de-minimis: May 2016

31 May 2016

death in vegas - 'transmission'

The black and white retro cover to the album and the title 'Transmission' both reference Joy Division (if somewhat obliquely) and it doesn't end there. The music itself has a certain intense, impersonal quality to it that I also feel when listening to Joy Division. It's a welcome return for the London duo with a very bass heavy collection of tunes. This particular track is about the dance-friendly but the whole album works on so many levels that it's impossible to try to pigeon-hole it with a single genre description.

miss red - 'fever'

Oh my goodness this is absolutely phenomenal. I love it. Miss Red is a reggae-obsessed singer with a lot of attitude and even more talent. Check out the dub heavy track 'Fever'.

karen o - 'day gone by'

I'd completely forgotten about this Karen O album from a year or two ago until I read mention of it just now.

phoria - 'red'

Great to see another Brighton band coming good. Here's Phoria's new track from their upcoming album 'Volition'. It's a dreamy electro-pop number that just begs you to hit the replay so you can hear the bits you missed the first time around, there's so much going on with this beautiful song.

sonny and the sunsets - 'well but strangely hung man'

Sonny and the Sunsets have a new album 'Moods Baby Moods' that harks back to 80s pop-funk with some brilliantly observed lyrics and killer tunes.

raveonettes - 'scout'

The latest single from The Raveonettes sees them return to rockier sounds with loads of reverb, muffle and echo. It's still got all the quality you expect. Have they ever made a duff record? I don't think so.

gold panda - 'chiba nights'

This is cool. It's a travelogue video of a week spent in Chiba and the surrounding areas where the band went looking for unusual shops and gifts.

yuck - 'hearts in motion'

I've been listening, this lunchtime to the new Yuck album and after initially thinking it wasn't really my cup of tea I am slowly warming to it. I think it's tracks such as this one that are swaying me round.

30 May 2016

thomas cohen - 'bloom forever'

Taken from his brand new album that came out only this month is a quite gorgeous track 'Bloom Forever' that harks back to Suede and has a quite lovely guitar solo nestled inside it.

gil scott-heron — no knock from evolution (and flashback)

Let's leave this bank holiday weekend with a great Gil Scott-Heron track.

29 May 2016

jeff buckley - 'dream brother'

He died this day 19 years ago after just one incredible studio album.

perturbator - 'sentient'

My eldest son got me into this French synth act with heavy death metal influences.

on dead waves - 'blackbird'

Fantastic stuff from Polly Scattergood and James Chapman. I've been a big fan of Ms Scattergood for quite a while and she was one of the first musicians that I blogged about when I started this flight of fancy 6 years ago! This is the first track from their new album out last week. Love it.

wild beats - 'get my bang'

I think this is the first track from their upcoming album and if the rest of the tunes sound as good it's going to be a very good album. Very up-to-date funky sound with some quirky additions and catchy hooks.

adam and the ants - 'deutscher girls'

I went with friends to see Adam Ant last night. Oh boy, did he put on a show that rolled back the years! Sadly he didn't play my favourite Adam and the Ants song so I'm putting it on here now.

25 May 2016

olga bell - 'randomness'

Last one of the night for me. Here's Russian-born, Alaskan-raised Olga Bell with some leftfield electronica from her new album 'Tempo' due out at the end of the week. I love music like this.

samaris - 'góða tungl'

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this Icelandic band before so I'm going to jump in and play an oldie from their back catalogue. I don't know what it is about Icelandic pop but I go back to it time and again for inspiration and pure musical pleasure.

poliça - 'lose you'

Now this was one band that I was ahead of the game with. I was blogging about this band at the beginning of 2014 and since then their stock has risen dramatically (absolutely nothing to do with me though!). Their 2016 album 'United Crushers' just cements their position as a headline act and with tracks such as this from it, it's easy to see why.

memoryhouse - 'arizona'

We all love dreampop, right? I do and this is a peach from Canadian band Memoryhouse from their 2016 album 'Soft Hate'.

africaine 808 - 'yes we can't'

Africaine 808 are a New York band who mix electronic music with traditional African (and on this track Australian) sounds. The overall effect is something much better than the sum of its parts and it makes for one hell of a great party player. 'Basar' the album this comes from was released in February this year but seems to have slipped past lots of people. Seriously, get listening! You won't regret it.

