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Selfish Whales – Tuesday Blues
Such a bitch of a day Tuesday, so feckin’ useless really, and so meaningless in the context of getting to the other side of the weekly grind. But we probably owe it at least one high five for motivating Bloomington youngsters Selfish Whales into writing the shortest ode to those 24-hours (serious nods to Why? here) without ever sounding like it was a throwaway idea that needed legs. This beauty is taken from the group’s debut album ‘Enjoy The Weather’ which can be purchased for nowt from their bandcamp. Throw them some money and it may even make their day. KD
Selfish Whales – Tuesday Blues
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Selfish Whales
Year: 2010
Lower Dens – Brains
One of the unexpected consequences of listening to so much new music is that when I’m asked for a recommendation I am often stumped. A thousand bands circulate around my cranium and rarely does one peep over the precipice and offer itself to the expectant questioner. Thank the lord then for Lower Dens who have not only scooped top spot on our songs of the year last year but with 2012 a mere few days old they are already making inroads into a near impervious heart. Jana Hunter and her crew have just offered the first twinkling from upcoming album ‘Nootropics’ (end of May) and boy is it showing some brawn. So much so that I’ve started to tingle as if my torso had turned tooth-like and chewed on a gold coin. ‘Brains’ is effortless and beats a path to my door that leaves me with nothing but open arms. So if you’re asking, you should definitely check out Lower Dens. KD
Lower Dens – Brains
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Lower Dens
Year: 2012
Sharon Van Etten – Serpents
Well she did set out to sound like PJ Harvey after all and this certainly has the building momentum and snarl of a ‘Sheela Na Gig’ epic. Setting such grand targets could result in hollow results but Van Etten had a backroom team that contained various members of the Walkmen, Wye Oak and the National so success was all but assured. If anything ‘Serpents’ is even better than that. This really is a kick in the balls without the associated pain. A crash, band, wallop that never veers beyond its lazer guided central hooks. Really whets the appetite for Van Etten’s upcoming LP ‘Tramps’. KD
Sharon Van Etten – Serpents
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Sharon Van Etten
Year: 2012
The Mummers – Your Voice
When a friend of mine, who was as ecstatic about music as me back in the day, recently pointed out that most new music was in fact old music dressed up in new clothes I couldn’t but agree. It’s either riding on the coattails of an electro prancer from the 80′s or else shrouded in the mysterious allure of a dark clothed being from a little bit more recently. The net effect is toe tapping, yet altogether too familiar to create tingletime. Sad really, but we do operate within the narrow confines of the indie niche when all around a thousand other genres are going through a period of sixties style invention. Thank the lord then for Raissa Khan-Panni and her Mummers project which, despite little resembling popular acclaim, has given us more than a little cause for hope. ‘Mink Hollow Road’ is all you’ll need to restore the faith. KD
The Mummers – Your Voice
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Mummers
Year: 2011
The Vaccines – Blow It Up
We wouldn’t be ones to fall for the hype, if truth be told we’d probably run a mile to avoid it. So when the whispers became a stiff breeze about the Vaccines we ambled about knowing full well that our paths would cross soon enough. And so they did via the incandescent single ‘Post Break-Up Sex’ which sounded for all intents and purposes like the best thing (of its ilk) that we’d heard since the closing strains of ‘Is This It?’. There was a dose of latter day Glasvegas thrown in there for good measure but the Vaccines didn’t suffer at all by that comparison. As it turned out the London band’s debut ‘What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?’ was tip-top, a fun ride chock-full of sleight but instantly enjoyable relics of the past. And in 2011 there was no greater pleasure. KD
The Vaccines – Blow It Up
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Vaccines
Year: 2011
Deleted Waveform Gatherings – Brand New Funky Hairdo
Oh please humour us for we’ve had the toughest couple of days and we’re in need of easy thrills. So dispense with the obvious comparisons because we’re this sounds so utterly retro heeled. And in normal circumstances we may well have similarly scoffed but for now ‘Brand New Funky Hairdo’ is filling a wounded part of our being. And anyway if you are going to go all Noel Gallagher with your musical stylings you may as well do it in such a fabulous fashion as to exhilarate even hardened views on the failings of modern day music makers. This Trondheim act have been around for a while but it looks like their current LP ‘Pretty Escape’ is going to do to them what ‘The Invisible Invasion’ did for the Coral. Ultimately they will be loved in certain clued-in quarters, which is a lot more than most bands can ever hope to achieve. KD
Deleted Waveform Gatherings – Brand New Funky Hairdo
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Deleted Waveform Gatherings
Year: 2012
The Dead Trees – Slick Rick
In the hip-hop world, Slick Rick is something of a legend, bringing the rhyme to the beat for well over two decades. So, it wouldn’t be a stretch to have an alt-country leaning indie rock band like The Dead Trees pay homage to the rap icon. Only, the track ‘Slick Rick’ has absolutely nothing to do with the MC formerly known as Richard Walters.
