de-minimis

10 July 2016

jamie isaac - 'last drip (remix feat. rejjie snow)

There are worse ways to spend a Sunday afternoon than chilling out and listening to the new Jamie Isaac album.

mull historical society - 'build another brick'

The 2016 album 'Dear Satellite' is firm favourite in this household and with tunes like this on it, it's not too difficult to see why.

stephen steinbrink - 'i'm turning inside out (live at little elephant)'

One album that seems to have snuck under the radar is the new Stephen Steinbrink album 'Anagrams'. The tunes are ostensibly portraits of addiction and mental illness but they are framed and executed so beautifully that you can marvel at them without a need to understand the back stories. Definitely one for fans of Avi Buffalo or Sufjan Stevens - and seeing as that includes me, I'm in!

thievery corporation - 'amerimacka (feat. notch)'

Sunday mornings were made for Thievery Corporation.

mirel wagner - 'to the bone'

This is how it's done. You play your part and I'll play mine.

the flaming lips - 'revenge'

Recorded 5 years ago with Danger Mouse producing this posthumous Sparklehorse album with various artists, this is The Flaming Lips at their very best. I just wish they would stop pissing about with mediocre covers of classic albums and their slightly creepy obsession with Miley Cyrus and get back to making great music.

09 July 2016

alex calder - 'sasaki'

I'm enjoying listening on Bandcamp to Alex Calder's new album 'Bend'. There's something of Syd Barrett about him and his leftfield style is a refreshing change from a lot of identikit musicians. This track is a quirky little instrumental that has a bit of a surf sound to it too.

sarathy korwar - 'bhajan'

I think this is an album that can partly be credited to Gilles Peterson for his championing of the Indian Sidi/Jazz/Electronica crossover band. It's quite remarkable in its breadth and depth and will have you going back to it time and again.

niki and the dove - 'you want the sun'

If you are looking for a fresh new album to soundtrack your summer then look no further than Niki and the Dove's 'Everybody's Heart Is Broken'. The Swedish duo are big and making a big statement with this long player.

omni - 'wire'

This sounds so good! Love it. Taken from their new album 'Deluxe'.

07 July 2016

gonjasufi - 'maniac depressant'

At last, Gonjasufi is back and there's a promise of a new album too. I really can't get enough of this man.

ryley walker - 'the roundabout'

He's released another tune from his upcoming album. Love it.

agnes obel - 'familiar'

Denmark's Agnes Obel has been somewhat elusive of late, she's been quiet for 3 years now but she's now back with this great new tune and video. I hope there's an album too in the offing.

quays - 'your side ft. nancy anderson'

Every once in a while a stop-start dubby dance tune grabs your attention and makes you think "fuck, yeah!" - this is one of those times.

syd barrett - 'wouldn't you miss me?'

He died 10 years ago today. Shine on you crazy diamond.

xylaroo - 'on my way'

Here's a band for all you Monsters and Men, First Aid Kit fans. They are from East London via Papua New Guinea. Lovely sunny indie-pop.

the abyssinians - 'declaration of rights'

Got to love a bit of roots reggae.

nick drake - 'black-eyed dog'

Taken from one of his final recording sessions and inspired from the infamous Churchill quote, this is a lovely and timeless tune from the late great Nick Drake.

ela orleans - 'ghosts and whispers'

Polish-born, Glasgow-resident Ela Orleans has vome up with an absolute peach of a concept album. Presumably set around Dante's Inferno the album 'Circles of Upper and Lower Hell' is a work of outstanding beauty. It's so compelling, it's not a soundtrack but it so could easily be.

stay - 'last time'

One for the fans of early 90s baggy Manchester bands. This is a Minneapolis band called Stay and the album is 'The Mean Solar Times' and from what I can gather have been around a little while but looks like they are picking up a lot of pace now. The album is produced by Owen Morris who also produced Definitely Maybe and The Verve's Northern Soul and the first track guest stars Andy Bell (presumably the one from Ride rather than Erasure) so there's a huge British influence and no doubt deliberately. The overall sound is Stone Roses, Charlatans, early Oasis in all their pomp. It's a glorious riot of jangly guitar riffs and long play-outs.

