Tagged: ticker

To celebrate the release of Foy Vance 's new EP, Melrose (out on August 27th August), the Northern Irish band will be throwing a launch party at The Social in London on the 31st. The Melrose EP is the second EP Foy Vance have made to soundtrack work by director Terry George. You can stream or download 'Something In The Water' taken from the new EP below. We have a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky ready to the exclusive gig next week, all you have to [...]

The Morning Benders have revealed that they are changing their name to POP ETC, due to unexpected reactions to the word 'bender' over here in Europe. This is news that has come as such a shock across the pond in the states, but in the UK, their name was often met with raised eyebrows and mild incredulity. Over here, the word 'bender' has derogatory homosexual meanings. Despite that, we also know full well that to go on a 'bender' is to have a heavy partying session. This is an internationally known definition too, which long out-dates the [...]

• POP ETC - Halfway To Heaven

After the inclusion of Clock Opera in our recent 'Bands to Watch' feature, together with their debut album and first full UK headline tour being both just around the corner, we're very excited about what 2012 holds for one of our favourite new bands. They're also about to appear on the new series of Topman CTRL in a show curated by the 2 Bears . We thought now would be a good time to have a chat with them so we grabbed a word with vocalist and songwriter Guy Connelly. [...]

After the inclusion of Clock Opera in our recent 'Bands to Watch' feature, together with their debut album and first full UK headline tour being both just around the corner, we're very excited about what 2012 holds for one of our favourite new bands. They're also about to appear on the new series of Topman CTRL in a show curated by the 2 Bears . We thought now would be a good time to have a chat with them so we grabbed a word with vocalist and songwriter Guy Connelly. [...]

Santigold has been building up steam in recent months, after too long spent below the radar. In recent weeks, that steam has boiled over into news that her follow up to her self-titled debut is scheduled for release in May. Following that, Santi unleashed 'Disparate Youth' onto Soundcloud and Youtube, and has reminded everyone why she was so hyped back in 2008. The song is an absolute BARN STORMER. Let us run through the song's check list for what we loved from Santigold's first album: Killer bassline - Check Chorus you don' [...]

• santigold - Disparate Youth

It's always a good day when something from Joe Goddard pops up. The man seems to be able to do no wrong; whether it's last year's dancefloor stormer 'Gabriel' , his production on the DELS album , his work as The 2 Bears (or even Hot Chip if we go further back). This time around he's remixed Nigerian-German singer Nneka who you may remember popped up with a Coki remix for her last single. The 'Shining Star' remix, complete with those trademark Goddard soft beats and bass notes, runs to 9 minutes [...]

Always an exciting event, Hotcakes favourite Seams has uploaded a new track to his Soundcloud . An excellent producer and the owner of a powerful fringe, Seams aka Jami Welch has provided some of our favourite electronic tracks in recent years (listen to 'Focus Energy' and 'Hung Markets' if this is all new to you) and his 2012 return with 'Ebb' is very welcome indeed. It's a turn in part towards the ambient and away from the dancefloor that 'Focus Energy' was leading us to. This is perhaps explained by [...]

We love Bonobo . We love DELS . Here they are in holy matrimony on the rework of 'Eyesdown' for the new album Black Sounds Remixed

Not to be constrained by self-imposed institutional guidelines, February's Baker's Dozen features just ten tracks as opposed to the usual thirteen. These ten are those tracks I've either been listening to a lot over the past few weeks or those that I've fallen instantly in love with. Either way, I hope you enjoy them. Kavinsky - Road Game Last year Kavinsky reminded us with his soundtrack for Drive that he is still the master of French Touch. 'Road Game' is the first track to see light from his forthcoming album and it [...]

This is a bit of out of left field from Becoming Real and a definite change in style from his previous works like last years 'Closer / Atlantic City' 123. 'Paramnesia' takes things altogether more upbeat and optimistic - an offbeat snare propping up a whirlwind of bubbling synths and bells. It's not just a change in style, it's a step up too. 'Paramnesia' will appear on a split 123 with Dam Mantle on 27 May via the new Get Me! label. Props to Jami for the heads up on this one.