wendy james - 'king rat'

Apparently it was what Keith Richards called Brian Jones. This is a superb track from the very under-rated Wendy James comeback album 'The Price of the Ticket'.

luke cannon - 'country rose'

I blogged about Illinois singer-songwriter Luke Cannon earlier this year but his songs have been popping up randomly on my iPod and I think it's about time I blogged some more tracks from his 2016 album 'Give Me Freedom'. His Bandcamp page is one I keep going back to time and again.

hearts hearts - 'hunter limits'

Vienna band Hearts Hearts are gaining a huge following for their indie electronic sound. It reminds me a lot of Woodkid and that ilk and that's no bad thing at all. It's great when I hear really good pop music from places like Austria. It feels me with hope that the Eurobeat rubbish is getting consigned to the dustbin of history once and for all.

dressy bessy - 'dirty birdies'

I think you'll like this, described as garage-punk meets bubblegum pop, the Denver band have a great new album out and loads of great guest stars including Peter Buck. I thought this track had big R.E.M. influences, you know.

suuns - 'paralyzer'

One of their more subdued tracks from the excellent 'Hold/Still' album.

great lakes - 'wild again'

The album 'Wild Vision' from which this track is taken from came out right at the beginning of the year but I've only just found a stream to link to for you good people. If you like your folk with a bit of meat on the bone then this album is a must listen to. This particular track reminds me in part of a Nick Cave track. Great stuff.

iska dhaaf - 'invisible cities'

Avant-garde would be one description but don't let that fool you into thinking that this two-piece from Seattle are a hipster hell. Far from it, there's a real muscle to their music and talent aplenty. I can't quite put my finger on why but this track in particular is a real scene-stealer.

young girls - 'what we do'

I was browsing the Bandcamp new albums list and came across this track by Austin band Young Girls. How good is this then? Very good. That's how much!

24 May 2016

ivan melnik - 'don't warry about'

It's not a typo so don't worry (sic)! Here's a nice bit of deep minimal to sign off for the night. Just listen to this track build and build - beautiful.

jimmy somerville - 'strong enough (tom moulton remix)'

His 2015 album 'Homage' was a disco-laden beauty but he's gone one better with a remix album and he's pulled in some of the biggest names in disco. None bigger than the legendary Tom Moulton.

the fat white family - 'the whitest boy on the beach'

I keep meaning to write about The Fat White Family but for some reason I haven't done so. Their 2016 album 'Songs for Our Mothers' is a real barnstormer and I reckon it could well feature in a fair few Album of the Year lists. Here's one of the stand-out tracks from it.

violent femmes - 'big car'

We need a great tune to start this glorious day. Step forward The Violent Femmes.

23 May 2016

junior senior - 'move your feet'

It's a party classic!

gordi - 'so here we are'

Australian indie singer Gordi has a new EP out in July and ahead of that here's one of the tracks. It's bloody brilliant.

brett dennen - 'strawberry road'

His new album 'Por Favor' is the LA singer-songwriter's 6th studio album although this is the first that I've heard. I'm quite enjoying it at the moment, it doesn't push any boundaries and it is a little pedestrian and his voice definitely has its limitations but despite all that I like the overall effect.

field music - 'they want you to remember'

I've previously blogged about their new album 'Commontime' but it's been a while and the album is a good 'un so here's another track from it, this time in session for Très Très Privée.

britta phillips - 'daydream'

One from 2015 for a change. I was quite late getting to hear about this album and so although it came out nearly a year ago it is very recent for me. Britta is a Michigan-born, Pennsylvania-raised singer-songwriter who ha been around for some time now playing in various bands and she released her first solo album Luck or Magic quite late into her career. Her style is a dreamy shoegaze with some clever guitar work. Let's hope her next album isn't too long in coming.

bloc party - 'living lux'

An album that's starts so well but fades so sharply. This is one of the better tunes from the back-end of the album.

the prettiots - 'suicide hotline'

Another great track from what is an outstanding album and one of my favourites so far for 2016. The trio play a deceptively simple and pleasant pop but underneath are bittersweet lyrics and some very difficult topics. They manage to carry it off every time with aplomb.

