Monday, August 31, 2009

FEATURE ALBUM: HEARTBREAK, HEARTACHE AND HOPE: NOAH AND THE WHALE

From the first few lines on the title track second Noah And The Whale record The First Days Of Spring you just know your embarking upon a journey of heartbreak, heartache, redemption and renewal. Gone is the twee pop that characterised part of their first album Peaceful The World Lays Me Down having been replaced with the sounds of slow deliberate contemplative reflection. It's clear that something has gone down in the life of 23 year old Charlie Fink whose weathered and 'old before its time' voice laments a difficult departure of love while laying bare his soul for all to see. The carefully layered strings that precede these lines set the mood perfectly and from this point unfolds an album of special quality. The therapeutic nature of this album lays in its pastoral, peaceful tones, no better illustrated than on the second track 'Our Window' where a stream runs in the background accompanied by a delicate few guitar notes while Fink sings with a resigned air 'Well I don't think that it's the end, but I know we can't keep going, cause blue skies are coming, but I know that it's hard'. This is followed by the beauty of 'I Have Nothing' and then the standout track on the album and current Top 30 staple 'My Broken Heart' which contains arguably the two best simple but effective orchestral flourishes (strings and horns) of the year. The middle part of The First Days Of  Spring throws in the jaunty and uplifting 'Love Of An Orchestra, complete with choral arrangment and the uneasy 'Stranger' about an uncomfortable, strangely lonely, loveless first sexual encounter with another while yearning for the past to return where Fink sings the classic lines;

Last night I slept with a stranger
For the first time, since you've gone
Regretfully lying naked, I reflect on what I've done
Her leg still forced in between mine, sticking to my skin

Oh the dark night is moving slower, and sleep wont rescue me
Leaving me here to suffer, this shameful misery
So I long for a taste of freedom, or at least freedom from this bed
Silently picking up my clothes, I turn on my heels and I fled

The album closes with the first single, the hopeful and lush 'Blue Skies' (see clip below), the dreamy 'Slow Glass' and the lovely slide on the optimistic 'My Door Is Always Open'  This is an album full of deft subtlety, texture and consistent cohesion. Its the balance of loss and hope that makes this album a special one lyrically and musically, one that will continue to reward those willing to embrace what it has to give.

Trailer for the forthcoming film accompanying the album

Sunday, August 30, 2009

NEW TOP 30 CHART JUST ADDED TODAY! CLICK HERE

Chart Twenty Nine, August 30, 2009

.5 HAPPY BIRTHDAY - JS
1. Dark Rift - PICTUREPLANE
2. Changes Is - WHEAT
3. Love Test (Only) - PHASEONE
4. Bay Of Pigs - DESTROYER*
5. Twelve Fingers - SALEM
6. Red River - SONYA COTTON
7. Stuck In Lalaland (feat Morpheus) - THE PENELOPE(S)
8. We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues - WILD BEASTS
9. Warm In The Shadows - MUSIC GO MUSIC (NEW)
10. Soft Summer Girls - BARZIN
11. Teknique - BURNS (NEW)
12. I Say Fever - RAMONA FALLS
13. Surprise Hotel - FOOLS GOLD
14. Beach Town - LE LOUP
15. The Numbers Song - ACID GIRLS (NEW)
16. My Broken Heart - NOAH AND THE WHALE
17. So Slowly - EARLY DAY MINERS
18. Love In July - SALLY SHAPIRO
19. Watch The Waves - TAKEN BY TREES
20. Love Comes Close - COLD CAVE
21. What Have I Done - ANNA TERNHEIM
22. Look Out - LOVE OF DIAGRAMS (NEW)
23. Tonight's Today - JACK PENATE
24. In These Arms - THE SWELL SEASON (NEW)
25. Useful Chamber - DIRTY PROJECTORS*
26. If Pain Persists - THE GOOD CHINA (NEW)
27. Beat The Twilight - DECODER RING
28. An Anniversary Away - REVERIE SOUND REVUE
29. I Am Leaving - BLUE ROSES
30. Spanish Fly - BLONDES

*Denotes stream available only.
All other tracks have links to free downloads in the Latest Top 30 section here. 

Tracks exiting this week
Links to download these tracks now available in the archive section

Castle Light - THE BATS
My Will Is Good - PORT O'BRIEN
Here To Fall - YO LA TENGO
Edge Of Our Lives - HOLIDAY SHORES
Sugarette - BIBIO
Things Will Never Be The Same Again - jj

Friday, August 28, 2009

WICKED NEW VIDEO ACCOMPANIES NEW ACID GIRLS TRACK

It's not often that great songs align with great videos, you either have one or the other. However, this video for the forthcoming track 'The Numbers Song' by Los Angeles DJ/Producing duo Gregory Bowler and Jamie McNiel otherwise known as Acid Girls is an absolute stunner along with the track itself. The Taylor Cohen directed and Otto Arsenault produced clip sees four sexy female room mates (three very menacing) and one (un)lucky male romp around verging on orgy style in a cut up close circuit television type format. Watch closely for when things start to go pear shaped. The single is out September 1.

The Numbers Song

Acid Girls (USA)

From the single 'The Numbers Song/Lightworks, IHEARTCOMIX. Out on Sept 1.