Instead, this LA-via-Portland-via-Boston quartet serves up a short and noisy folk-inspired number that ruminates on one of the many facets of that most universal theme; love. The kick and snare pulse in unison to the beat, a perfect pacesetter for a brisk walk outdoors on a cloudy day. Lyrics are presented in a deadpan drawl by singer Michael Ian Cummings, who narrates this tale of boy-meets-girl, pausing to let some slightly Country & Western influenced guitar licks add emotional texture to the arrangement.
The Dead Trees’ 2011 LP ‘Whatwave’ is available from the robber barons at the Apple iTunes store, and ‘Slick Rick’ can be found on a single from White Iris Records.
Joseph Avary
The Dead Trees – Slick Rick
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Dead Trees
Year: 2011
Piney Gir – Stay Sweet
I’m not sure who Angela Penhaligon (she is Piney Gir, or PG if you are into unfunny classifications) hired to do her PR but jaysus they are persistent. So much so that they penetrated all spam controls employed to halt their advances. Cursory listens were given with each missive, more out of the thought that such aggressive suggestionism must have been because the goods were mind-boggling. Well they are not but on that 6th try ‘Stay Sweet’ charmed our puffed-up inner security guard. I know there are probably a dozen other artists supplying this form of cute endeavour but on this Sunday morning I have, for one minute, stepped aside in my role as Sir Spamalot. KD
Piney Gir – Stay Sweet
Swimming – Tigershark
Now and then the shuffling feature of my music player has an uncanny knack of hitting a rich seam of dreamy new tunes. It’s as if it can tell when I’m not going off on a wholesale cull, recognising the constituents of my taste and recalibrating itself to eek out tunes of a similiar ilk. This morning there was one such occurence wherein the tattered delete button was given a much deserved break over the course over half a dozen beauties. The instigator was this tune that comes from 4 years ago via mid-England band Swimming who we’ve fallen for previously on their wild as horses near-instrumental ‘Albatross CC’. Thankfully John Sampson and co. are still active and hopefully set to make more output as incandescent as this. KD
Swimming – Tigershark
Jonathan Boulet – You’re An Animal (Fishing Remix)
Fancy some Animal Collective magic without overdosing on the flashing lights of merriweather post pavillion? Then step this way, courtesy of Fishing and their miraculous remix of Jonathan Boulet. With Fishing you know there is going to be a clever hook and together with their antipodeon mates they’ve left us hanging on with baited breath for similiar treats. This is awkward music to dance to I’m sure but then I find you can shimmy with greater consistency from the relative comfort of your own mind. Perfect music for Friday’s with the real world disappearing quickly in the rearview mirror. I’m sure Harvey Norman could do something with that chorus? KD
target=”_blank”>Jonathan Boulet – You’re An Animal (Fishing Remix)
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Jonathan Boulet
Year: 2011
Widowspeak – Puritan
I’m not sure how this Brooklyn trio calling themselves Widowspeak managed to elude me in 2011. Almost obsessively I mined the internet for interesting new sounds but these guys (and girl) somehow slipped through the cracks. It’s a mistake that’s easy to make in this day and age and luckily it only takes an errant mouse-click or two to correct.
The track ‘Puritan’ is immensely likable from the very first chord. A clean, deep guitar sound, some simple kick drum, and the breathy vocal stylings of Molly Hamilton start things off right before the full band kicks in. It’s light and fun, perfect for toe-tapping and and part of what works best about the song is how the band can sound so full and robust while playing such sparse simple parts.
Widowspeak certainly aren’t reinventing the wheel, but their self-titled LP proves that they know their way around a moody pop song. Get it via Captured Tracks or through their bandcamp. It’s definitely a keeper.
Joseph Avary
Widowspeak – Puritan
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Widowspeak
Year: 2011
Glowbug – Where Is My Mind
This song hardly needs an introduction and given its faultless original state it is to Glowbug’s great credit that the aura of the tune emerges unscathed. To be fair Daniel Anderson goes beyond swatting misgivings and presents the ‘Surfer Rosa’ anthem in an altogether different light, a warm and pleasant shade it must be said. And the Washington man isn’t at all afraid to tackle other sacred cows either as his ‘Covered In Lights Vol. 1‘ includes renditions of songs by the Smiths and Radiohead. ‘Where Is My Mind’ is almost labouring in its progression but has such a cherubic personality it is nigh on impossible to turn away. KD
Glowbug – Where Is My Mind