Sleigh Bells exploded onto the scene in 2010 , and in a typically bold move, have wasted no time in following up their first album with the announcement of their second. On February 21st, the hyped Brooklyn Duo will unleash Reign of Terror, and in doing so will release one of the most no-nonsense follow-ups in recent history of much-anticipated albums. Take a look at the build up of the sophomore efforts of the likes of Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend and Bon Iver. They were long winded and steeped in uncertainty at times. But [...]

With his debut album, entitled ƒin , due on 27th January on Permanent Vacation, John Talabot has given us a taste of what to expect in the form of the album's closing track 'So Will Be Now'. It's a collaboration with Pional that the two produced together in Madrid and it is seven minutes of the most beautiful music I've heard so far this year. Engrossing doesn't do it justice - 'So Will Be Now' is warm, hypnotic house at its best and it's exactly the sort of track that reminds me why I fell in love [...]

AlunaGeorge will be massive this year. Nothing will stop that, even tiresome remixes such as this. The original 'You Know You Like It' [see below] was a sexy, addictive piece of original pop music grounded in chart melodies and intelligent, low-slung synth work. This, however, is about as unimaginative as a remix gets. The usually on point Riton has fallen into the 'dance remix' trap where an increase in tempo basically kills everything that was great about the original. Pitched up vocals take all the sugary joy out of Aluna Francis' voice, pounding four-to-the-floor beats [...]

Having mentioned Alt-J in previous post about 20122s bands to watch , I have been waiting in anticipation for their next offering. Now that it's here, I'm blown away. 'Fitzpleasure' is absolutely incredible - a truly unique and eclectic sound with such an astounding level of depth. You can't fail to be utterly engrossed. Alt-J have managed to stay clear of the dangerous realm of creating a concept so different that people are fearful to allow time to understand. Delightfully balanced clean guitar tones and the band's now highly recognisable vocal style allow for a [...]

After a strong 2011, Clock Opera have started this year equally as fast with the announcement that 'Once And For All' will be their next single release. To coincide with this they have made a music video equally as thought-provoking as the previously released 'Lesson No. 72. 'Once And For All' is an emotional track in the most uplifting sense. The video however is not uplifting, quite the opposite (so probably don't watch if you're having a shocker) but it is a superbly directed picture all the same, with a good cameo from frontman Guy Connelly [...]

After a strong 2011, Clock Opera have started this year equally as fast with the announcement that 'Once And For All' will be their next single release. To coincide with this they have made a music video equally as thought-provoking as the previously released 'Lesson No. 72. 'Once And For All' is an emotional track in the most uplifting sense. The video however is not uplifting, quite the opposite (so probably don't watch if you're having a shocker) but it is a superbly directed picture all the same, with a good cameo from frontman Guy Connelly [...]

View Blogroll in a larger map I found this in a draft post I started to write in January 2011. I'm not sure why I didn't get round to clicking publish the first time around but better late than never I suppose. Put together by the good chaps at Tympanogram , above is a map of music blogs from around the world. Unsurprisingly, they're highly concentrated in the US and Europe but presumably it's an ongoing project that will be expanded in the future to include ones from hitherto untouched parts of the [...]

View Blogroll in a larger map I found this in a draft post I started to write in January 2011. I'm not sure why I didn't get round to clicking publish the first time around but better late than never I suppose. Put together by the good chaps at Tympanogram , above is a map of music blogs from around the world. Unsurprisingly, they're highly concentrated in the US and Europe but presumably it's an ongoing project that will be expanded in the future to include ones from hitherto untouched parts of the [...]

Fresh from their inclusion in the BBC Sound of 2012 list, Niki & The Dove are back with a new video for 'DJ, Ease My Mind'. If I remember correctly this track was the first piece we ever heard from the Swedish duo way back in 2010, but now they have a bigger fan base and a bigger budget, they've made a proper video for it. It's still one of their strongest tracks to date and was one of the highlights when I saw them back in November

Fresh from their inclusion in the BBC Sound of 2012 list, Niki & The Dove are back with a new video for 'DJ, Ease My Mind'. If I remember correctly this track was the first piece we ever heard from the Swedish duo way back in 2010, but now they have a bigger fan base and a bigger budget, they've made a proper video for it. It's still one of their strongest tracks to date and was one of the highlights when I saw them back in November