Download here

Official Video

Thursday, August 27, 2009

MUSIC GO MUSIC PLAY MARATHON TRACK WARM IN THE SHADOWS ON FACETIME

Californian indie disco funksters Music Go Music recently posted a collection of live tracks from their upcoming album Expressions which perfomed on Face Time on their myspace site. The one we've featured below 'Warm In The Shadows' showcases the band's impressive live sound and stylish performance and is an exquisite dose of pop perfect disco funk. The track was originally released as a single earlier in the year and for some reason didn't get the traction with us it deserved. Call this article the start of a Music Go Music rectification campaign on indie30. The album is due out on October 6 through Secretly Canadian.

Warm In The Shadows (Live)

Music Go Music (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Expressions', Secretly Canadian. Out on October 6

Download here 

Live On Face Time

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

LOVE OF DIAGRAMS RELEASE EXPANSIVE SECOND ALBUM

Australian three piece indie post punk rockers Love Of Diagrams made quite an impression in indie circles worldwide back in 2007 with their debut album Mosaic notably achieving a very good nod from Pitchfork (the album scored a 7.6, we would have scored it higher). This week sees the release of the Melbourne trio's follow up effort Now Forever. Recorded in Seattle with Blonde Redhead and Steve Malkmus producer Ryan Hadlock in late 2008, the album possesses a greater depth of sound than its predecessor and some have labeled it sonically dense to the point of bursting at the seams - maybe now post post punk or just not punk at all! This change in direction is in evidence on the second advance track from the album 'Look Down' which can be downloaded on the Remote Control website below. Get in quick before they remove it. Love Of Diagrams embark on three CD launch gigs in Australia at the Northcote Social Club, Melbourne on September 11, the Annandale Hotel in Sydney on the 17th and Jade Monkey in Adelaide on October 2nd. If you live in these cities we highly recommend you get out and see them.

Look Down

Love Of Diagrams (AUS)

From the album 'Now Forever', Remote Control Records/Unstable Ape. 

Download here

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

BURNS COMES OUT TO PLAY...AGAIN AND THIRD TIME FOR 2009

UK DJ/Producer Burns dropped the third of his planned four EP's Teknique last week following the release earlier this year of the Disko and Turbo. A full on stomper of a track with a nice twist midstream, the video for 'Teknique' was done by Thomas Bachellier, who you might remember as the man behind Linus Loves video for 'Prom Night' which featured a mash up from the doyen of 70's horror films Carrie. Well, for Burns's menacing piece of hard house, the early 80's inner city gang flick The Warriors is the subject. Download the track and check out the video here. You can also download the extended mix of 'Heartbeats' from the aformentioned Turbo EP. 

Teknique

BURNS (ENG)

From the EP, 'Teknique', 2112.

Download here

Heartbeats (Extended Mix)

BURNS (ENG)

From the EP 'Turbo', 2112

Download here

Monday, August 24, 2009

MAGIC DIRT'S DEAN TURNER PASSES AWAY

Magic Dirt co-founder and bass player Dean Turner tragically lost his year long battle with cancer last Friday. Turner founded the Australian indie rock band with vocalist/guitarist Adalita Srsen in Geelong around 1990 and together with Dave Thomas/Raul Sanchez (guitar) and Adam Thompson (drums) went on to release eight albums, beginning with the unsettling and distinctly radio unfriendly, not to mention Warner Bros unfriendly Friends In Danger in 1997 (they'll be always admired for this by this writer) with the latest being the 2008 release Girl. Having seen Magic Dirt live probably a dozen times around their halcyon days in the late nineties/early 2000's, their raw energy, power and fuck you attitude was palpable and Turner was clearly instrumental in helping produce that sound and direction. Apart from his central role in Magic Dirt, he has recently been producing for young Australian bands like redsunband and Violent Soho. He will be sadly missed by all involved in the Australian indie music scene and is survived by his wife and two young daughters. Our thoughts go out to his family at this difficult time.

Pristine Christine (Live At The Big Day Out 2000)

Magic Dirt (AUS)

From the album 'Friends In Danger', Au Go Go/Warner (1997)

Sunday, August 23, 2009

WHEAT STILL TOP, DESTROYER LANDS AT 7

The twentieth eighth chart for the year sees another five new entries, the most prominent of which is the new track of near epic proportions for Destroyer, 'Bay Of Pigs'. It debuts at 7 and is joined by Jack Penate's 'Tonight's Today', a track that's been out for a while in the UK at 18. The other new entries come from Le Loup 'Beach Town (24), Early Day Miners, 'So Slowly' (25) and Decoder Ring, 'Beat The Twilight' (27). Wheat stays at No 1 with 'Changes Is' while Pictureplane moves up a spot to 2. There are three big movers this week, all of whom entered the chart last week. Salem (this weeks feature album artist) 'Twelve Fingers' moves up 9 from 15 to 6, Sonya Cotton enters the Top Ten at 10, up from 21 and Ramona Falls 'I Say Fever' also moves up 11 spots from 25 to 14. With the five new entries, it means the chart has turned over nearly half its tracks in the last two weeks indicating  we are in a very strong period for new music at present. Check the chart out here.

