de-minimis

17 May 2016

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.

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.

little barrie - 'i.5.c.a. [the blues kitchen sessions]'

Fuck yeah! The latest Little Barrie single takes no prisoners. Here they are performing live for the Blues Kitchen, Brixton.

kent - 'vi är inte längre där'

Swedish band Kent seem to have been around forever but they just get better and better. Here's the latest single and what a belter.

jealous of the birds - 'goji berry sunset'

Jealous of the Birds is the alias of Naomi Hamilton from Armagh in Northern Ireland. She's a singer-songwriter with a very charming and catchy collection of tunes. This particular track reminds me a lot of the Moldy Peaches-era folk that was around 10 or 15 years ago. It's taken from her new album and definitely one to watch.

luh - 'beneath the concrete'

I think you'll like this. Brand new from American indie-rockers LUH it's anthemic, grungy, reminds me of Rainbow Arabia or Big Pink's 'Dominoes'. Just the tune to get you going in the morning.

11 May 2016

victoria+jean - 'holly'

The single has been around for two years now but finally they've got an album out and this track features prominently. The Swedish/Belgian duo make great noisy pop and long may they do so.

sophia - 'it's easy to be lonely'

The song has been around for a few years but it's featured finally on the Sophia collective's new album out last month and I'm happy to post this because it's a belter.

shonen knife - 'jump into the new world'

Taken from their new album here's the first track from 'Adventure'. It's a shame I can't post about another song on there - the excellent 'Imi (Emoji) and with a massive nod to Motorhead's 'Ace of Spades' riff. Anyway, here are Japan's finest, Shonen Knife.

nicholas allbrook - 'a fool there was'

Pond frontman, Nicholas Allbrook, has found time from an ever busy schedule to release a solo album at the end of the month and here's the first release from it. It's a messy, folky rock tune where is tongue rarely leaves his cheek given the lyrics on show.

the limiñanas - 'malamore'

It's great to hear full-blown psychedelic pop every once in a while and the title song from their new album is an absolute treat. I can't recommend this highly enough.

10 May 2016

françoise hardy - 'si c'est ça'

Let's finish tonight with a French pop classic from 1966. Wonderful!

anohni - 'marrow'

I think her latest album 'Hopelessness' is by far her most accessible in years and I'm so pleased that the subject matter for the tunes has moved away from the personal to the world at large. That's not to say that I don't think that the personal matters are/were important but that it started to pigeon-hole everything about Anohni. There's plenty of great tracks on this latest album and I'm particularly taken with the last song. It's incredibly uplifting and poppy and I'm a sucker for both of those adjectives when it comes to music.

james blake - 'i need a forest fire (ft. bon iver)'

I've had a preview copy of the new James Blake album and I've been giving it some listening but I must confess it can be a bit much all in one go. It's relentlessly a break-up album and the idiosyncratic singing style can get a bit much on an album with 17 tracks. I'm not trying to downplay how good it is, it's excellent, it's just that for me I can only take so much in one go. Here's the brand new video for 'I Need A Forest Fire' taken from the upcoming album.

marissa nadler - 'all the colours of the dark'

Taken from her new album 'Strangers' this is, so far, the stand-out track for me. I've only given the album a few listens so this may change but whichever track I prefer it's great to see her back.

09 May 2016

cool ghouls - 'here today'

Recorded for Stereogum as part of a Beach Boys 'Pet Sounds' tribute ahead of the Levitation Festival, this is quite an excellent cover. You can read more here.

guided by voices - 'my zodiac companion'

It's a very short opening track from their new album but by jiminy it's damn good.

nick cave - 'suzanne'

My all-time favourite musician covering my all-time favourite songwriter. Is there a better line in music than 'Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water'?

04 May 2016

dj dusty - 'the rain fell up'

This track suits the weather perfectly. A very summery track from last year. The perfect chill out.

curtis mayfield - 'mighty mighty (spade and whitey)'

The incomparable Curtis Mayfield was a big part of my morning commute and this track especially set me up for the rest of the day.

24 April 2016

hanne kolstø - 'this town (ost and kjex remix)'

This is a lovely smooth remix of a favourite Norwegian singer of mine.

22 April 2016

globelamp - 'controversial/confrontational'

I am going to try to catch her when she plays Brighton next month. Her sound is quite simple but at the same time that's not quite true because there's an awful lot going on underneath the surface, difficult to describe but so effective. It's a sort of psychedelic Toyah/Lykke Li hybrid, intriguing and quite beautiful.

east of my youth - 'lemonstars'

It's been out a while but the band and the tune are new to me. It's a lot less folky than a lot of Icelandic music I've been listening to recently, it's described as 'future pop' and that's a new genre to me - I'd describe it as pop but with techno/dance roots. Either way, it's lovely.

brian eno - 'fickle sun (iii) i'm set free'

Brian Eno covers the Velvet Underground's 'I'm Set Free' taken from his upcoming album 'The Ship'. I'm not sure what to make of this but then again I never quite what to make of any of Eno's music. It is all so ambient and understated that it does have a habit of washing over me. This version has a little bit more meat on the bone and does sound a little like a Beach Boys album filler but even so, it doesn't inspire me. Sorry Brian!

erik jonasson - 'like a funeral'

I'm a sucker for a sultry piano ballad so no surprises that this has been on repeat for the last hour. His voice reminds me of Woodkid in his more reflective moments and that can't be a bad thing. And guess what....he's also from Gothenburg! What a city!

new found land - 'chateau'

Gothenburg has been a fabulous source of great bands and I'm glad to have discovered yet another superb talent. New Found Land aka Anna Roxenholt has released her latest single and it's a great 80s-tinged tune that hints at a lovely power ballad but she keeps it strictly pop.

