the waterboys - 'red army blues'

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Very few bands could match the Waterboys for this kind of power ballad.

banks - 'brain'

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Ouch! I clicked on the link stream this on my system downstairs (the one with the very powerful speakers) and the bass was so low and so loud it was like being in a Mad Professor gig. This is very much in the vein of Chelsea Wolfe/PlanningToRock/Fever Ray, it's mean and moody and simply brilliant. I'm checking to see if their's an album out shortly as I think this is my new favourite track of 2014.

major lazer and la roux - 'in 4 the kill pon de scream'

Tweet This popped up randomly on my iPod last night. Great remix.

eels - 'agatha chang'

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Another instant classic from the very prolific Mark Everitt. This is brand new today and the first track to be released from his new album, due out in April.

pete seeger 1919 - 2014

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Political activist, folk revivalist, musician and just a thoroughly nice man has died at the age of 94. It can't be understated his influence on modern music nor on American politics. It's quite breathtaking when you stop to consider yet he never lost his charm. Have a look at this video of him on the Johnny Cash Show in 1970.

damon albarn - 'everyday robots'

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This is a brilliantly simple video to the first track released from his solo album due out in April and including contributions from Bat For Lashes' Natasha Khan and Brian Eno.

the veils - 'larkspur'

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Let's start the day with a cracking tune.

the mary onettes - 'silence is a gun'

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Ooh, yes. This is rather good. Swedish band The Mary Onettes have released a new single and it's a gloomy masterpiece. It reminds me of early 90s Sparks meets Cocteau Twins but of course, with it being Swedih there's always the hint of dream pop somewhere in the background.

noir picasso - 'suzy haz a ticket...to ride'

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Love this tune. Reminiscent of Dirty Beaches or Billy Idol when he was good. 

what is the perfect sunday morning tune?

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It's a toughie, isn't it? You can't go wrong with a bit of Curtis Mayfield, maybe some Portishead, George Harrison or go completely retro with the Ronettes, folky with Sandy Denny, bluesy with Leadbelly, a jazz tip with Nina, a hip-hip vibe with De La Soul or just plain f*ck the world with Nick Cave's 'Murder Ballads.

I don't know the right answer but today it's Beck covering the Korgis' classic. And it's my birthday today so self-indulgence is the order of the day.

rubberbandits - 'dad's best friend'

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What a bassline, what a video!

amen corner - 'if paradise is half as nice'

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I was blown away by this tune when I first heard it back when I was very young and it still leaves me gobsmacked. Timeless classic  doesn't nearly describe it.

crybaby - 'armies of darkness'

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He really, really should be much more famous. The lyrics, the voice, the tunes....the man has got it all. 

pennybirdrabbit - 'cheap goodbyes'

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I confess I don't know a lot about this singer other than her Soundcloud bio (LA based female singer) but after stumbling across this song quite randomly on Soundcloud I've got to say that I like her sound a lot. It's got that clean, Scandinavian pop sound - sort of Lykke Li / Robyn and that means it's an instant yes!

poliça - 'i need $'

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It's a nice feeling being ahead of the curve for once where new bands are concerned. The Guardian have picked up on Poliça as one of the next big things here with a great review of their latest single. I'm glad to see/hear that the auto-tune has been kicked into touch and they now have a more confident and ambitious approach to their music. This tune is a real slow burner, that's for sure.

warpaint new album

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The hype surrounding the LA 4-piece band gathers apace and already the backlash has begun. In recent weeks I've read a few articles from other bands having pops at girl bands and although not referenced directly, Warpaint are undoubtedly one of the bands targeted for criticism. I'm not convinced that this ire isn't borne at least partly from jealousy of the success but if these bands are getting extra publicity because of the 'novelty' factor of female guitarists/drummers (and is it really so strange to see nowadays?) then rest assured elsewhere there is a struggling female singer/songwriter that has been told not to bother because the market is 'saturated'. I digress.

The eponymous second album was released yesterday and generally it has been warmly received although bearing in mind the points from the first paragraph, it seems a few hipster journalists have said they preferred the early EP. The track 'Love Is To Die' from the album is also featured on this Chris Cunningham film project and makes for interesting viewing. See what you think. 

quantic soul orchestra - 'babarabatiri'

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Let's warm the place up with some beautiful soul.

polly scattergood - 'subsequently lost (lissvik remix)'

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A dubby remix of her latest single from her latest album with more remixes on the way including one from Vince Clarke.

stereo mc's - 'flash'

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The remake of the Avengers film was bad, very bad and unfortunately the soundtrack took a lot of collateral damage. It's a real shame too as there are some very good tunes on the album, not least this track from the Stereo MC's.

lunchtime in the mix

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Here's a few random tunes to listen to this lunchtime.

Sparklehorse (feat. James Mercer) - 'Insane Lullaby'

JJ72 - 'Not Like You'

Jagwar Ma - 'Man I Need'

Little Dragon - 'Little Man'