Blog: Indie Music Finds

Jónsi Þór Birgisson of Sigur Rós has begun to reveal his new solo album side project. He's not giving much away at the moment but I'm sure all will become clear in due course.  In the meantime, there's a free track available to download on his website at jonsi.com once you've signed up to the mailing list. Be sure to click the letters of Jónsi on the homepage, it plays snippets of other songs from the album! The 'J' is amazing. Boy Lilikoi - Jónsi From the tags on this mp3, it [...]

Scrambler Seequill is the collaborative music and production project by Michael Gamble (Scrambler) and Devin Febbroriello (Seequill). Coming from such different backgrounds as conservatory trained musician and d.i.y. art activist, Scrambler and Seequill have found a meeting place to channel their visions and voices dualistically. Drawing from various inspirations, and experiences a certain sound and message is earnestly delivered. Scrambler Seequill's psychedelic prog rock, is punctuated by complex arrangements yet catchy art pop hooks. A swirling cascade of opposites comprise their poetically charming sound. Songs written under covers, at night and at dawn over coffee, during good years [...]

Dave Mahler has created  this music, this video and now this website. That's a lot of cliché 'this' hyperlinks but I guess that's what happens when one person does so much. Oh, and the IMF logo and the portrait opposite, yeah, a lot. He's editing a new music video for the Norwegian band Children and Corpse at the moment. You can see a still from it on his blog and I'll post the video here on IMF when it's finished. In the meantime, you can check out [...]

Sophie Stratford talks to Tom Fearn founder of OOiZiT.com and the music industry’s next big problem. The record industry is undergoing a paradigm shift in the 21st century, and the latest stage of evolution has arrived – in the form of new music platform OOiZiT.com. The site offers unsigned artists the chance to have a hit. OOiZiT.com combines the capabilities of sites such as Spotify, MySpace Music, iTunes, Reverb Nation, Twitter and Facebook under one banner, but with a key difference: the ability to propel users into the charts. On OOiZiT.com, musicians can not only [...]

Special Benny are a 5 piece band that now reside in London. The band, with members from Brighton, Southend and Hong Kong are getting ready to release their debut album 'Toys'. According to the band's label, this album will be out in Spring 2010 and you can be sure to see a review of it up on this blog. The first single from the debut will be 'Air Filter' (released 23rd November 2009). It's a largely instrumental track but unlike most bands that veer on the experimental side of music, Special Benny keep a remarkably polished sound. [...]

• Special Benny - Airfilter

Fighting Fiction’s debut EP 'A Lesser Of Two Evils' is a powerful collision of indie rock guitar riffs, reggae tinged punk and socially aware lyrics. These are songs written with anger and sung with an amazing passion. The Bristol based foursome evoke an honest and fundamentally English sound that is reminiscent of the brooding reggae guitar hooks of The Clash, the lyrical and vocal delivery of Billy Bragg and more recently the sing-a-long sensibilities of The King Blues. A buoyant energy shines throughout the album and the sheer youthfulness of gang vocal infused choruses and hook lines show [...]

Sophie Stratford talks to Jon Lawler, front man of Codeine Velvet Club and The Fratelli’s. Codeine Velvet Club are the sensational new band featuring chief Fratelli Jon Lawler and Glasgow chanteuse Lou Hickey. The musical collaboration celebrates Jon and Lou’s shared love of ’60s girl-boy duets, dramatic orchestral pop, and dark post-war Hollywood romanticism.  Their debut single “Vanity Kills” will be released on 23rd Nov ’09 and their eponymously titled album will be released on 28th December ’09. What are the main things that influenced you for the [...]

I'd been frequenting their muxtape page almost daily for my fix but it's finally here, Mars Argo's debut album. Officially released on November 6th, 'Technology is a Dead Bird' is being sold online in the same way as Radiohead's 'In Rainbows'. The listener is given the opportunity to pay whatever amount they deem fit whether this be £100 or nothing. A ten track masterpiece, Technology is a Dead Bird is an album in its finest form. Two of these tracks could be considered interludes but they really make the album a fluid listening experience. Technology is [...]

Since rising to prominence seven years ago with the spirited, electro-tinged, indie-pop of their Mercury-nominated debut, ‘Vehicles And Animals’, Athlete have established themselves among the UK's finest songsmiths. The south east Londoners have sold more than a million copies of their three hit albums (the other two being 2005's ‘Tourist’ and 2007's ‘Beyond The Neighbourhood’), packed out venues across the land; picked up an Ivor Novello award; and topped both the UK's album and airplay charts. Athlete worked on their new album ‘Black Swan’ with esteemed American producer Tom Rothrock (Foo Fighters, Elliot Smith, Elbow, Beck), who'd been [...]