Chart Twenty Eight, August 23, 2009

1. Changes Is - WHEAT
2. Dark Rift - PICTUREPLANE
3. We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues - WILD BEASTS
4. Love Test (Only) - PHASEONE
5. Stuck In Lalaland (feat Morpheus) - THE PENELOPE(S)
6. Twelve Fingers - SALEM
7. Bay Of Pigs - DESTROYER* (NEW)
8. Soft Summer Girls - BARZIN
9. Surprise Hotel - FOOLS GOLD
10. Red River - SONYA COTTON
11. Love In July - SALLY SHAPIRO
12. My Broken Heart - NOAH AND THE WHALE
13. What Have I Done - ANNA TERNHEIM
14. I Say Fever - RAMONA FALLS
15. Useful Chamber - DIRTY PROJECTORS*
16. An Anniversary Away - REVERIE SOUND REVUE
17. Love Comes Close - COLD CAVE
18. Tonight's Today - JACK PENATE (NEW)
19. Castle Light - THE BATS
20. Things Will Never Be The Same Again - JJ
21. Watch The Waves - TAKEN BY TREES
22. Sugarette - BIBIO*
23. I Am Leaving - BLUE ROSES
24. Beach Town - LE LOUP (NEW)
25. So Slowly - EARLY DAY MINERS (NEW)
26. Spanish Fly - BLONDES
27. Beat The Twilight - DECODER RING (NEW)
28. Edge Of Our Lives - HOLIDAY SHORES
29. Here To Fall - YO LA TENGO
30. My Will Is Good - PORT O'BRIEN

*Denotes stream available only.
All other tracks have links to free downloads in the Latest Top 30 section here. 

Tracks exiting this week
Links to download these tracks now available in the archive section

Beneath Your Tree - BOWERBIRDS
Twisted Thoughts - KINETIC STEREOKIDS
Harlem Sunrise - RAINBOW ARABIA
Blank Passports - HALLELUJAH THE HILLS
All The World - U.S.E.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

AUSTRALIA'S DECODER RING AND UK'S JACK PENATE GET U.S RELEASES

In case you missed the release of Decoder Ring's fourth album They Blind The Stars, And The Wild Team in Australia back in July and UK multi-genre king Jack Penate's second effort Everything Is New in the UK in March, this week saw both come out in the US.

The Decoder Ring release is an all-instrumental affair and comes in the form of a double album, one full of an array of pacy post and kraut-rock rhythms underlined with an ambient pop feel and urgent yet spatially aware melodies. To accompany the album, the band has put out the first single 'Beat The Twilight' as a free download, a pumping straight ahead 4/4 dose of atmospheric rock that has a Broken Social Scene feel to it. Get it below.

Tracklisting - Decoder Ring - They Blind The Stars, And The Wild Team

Disc 1

1. Beat The Twilight
2. The Blind The Stars And The Wild Team
3. Charlotte Rampling
4. And The Grass Will Grow Over Your Cities
5. Happy Place
6. 100 Suns
7. Point No Point
8. Let A Thousand
9. Flowers Bloom
10. Astronaut Farewell Blues

Disc 2

1. Same Old Paradise
2. The Horse And The Hand Grenade
3. All The Streams Have Little Glitches In Them
4. The Inland Sea

Beat The Twilight

Decoder Ring (AUS)

From the album, 'They Blind The Stars, And The Wild Team, Inertia/101 Distribution

Download here

Jack Penate's impressively wide use of a multiude of genres comes through strongly on Everything Is New and the album has recieved a far more favourable ride from the critics than his first album Matinee did with very good reason. It's showcases an excellent array of big pulsing beats and pop-perfect hooks while combining the odd bedfellows of Brazilian tropicalia and with a sound that ventures into being curesque at times. Penate embarks on a near-month long tour of the US in September and early October beginning appropriately in Philadelphia, given the influence of the Philly sound in his music. Grab a free download of the first single, the swinging rhythms of the dance inspired 'Tonight's Today' released earlier this year.

Tracklisting - Jack Penate - Everything Is New

1. Pull My Heart Away
2. Be The One
3. Everything Is New
4. Tonight’s Today
5. So Near
6. Every Glance
7. Give Yourself Away
8. Let’s All Die
9. Body Down  

Tonight's Today

Jack Penate (ENG)

From the album 'Everything Is New', XL Recordings.

Download here

Wednesday, August 18, 2009

EARLY DAY MINERS TO GIVE US THE TREATMENT 

Now into their second decade, Bloomington, Indiana's Early Day Miners are set to release their sixth full length album (and first in three years) The Treatment in late September through Secretly Canadian. Undoubtedly their most immediate and up tempo effort, the band has taken a more lyrical approach and focuses on melding together hook laden melodies and metronomic yet organic rhythmic structures.This is not to say the atmospherics and ambient feel from past releases have been forgotten. They now sit beside probing and powerful bass and delicately layered guitars. This album seems like an emotional and personal trip, where Daniel Burton is navigating through the pain of mistakes, deceit and lost love searching for a destination, that being an ever-elusive redemptive and pure place. The line up change for the album where John Dawson on guitar and Marty Sprowles on drums as well as guest vocalist Daun Fields have joined founder Burton (vocals/guitar) and bassist Jonathan Richardson certainly seems to have contributed to a change in direction, a direction in which further growth is amply demonstrative and like the recent release by fellow veterans Wheat, is a major step forward for the band. Check out the first single, 'So Slowly' at the link below.

Tracklisting

1. In The Fire
2. So Slowly
3. The Surface Of Things
4. Spaces
5. How To Fall
6. The Zip
7. Becloud
8. Silver Oath

So Slowly

Early Day Miners (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'The Treatment', Secretly Canadian. Out on Sept 22. 