Yes, it's definitely retro but the important thing is the music is very good. The whole album is well worth checking out.

katie von schleicher - 'move through'

Her 2015 album 'Bleaksploitation' was released on cassette and has become such a big hit that thankfully she's been persuaded to release it in more conventional formats and it's also available through her Bandcamp page. Best described as dark, reverb-heavy break-up songs, there is definitely something quite magical about her music.

xeno and oaklander - 'marble'

It's great to see that New York minimalists Xeno and Oaklander are back and with a great new album. I've got one of their earlier albums but must confess they had slipped off my radar for quite some time now so it's a welcome return. This is the first track from their new album 'Topiary'.

06 July 2016

ladytron - 'ritual'

Haven't heard this in a while. Great tune from a seriously under-rated band.

the explorers' club - 'don't waste their time'

I must have played this 10 times already over the last few days. It's just right for the sunny summer we've belatedly been getting. Think Beach Boys tracks: 'In My Room' or 'Breakaway' and you have this album in a nutshell. There's catchy surf riffs, beautiful harmonies and killer lead vocals with 12 songs all coming in at the 3 minute mark. It's just perfect pop music and you'd think they were a Beach Boys tribute band, they're that good.

mick harvey - 'a day like any other'

His new album has got lots of great little moments in it and I;m especially taken with this tune.

03 July 2016

chorusgirl - 'oh, to be a defector'

I'm not quite sure if the influences are mid-90s or late 60s here. If this tune doesn't get you bopping around the living room then I don't know what will. Great stuff from the London band and their new album comes highly recommended by this blog.

sara watkins - 'the love that got away'

Strong stuff from Sara Watkins, taken from her brand new album 'Young In All The Wrong Ways'.

owen - 'lost'

It's been a pleasant morning listening to Owen aka Mike Kinsella's new album 'King of Whys'. A singer-songwriter type of album with some bittersweet lyrics, wonderfully lush chords and an all-round good feeling to it. Highly recommended.

bat for lashes - 'joe's dream'

I never quite know if she's having a happy life or not, her music does tend towards the melancholic but nonetheless its beauty shines through.

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'wide lovely eyes'

I might well be posting lots of music on this blog today, I'm in the mood for music! Here's the first, a track from a musical hero of mine but from an album that I have struggled to get my head around. I'm mellowing...but it's a slow process.

23 June 2016

black grape - 'shake your money'

My favourite track on what remains an incredibly good album and I love the reference to the legendary line from a Troggs out-take 'sprinkle a bit of fucking fairy dust over the bastard'.

y la bamba - 'ostrich'

Some new and very cool Mexican folk? Don't mind if I do.

yuksek ft her - 'sweet addiction'

The weather maybe pants at the moment but the good music just keeps on coming. I love this track, so funky and smooth.

21 June 2016

sigur rós - 'óveður'

We've waited a long time for this...a new Sigur Rós video. As barmy and beautiful as ever. The world is a better place with these chaps in it.

hugo race fatalists - 'the power of you and i'

Imagine Leonard Cohen jamming with Mazzy Star, Nick Cave and Alabama 3 and you have the new Hugo Race Fatalists album (sort of!). I love it, my new favourite album of 2016.

19 June 2016

london posse - 'money mad'

British hip-hop pioneers London Posse here with one of their classics. They were criminally under-rated, you know.

son lux - 'you don't know me'

Now here's a strange thing. This is a track titled 'You Don't Know Me' featuring Olga Bell but the new Stranger Forms EP from Son Lux has it down as 'You Don't Own Me' featuring Hanna Benn. I'm confused but the tune is the absolute business whatever and whoever features on it!

sun city girls - 'el solo'

If you've never heard this tune before then sit down and give yourself a treat. It's just wonderful.

fawnn - 'nosebleed'

There's no disguising the Pixies influence on the new Fawnn album 'Ultimate Oceans', this tune in particular. A great start to a beautiful morning.

18 June 2016

sóley - 'i'll drown'

Taken from one of my favourite Icelandic albums, here's the incomparable Sóley.

algebra suicide - 'true romance at the worlds fair b/w in bed with boys'

It doesn't get more art-house than this, 80s New Wave meets spoken word. ydia Tomkiw at her very best.

the bachelors - 'please don't touch'

The better known recording is of course by Girlschool and Motorhead back in the early 80s but this is the 60s original from The Bachelors who, despite the surf sound came from Dublin.