grubby little hands - 'no such thing'

Philadelphia band, Grubby Little Hands do a lovely line in retro-guitar pop. There's references to '80s indie jangly guitar, there's The Monkees, there's a little bit of psychedelia - it's all good. Their new album 'Garden Party' came out last month on Bandcamp and I can't recommedn it highly enough.

fritz carlton & lubelski - 'doses ft. daemon'

I have got back into listening to techno again and I'm glad I did, it helps me concentrate at work. This tune has been a highlight this morning. Brand new from Fritz Carlton and Lubelski.

alex smoke - 'yearning mississsippi'

This tune broods and simmers like no-one's business. It's as if the band Algiers turned up in a particularly bad mood. This kind of music is right up my street, it creates such a great atmosphere and tells a story not often heard in modern music. Taken from his 2016 album 'Love Over Will', Glaswegian Alex Smoke is one hell of a musician.

22 May 2016

tanita tikaram - 'food on my table'

A very Sunday evening sounding track complete with blues-y saxophone, this is a quite superb track taken from her 2016 album 'Closer To The People'. Her distinctive voice has lost none of its potency and the songwriting gets better and better.

fews - 'zoos'

Fews new album 'Play It Again Sam' is Brighton-based Resident Records' album of the week so it piqued my attention as they are very good judges of what is hot and what is not. The American/Swedish rock band have an interesting sound: post-punk, proto-Goth and a bit of shoegaze for good measure from what I've heard so far from the first 4 tracks on the album. Ordinarily, this musical mix wouldn't be my go to for listening but there is something about this band that I like. I'm doing the album in short bursts and it's working well although I am not sure I can do a whole album in one sitting.

gabriel bruce - 'freedom'

The comparisons with Nick Cave are well-founded although Bruce's sound is more traditional Goth with a Cult/Sisters of Mercy approach to the big sound of the songs. This is the first track from his second album 'Come All Sufferers' which was released last week.

miranda lee richards - 'tokyo's dancing'

On a beautiful Sunday such as this it's nice to have some Carpenters-like music.

hailu mergia and dahlak band - 'sintayehu'

There's a re-release of Ethiopian musician Hailu Mergia's albums coming out soon and I heard on the radio this morning this gem of a tune. Very reminiscent of the James Taylor Quartet and not at all what I was expecting.

dream academy - 'life in a northern town'

The prototype for all future dream pop songs. It's a classic and rightly so.

lanu - 'dragon sun'

This is definitely a summer track. Lovely Far Eastern influences with surf sounds from the New Zealand band. Taken from their new album 'The Double Sunrise'.

nancy sinatra - 'last of the secret agents'

"He got his degree from Disneyland..."

21 May 2016

dj tennis - divisions (roman flügel remix)'

I'm still on the techno vibe and this is such a mean and moody track.

daniel steinberg - 'neptune (original mix)'

There's one techno DJ/producer that I return to time and again and it's this man, Daniel Steinberg. You can't help but love the man with tracks like this.

saive - 'daylight'

Another dance track, this time a deep house monster.

ecco - 'reset'

I'm having a bit of a techno weekend at home by myself and I stumbled across this belter.

krush - 'house arrest'

I've always had a special place in my heart for this tune. I think Ruth Joy's vocals make it so.

mutual benefit - 'getting gone'

I do love their new album 'Skip A Sinking Stone' so much. It has a lovely dream-like quality to it throughout, It washes over you like a gentle breeze. The songs sound a little retro, sort of West Coast early 60s hippy. I particularly like how this song builds and builds from a mish-mash of noise almost like a cake recipe. Lovely stuff.

