While Canada deservedly collects the prize for the most startling new bands this year let's not forget that Scandinavia has also been punching above its weight. Aside from the immaculate Swedish Labrador label (Afraid of Stairs, South Ambulance, [Ingenting], the Radio Dept. et al.) the likes of Magnet, Royskopp and the untouchable Mew have all released albums of distinction. Here's another one to watch, Stockholm's Shout Out Louds sit easily with the emo brigade, their songs are immediately enjoyable yet are suddenly forgotten 5 minutes later. Their debut album is about to be re-released and 'Comeback' is one of the standouts. Combining the sounds of an Atari console with the hearty guitar kicks of a good Weezer single it certainly begins with a bang. And the fun doesn't end there as the chorus is as pleasing as snow on Christmas day, just don't expect to be still whistling it by New Year's. KD

The Shout Out Louds - Comeback

Buy The Album: [UK] Howl Howl Gaff Gaff [US] Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
Year: 2005
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Did you know that MTV actually still plays music videos? Only when nobody is watching mind, tune in between 3am and 6am and you’ll be treated to the best new artists around. This is where I first spotted M83’s ‘Run Into Flowers’, no humans just a camera pushing through the clouds and the most amazing electronic music. ‘Run Into Flowers’ sounds like its creators are in the room with you such is its clarity with which it burns. Imagine the dynamics of the human body running through blocks of synthesisers and then some digitalised voices appropriating the human spirit through the mind of a robot. Ok, it all sounds a bit far fetched but it goes to show what can be achieved when men and technology cooperate. This is music for a 21st century Blade Runner. KD

M83 - Run Into Flowers

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts [US] Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts
Year: 2003

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Before it all went right for him (and wrong for us) Guy Chambers had a credible history with Karl Wallinger’s World Party and his own band the Lemon Trees. Chambers is best known as Robbie Williams songwriting foil which has spawned countless mega hits yet it could have all been so different if the Lemon Trees’ ‘Open Book’ had taken off. This was the bands only major release and its lack of success is hard to counter when you compare it to the insipid Williams’ back catalogue. Released at the back end of baggy it boasted the requisite groovy textures as well as some of the most gorgeously simple melodies imaginable. ‘I Can’t Face The World Today’ is driven by a sea-saw trumpet and is soaked in Chambers hammond excursions. Paul Holman’s singing is wholesome yet alert to the possibilities presented by Chambers fertile imagination. There are so many different noises popping in and out of the song this could be possibly be one of the happiest sad songs ever written. KD

The Lemon Trees - I Can't Face The World

Album: Open Book
Year: 1993
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Calling your latest album ‘The Struggle Continues’ might be admitting defeat, but hey it worked for Snow Patrol! The Jubilee Allstars have been knocking around the Dublin indie scene for a decade now but despite local critical acclaim they have failed to incur even a smidgeon of sales. This is a shame because the McCormack siblings are a talented lot. Ok, the vocals may be ropey at times but that is a bona fide plus when you hear their lo-fi countrified compositions. Back in 1996 it seemed as if they were truly onto something special. The ‘By The End Of The Night’ EP was their third release but it set out the blueprint for their glorious ramshackle approach. All 4 songs revealed an innate quality in the songwriting even if the playing was occasionally so hushed it could have backed a nursery rhyme. ‘Without You’ is sung by Niall with such heartbreaking passion it’s easy to forgive the less than perfunctory drumming. The guitars twinkle about for all their worth to boost the atmosphere, so much so that you’ll end up feverishly flicking through that little black book to find that number that could’ve changed everything. Go seek and make them stars. KD

The Jubilee Allstars - Without You

Album: By The End Of The Night EP
Year: 1996
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