21 April 2016

erykah badu - 'i been going thru it all (happy 4/20 mix)'

Oh man, this is good. The last tune of the night and it's something quite special. It reminds me a lot of Nikki Giovani's 'Ego Tripping'. Yes, it really is that good. Check it out.

ladytron - 'paco!'

British readers of a certain age will recognise the words to this song from the title song from the God-awful TV sitcom Are You Being Served. This song makes me smile every time I hear it, just what I need right now.

aim - 'puget sound'

It's been a horrible day for music with the news of Prince dying. I'm going to try to stay upbeat with some music that I was listening to this lunchtime. Got to love a bit of Aim.

18 April 2016

death in vegas - 'soul auctioneer'

Featuring the dulcet tones of Bobby Gillespie. The Contino Sessions is a marvellous album.

04 March 2016

invada allstars feat. anika - '99 red balloons'

It's finally out. The long anticipated cover of Nena's classic released as part of the protest over Trident has been underpinned with the bass line from Under Me Sleng Teng and it's now something quite different and just wonderful.

03 March 2016

karman - 'yew'

I picked this up from the Noisey Twitter account here and they're right, it is a very good pick me up. Lots of bleeps and whistles and a great bassline too.

new jeff buckley album - 'you and i'

A collection of lost Jeff Buckley tunes have been curated into an album and released online for streaming. How cool is that?

http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/jeff-buckley-you-and-i-first-listen

starwalker - 'holidays'

Starwalker are a side project by Air and Bang Gang with a lovely disco-y new track.

02 March 2016

dj cam - 'wilson'

Taken from the new DJ Cam vs Moar 'Beats' album, instrumental hip-hop doesn't get much better than this. He's still at the top of his game.

maz o'connor - 'crook of his arm'

She's a quite brilliant young folk singer from London via Cumbria. I've been listening to her new album all evening and it's been quite wonderful. Laura Marling has some serious competition.

underworld - 'i exhale'

I think this is their first track since 2010 and they've not lost their barmy inventiveness one bit. Not sure what to make of the video but then again has an Underworld video ever made sense?

beth orton - 'moon'

A brand new Beth Orton track, you say? I'm very excited about this and the fact that it precedes a new album 'Kidsticks' too. I know it's going to be one of my highlights of the year.

28 February 2016

school of seven bells - 'open your eyes'

SVIIB is the final album from the New York trio then duo then solo act that this single is pulled from. The untimely death of Benjamin Curtis draws a curtain on a band that promised so much and had three cracking albums under their belt before the tragedy struck. This last album was recorded in part before Curtis' death and was finished later with the help of Beck producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen to make this the fourth and final release.

23 February 2016

mint julep - 'small memory'

I really don't listen to enough dream pop. Let's rectify that, right now. This is from their new album 'Broken Devotion'

lion babe - 'impossible'

If you're looking for that party album to get your Friday and Saturday nights going then it has to be Lion Babe's new album 'Begin'. It's very strong throughout and it doesn't get much better than this. Bloody brilliant!

22 February 2016

plates of cake - 'faces in the dirt'

Brooklyn-based band Plates of Cake have a new album out on Bandcamp 'Becoming Double' and I think you will like it. Some tracks are more Beck than others and where they're not it's still catchy as hell.

steve mason - 'planet sizes'

I've been listening to a few tracks from the new album 'Meet The Humans' this afternoon and it's grown on me already. It has a fuller sound than I was expecting and this has come as a pleasant surprise, it sounds richer, fuller. Great stuff.

richard ashcroft - 'this is how it feels'

The latest single from Richard Ashcroft has him back with a much stronger tune than he's been bashing out in his last solo efforts. It's got me excited again about the possibility of a new album and I hope that as and when it appears, that it will be as strong throughout as this tune.

21 February 2016

eliza newman - 'return to me'

Something truly Icelandic, simply beautiful to finish off this weekend. Goodnight.

lnzndrf - 'mt.storm'

Not your usual Sunday night fayre but this tune is a massive sprawling masterpiece.

an interview with mark e smith

Here is the Greatest Living Englishman in an interview with Channel 4 showing Mark E as blunt and as brilliant as ever.

submotion orchestra - 'red dress'

Now for something very, very special. This is a lovely little track and no mistake. Taken from their new album 'Colour Theory' and it's an instant hit in this household. If you're a fan of Massive Attack and the like s then you'll love this.

the shivas - 'never, never coming home'

There's shades of Mazzy Star, 50s doo-wop and those beautiful Hank Williams melancholic classics in here. Just wonderful.

jamie n commons - 'lead me home'

I'm in the mood for dark, sultry blues. It doesn't get much better than this.