20 May 2016

moderat - 'running'

The jury's still out with me on this one. I'm not sure why but it doesn't yet 'click'.

treetop flyers - 'lady luck'

I was a bit late to the party with Treetop Flyers, a London Americana/Folk band. I've only just got around to listening to their 2016 album 'Palamino' even though it's been out for a few months now. This track is quite a heavy sound and certainly rockier than other music on the album. It's sort of Interpol meets Pink Floyd and the net effect is quite breathtaking.

pantha du prince - 'frau im mond, sterne laufen'

With the much awaited album 'The Triad' out today, the German minimal techno genius that is Pantha Du Prince has made a lot of people, myself included very happy. I originally named this website as a way of paying tribute to my love of minimal techno. It's clarity and purity is something that keeps drawing me back to it time and again. How about this for a slice of great music.

misha - 'limelight'

So much great new music, it's difficult to keep up with it all. Actually, it's bloody impossible and I say that as someone who tries his best to do so. Here's some more from Misha.

gemma ray - 'there must be more than this'

Her new album Exodus Suite is out today. I've been giving it a fair few listens on my commute home and I am mightily impressed with it. It's quite cinematic sounding but the tone is very Shilpa Ray/Nick Cave. It's bloody marvellous, that's what it is.

19 May 2016

elliott power - once smitten (unkle vs nubrain dub)'

Now here's a young man who's been listening to Massive Attack and Tricky an awful lot. I'm so glad that there's still people making great trip-hop out there and with the remix skills of Unkle too it sounds great.

glass animals - 'life itself'

Definitely a contender for single of the year so far. This has a jungle drum sound with a very catchy electro-pop chorus and loads of attitude.

braids - 'trophies for paradox'

I love how ethereal and other-worldly this track is. It's short too, clocking in at under 3 minutes and perhaps that adds to its beauty. Some times the best things in life are those that are short and sweet.

andy shauf - 'the magician'

One for fans of Ben Folds, Elliott Smith and that ilk. This is the first track from the Saskatchewan singer-songwriter's new album ' The Party'. The whole album is quite low-key, lo-fi and introspective and perfect for those Thursday nights when you've been working late, knackered and are now sitting in bed catching up with new music. No clues for guessing how I feel!

moonface and siinai - 'they call themselves old punks'

When you come across a track that reminds you of Bauhaus then you can't help but be attracted to it...well, it's certainly true for me. This is the new one from Moonface and Siinai on the Jagjaguwar label. Apparently there's a new album out too so I'll definitely be looking out for that.

monica lionheart - 'strangers'

Monica Lionheart hails from Puerto Rico but you'll find little trace of her Latin roots in this tune, it's played strictly for electro-pop. Taken from her album 'Missed Connections' released at the beginning of this year.

david bazan - 'oblivion'

His new album 'Blanco' is well worth a listen in my opinion. His style has adapted and he's a little more John Grant-esque but please don't think he's an identikit. He's been around some time and he's definitely his own man.

milk teeth - 'sweet jar (again)'

One of those tunes that goes on and on but finishes way too soon. Very reminiscent of the Pixies or Nirvana at their quiet moments.

susanna - 'in the need of a shepherd'

She has been around for a few years now but I've only just caught up with her music. This tune is taken from her 2016 album 'Triangle' which came out last month and is very much in the same vein as Lykke Li and others who play a sort of power-pop electro.

luh - 'the great longing'

The new Luh album 'Spiritual Songs For Lovers' is one of those that I keep going back to for inspiration and sweet relief.

18 May 2016

kacy & clayton - 'strange country'

Drawing from the same well of folk music as the likes of Beth Orton are duo Kacy and Clayton who have a love of old fashioned Appalachian and English folk. You can't help but like that combination! This track is the title song from their brand new album with the same name.

jackie lynn - 'alien love'

She's better known as the lead singer with Circuit Des Yeux but she's got a solo album out soon. I've heard a sneak preview and I'm very impressed. Her style is somewhere between Grace Jones, Patti Smith, Joan Armatrading and Ian Curtis. Does that make any sense? Who knows but one thing's for sure, the music is pretty good.

black mountain - 'mothers of the sun'

Their new album IV is epic in its range and delivery. I'm not usually a fan of big metal bands but this is quite different.

beth orton - '1973'

Most people know that I'm a huge Beth Orton fan and I can't wait for her new album to be released. In the meantime here's her video to the first track from it 1973 and it harks back to the early 90s collaborative work with William Orbit. I like it a lot.

programm - 'underneath'

This is a bit leftfield, Toronto duo Programm have been going for a few years now and they have a new album out 'A Torrid Marriage of Logic and Emotion' with this track in particular as a stand-out.