Download here

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

SONGS IN THE KEY OF BLOG - AUGUST 11-18

The past week saw an interesting swathe of new mp3s from a myriad of genres be made available on a variety of sites out there in blogger world. Gotta love their work! Below is an eclectic selection of some of our faves. The selection begins with the collaboration of Bon Iver and Collection Of Colonies And Bees, Volcano Choir and includes Los Angeles indie pop songwriter AM, New Yorker Vincent Cacchione's Soft Black, American indie rock shoegazing duo, The Sky Drops, the pop-punk of Broadway Calls, the electro blip pop of Boy 8-Bit, the psychedelic 80s inspired pop/rock of The Furrs and the sweet folk/rock of the prolific Fleet Foxes stick man J. Tillman, the Irish/Czech collaboration, The Swell Season, the experimental jungle rhythms of Le Loup and rounding off with the soundscapes post rock of The Calm Blue Sea.

TIP: Download the 11 track at the links below, collate them into a mixed CD (its just over 40 mins) and shove it in your car stereo for the drive to work tomorrow if work has to be your thing. You might just be glad you did.

Island, IS

Volcano Choir (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Unmap, Jagjaguwar, Out on Sept 22.

Download here

Grand Opinion

AM (USA)

From the album 'Future Sons And Daughters', Filter US Recordings.

Download here

 

The Earth Is Black

Soft Black (USA)

From the album 'The Earth Is Black (And Other Apocalyptic Lullabies For Children), Plays With Dolls.

Download here

*'I Am An Animal' off the aforementioned album (prominent indie30 chart track from earlier this year) now available here. Was only available by stream earlier in the year.

Truth Is

The Sky Drops (USA)

From the album 'Bourgeois Beat', Self Released/SVC. Out now in US. Out in UK Oct 5.

Download here

Be All That You Can't Be

Broadway Calls (USA)

From the album 'Good Views, Band News ', Side One Dummy. 

Download here

Baltic Pine (Radio Edit)

Boy 8-Bit (ENG)

From the EP 'Baltic Pine', This Is Music Records.

Download here

Stay Here With Me

The Purrs (USA)

From the album 'Amused, Confused and More Bad News', Self Released

Download here

Earthly Bodies

J. Tillman (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Year In The Kingdom', Western Vinyl. Out on Sept 22.

Download here

In These Arms

The Swell Season (IRE/CZE)

From the forthcoming album 'Strict Joy', Anti-. Out on Oct 27.

Download here

Live Performance

Beach Town

Le Loup (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Family', Hardly Art Records. Out on Sept 22 

Download here

The Hunt

The Calm Blue Sea (USA)

From the soundtrack 'Siegfried: A Soundtrack By The Calm Blue Sea', Self Released.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

INDIE 30 CHART GOES NUTS: EIGHT, COUNT 'EM EIGHT NEW ENTRIES

With Destroyer's epic 'Bay Of Pigs' lurking menacingly in the shadows of the chart's top echelons ready to pounce next week, the Top Five tracks of last week are still ensconced in that section albeit in different order. Wheat 'Changes Is' takes the number one spot from Wild Beasts 'We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues', Pictureplane (this weeks feature album - see review below) 'Dark Rift' is steady at three while Phaseone 'Love Test (Only)'and Fools Gold 'Surprise Hotel' exchange places at 4 and 5 respectively. However, thats not the main piece of chart news this week folks as an incredible eight new entries take their places, six from the US and two from Sweden. They are in order of appearance Salem 'Twelve Fingers' (15), Sonya Cotton 'Red River', Holiday Shores 'Edge Of Our Lives', Taken By Trees 'Watch The Waves', Kinetic Stereokids 'Twisted Thoughts', Ramona Falls 'I Say Fever', Blondes 'Spanish Fly' and Port O'Brien 'My Will Is Good' (21-27 inclusive). Another big move saw French outfit The Penelope(s) land in the Top 10 at 7, (up 8 from 15) while Barzin's Soft Summer Girls continues its climb up the charts at 6 (up 4 from 10). Check out the list below and the full chart with downloads and videos here.

Chart Twenty Seven, August 16, 2009

1. Changes Is - WHEAT
2. We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues - WILD BEASTS
3. Dark Rift - PICTUREPLANE
4. Love Test (Only) - PHASEONE
5. Surprise Hotel - FOOLS GOLD
6. Soft Summer Girls - BARZIN
7. Stuck In Lalaland (feat Morpheus) - THE PENELOPE(S)
8. Castle Light - THE BATS
9. What Have I Done - ANNA TERNHEIM
10. My Broken Heart - NOAH AND THE WHALE
11. Useful Chamber - DIRTY PROJECTORS*
12. Love In July - SALLY SHAPIRO
13. An Anniversary Away - REVERIE SOUND REVUE
14. Things Will Never Be The Same Again - JJ
15. Twelve Fingers - SALEM (NEW)
16. Love Comes Close - COLD CAVE
17. Sugarette - BIBIO*
18. Here To Fall - YO LA TENGO
19. I Am Leaving - BLUE ROSES
20. Beneath Your Tree - BOWERBIRDS
21. Red River - SONYA COTTON (NEW)
22. Edge Of Our Lives - HOLIDAY SHORES (NEW)
23. Watch The Waves - TAKEN BY TREES (NEW)
24. Twisted Thoughts - KINETIC STEREOKIDS (NEW)
25. I Say Fever - RAMONA FALLS (NEW)
26. Spanish Fly - BLONDES (NEW)
27. My Will Is Good - PORT O'BRIEN (NEW)
28. Harlem Sunrise - RAINBOW ARABIA
29. Blank Passports - HALLELUJAH THE HILLS
30. All The World - U.S.E.