Stereophonics are set to release their new album Keep Calm and Carry On, which was written by lead vocalist Kelly Jones. With 11 top 5 singles, 21 top 20's and five consecutive No. 1 albums Stereophonics have stood the test of time to become one of Britain’s biggest bands. The title of the album Keep Calm & Carry On, is a message taken from a World War II propaganda poster, and its 12 gems of intelligent, sharply crafted, melodic storytelling, have taken the band in some surprising and extremely enjoyable new directions. It’s the punchy hooks, [...]

Laura Halo is a solo artist of Brooklyn. She composes and performs with a style I have yet to hear before. Laurel Halo's sound has been fascinating me as of late. A blend of ambient trance, harmonic vocals and new age psychadelia, it's eclectic, electric aura transcends higher dimensions. Below is Cult of Optimism, a track from the Ambrosia EP. Cult of Optimism - Laurel Halo Two EPs have so far been released, 'The Future Fruit' and 'Ambrosia' which can be heard on last.fm . I'll be sure to feature any future Laurel [...]

The Flaming Lips’ strange and compelling journey has entered a new stage with the unveiling of their anticipated new double album Embryonic. The album is the latest in a selection of classic collections from the Grammy winning and Brit nominated Oklahoma band. The album features eighteen new songs, the sound is immediately recognisable as the Flaming Lips but once more push the boundaries of sound into unchartered new territory. Embryonic also highlights a number of special guest appearances including; The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O provides additional singing, screaming and noises on a few tracks whilst MGMT contribute [...]

Israel Darling's self-produced debut album 'Dinosaur Bones & Mechanical Hands' is to be released this Autumn. Originally of North Carolina, Jacob Dyer is the real creative input to the band. He grew up as a devout Baptist but lost his faith upon leaving hospital at the age of 19 after an unfortunate series of events. “I don’t think there’s anything after this so I’ve been trying to do better for myself, living for now and making the most of today.” 'Dinosaur Bones & Mechanical Sounds' has a traditional indie acoustic rock sound. The tracks are subtly catchy and a [...]

• Israel Darling - Samson The Mason

The developers, tried to make the "most expressive" instrument and they may well have succeeded. Created by Eigenlabs, this is quite possibly the future of electronic instruments. The Eighenharp is to come in two varieties, the Alpha and a miniature version called the Pico. Bear in mind that this isn't a true instrument in the sense that a clarinet or a guitar are but rather an elaborate input device to an infinite range of VST instruments. You'll need an amplifier to get a sound. The instrument is based around a variety of types [...]

Richard Hawley's sixth studio album 'Truelove's Gutter' was released on the 21st of September. The ex-Pulp guitarist has said that the album was inspired by particularly dark periods of his life and this does show; but Truelove's Gutter still retains an ethereal aura with some congruous chord progressions, unusual instrumentation and simply sublime vocals. The album is just an eight track affair but it's by no means short and sharp, it's a winding melancholic voyage to other side of dawn. For Your Lover Give Some Time - Richard Hawley

• Richard Hawley - For Your Lover Give Some Time

In just a few short months 19 year old Tommy Reilly from Torrance near Glasgow has sold out two Scottish headline tours, played Glastonbury and T in the Park and has his debut single Gimmie A Call (which is on the album) in the top 20 of the national singles chart. The albums story is fairly downbeat, his lyrics reflect; rejection by girls, and being let down – which he happily admits is a greater inspiration than striking lucky. It’s that unquestionable optimism perhaps that makes Tommy such an instinctive writer of pop songs. Tracks such as Grab [...]

This is just a post of all the Sigur Rós videos so that they can all be in one place. They've consistently made utterly inspiring videos and everyone has just got to see these. Glósóli, Hoppípolla and Sæglópur are from their 2005 album 'Takk'. Untitled #1 (Vaka) is from '( )' released 2002. Viðrar Vel Til Loftárása and Svefn-G-Englar are from the 1999 album 'Ágætis Byrjun'. Gobbledigook is from the 2008 album 'Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust'.

This will probably only affect those from London/Essex. I featured Reachback in this blog a while ago and now, they have a chance to win a record deal. They've just made it through to the semi-final of a Battle of the Bands. Faking Will Get You Nowhere - Reachback Taken from the Facebook event : "I know this is kind of late notice but Reachback has made it through the heats and quarter-finals of the Dagenham battle of [...]

Deadmau5, his name may conjure up images of a lifeless rodent, but this Canadian born self confessed techno geek punches like a Heavyweight. Having had a meteoric rise, he has gone from near obscurity to becoming one of the most in demand producers on the face of the planet and an innovative electronic live performer. He performs using music production software, Ableton, and controls this with a Lemur. No not the animal but a futuristic music controller. And of course, not forgetting the giant tailor made Mau5head. Deadmau5’s has a new compilation album, For Lack Of [...]

Big thanks to Dave Mahler of Savage Sparrow for making the new logo of Indie Music Finds. He also made this video . Talented guy. He's thinking about launching a website at the moment so I'll be sure to post it up here if he ever does.