Seems there is a new album, called ‘Belong’, on the way next year from New York indie popsters the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Another release in what seems like an endless stream of newbies from the Slumberland based quartet. For some reason this has shaken me from their scent (in much the same way that Will Oldham went through an incredibly prolific phase some years back) which is a bit silly because every time I check in I tend to marvel at their pretty tunes. ‘Young Adult Friction’ popped into my shuffle earlier today and sounded so cute and bright that I couldn’t not remark on it. Kip Berman and Peggy Wang’s vocal interplay is as delightful as the the tweecore instrumentation and even though the running time is longer that most of its ilk it never drags. KD

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction

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Buy Songs: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Year: 2009

Ahhh Temporary Residence, that great Brooklyn institution that is home to noisemakers of fine distinction. As I wrote that line it suddenly dawned on me that I had lumped all the bands I knew from TR (EITS, the Books, Grails, Kenseth Thibideau and Eluvium) into a train of thought that was missing most of its carriages. Perhaps they had a sizable catalogue of innovative dubstep operators or a hidden seam of underground hip-hop mavericks. Off I trundled to the site and over half a dozen clicks later I realised my initial assumption was pretty sound. Not that I’d be falling for all their artists but not many labels can capture the heart of hugger with such a tight grip. So in an effort to add another one to above list they’re admirable list of free mp3s was perused and out popped the previously unbeknownst act of Melbourne’s My Disco. ‘Closer’ is from their 3rd album ‘Little Joy’ and is almost primeval in its use of traditional instruments. It’s also not exactly a tune to wash down your Sunday roast but then we were never ones to be found in the kitchen at party’s. KD

My Disco - Closer

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Year: 2010

Appears as if Vancouver bedroom record makers Teen Daze have dropped in from another decade. Depends on the song mind, for they drift in and take trips around several of them for inspiration. ‘For Paulina’ certainly has an early 90’s dreampop/guitar free shoegaze air but depends almost entirely on the coolest of vocal shimmers for substance. And what a beautiful thing it turns out to be, something that the masters of yore would have given their left shoe for. KD

Teen Daze - For Paulina

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Year: 2010

I was toying with changing the font for this piece before discovering the magic of blogger doesn’t extend to such japes. Doesn’t stop me from thinking of a thousand other attempts at bad humour based on the misspelling of Steve Ryan’s Windings. Now if only Times New Viking would accede to his requests for a double bill. The Limerick band started life as a side project away from giveamanakick but with the latter’s demise it now holds court. Lucky us because debut album ‘It’s Never Night’ is a clever little recording, mostly quiet but quietly confident at the same time. Lead single ‘Old Like J’ wears its Sufjan worship on its sleeve and comes with a lovely lo-fi video. Might be going out on a limb here but Windings are proving they are indeed true types. KD

Windings - Old Like J

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Year: 2010

Given the intricate fretwork and slightly backgrounded vocals there are bound to be Nick Drake comparisons which ultimately means that Yusuf Azak is one damn exciting act. Seems Matt from Song, By Toad Records had been tracking the Aberdeen artist for some time and decided to pounce as Azak’s debut record neared completion. It may prove to be the canniest move of the label’s short existence going on the evidence provided by ‘Eastern Sun’. Here is a tune that is set up so acoustically yet manages to pull more surprises than an Aer Lingus flight full of Corkonians. Its simple fragile nature has wormed its way into our affections to the extent that it should be appearing in our Top 42 of the year about this time next month KD

Yusuf Azak - Easter Sun

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Year: 2010

For some reason I’ve always bracketed Ravens & Chimes with Vampire Weekend, more to do with them appearing at the same time rather the fact that they both come from New York. While the latter have always left me cold the former’s lack of activity since their wonderful debut of a few years back meant they had slipped from view. Thankfully that’s about to change with the imminent arrival of a bouncing new LP titled ‘Holiday Life’. Opening track ‘Division Street’ has been given the onerous task of whetting appetites and it pulls it off with sweet proficiency. The Asher Lack troupe appear in fine melodic form, never overstating a message that is best served on a bed of tenderness. Great to see them return, maybe 2010 can redeem itself yet. KD

Ravens & Chimes - Division Street

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Year: 2010

It has been a while since I’ve basked in the glow of a full-on indie stomper so when ‘Melon’s Teeth’ slipped inside the space between my 2 ears I was jolted from my slumber. You know the type of track that the Strokes used to knock off in their sleep, a song interested in nothing except delivering its simple yet stylish angle. London crew Wet Paint take the crown (!) for this exceptionally tight rendering of a tried and tested formula and rather than outstay their welcome they’ve cut the ditty to just over 120 seconds. Short and oh sweet and the pride of an LP released last year called ‘It Rots’. KD