MENOMENA'S BRENT KNOPF ENLISTS A CAST OF THOUSANDS FOR NEW RAMONA FALLS PROJECT

The solo debut Intuit for Menomena's Brent Knopf's Ramona Falls is released this week and features a veritable smorgasboard of indie luminaries guesting (Mirah, The Helio Sequence, Loch Lomond among others). Combining soft folk pop flourishes with powerful indie rock, Intuit is sure to be a rewarding listen. There are a few mp3s doing the blog rounds at present. Here links to two of them below while you can donwload the other 'I Say Fever' in the Latest Top 30 section. It debuted today at 25.

Russia

Ramona Falls (USA)

From the album 'Intuit', Barsuk Records. Out on Aug 18.

Download here

Melectric

Ramona Falls (USA)

From the album 'Intuit', Barsuk Records. Out on Aug 18.

Download here

FEATURE ALBUM: PICTUREPLANE'S COSMIC JUGGERNAUT ROLLS ON

The cosmos inspired almost hallicinogenic new album from Pictureplane aka Denver DJ/Producer Travis Egedy is this weeks Indie30 feature album. This release is a fresh step forward for dance music's house/trance genre containing as it does a plethora of alternative genre hopping sounds ranging from jungle, garage, reggae and dancehall, Afrobeat and a fair dose of 80s inspired electro pop that borders of glam at times. All this against a wall of clipped and stilted vocals, delayed synth loops and broken beats. Highlights on the front end include the distorted synths and mashed up pop/trance sound of the appropriately titled 'Trance Doll' with its double layered beats adding an extra dimension to its appeal, the 8-Bit laden and cooing vocal samples of 'Gang Signs' and the dark yet hopeful 'Goth-Star' with its cleverly delayed sample of Fleetwood Mac's 1987 hit 'Seven Wonders'. That's not to leave out the opener, the dance stomper 'Solid Gold'. The back end is also peppered with similar quality hosting undoubtedly the star track off the album, the title track 'Dark Rift'. It combines the otherworldly icy vocals of Angela Jane with a perfect mixture of interwoven light and dark synth and the best quality simulated drum sound and laconic rhythm I've heard in a dance track in a long time. The change up midway throught the track is spine tingling stuff. The tracks that follow 'New Mind' and 'Transparent Now (Thin Veil)' could easily have been letdowns following the towering title track but contain an infectious groove and heavy dose of atmosphere respectively adding them to the standout list. In fact throughout the whole album Egedy manages to maintain a DIY, experimental aethestic which keeps things fresh, immediate and intriguing. The next rave you're at ask the resident turntable spinners if they have Pictureplane and if so could you hear it. If they say 'who?' or worse still 'no' they're about as vital musically speaking as an impotent 60 year old male is to sex.

August 15, 2009

NEW ALBUM COMING FROM SAN FRANCISCANS PORT O'BRIEN

All We Could Do Was Sing, last years second release from Port O'Brien made quite a splash with fans and critics alike with the band garnering much love among live audiences for their raucous shout a long tracks 'I Woke Up Today' and 'Close The Lid', the latter making last years Indie30 Top 100. They have recently finished recording their follow up Threadbare, which is due for release late September (Aust/NZ)/early October (UK, US, Europe). The album was recorded with Papercuts Jason Quever at the switches with a little help from Aaron Espinoza from Earlimart. Two advance tracks have been doing the blog rounds of late suggesting a more stripped back refined effort this time - download them at the links below. Mind you, both previous albums contain tracks in the same vein, so who knows. We'll just have to wait and see.

Sour Milk/Salt Water

Port O'Brien (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Threadbare', Rough Trade. Out on September 26 (AUS/NZ), October 3 (UK/Europe), October 6 (US, October 7 (CAN).

Download here

My Will Is Good

Port O'Brien (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Threadbare', Rough Trade. Out on September 26 (AUS/NZ), October 3 (UK/Europe), October 6 (US, October 7 (CAN).

Download here

August 14, 2009

NEW TAKEN BY TREES OUT IN SEPTEMBER

Former Concretes frontwoman Victoria Bergsman is set to release her new album East Of Eden on Rough Trade on September 8. A taste of the album is currently available in the form of the hynoptic 'Watch The Waves' which you can download below. Having taken an unusual step for a western musician by choosing to record in Pakistan, that country's influence on her sound certainly comes through here especially rhythmically. Watch a mini-documentary of Bergsman's recording experience here.

Tracklisting

1. To Lose Someone
2. Anna
3. Watch The Waves
4. Greyest Love Of All
5. Tidens Gång
6. Wapas Karna
7. My Boys
8. Day By Day
9. Bekännelse

Watch The Waves

Taken By Trees (SWE)

From the forthcoming album 'East Of Eden', Rough Trade. Out on September 8.

