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Magic Bullets – What Took You So Long?
Just an old time sucker for a jangling chord and while the vocals on this one might not match it for swoonsomeness they do little to endanger the warm fuzzy feeling created by the gently tugged vibrating guitar appendage. Magic Bullets have been around for a bit, 2004 to be precise, but it looks like their days are numbered. Not going without a parting shot (geddit) though, in the shape of a 7-track EP called ‘Much Ado About’. That’s where you’ll find ‘What Took You So Long?’, a song so drenched in retrobilliness it could well be a glorious outtake from a mythical Feelies/Clean collaboration. KD
Magic Bullets – What Took You So Long?
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Magic Bullets
Year: 2012
Little Insects – Burn The City
Given the band’s name the jittery piano makes much more sense. And with Omar Delarosa’s forever skittering vocals it seems like the rest of the songs’ constituent parts have followed suit. This ditty appeared on Little Insects first foray called ‘Almost Ghost’ (2010) and since then Delarosa has been joined by a couple of friends and released a sophomore. Doesn’t take long for it to sink in that there’s a fair bit of talent kicking around here and while ‘Burn The City’ might be a bit too eclectic for some it doesn’t have the wherewithal whatsoever to bug. KD
Little Insects – Burn The City
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Little Insects
Year: 2010
Adam & The Amethysts – Prophecy
The only time ‘Prophecy’ might seem a tad odd is when it kicks into NYE mode towards the end. Up to that point this delicious slice of indie pop is close to perfection. Its Montreal makers may have a mouthful for a name but that doesn’t stop them beaming from ear to ear. The band have been around since 2004 with leadman Adam Waito also providing a bit part within the electro groovers Miracle Fortress. ‘Prophecy’ is taken from last year’s ‘Flickering Flashlight’, a glossy record that was recorded in a space not much bigger than a postage stamp. Return as much love to the sender as you can. KD
Adam & The Amethysts – Prophecy
More Info: Official
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Year: 2012
The Wedding Present – You Jane
Ever since I spied the cassette artwork for ‘George Best’ in the hands of a cool girl in the early nineties it was true love. Not for the girl mind, more for a band who have for 4 decades now epitomised everything about the indie genre that I love. Of course the Wedding Present only have one constant and that 50-something should really have found someone to share his life with at this stage. But then, would we have gotten half of the gilded lovelorn greats if David Gedge had been happily married with a load of kids? Enough of the context because the Wedding Present have a newbie out, ‘Valentino’, and the first taster called (typically) ‘You Jane’ is a gem, a proper bouncy anthem. Gedge is still at the top of his game and oddly he almost seems to have cheered up (but maybe that’s what happens when you follow us on twitter). On the live front it seems ‘Seamonsters’ is being played in full technicolour. It just gets better and better. KD
The Wedding Present – You Jane
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Wedding Present
Year: 2012
The Moth & The Mirror – Fire
It has been a while since Glasgow produced something fresh and new. Strange really because for a time it seemed that everything fresh and new was coming from that city. Pity then that a bit of investigation reveals that the Moth & The Mirror are not entirely new after all given that several of their members have treaded the boards with the likes of Arab Strap and Frightened Rabbit. No Delgados mind, no matter how much ‘Fire’ (from their debut ‘Honestly, This World’) reminds of them, especially when Stacey Sievewright’s singular vocal parts kick in. This is not exactly linear indie pop but its tailored curves are bound to give it pleasing longevity. KD
The Moth & The Mirror – Fire
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Moth & The Mirror
Year: 2011
Hooded Fang – Brahma
A lazy slacker of a tune courtesy of a singer who could well fall asleep at any minute and backing music that sounds far too casual to have been produced in a studio that charges by the hour. The truth of course is that such slovenly application takes an age to perfect, in the case of Canadian band Hooded Fang that be about the time it takes to get around to recording your second album (‘Tosta Mista’). ‘Brahma’ may be brief but then so is a full bottle of Brazilian beer of the same name. KD
Hooded Fang – Brahma
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Hooded Fang
Year: 2011
