Polly Scattergood burst into the UK indie scene last fall. After many years spent writing hundreds of deeply personal songs while working at a tomato stand and an ice cream factory, she has released her eponymous debut. Polly's intimate songwriting and her charming eccentricities have earned her many devoted fans, including myself. She writes to her fans in her blog almost daily, and one of her singles, "I Hate the Way", came with a xeroxed sheet of her original handwritten lyrics scattered with notes and scribbles—an authentic and very personal touch. Her fourth single "Please Don't [...]
Fun is about to be New York's latest indie pop sensation. Just signed to Nettwerk , their debut single "At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be)" releases May 5. They have back and forth male/female whoa-oh-oh's, piano stabs across rhythmic guitar and a swinging horn-filled bridge—all key elements of a perfect pop song, and yes, it's perfect. SOUNDS LIKE of Montreal, I'm From Barcelona, Feist, Mother Mother Fun - At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be) [...]
In celebration of our brand new site design, I bring you a glistening new dance track that brings summer a bit nearer. Rico Bernasconi and Tom Pulse give us "Love Deep Inside (Sunshine Reggae Remix)", mixing house with dancehall reggae to create a vital piece of this year's soundtrack to summer paradise. Rico Bernasconi - Love Deep Inside (Tom Pulse Sunshine Reggae Remix) Download MP3 or Listen on IMEEM Sadly, we have another artist promoting their new single but [...]
Upon first listen of The Fancy Toys, my thoughts swirled around what I could only describe as sophisticated silliness. A minute later I felt daft when I read the band's name again. Their distinctly inimitable creations are captivating, especially in their debut single, "Gypsy Eyes". They demand your attention like an unheralded prodigy at a café open mic. SOUNDS LIKE The Decemberists, Dent May, Pop Levi, Andrew Bird The Fancy Toys - Gypsy Eyes Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace [...]
Timid Tiger's revision of Lenny Kravitz's " Are You Gonna Go My Way " is a massive fusion of big electro beats and hip-hop cuts led by Lenny's sizzling guitar, his steady-rocking voice and the effortless raps of Ludacris and Biggie. I know that statements like the following tend to drive rabid fans mad, but Timid Tiger's remix makes the original outdated and utterly obsolete. Sorry Lenny. The track is part of Timid Tiger's PMA.EP , released via Pretty Much Amazing , and it's absolutely free! Their forthcoming album, Timid Tiger & The Electric Island [...]
Roxy Rawson's music is unconventionally crafted with a strumming violin, squeaky vocals and a scattering of unidentifiable percussive sounds. It's just as weird as it sounds, yet strangely addictive. Her debut EP releases May 4 on Ambiguous Records . Roxy Rawson - Riddle It Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace PRE-ORDER THE EP Pure Groove Vinyl, worldwide
Whimsically genre-bending, The Fake Lazy Supernovas send forth their debut single, "Golden Boy" with a glimmer of sunny island pop. The groovy tune and silky vocals make me feel like lounging on a chaise longue, girlie-drink in hand. The single is out now and comes packed with a great after-dusk B-side. SOUNDS LIKE De-Phazz, Morcheeba, Tosca, Kruder & Dorfmeister The Fake Lazy Supernovas - Golden Boy (Sunshine Mix) Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace BUY THE SINGLE [...]
UK production duo Radioclit and African singer Esau Mwamwaya met in London and formed The Very Best, releasing afro-beat remixes and covers of popular songs by artists like Vampire Weekend, M.I.A. and The Beatles. They have released a free mixtape to promote their album which is set to release later this year. The remixes and covers are excellent but the standout track is "Dinosaur On the Ark", a tropical collaboration with the mysterious band Bermuda. The song sounds like The Lion King soundtrack clashed with The Shins or Vampire Weekend. [...]
London alt-country singer Finlay Morton has just re-issued his second album Back to Basics after another round with it in the studio, but he is still virtually undiscovered in the vast reaches of the internet. He delivers a rich style of Americana filtered through his soulful voice. The first single "The Devil (Ain't Getting My Soul)" is the warm soundtrack to a dusty drive on a desert road. SOUNDS LIKE Chris Rea, The Isley Brothers, Jacksoul, Sade Finlay Morton - The Devil (Ain't Getting My Soul) [...]
British TV series Skins has a reputation for introducing their fans to loads of fantastic music. Series one ends with one of the most intense finales of any television drama and the episode finishes with a montage of Mike Bailey (Sid) and the rest of the cast singing Cat Stevens' "Wild World". Mike Bailey - Wild World Download MP3 or Watch the video below The cast of Skins sings "Wild World" The song is only available on the Skins [...]