10 February 2016

tricky - 'here my dear'

He's back and what a return. His latest collaboration is under the moniker 'Skilled Mechanics' taken from an old Cold War spying phrase. When he's on the ball this man is untouchable. Great to se him on Bandcamp too.

hunter/game - 'declino'

Oh my, this is the good stuff and no mistake. Taken from their brand new album 'Adaptation' here's some quite beautiful techno.

lion babe - 'impossible'

Are they this year's big thing in dance/pop crossover? With songs like this, it's easy to see why 'yes' would be a good answer.

lana del ray - 'freak'

It looks like Father John had a lot of fun starring in this, the official video to 'Freak'. Lucky man!

ulrika spacek - 'beta male'

How's this for a crunching guitar track that with a 2-minute full-on intro? Taken from their new album 'The Album Paranoia'.

bloc party - 'the love within'

I'm not the biggest Bloc Party fan but the start of their new album really excited me. Sadly, by about track 5 or 6 my interest had waned and by track 10 it sounded like any old commercial pap, it's very disappointing.

luke cannon - 'time'

Definitely one for fans of Frank Turner, this track even has a touch of Buddy Holly about it. What's not to like?

daughter - 'doing the right thing'

Their new album is growing on me the more and more I listen to it. I think this album could feature on a fair few end of year lists.

dr. dog - 'golden hind'

A bit of a blast from a few years ago, here's psychedelic lounge-masters, Dr. Dog, with a brilliant track.

08 February 2016

scott fagan - 'south atlantic blues'

I've been listening to Scott Fagan's new album all morning, give or take a brief break. I don't think it's quite grown on me yet, he does sound very, very much like David Bowie and it's a little disconcerting to tell the truth. There's a few really good tracks that stand out already - this one for instance.

the cave singers - 'that's why'

I love the driving riff in this track, like a Marc Bolan track. This is the first song of the Washington band's upcoming new album released in a week or so, I believe.

07 February 2016

everything but the girl - 'single (photek remix)'

I finally got around to buying the deluxe version of Walking Wounded. It's an album that's been a huge part of my life and I've never ever tired of hearing it. This deluxe version has lots of goodies packed inside including this remix which is new to me, I think. Just lovely.

cian nugent - 'shadows'

His voice reminds me very much of Lloyd Cole or Doctor Robert from the Blow Monkeys. I'd even go as far as to say Richard Hawley - it's the clarity and warmth that these singers have in their voices that shines through and Cian Nugent has that too. This song, like the all-too-short new album ' Night Fiction' that it's taken from is extremely likeable. I found myself playing it on repeat all yesterday as I nursed a hangover. Brilliant stuff.

beacon - 'escapements'

The title track from the new album by Beacon aka Thomas Mullarney iii and Jacob Gossett is a techno/pop hybrid that is perfect for a Sunday morning. It's crisp, leisurely but layered with so many little touches that make you yearn for more. I recommend the whole album, it's really rather good.

elliott smith - 'son of sam (acoustic)'

There's something gloriously decadent about lazing in bed on a Sunday morning and listening to great music. I'm working my way through the the new Elliott Smith album - it's the soundtrack to the film about him 'Heaven Adores You' and I came across this track. It's completely new to me and an utter joy.

04 February 2016

massive attack - 'dead editors (feat. roots manuva)'

This is the first track from their Ritual Spirit EP and features UK hip hop legend Roots Manuva. It's as dark as you'd expect a Massive Attack track to be but it has an urgency that's certainly quicker than a lot of their previous outings. It's a great return to form after a very patchy few years.

baio - 'the names'

It's all gone a bit quite for Vampire Weekend. The band members have either left or are out campaigning for Bernie Sanders. It falls to Chris Baio to keep the flag flying with this dance track complete with quirky video. He's clearly a big Depeche Mode fan and the result is an understated but very catchy slice of pop.

lenparrot -'dévot'

The song is quite beautiful, it's certainly laid-back, exotic and extremely classy. Think Woodkid at his most reflective. The video is mesmerising too, I've no idea what's going on but it's quite lovely to watch. What makes it perfect for me is the name: Lenparrot. It sounds like a character from a Northern sitcom. Fantastic!

holy ghost - 'crime cutz'

Taken from the Zane Lowe show, this is the first airing of the title track from Holy Ghost's new EP set to be released at the end of April. It's very early 80s disco sounding but with a lot more meat on the bone, bass-wise. I think it's going to be a big summer hit.

benji hughes - 'shark attack'

I'm back! After quite some hiatus, taken for personal reasons, I'm ready to get back and blogging about all the great music out there. Let's kick off with this superb funky tune from Benji Hughes. Big nods to Sebastian Tellier and all the humour that comes with that link. It also reminds me in big part of Shamir's excellent album last year.