17 June 2016

bark - '38 (feat. allan rand)'

I'm not sure what to make of this track by NY duo Bark but it is certainly captivating. I like it!

mari wilson - 'just what i've always wanted'

If you don't like Mari Wilson then I don't think I want to be your friend.

movienite - 'leisurely pace'

Gothenburg will forever be associated with dream pop as far as I'm concerned but here's a strictly guitar rock band from that city ready to question my prejudices. It's a lovely 90s-inspired, languid summery track with a great groove to it.

pascal pinon - '53'

Icelandic minimalist-folk duo and sisters, Jófríður and Ásthildur Ákadóttir haven't recorded together for the last 3 years but there's a new album, Sundur, due and this is the first track from it. I'm a complete sucker for this kind of folk music. I could listen to it all day and never tire.

trevino - 'defektor dub'

Heavy Mancunian techno isn't new, the likes of 808 State have been doing this for years, but it is always good. Here's a brand new release from Manchester producer Trevino taken from his new album 'Front' out on Bandcamp.

dan mangan - 'whistleblower'

He's released his Unmake EP only hours ago so this is the first listen for me and I'm mightily impressed. Here is a man at the top of his game and world-weary at all this depressing news.

16 June 2016

linkwood - 'love lost (musephased by area)'

I heard this for the first time on a live set from a friend and it was the highlight of the entire set for me. It's such a slow-burner but my goodness it gets you going. Absolutely love it.

patrice bäumel - 'surge (original mix)'

Let's carry on the techno vibe with another brilliant tune.

rex the dog - 'you are a blade'

Just so beautiful. Who says techno has no soul?

rory hoy vs kitten and the hip - 'i'm ur mf (dirty vocal)'

I was very excited earlier to read that a new Rory Hoy collaboration with my hometown of Brighton rockers Kitten and the Hip is in the offing but sadly I can't find any links yet so let's make do with this super-smash from 2013. Fuck yeah!

the low anthem - 'pepsi moon (at wbru homebru'd sessions)'

The song has been around for a few years but it's now on the new Low Anthem album, the first in something like 5 years. It's been too long, chaps! Let's not leave it so long next time, eh?

townes van zandt - '(quicksilver daydreams) of maria'

Some music remains timeless.

the avalanches - 'colours'

This is their 2nd release from the forthcoming 'Wildflower' and it's a huge improvement on 'Frankie Sinatra', the 1st track. This is just dream-pop heaven.

15 June 2016

harry nilsson - 'everybody's talking'

He would have been 75 today. I do love this song.

14 June 2016

masasolo - 'how it feels'

Great new music all the way from Copenhagen.

13 June 2016

tom odell - 'wrong crowd'

Last one of the evening for me and it's quite a groovy, mellow track to finish on. Catchy as anything, too.

wolf parade - 'c'est la vie way/floating world'

Here's Wolf Parade playing a medley of two tracks from their new EP4. It sounds better with every listen.

wye oak - 'better (for esther)'

The new Wye Oak album is a bit heavy going in places and not the easiest of listens. However, there are some quite magical moments in it such as this slice of dream-pop.

dr heinz funkenpumpen - 'oh! oh!'

As leftfield as he is God damn funky, as funny as he is seriously talented, here's the latest Dr Heinz Funkenpumpen creation.

hafdis huld - 'ár eftir ár'

My favourite Icelandic singer is back (finally!) with a great new tune. It's an Icelandic language number and I have no idea what it's about but that doesn't take anything away from how great it is. Enjoy!

mi and l'au - 'vem bryr sig'

This is a little bit special. French duo Mi and L'au have a brand new album out 'Four Pair of Wings' and it's a sparse, minimalist piece of art and no mistake. It's mainly piano and vocals with occasional violin and the overall effect is quite breathtaking. Highly recommended.

peter bjorn and john - 'dominos'

I was a bit under-awed when I first heard the new album but it is growing on me steadily. What I do love about them is they are unashamedly pop, It's where their roots are and where they still position themselves. This is a great case in point. Top tune.

12 June 2016

the goon sax - 'sometimes accidentally'

This Brisbane trio are unfeasibly young - all 17 or 18 years old yet they show a musicianship much, much older. They have a great sound, as with their fellow countryman Courtney Barnett, they sing in their own native Aussie accents and their music is in the very best classic guitar/drums indie tradition. They remind me a lot of Wedding Present in their quieter moments. Good luck to them although I think with this much talent they won't need it.

10 June 2016

nite jewel - 'kiss the screen'

The new Nite Jewel album 'Liquid Cool' and it's cooler than liquid cool...it's ice cool. Highly recommended, Resident Records describes it as Janet Jackson meets Kraftwerk but it's so much more than that. It does have a lo-fi electronica feel to it but it's extremely listenable a bit like Barbarossa or Grimes' first album.