Despite the BFF bandname, Ted & Francis are not cute and friendly twee-folk, but rather enigmatic artisans of irresistible sound. You know those rare occasions when you try a new dish at a new restaurant and you not only love it, but you can taste each delicious flavour creating heaven together? Imagine that, but with a chilled rhythm and a sizzling electro synth offset by warm strokes of monochromatic keys. SOUNDS LIKE The first time you heard your favourite Moby/Air/Massive Attack song Ted & Francis - Erlend [...]
Multi-instrumentalist Bishi's single "Never Seen Your Face" is crunchy-bass electro with an unmistakable touch of Bollywood. Her album is a year old now but Radio 1's Huw Stephens recently took notice of the song, so naturally I did as well. SOUNDS LIKE La Roux, Florence and the Machine, VV Brown, Little Boots Bishi - Never Seen Your Face Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace Music video for "Never Seen Your Face" [...]
The Big Pink unleash their debut single "Velvet" next week on 4AD . It starts with an industrial drum beat and comatose vocals, slowly intensifying as the murky guitar ascends. It's the type of music that's made for late-night headphones. SOUNDS LIKE M83, Starsailor, Operahouse, Stereophonics The Big Pink - Velvet Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace PRE-ORDER THE SINGLE Amazon MP3 UK only [...]
Lissy Trullie, new Wichita recruit, releases her elegant debut Self-Taught Learner EP on May 25. Her vocal styling is effortless and has the same vintage sound as her lo-fi guitar, coupled with her sharp lyrics and DIY aesthetic. The standout track of the EP is the title track, but she also does a subtly stunning cover of Hot Chip's "Ready for the Floor". SOUNDS LIKE Harlem Shakes, Wolf Parade, Vampire Weekend Lissy Trullie - Self-Taught Learner Download MP3 or Listen on [...]
Two weeks ago I posted about London band One eskimO . Seems that eskimo might be the next word to seed the bandname generator. Eskimo Fires brings a piano rock ballad in their debut "Be There". Beautiful song. SOUNDS LIKE White Lies, Starsailor, One eskimO, Kutless Eskimo Fires - Be There Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace BUY IT iTunes Worldwide Eskimo Fires Store [...]
Marie Serneholt, formerly of Swedish boy/girl group A*Teens, started her solo career in 2006 and last month performed "Disconnect Me" in Melodifestivalen , the Swedish national song competition to determine who will represent the country in Eurovision 2009 . The electro beats and not surprisingly, a few orchestra stabs reminiscent of Scandinavian symphonic metal, transform a generic pop song into a magnificently consuming arrangement. This is the second Melodifestivalen artist I've posted—the first was Rigo & the Topaz Sound —so I'd like to emphasize once again that one should not compare Melodifestivalen and Eurovision to [...]
The Brian Jonestown Massacre, nine albums to their name, brings together psychedelic rock with a haunting piano and a distinct spaghetti western vibe in "You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up" from their 2003 album And This Is Our Music . SOUNDS LIKE Ennio Morricone, Animal Collective, The Velvet Underground The Brian Jonestown Massacre - You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up Download MP3 or Watch on YouTube below Fan video of "You Look Great [...]
The term new rave sounds like a corruption of rave and new wave , but really all it takes from the former is flourescent clothing, neon lights and glow sticks—and from the latter, the genre fusions and the trashy, anarchic aesthetic. Crystal Castles, one of Toronto's top exports, interprets new rave as scratchy, distorted Gameboy sounds, writhing female screams and bodies dancing to a path beaten by drums. Close your eyes, experience the flashing lights and feel the urge to reach for a tablet. SOUNDS LIKE Peaches, Digitalism, Hot Chip, [...]
Canadian queen of perverted electroclash, Peaches is prepping her fifth album after three years of silence. The first single "Talk to Me" is an ear-crunching derangement of Peaches' shrieking vocals and a heavy electro beat. The album I Feel Cream releases May 4 on XL . Peaches - Talk to Me Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace SOUNDS LIKE La Roux, Little Boots, Simian Mobile Disco, Soulwax, Justice, Digitalism No music video [...]
Señor Coconut is a German DJ and the unlikely father of electrolatino music—not that the genre has spawned any offspring. His unprecedented fusion of tropical lounge beats with jazzy bossa nova and a campy Spanish accent is ridiculously entertaining. SOUNDS LIKE Manu Chao, Plastilina Mosh, Ozomatli Señor Coconut - Da Da Da (English Version) Download MP3 or Listen on RCRDLBL Music video for the English version of "Da Da Da" The [...]
Silence Killer
Avicii – Two Million
Yellow Magic Orchestra edit from Chrome Canyon
Beck – I Just Started Hating Some People Today
H&M Lookbook Mujer y Hombre Otoño 2012.