Wet Paint - Melon's Teeth

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Year: 2009

The very fact that an act can sound unique is probably enough to win a decent share of hearts but when that’s combined it with a modicum of talent you are talking sensation. A paucity of genuine thrills tends to multiply the effect yet for all the generic sounds there will always be acts that defy convention and plough their own furrow. Zola Jesus (a young lady from Wisconsin) certainly fits the bill and having toured with both Fever Ray and Xiu Xiu she is perhaps acutely aware of her own standing. Her newest LP ‘Stridulum II’ appears more a collection of earlier tracks and a couple of unreleased ones but nothing can hide the fact that this is a unique talent. Perhaps even a once in a generation one, the rich man's Florence and the Machine if you will. ‘Sea Talk’ is stunning and non-conventional yet utterly capable of stirring feelings of hysteria. KD

Zola Jesus - Sea Talk

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Year: 2010

Sometimes it seems that love is just not enough as proven by the Lovemakers who drew their last breath as a band on NYE 2009. Scott Blonde and Lisa Light (the aforementioned lovemakers) earned that moniker too having drawn the wrath (which ultimately led to their expulsion from an earlier band) for getting it on when they were meant to be striking a different kind of chord altogether (during band practise). ‘Misery Loves Company’ was the title track from the California acts penultimate album in 2007 and is a tour de force of hormonal energy. It sparks like an Irish city as the prohibition on fireworks is temporarily lifted early evening during Halloween. KD

The Lovemakers - Misery Loves Company

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Year: 2007

While Austin seems to be forever soaked in the sweet bourbon cool of indie rock its bigger bro Dallas has all the allure of a dry sherry. Funny how a schlock drama has seen those adverse to converse run for cover in such a dramatic way. Of course such grandiose statements are concocted from the comfort of an Irish broadband connection so should be taken with a pinch of salt. Anyway, it seems ms. ellie central is beginning to throw shapes in the form of 4-piece Ishi and their electro slab ‘Pastel Lights’. This tune kicks off so dramatically you couldn’t see my toes for manic tapping. And the good vibes don’t end when the vocals enter the fray either, this is feelgood stuff to kickstart even the most depressing of Monday’s. KD

Ishi - Pastel Lights

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Year: 2010

Connecticut’s Midi & The Modern Dance are a pretty ravishing listen most of the time but given the day that’s in it and the fact that they’ve a song with ghost in the title it seems like fate has brought us together once again. We’ve dipped into their debut album ‘Twilight, How Sweet You Are’ several times before and given that’s it now free to download from their myspace I recommend you make a sliver of your music wearing memory capacity very happy indeed. ‘Ghost’ is rich in dramatics, starting slowly like most M&TMD songs before building to a tempered crescendo. A perfect band playing small venues when surely their talent should be opening up much bigger doors. Scary really. KD

Midi & The Modern Dance - Ghost

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Buy Songs For Free: Midi & The Modern Dance
Year: 2008

Yeah it my favourite film by a wide margin and yeah I watch it at Christmas every year (Easter, Paddy’s and the odd Tuesday too). Luckily Mrs Hugger is equally enamoured as will baby hugger once we’ve brainwashed her. Of course it helps that the movie’s OST is perfect, as sweet as the goods from the factory and as cruel as the 4 losing kids. Forget about Depp’s update, it couldn’t possibly compete if it had been 10 times better. There’s magic all around, just one of a kind that won’t be bettered. KD

Diana Sowle - Cheer Up, Charlie

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Buy Songs: Willy Wonka OST
Year: 1971

I picked ‘The Moon & Antarctica’ up in a shoebox in temple bar square and despite absolutely adoring every second it marked both the beginning and end of my flirtation with Modest Mouse. Not sure why, delving further might have tarnished our near perfect relationship I suppose. So odd really but then Modest Mouse are no ordinary band to award your fanship. For one it has at various times featured excerpts from the Smiths and Grandaddy. Lead singer Issac Brooks is a ticket too, deciding that ‘The Moon & Antarctica’ should become overtly instrumental while at the same time nursing a broken jaw (clever clever). The second track ‘Gravity Rides Everything’ is classic slacker rock, shuffling through a series of wondering peaks and troughs. KD

Modest Mouse - Gravity Rides Everything

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Year: 2000

I was about to thrash it before I got distracted and by the time I refocused I had fallen under ‘Over’s spell (a track from the bonus CD on the 'Nights Out' album). Metronomy are one of those acts that seem to habitually appear on every second blog so being the pioneer that I think I am I tended to give them a wide berth. Silly me, for ‘Over’ is a rollicking piece of inventive electronic. Metronomy have been around for just over a decade and is primarily the work of Brighton based Joseph Mount. His remixes are ubiquitous too, not bad for a lad who started out with a clapped out computer rejected by his dad. ‘Over’ starts out like a steamship short on fuel but soon exhibits a swaggering imagination. The twists and turns are absorbing even more so when it starts to sound like ‘Pure’ towards the end. KD