steve mason - 'hardly go through'

I like his new album a lot and I'm so pleased about that. His first solo album was quite sublime but thereafter he seemed to take a bit of a dip but this new album is quite something, it sounds like he's enjoying himself too.

beacon - 'you're wondering'

Brooklyn duo Beacon are masters of understated "almost techno" pop music. Their sound is very trippy at times but the way that it washes over you can be quite uplifting. This is from their 2016 album Escapements.

hot chocolate - 'you could've been a lady'

It's easy to forget just how funky Hot Chocolate were back in their heyday. As good as he was. and Errol Brown was bloody good, those guitarists and drummers held a very tight song together. It's none more evident than with this track from 1973.

17 May 2016

trixie whitley - 'the visitor'

If rootsy R&B is your bag then you need to get with Trixie Whitley. The woman oozes class. What a great 4 in the morning tune this is.

carrie rodriguez - 'la ultima vez'

A Texan lady who combines alt-country, the blues and a large Mexican feel and the results are wondrous. Just lay back and enjoy this beauty from her 2016 album 'Lola'.

trucido - 'brotha and sista'

Taken from their epic 2016 album 'Pam Grier' this is a wondrous track. You've got to get over to their Bandcamp site to check out the entire album. Here's the link.

plates of cake - 'faces in the dirt'

Man, I love the bass-line to this track. No guesses for getting the Beck influences for this Brooklyn band. Superb stuff!

mykki blanco - 'high school never ends (ft. Woodkid)'

On today of all days it's good to be reminded of the hate and violence that homosexuals still face. Fair play to Mykki Blanco and Woodkid for this collaboration.

still flyin' - 'verbal commitment'

This 15 piece band (yes, really!) have got a great 80s sound with lots of references to New Order and their ilk. What's not to like!

whyte horses - 'feels like something's changing'

Manchester's reputation for producing great bands continues unabashed and with acts such as Whyte Horses it's no wonder. This is from their 2016 album 'Pop Or Not'.

grandaddy - 'he's simple, he's dumb, he's the pilot'

A stone-cold classic that needs re-airing every few months just to remind myself of its majesty.

the gaslamp killer - 'nissim'

The Gaslamp Killer is so under-rated. More people should be aware of his genius.

richard ashcroft - 'hold on'

He's back and this time the new album sounds like a lot of fun rather than the dreary dad rock that the last one gave us. That sounds very harsh but I am a big Richard Ashcroft fan and I was so disappointed with his last output. It's a great return to form with this and I like the video a lot too. Simplicity itself.

great lakes - 'i stay, you go'

Another new track for 2016 and taken from their album Wild Vision here's a gloriously languid tune that owes awful lot to Fleetwood Mac's 'Albatross'.

flowers - 'intrusive thoughts'

Introspection doesn't sound much better than this. 3-piece London band Flowers' music has been compared to Cocteau Twins and Throwing Muses and I think that's a pretty good comparison although they are their own band that's for sure. This is from their 2016 album 'Everybody's Dying To Meet You'.

flume - 'the greatest view (feat. isabella manfredi)'

Something a bit more dance-oriented for a change although this particular track is quite downtempo. It is rather stylish, taken from the 2012 album 'Flume'. I think you'll like it.

ra ra riot - 'every time i'm ready to hug'

Something to keep us all going during the day, this is a brilliant track from US band Ra Ra Riot.

16 May 2016

choir of young believers - 'gamma moth'

Last one of the night for me and this is from their 2016 album 'Grasque'. It's a rather trippy slice of electro-pop with a lovely washed out feel to it.

alt-j - 'the gospel of john hurt'

I've been listening to their new live album and this track is a stand out killer.

damien jurado - 'qachina'

His new album Visions Of Us On The Land sees him changing styles yet again and this time it's far more cinematic in its feel. Take this track for instance, it could easily be the soundtrack to an achingly cool independent film. The man just gets better and better.

olafur arnalds ft arnor dan - 'say my name'

Those crazy Icelanders. Olafur Arnalds and Arnor Dan have covered Destiny's Child classic 'Say My Name' but it sounds like nothing you've ever heard before. Beautiful.

yak - 'use somebody'

London trio Yak's new album is unashamedly RAWK. A noisy, brash explosion of songs and all of them except the last clocking in at 3 minutes or less. Great stuff.

the gun club - 'cry to me'

Someone over on Twitter reminded me of this excellent Gun Club tune. It's a little bit dated now but still great fun and it's nice to hear Jeffrey Lee Pierce's voice.

pet sounds turns 50 today

Possibly, probably the most influential album in the history of pop music turns 50 today.