08 June 2016

fakear - 'sheer-khan'

Now this is quite lovely. Fakear is a downtempo/techno musician from Caen in Normandy and his new album Animal is out and available on Bandcamp.

peaches - 'dick in the air (strombo sessions)'

The inimitable Peaches here in session for the Strombo Show.

debbie harry - 'backfired (lars behrenroth edit)'

The story behind this remix was that Behrenroth had bought Debbie Harry's debut solo album, heard this track and decided that the production didn't cut the mustard so he re-edited it. This is the result and what an edit.

amanda bergman - 'taxis'

Singer-songwriter Ms Bergman carries on that brilliant tradition of great Swedish pop music. This is the latest single from her recent album 'Docks'.

mountain bird - 'hearts to gold'

He has a debut full-length album out soon but he's already releasing music from it, namely this very initmate and intricate track. It has more twists and turns in it than a Monaco Grand Prix and just demands another listen.

four lions - 'we are england'

Paul Oakenfold and Black Grape have done us proud with this Euro 2016 song. I can get with this.

bronski beat and marc almond - 'i feel love/johnny remember me'

Now this is something. This popped up randomly whilst I was working my way down a Youtube tunnel and I'm ashamed to say I've never heard of this before. What a duet.

moonface and siinai - 'risto's riff'

How about this for a superb track. Great vocals and a driving guitar sound that absolutely rocks. Love it.

nancy sinatra - 'baby's coming back to me'

Happy birthday to Nancy Sinatra.

dj shadow - 'bergschrund ft. Nils Frahm'

DJ Shadow has a new album 'The Mountain Will Fall' coming out shortly and this is one of the first tracks released from it. It's a very glitch-hop heavy collaboration with classical composer and pianist Nils Frahm. I like it a lot but then again, I'm very partial to a bit of glitch-hop.

05 June 2016

fiona brice - 'berlin'

Let's have some beautiful classical music to see off this Sunday evening. This is from Brice's brand new debut album 'Postcards From' and is perfect music to sign off with.

young moon - 'fell on my face'

I can't help but like this tune, it builds so well from a subtle beginning and a really lovely guitar solo interlude. It's track three from the new album 'Colts' and it's quite something.

psychic ills - 'i don't mind'

A New York band channeling Mazzy Star and the Jesus and Mary Chain. This is from their new album 'Inner Journey Out'. I could listen to music like this all day.

kate jackson - 'british road movies'

Ex-lead singer with the Long Blondes Kate Jackson has a new album 'British Road Movies' out on Rough Trade Records. I've been listening to it this morning and although the first few tracks were in my opinion a little weak, the album shapes up very nicely thereafter and tunes such as 'Lie To Me' and this one '16 Years' are bloody brilliant.

guy garvey - 'open the door'

Written at the same time as his solo album, this song is a complete stand-alone, it doesn't feature on the album and he's released it as a single. It's just the right kind of music that I like from Guy Garvey, it's the upbeat and almost funky rhythms where I think he's at his best.

wild palms - '100 cymbals'

Here's a novelty - a fully interactive 360 degree music video. It comes courtesy of Wild Palms who have released this track from their brand new album 'Live Together, Eat Each Other'. I'm not too sure about the actual song, it's a little wishy-washy until the 3rd minute but I've only given it the one listen. I'll reserve judgement until I've given it a few more listens.

when saints go machine - 'fail forever'

This song is criminally under-rated. It really should have been a worldwide smash.

04 June 2016

apothek - 'reunion'

The great tunes keep coming. This is a beauty and no mistake. The Norwegian duo deliver up a lovely piece of electro-pop/dream-pop that soars and swoops around you. Love it.

retro stefson - 'skin'

Brand new from Iceland, some great new grooves to get you up and moving.

01 June 2016

the kills - 'siberian nights'

The riffs at the start of this track make this song irresistible and once you've ben drawn there's no way back. I'm hooked on this superb tune.

bat for lashes - 'sunday love'

I know I said that would be the last one for the night but there's a couple of new tracks I wasn't aware of that are well worth sharing. First up is one-time Brightonian Natahsa Khan better known as Bat For Lashes with a new song 'Sunday Love'. It's not a big departure from her usual sound but that is a great sound so I'm pleased to see her sticking with it.

frigs - 'god hates a coward'

Last one from me tonight and it's a very leftfield track from Toronto band Frigs. Vocals are vaguely Marc Bolan-esque but not quite, in fact it's difficult to say what they are except qualitatively and that is they bloody rock and then some. Great stuff.