I already knew The Candle Thieves before, but never got to check out the video for their “Sunshine Song”! Produced by Richard Cullen, who was nominated for the UK Music Video Awards for this work, “The Sunshine Song” is one of the best animated videos I’ve seen in a long time. And as the song itself beautifully suits nice summer weather it’s also a must have in your own collection.
mp3 | The Sunshine Song
For definitive proof of just how extensive the current lo-fi rock’n’roll revolution has become, look no further than UK’s Two Wounded Birds. Although bands Best Coast, Wavves, Tennis, The Drums or Dum Dum Girls drop one hit after the other, Two Wounded Birds manage to write songs, still different to all the others. Their twangy guitars remind of The Shadows and voices, of course, of The Beach Boys. But let’s not worry about all the hype around these lo-fi surf bands, just enjoy the great song “Summer Dream” down below!
Two Wounded Birds will support The Drums on their UK-tour at the end of this year and also offer their My Lonesome 7” via Holiday Records for free! Get the two songs here!
mp3 | Summer Dream
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Sunbirds take their aural cues from the American West Coast’s 60’s bands and pull in some influence from modern psychedelic artists and manage to keep a British persuasion to the whole affair. The music is atmospheric yet fast paced and driving, coupled with soft soothing vocals that gain their weight by the careful layering and expert harmonies which work texturally against shiny guitars and tight percussion.
Having quickly established themselves on the London circuit playing venues such as Proud Galleries and The Barfly, Sunbirdswith excitement as they prepare to become the sessions in the park and long English summers. Check the title song off their first EP River Run, which will be out July 19th via Smoky Carrot Records. Or purchase their track “Sunshine” for the prize of an e-mail on their website.
mp3 | River Run
Sunbirds – River Run from Breed Film on Vimeo.
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I remember listening to the demos of London based four-piece Bombay Bicycle Club back in 2008. I really was amazed by the unique sound they’ve created at such a young age and also loved Jack Steadman’s voice. Last summer they finally released their debut record I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose which also got into my yearly chart of the best albums.
Now the four lads are already back with new material. There will be a new album called Flaws, set for release on 12 July 2010 by Island Records. Contrary to the band’s previous release, the album is entirely acoustic music, consisting of versions of their own tracks as well as cover versions of other artists. The first thing we get to hear is the song “Ivy & Gold”, which really fulfills my expectations! Download it below and watch a great live presentation of the song and of another new one!
mp3 | Ivy & Gold
Posted in regular
Tagged 2010, acoustic, bombay bicycle club, indie rock, single, uk
It’s been a couple of years since we’ve heard any new music from these French electro-synth-pop rockers, but now they’re back with “Made Of”, an 80s-inspired, juvenile-rap electro-dance banger. Give it a listen below and download it for yourself. No new album in sight tough.
mp3 | Made Of
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At 6ft 8” tall, Tobi O’Kandi isn’t your average looking lead-man of a four piece London band currently causing a huge stir in Europe. Then again, O Children are a far cry from any other band you might be listening to this Spring…unless of course you’re listening to early Cure, The Chameleons, Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus, Joy Division or Echo & The Bunnymen right now.
O’Kandi, the bands lead singer and chief songwriter channels the undeniable inner and outer workings of a true front-man, reminiscent of the days when the late and great Joey Ramone and Lux Interior ruled the roosts and during a time when to be a freak was to be truly punk. With singles such as “Dead Disco Dancer” or “Ruins” to introduce them to the world, it seems these four lads – still only 19 to 21 – could quite have possibly created one of the most exciting sounds and band to come out in 2010. Now they’re currently finishing their debut album in a Kent countryside studio, and due out this summer.
mp3 | Dead Disco Dancer
Ruins:
Posted in band to watch, regular
Tagged 2010, band to watch, indie rock, new wave, o children, uk
Stornoway is a British alternative indie pop band from the Cowley area of Oxford. It consists of singer and guitarist Brian Briggs / singer, guitarist, cellist and keyboardist Jon Ouin / singer, guitarist and bassist Oliver Steadman / and drummer Robert Steadman.
The band released their first single, “Zorbing” in July 2009. Stornoway played sets at a number of UK summer festivals, including Glastonbury and others. In March 2010, the band signed to the independent record label, 4AD and announced their debut album, Beachcomber’s Windowsill which was released on May 24th 2010.
mp3 | Zorbing
mp3 | I Saw You Blink
Posted in band to watch, regular
Hailing from Chelmsford, Essex, Gold Panda spent the early part of last year building a reputation as remixer du jour for the likes of Little Boots, Telepathe, Bloc Party, Simian Mobile Disco, Health and The Field, before releasing three EPs of his own material in the summer to huge critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, Dazed and Confused, The Guardian, NME and beyond. Live performances soon followed and his invigorated head hunched style quickly won further fans as well as establishing him as an artist who could play live rather than just prod at an expensive laptop.
Now having essentially cleared the decks (bar the 100+ tracks that may one day creep into the open as he sees fit), this year will see Gold Panda releasing his debut album and pushing on and consolidating his quickly burgeoning reputation as one of the brightest names in the electronic scene. Summer sound as its best!
mp3 | You (from the new EP: You)
mp3 | Back Home (from the 2009 EP: Miyamae)
mp3 | Quitters Raga (from the 2009 7”)
guerolitomusic 