Download here

August 13, 2009

THE UNIVERSE IS NOT A BIG ENOUGH PLACE FOR THE INFLUENCES OF SALEM

Back in March, Swedish pop troubadour Salem Al Fakir released his second album Astronaut, assembling another set of melodies and hooks that will embed themselves into you quicker than the instantaneousness of the speed of light but last longer than a Russian cosmonaut's stay on the Mir space station. Such melodies obviously caught the attention of someone at that Swedish auto institution Volvo who borrowed the first single 'It's Only You (Part Two)' to highlight the engineering excellence and sporty prowess of that most eye-catching, awe inspiring speed machine, the XC60. Often artists associating themselves with cliche ridden car ads spells doom for their credibility - for Australian audiences check Alex Lloyd's 'Amazing'. But Al Fakir is such a genuine talent that you'll forgive the association. What we have here is an impressive array of pop styles that takes in everything from 60's pyschedelic pop, 70's piano pop, 80s fluro-rock to 90's Brit Pop and everything but the kitchen sink in between. A truly diverse and entertaining release. Check out the War Of The World's inspired track 'Twelve Fingers' below as well as the aforementioned first single.

Twelve Fingers

Salem (SWE)

From the album 'Astronaut, EMI (Sweden).

Download here

It's Only You (Part Two)

Salem (SWE)

From the album 'Astronaut, EMI (Sweden).

Download here

August 12, 2009

KINETIC STEREOKIDS WITH NEW VIDEO OFF KID MOVES

A few months back Kinetic Stereokids released their second album, the 70 minute odyssey, Kid Moves. The Flint, Michigan outfit garnered some nice press for its folk rock take on a sound that is Beckesque in parts. However, to pigeon hole in that limiting way would be unfair as the album not only contains that influence but also many more while being highly original in structure and depth (check some Beastie Boys, Broken Social Scene, Avalanches, Sonic Youth, Jeff Buckley etc.). The band began kicking around back around 2005 and earned some cred playing shows in Detroit backing the likes of ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and Explosions In The Sky. They then released their first album, Basement Kids back in 2007 to some acclaim gaining a song of the day gong on KEXP Blog for 'Explosions Were Heard'. Their music has been described as 'a silently sadistic post-punk group that preys on jam bands, krautrock, dub, trip-hop, alternative hip-hop, art rock, and postrock' (Big Takeover). Got that? The initial single off Kid Moves, 'Have A Nice Day', was accompanied by a video painstakingly digitally handcrafted by Kelly Brickner and now a second visual experience enlisting the skills of filmmaking duo James Petix and Sarah Babila, creators of the Detroit garage rock documentary, It Came From Detroit. has been made to accompany 'Twisted Thoughts'. You can view both videos below as well as download both tracks at the links provided. Check out a review of the album there too.

Twisted Thoughts

Kinetic Stereokids (USA)

From the album 'Kid Moves', Overdraft Recordings.

Download here*
*The tracks Planes With Teeth and Drugs Is A Drag also available at this link.

Have A Nice Day

Kinetic Stereokids (USA)

From the album 'Kid Moves', Overdraft Recordings.

Download here*
*The track Free Money also available

August 11, 2009

SONYA COTTON TO RELEASE FIRST RECORD SINCE MOVING TO SAN FRAN

The move to from the east coast of the US to San Francisco back in 2007 has every indication of paying dividends for singer/songwriter Sonya Cotton. Her upcoming new album Red River, three years in the making, is the follow up to her debut album Out In The Ocean and continues her daliance with wild spaces and nature's creatures taking centre stage. The album was recorded in Hyde Street Studios with Scott McDowell and features local musicians Anna Perlmutter (vocals, violin) Nick Stargu (classical guitar,) Gabe Dominguez (vocals, flute,) and Sean Jones (bass guitar). Red River is self released and is out on September 1. The title track is available for download at the link below.

Red River

Sonya Cotton (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Red River',  Self Released.

Download here

August 10, 2009

DESTROYER SET TO RELEASE BAY OF PIGS EP

Dan Bejar's Destroyer goes ambient and long on his first release since last years Trouble In Dreams. The 14 minute whole sided title track of his new Bay Of Pigs EP, set for release on August 18 features Bejar's trademark chorus and rhythm structures but also contains disco and electro tendencies, evidenced by the ambient five minute beginning. Not since Your Rubies has a Destroyer track contained so many electronic sounds but 'Bay Of Pigs' is done on a much grander scale and it seems on this Bejar has reached a place he's long been wanting to go. But he's clearly done it on his terms. This is an excellent track lyrically as well as musically and a welcome surprise for this Destroyer tragic. Fans will find much to like here and Bejar might even win a few new ones.

Bay Of Pigs

Destroyer (CAN)

From the forthcoming EP, 'Bay Of Pigs', Merge. Out on August 18.

Stream here

August 9, 2009

WHITE INK BLACK INK THIS WEEKS FEATURE ON INDIE30

Wheat live at Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia back in July. See interview with Philadelphia based music website Popwreckoning below

Two words jump out at you when you begin your sonic journey listening to Wheat's new album and they are change and honesty. They are never going to win any prizes for musical viruosity but exude arguably the most organic and natural sound going around in indie rock at present. The lyrics are fresh, telling and interesting, the music is wide-ranging, hook laden and most importantly vital. This album politely but assertively informs you it is 2009. The lead single 'Changes Is' possesses one of the catchiest beats of the year thus far and is complemented by a relaxed groove which is undercut by a buzzing incessant guitar as singer/guitarist Scott Levesque sums up the never-ending restlessness of the band in the chorus 'Change is the better part of me, boom boom I'm getting out of here'. This track will definitely land Top 10 on the Indie30 end of year list. Tracks of the quality of 'Changes Is' can often overpower the rest of a record but this is not so on White Ink, Black Ink. First track 'Half Of The Time' paves the way for the dynamic and different nature of the album as Levesque lets us in on what's to come with the lyric, 'half of the time I feel broke, cracked, peeled and weathered, half of the time I feel shiny and new, half of the time I feel I'm clever, half of the time I just haven't a clue'. Drummer Brendan Harney, who's stick work is an integral part of this record, summed up the bands and this album's constantly changing direction in a recent interview; 'It’s not being willfully obscure; it’s more about being very easily bored,' Harney told Express, 'and never wanting to even come close to repeating ourselves. We really do love pop, but we really also do love strange and difficult beauty.'