Katie Kim – Your Mountains
In the 7 years that this blog has been ambling along we’ve always taken time out (from a stubborn half-drunken stupor that renders follow-on daily activities near impossible to carry out) to showcase something from the Emerald one. Not this year mind so for this post alone can you suspend disbelief and imagine the world is still a brighter shade of green. It’s important that you get that perspective for otherwise you may find it hard to imagine something as delicate and fragile as Katie Kim coming from this island (she intimates a more northerly soul, like a Stina Nordenstam). I’ve been aware of her presence for several years but only now beginning to see what those who were doing the prompting could hear. ‘Your Mountains’ is taken from her brand new album ‘Cover&Flood’ and the Waterford lass shows all the signs of becoming a quiet superstar. The production gives the piece intimacy, offering a glimpse of what she must sound like on a dimly lit stage. One to watch, but mostly one to listen to. KD
Katie Kim – Your Mountains
Pandercakes – Paint By Numbers
Seriously, what did you expect from a band called Pandercakes. Nothing heavy anyway, or experimental or for that matter middle of the road. No, apart from a little squint of backyard playing early doors ‘Painted By Numbers’ is kick and rush indie pop, with interconnecting fey boy/girl vocals and a melodic thunderclap of instrumental sound made up of driving guitars/organs and intricate percussion. It is a headrush for all concerned, including the listener, as it winds and curves in a most pleasing variety of directions. Expect lots more sweet things from this South Carolina quartet. KD
Pandercakes – Paint By Numbers
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Pandercakes
Year: 2012
Team Me – Show Me
Hardly a surprise that the I generation has spawned a band called Team Me but then only an old fart would make such a connection. The music for its part (and I’m basing this completely on the one song I’ve heard from them) is superb, full of pristine structure with an equally strong bridge and chorus. This is what the Arcade Fire used to do when the city centre inspired them, a semi-euphoric glory that makes you want to punch the air in a way that certain parts of ‘And The Glass Handed Kites’ did. The latter comparison might not be too far off the mark either given Team Me’s north european base. Now that they’ve shown us it may be time to head ‘To The Treetops’. KD
Team Me – Show Me
Tieranniesaur – Candy
Despite knowing that it is a derivation of their own names I can’t help but thinking of matters Jurassic whenever I read Tieranniesaur in dispatches. Thankfully, they were never going to go the way of the dinosaur just because Jape was crowned for the second time. That could be due to their affiliation with the increasingly weighty Popical Island gathering or the fact that there is a good degree of nuance in what they have to offer. ‘Candy’ is certainly twee but there is so much bubbly inherent in its grooves it may just tickle points beyond your nose. Extra points awarded for employing the melodica. KD
Tieranniesaur – Candy
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Tieranniesaur
Year: 2011
The White Birch – Small Hours
So brittle yet so smoulderingly intense from Norway’s the White Birch. The band have broken up but they’ve left us with plenty of tear-stained classics over 5 albums. The falsetto which so illuminates their music came from Ola Fløttum who was also the bands chief songwriter. ‘Small Hours’ (did Donal Dineen ever see fit to use it?) from ‘Come Up For Air’ is a case in point with its sweetly jangling backdrop and Fløttum’s barely dispatched words. Gentle company for injured parties in middle Europe. KD
The White Birch – Small Hours
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The White Birch
Year: 2006
September Girls – Hells Bells
This is dirtier than a battered burger but my how quickly it has made an impression heart-wise (in a much more organic way than the aforementioned coronary disorder-maker it must be said). With John Haggis (of Emperor of Ice Cream fame) on production this 5-piece from Dublin knocked out a trio of future classics in record time for their first demo. ‘Hells Bells’ is the opening track and although it suffers from drowned volume it fidgets and agitates with a deliciously accomplished ear for melody. September Girls are veterans of sorts, having previously orchestrated under Talulah Does the Hula and the experience could well turn them into Ireland’s own Dum Dum Girls. Despite that reference I know which one the clever money is going on. KD
September Girls – Hells Bells
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: September Girls
Year: 2012