Metronomy - Over

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Year: 2008

I promise I’ve done as much research as is humanely possible but even the internet throws back vacant stares when quizzed on the origins of the Static Hand (Berlin btw). Creepy isn’t it, I imagine even google streetview is flummoxed. But given the week that’s in it perhaps it might be wise to concentrate on the music rather than its ghostly maker. The prompt was an email that included a bandcamp link to download the EP (‘Background Fuzz’) and a little intro citing Eno as a major influence. Now having skirted around that particular artist I’ll have to admit to falling for the Static Hand for a lot less man hours. ‘Number One’ won’t alarm fragile household pets owing to its steady amble but its spirit is strong and by the 7th minute you may be cowering in the kennel along with Rex. Ghoul pop. KD

The Static Hand - Number One

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Year: 2010

Common Loon duo of Matt Campbell and Robert Hirschfeld may have reached the age where dirty nappies could cloud inspiration and sorting the rubbish into different coloured bins could be an excuse for low innovation yet ‘Mexico’ from their newbie ‘The Long Dream of Birds’ dispels that frankly ludicrous supposition. Their fresh-faced approach skews all routes to planet chart but then their sonic experiments aren’t exactly taxing on the ear. It was the lone chord play that drew me in at first but there is much more to ‘Mexico’ than first impressions would lead you to believe. There’s something vaguely Suede about the goings on especially during its psych-out turns and Nada Surf’s high watermark also gets a look in. You'd really have to be a regular nut to overlook them. KD

Common Loon - Mexico

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Year: 2010

As uplifting and euphoric as Sigur Ros’ music is you could hardly ever label it happy and for all the childlike wonder a sense of eternal melancholy persists. So isn’t it a nice departure that the band’s singer can record a song for his new solo record that is fuelled by joyous endorphins. And what better way to wind down a week of Happiness that to issue a call to arms to ‘Go Do’. Don’t think I can’t see you smiling. KD

Jónsi - Go Do

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Year: 2010

It’s not only the music that should make you smile because this Wellington act (hmm, better explain, they come from New Zealand) are named after a fictional organisation from the 80’s show MacGyver. You should remember MacGyver for he was the lad who could break out of jail with a toothpick and 15cm of dyed wool. Nods to thrash TV aside the Phoenix Foundation really nailed it with this the title track from their 4th album. It is just so alive, vibrant and about to make waves when the album gets a European release (whether such things make sense in the internet age) early next year. And that’s before you even realise that the lyrics are actually about a Buffalo. KD

The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo

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Year: 2010

Although I can be quite the crank when hungover, inside I am just another lonely soul on the lookout for something to soundtrack my elongated stares on the desolate prairie outside. Sigur Ros or Explosions In The Sky normally fill the gap but today as brain outbeats racing heart Flowers of Hell took on the onerous task of providing solace pre the inevitable delirium tremens action tonight. Can’t believe I’ve missed Flowers of Hell up to this point given their cinematic range and the hugely impressive list of collaborators (Spiritualized, Spacemen 3, British Sea Power…). The band is led by ever-constant Greg Jarvis who has a trained eye for grand sonic statements (he is a synaesthete who sees/perceives sounds as shapes) which unsuprisingly caught the ear of MBV along the way (they toured together in 2008). ‘O’ is the latest release, a 45-minute piece of slow building mournful montages. It is utterly affecting (within or outside the ravages of a post alcohol haze), as you’ll soon discover from the sampler below. Those who fell for BSP’s ‘Man of Aran’ are in for a treat. KD

Flowers Of Hell - O

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Year: 2010

One man’s meat is another man’s poison, or so said my old granddad after a healthy dose of Jameson. And the same logic could be applied to Pavement. A band who within the space of a couple tracks could flip between being a melodic tour de force and an off beat cookie collective. This is most obvious on their 3rd album ‘Wowee Zowee’ which had shiny beacon’s like ‘Grave Architecture’, ‘Grounded’, ‘Father To A Sister Of Thought’ and ‘Kennel District’ alongside the very unsingle like ‘Rattle By The Rush’ or the downright psychiatric ‘Brinx Job’. And this after the pure pop of the band’s sophomore ‘Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain’, all their ducks appeared to be in a row but Malkmus being Malkmus decided to detour at the sign for obscureville. ‘Kennel District’ came towards the end of the album, almost out of reach, but it’s fluid lines meant that it has ascended to the summit of a back catalogue littered with indie gems. No band has ever been this forgiven for the frustration they inflicted on their fans. KD

Pavement - Kennel District

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Year: 1995