Other highlights include the jungle rhythms of the caring 'My Warning Song', the catchy piano-synth and vocal coos of the honest 'El Sincero', the analog sound and humble disposition of 'If Everything Falls Together' the manic beats but intelligence and humanity of 'I Want Less' the simple escapism of 'Two Mountains' and the rocking track with the name that says it all for all of us music tragics, 'Music Is Drugs'. White Ink, Black Ink certainly packs a dynamic punch and at 33 minutes, the 11 tracks never outstay their welcome. This is another major step forward for Wheat, all the more impressive because the band is in its 13th year and such growth is not always possible for a band after such a long time together. But that fact alone sums up Wheat, they are forever changing, forever growing and long may that continue.

Interview with Wheat - popwreckoning.com

FROM GREAT HEIGHTS PICTUREPLANE LANDS IN TOP 30 AT NUMBER 3 

Travis Edgey (aka Pictureplane) going off live! The title track off his new album debuts at 3 on Indie30 this week

The Indie30 Top Five 9/8/09

1. We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues - Wild Beasts (Domino)
2. Changes Is - Wheat (The Rebel Group)
3. Dark Rift - Pictureplane (Lovepump United)
4. Surprise Hotel - Fools Gold (IAMSound)
5. Love Test (Only) - Phaseone (Self-released)

With what undoubtedly has to be one of the best electronic tracks this year, Pictureplane's 'Dark Rift' debuted impressively at No 3 this week. It's superb broken beats underpinning towering dark and light synths and the dreamy vocals of guest Angela Jane. An absolutely awesome track and a must download. The other big debut this week saw French outfit The Penelope(s) come in at 15 with the Arcade Fire inspired 'Stuck In Lalaland' while Seattle funksters U.S.E. dropped in at 26 with 'All The World'. Wild Beasts took the number one spot with the majestic instrumentation and explicit and sensual lyrics of 'We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues' and replaced the West African vibes of Fools Gold 'Surprise Hotel' which dropped to 4. This weeks feature album is Wheat's White Ink, Black Ink and the brilliant single from it 'Changes Is' took No. 2 up from 3. In another coup for electronic fans, the reggae influence of Phaseone's sweeping 'Love Test (Only)' moved up five spots from 10 to 5. In another move upward, Barzin 'Soft Summer Girls' also moved up 5 from 15 to 10. Check out the full chart counting down from 30 to 1 here. 

August 7, 2009

EMILY HAINES HELPS PAUL BANKS TO GRAFFITI HOTEL ROOM ON HIS NEW JULIAN PLENTI VID!

The first video has been released from the new album by Paul Banks nom de plume Julian Plenti, Julian Plenti Is.. Skyscraper. The stylish vision for 'Games For Days' sees bad Banks (or is that Julian Plenti?) joined by Metric frontwoman Emily Haines as they proceed to deface a perfectly respectable hotel room and take photos of each other handcuffed (naughty, naughty) before good Banks (or is that Julian Plenti, or are neither of them Julian Plenti... or Paul Banks?) arrives as they escape out the window. Not a bad track that definitely has an Interpol feel. Check out the video and download thetrack at the link below.

Games For Days

Julian Plenti (USA)

From the album 'Julian Plenti...Is Skyscraper, Matador.

Download here

August 6, 2009

PICTUREPLANE UNCOVERS DARK RIFT

Hot on the heels of the re-release of his first album Turqoise Trail back in March Travis Egedy, aka Pictureplane, released his second album this week via Lovepump United. Having remixed songs by label mates Health and Crystal Castles, Egedy is fast assembling a impressive collection of sonic gems and will do that no harm to that with Dark Rift, an album title that aptly matches the album's otherworldly sound. A toweringly emotive and powerful mixture of 80's synths and 90's house melded to a dark, at times abrasive, art-pop disposition, this album will hopefully catapult Pictureplane toward the recognition he deserves. Pictureplane tours the US in September in support of the release of Health's new album, Get Color. Check the dates at his myspace site. below where you'll also find links to two tracks off the album, the title track of which includes the vocals of unsigned Colorado indie popster and multi-instrumentalist Angela Jane.

Pictureplane myspace

Angela Jane myspace

Tracklisting

1. Solid Gold
2. Trance Doll
3. Boys In Blush
4. Gang Signs
5. 5th Sun
6. Goth-Star
7. Cyclical Cyclical (Atlantis)
8. Time Teens
9. Dark Rift
10. New Mind
11. Transparent Now (Thin Veil)
12. Dimensional Rip
13. True Ruin

Dark Rift

Pictureplane (USA)

From the album 'Dark Rift, Lovepump United

Download here (and scroll down to find the link - its well worth it!)

