![Monument Valley - 'When I Go Clear' [Listen]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4911314_lg.jpg)
Monument Valley 's 'When I Go Clear' is the story of all-night wanderings through London. Featuring Kerry Leatham , the track is our first listen to the band's anticipated debut album, which is set to be released later this year. Listen to 'When I Go Clear' below and soak up the sounds of an atmospheric city night.

Last week I wrote about a Patsy Cline cover by Monument Valley that acted as a harbinger for his debut LP; now we have the first juice from said record. When I Go Clear is a typically solemn tune of determined but allegorical storytelling: a song envisioning happiness, but written from a place of despair. The plaintive sound and sentiments echo Deptford Goth's chillwave, but Ned Younger's voice is broader and altogether more audible than Daniel Woolhouse's ever becomes. It's also, in an inspired touch, accompanied here by Kerry Leatham's - she of Peter [...]

Today marks the first release lifted from the debut album by Monument Valley with the breathtaking 'When I Go Clear'; a gentle lullaby and ode to MV's London home. Featuring guest vocals from Lapalux collaborator Kerry Leatham, 'When I Go Clear' fuses the classic singer-songwriter mould with truly awe inspiring atmospherics and subtle nuances. With a chorus refrain that sparkles with a sense of knowing optimism, the following four minutes are nothing short of magical. Lose yourself below.
Monument Valley 's been away for ages, working on a full record. Just ahead of that, though, he's put out this earnest, down-in-the-dumps cover of Patsy Cline's She's Got You . Where the original is more dancehall in feel, MV's battle-scarred vocals provide a rewarding cover. Bring on those new tunes... Click here to view the embedded video.
For the final time this year, here are (mostly) new videos by great London acts. Slim pickings this week: Mt. Wolf - Climax Dummy recently named Usher's Climax as their song of the year - and here's London Mt. Wolf pulling off a terrific cover of it in a room that looks unerringly like my parents' dining room. Back in a sec, I just need to make a phone call... Click here to view the embedded video. [...]

Today we countdown songs 40-21 in the Mad Mackerel Favourite 100 tunes of the year. You can check out the previous days entries here: 100-81 , 80-61 , 60-41 . 40 ALABAMA SHAKES - HOLD ON Almost a head-banger done country style, love the underlying guitar rhythm. ( SB ) a 39 LOWER DENS - BRAINS When I picked this song out in June I said it was like a [...]

This year has witnessed possibly the most seismic change in my listening habits since I left my teens and actually worked out what sort of music I like. This time the change isn't about the music itself, but about the way that music is consumed. I have always, and will always be a great believer in the album as a format. My masters' thesis was on the primacy of the album in rock music, and I can barely move for tripping over piles of CD albums. So what's changed? [...]
This is one of my favourite singles of the year so far: Simple, evocative, powerful; trading under the nom de guerre Monument Valley , Mancunian Ned Younger certainly knows how to turn a phrase that's sure to draw me in. The sparse guitars and delicate atmospherics set a mood that's at once malevolent yet somehow tender, and the booming, ghostly piano thumps in the chorus - so simple they're hardly there - ground the lyrics so thoroughly that the track instantly feels like [...]

So then, half way through the year already. Time to take stock and see what the first six months have delivered up in terms of new tunes and bands. We asked some of the regular MM contributors to pick three songs that have particularly struck a chord (sorry) with them in the first part of 2012. Kyle Adem – Brother Follow Unlike Brains this was an instant hit. A real earthy campfire ditty with a grotesque sentiment I fully approve of. I make no apology for repeating the line [...]

So then, half way through the year already. Time to take stock and see what the first six months have delivered up in terms of new tunes and bands. We asked some of the regular MM contributors to pick three songs that have particularly struck a chord (sorry) with them in the first part of 2012. Kyle Adem – Brother Follow Unlike Brains this was an instant hit. A real earthy campfire ditty with a grotesque sentiment I fully approve of. I make no apology for repeating the line [...]

This stunner is mercilessly intense and raw; as though Monument Valley has drip-access straight into your brain, and everything else therefore ceases to be. It's a simple song - guitars and singing - but, heck, the full-on vocals are so good, so pure, that it's like wizadry. It's out now on Everybody's Stalking . (via Sexbeat ) Click here to view the embedded video.

About 4 weeks ago I wrote a piece for this blog which I was genuinely proud of. Every so often the songs that feature on this blog conjure up some strong images and ideas for me and my favourite part of blogging is when these ideas translate into writing which, even if only for me, opens up another door into the same room as the song. The song was the latest single by Monument Valley , Your Cover Blown , and a few days a go i got a chance to meet the man AKA Ned [...]

Hard to believe that the summer is over the horizon. In no time we will be basking in the sun, wearing flip-flops and enjoying warm nights full of friends, drinks and hopefully some romance. To help get everyone in the mood for some summer fun Kick Kick Snare is back with our regularly scheduled program of Monthly Mixtapes. We hope you enjoyed April's special treat of all ORIGINAL and EXCLUSIVE live accoustic-light sessions from some of our favorite musicians on the planet. For this month's Mixtape we are giving the perfect sampling of all the best music [...]
We've posted a couple of times about melancholic, wise-before-his-years, south London singer-songwriter Ned Younger, aka Monument Valley . His latest single is the darkly tender Your Cover Blown , which is starkly informed by the death of one of his closest friends and sees a release on May 21st via community label Everybody's Stalking . It is sure to bring more praise and critical acclaim his way. Watch the perfectly judged video or stream the song below. a [...]
![Monument Valley – Your Cover Blown [Video]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4195062_lg.jpg)
We've hugely excited to present The Mahogany Blog's first ever music video, for the fantastic upcoming single from Monument Valley. Ever since filming our session with him back in October, we genuinely connected with his music and as our creative division specialise in such things as music videos - we all thought it would make a whole lot of sense to come together to create something really nice. The song itself, titled 'Your Cover Blown' is nothing short of heartfelt given that it's written about one of Ned Younger aka Monument Valley's close friends, who sadly [...]
![Listen: Monument Valley – Your Cover Blown [Best Fit Premiere]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4180529_lg.jpg)
Following the release of his Tongues book/EP last year Monument Valley , the moniker of Londoner Ned Younger, is back with a brand new single ‘Your Cover Blown’. Due out on Everybody’s Stalking on 7 May, the new track weaves a tale of loss with flourishing guitar strings, hushed vocals and a gentle was of noise. Moving away from the anonymous figures that inspired his earlier releases, the stark haunting nature of ‘Your Cover Blown’ was apparently informed by the death of one [...]
*** NEW MUSIC - Jonathan Boulet's second album "We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart" is out in June via Modular Recordings. 'Trounce' is the...

We were introduced to Monument Valley (aka London's Ned Younger) towards the end of 2011 when we posted Round And Round from his EP Tongues . He will release his new single Your Cover Blown via Rug Records on April 23rd and while that remains a while off, we can promise you it will be worth the wait. In the meantime we can tide you over by streaming the B-side for your listening pleasure. This is The Very First Alarm, a gorgeous and intimate torch song built on [...]

Making the monthly mixes usually results in having a bunch of good songs orphaned. In the past, I've had enough leftover material to make half editions of the Blogophilia mixes. This usually leads to confusion and questions about why have a half mix at all. I am not a fan of confusion, nor do I like to explain myself. So I've decided that there will be no more "half mixes" posted on the blog. Instead, we'll have a Biscuits & Gravy series, which reflects a surplus of good music that never made it to the monthly mix. I am a [...]