15 May 2016

night beats - 'power child'

Need a wake-up call before the weekend finishes? Could do worse than listen to this absolute belter from Seattle rockers Night Beats.

m83 - 'midnight city'

Kudos belongs to my eldest son who has got me onto this French synth/dream-pop band. Lush orchestration and superb medleys make this a cracking tune.

the burning hell - 'fuck the government, i love you'

It's quite difficult to describe this band but I'll give it a go. They are generally quite lo-fi although they aren't averse to a bit of electric guitar and more but the real key to the band is the troubadour like lyrics. Imagine Leonard Cohen alternating between 3rd and 5th gear or Nick Cave 'Murder Ballads' era ballad songs. There is something quite magical about this Canadian band, they feed off each other so well and it works beautifully. Check this tune out for cast-iron proof.

karl blau - 'fallin' rain'

I first heard of this chap today whilst out and about in Brighton with my two sons. We popped into Resident Records in Brighton and I was rather taken with the cover to his new album. I've got to say that I agree with the Lambchop/Kurt Wagner comparisons, Blau has a lovely rich voice. This is a lovely Sunday afternoon tune if you're a fan of American country/folk.

whitney - 'no woman'

Perfect Sunday morning music from US band Whitney who have a debut album out next month.

14 May 2016

fruit bats - 'don't you know that'

The last track from the brand new Fruit Bats album has a touch of Dylan or Damien Jurado to it, it's a lovely, languid tune that signs off a very captivating album.

air - 'indian summer'

Oh my! A brand new Air track and yes, it's every bit as good as I thought it would be.

money - 'i am the lord'

Why aren't MONEY (the name is spelt all in capitals) worldwide famous yet? The Mancunians have an epic, stadium-friendly sound with so many great tunes tunes. Take this for instance, the first track off their 2016 album 'Suicide Songs'. It's as good as anything you will hear this year.

tricky - 'hero'

No-one tells it like Tricky. I can empathise so much with this tune. Absentee dads are the lowest of the low.

robert francis - 'fire engine red'

LA singer-songwriter Robert Francis has built up a solid reputation and with four great albums under his belt and a fifth released yesterday he's cementing his place in a very crowded marketplace, There's a simplicity to his tunes that belies a darker and more complicated underbelly. I really like this particular track too, the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me and the video is a belter too.

new order - 'restless (extended mix)'

I kind of dismissed their 2015 album as filler, it did nothing for me at all at the time and as someone who is a self-confessed New Order fanboy it did disappoint me to feel like that. They are back with a remix album of Music Complete and this time around I've got a lot more love for the music. Sure, they miss the killer edge of Peter Hook and he won't be returning anytime soon but that aside, this is a great remix.

trash can sinatras - 'ain't that something'

What's that? A brand new Trash Can Sinatras album? The first in nearly 10 years and the jangly guitars are still there, the infectious hooks and killer lyrics. Welcome back lads, music is a better place with you in it.

giantree - 'burning'

Giantree are an Austrian band that have been around for nearly 10 years and making music with a very British/Scandinavian feel to it. This particular track is a little heavier and anthemic than their usual output and very good it is too. Check out some of their other stuff and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the music coming out of Europe at the moment.

graham candy -'back into it'

This comes from New Zealand singer/songwriter/actor Graham Candy's debut album Plan A. Big nods to the Scissor Sisters with this track, I hope the rest of the album is this good.

13 May 2016

oscar - 'sometimes'

The new album comes out today and if you're a fan of indie-pop of the Belle and Sebastian variety you could do a lot worse than this album. Great stuff.

12 May 2016

metronomy - 'old skool'

Fresh off the press is the latest single from Metronomy and if you like catchy bass lines then you're going to love this.