Goth-Star

Pictureplane (USA)

From the album 'Dark Rift, Lovepump United

Download here

August 5, 2009

U.S.E. INVITE YOU TO DROP INTO LOVEWORLD

Seattle's indie disco pop/rock seven piece U.S.E. (United States Of Electronica) released their second album Loveworld yesterday and have provided two mp3s, 'We The People' and 'All The World' available for download from their website here. You can name your price, free if you like, for the 320 versions or settle for the run of the mill 128 versions without giving your details. Loveworld continues the band obsession with global writ-large unity and ultra-positivity all wrapped up in some hot 'whiteass' disco rock. Check out 'All The World' and another track 'K.I.S.S.I.N.G' by clicking on the download links below.

U.S.E. myspace

All The World

U.S.E. (USA)

From the album 'LOVEWORLD' Mannheim Worldwide.

Download here

K.I.S.S.I.N.G.

U.S.E. (USA)

From the album 'LOVEWORLD' Mannheim Worldwide.

Download here

Audio only

August 4, 2009

WILD BEASTS THIS WEEKS FEATURE: THE BEAUTIFULLY RESTRAINED TWO DANCERS

The thing that stands out about the new record from Wild Beasts right from the start is not the often maligned but talented falsetto voice of Hayden Thorpe but the slick stick and percussion work of drummer Chris Talbot. Yes, finally the back end gets the recognition it deserves. Together Talbot and bassist Tom Fleming underpin Two Dancers with a platform that is not only sturdy and assured but breathtakingly dynamic. The hi-hat and fill work and cleverly understated off beats sit beautifully underneath strong and meticulous arrangements. Ben Little and Thorpe also excel on this record with melodic flourishes that keep punters longing for more. What's also understated this time around is Thorpe's voice, proving less is more as it sits pretty alongside the music unlike on Limbo. Panto where it hijacked and dominated the rest of the band at times. This is a sign of maturity that can be seen readily on the swaggering opener 'The Fun Powder Plot' and the first single 'Hooting And Howling' where Thorpe's vocal complements a dazzling melody drenched in reverb. The presence of Fleming's restrained but singularly powerful vocals on four tracks is welcome as evidenced on 'All The Kings Men', a track replete with a bass line to die for, an infectious backing vocal and Thorpe's very appropriate interjections. The standout track and the one chosen for the Indie30 chart though is the album's centrepiece, the sexually tense 'We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues'.The three staged build up to the chorus is absolutely stunning as the rumbling pitter patter of drums and simple guitar give way to best three chord end to a melody the year has seen. Throw in Thorpe's voice in the finest and most appropriate form of his short career and you have gold! The latter half of the album is also excellent with the two part title track and 'This Is Our Lot' being particularly strong. The best British album this year. Take that to next years Mercury Prize! 

August 3, 2009

THE PENELOPE(S) ARE STUCK IN LALALAND LITERALLY

French duo The Penelope(s) (Axel Basquiat-vocals/songwriter) and Vincent Tremel-processing/producer) have been kicking around for a few years now and like their countrymen, Poni Hoax, play a damn nice mixture of arresting 80s and 90s style electro pop. Their second album Priceless Concrete Echoes on which they have been joined by DJ Producer Morpheus, has been out in Europe since April and is now set for an American release on August 18. The second single from the album 'Stuck In Lalaland' has just been released and is a crisp funky number with a mesmerising guitar loop that may just have you in Lalaland (replete with Arcade Fire sample - edit). Stream the track from The Hype Machine below and check out the video. 

The Penelope's myspace

Stuck In Lalaland (feat. Morpheus)

The Penelope(s) (FRA)

From the album 'Priceless Concrete Echoes', Citizens/SONY-BMG/Le Plan. Out now in Europe and Asia. Out in US August 18.  

Stream album version here

Single Version/Official Clip

 

August 2, 2009

New chart added click here

August 1, 2009

SPACING OUT TO START THE MONTH#1 - YO LA TENGO

Yo La Tengo in the KEXP studio in Seattle (2006)

The second advance mp3 to be released by Yo La Tengo leading up to the album in September almost reminds one of Air with its chilled out modular lounge style feel. 'Here To Fall' is as the name suggests a cascading free fall voyage filled with spaced out keyboards, guitars, shimmering percussion and fuzzy vocals. Popular Songs will be with us through Matador on September 8. Download the track below and watch the video clip, the first of five planned to come from the album.

Here To Fall

Yo La Tengo (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Popular Songs', Matador. Out on September 8.

Download here 

SPACING OUT TO START THE MONTH #2 - PHASEONE

Ready for some space reggae/dub/electronica. Well that's what I've dubbed it anyway - after all what's in a genre? Don't know a great deal about Andrew Jernigan apart from the fact he goes under the moniker of Phaseone, is from St Louis, he's remixed the Panda Bear tracks 'I'm Not' and 'Daily Routine', released his debut album two weeks ago called Thanks But No Thanks and that these two tracks are pretty damned decent. Actually, that's quite a lot if you think about it. There's a link to twitter if you do that sort of thing where you can download the entire album for free. You can find it when you link to download the first track below.

Phaseone myspace

Love Test (Only)

Phaseone (USA)

From the album 'Thanks But No Thanks', Self-Released

Download here

Confessio Amantis

Phaseone (USA)

From the album 'Thanks But No Thanks', Self-Released