The Devil Has The Best Tuna

Tubular Bells

2009-11-08T18:30:00.000+01:00

Morningbell
Genre: Psychedelic / Rock / Rock
Gainesville, Florida, United States

Florida-based quartet Morningbell (the answer to the obvious question is yes) is set to release its fourth album on their own non-profit label, Orange Records. The new LP, Sincerely, Severely, is due out on December 1st, and is somewhat of a departure from their Lips-inspired psychedelic rock and a significant step forward in the band's sound.

On 'Sincerely, Severely' bass and drums fill in while the guitar takes a bit of a holiday. Rhythm is the rajah with hints of everyone from Curtis Mayfield to Tom Waits to African drumming and Brazilian folk music. If you think that this sounds like a band desperately jumping the Vampire Weekend bandwagon long after it's headed out of town then you should stop being so cynical. For Morningbell it looks like a no brainer in their musical progression and they've delivered an album that'll probably still be spinning in your head long after Vampire Weekend have been buried with a stake through their Paul Simon loving hearts.

Go Try

MP3 - Morningbell - Marching Off To War
MP3 - Morningbell - Stay In The Garden
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Team Clermont so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Morningbell - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Morningbell
Let's Not Lose Our Heads

Murder on the Dancefloor

2009-11-08T17:48:00.001+01:00

Ste McCabe
Genre: Punk / Electro
From: Manchester, United Kingdom

At a point in British history when homophobic attacks are on the increase, the leader of the BNP is appearing on the BBC, gay is a term of abuse in schoolyards across the country and 'pop' stars (and I use the term lightly!) are outing gay men in an attempt to smear them we need Ste McCabe, the one man pocket sized TRB for the noughties, and his angry new album 'Murder Music'.

Ste is his usual angry, passionate self sounding like Shelley (the romantic punk singer not the English romantic poet) fronting an electro punk Crass. Religion gets a bashing as does Mick Hucknall, jurors and the Pope.

While the polemic can get a little oppressive at times and you find yourself yearning for an old fashioned Buzzcockesque love song to ease the tension you cannot but help be caught up in his righteous anger. Check out the short, sharp attack on arrogant young, and probably homophobic, chavs of 'I've Got A Big Car' and the gay punk disco of 'Militant Disco' which sounds like a gourmet soup made from the Pet Shop Boys and Crass.

Now more than ever before is the time to sing if you're glad to be gay!

Go Visit

Ste McCabe - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

Ste McCabe
Militant Disco

Curt Vile

2009-11-07T19:00:00.000+01:00

Vile Vile Creatures
Genre: Alternative / Post punk / Experimental
From: Manchester/Leeds, United Kingdom

Vile Vile Creatures are an all female three-piece from Manchester and Leeds who claim to have satin beats and velvet rhythms, which is true, only the satin is tattered and torn and the velvet is well scuffed and frayed around the edges!

They sound like Huggy Bear throwing the Veruca Salt out of a skyscraper after a rough night on the town, they sound like the last survivors of a riot grrrl inspired nuclear war, they sound like the return of the new renegade girl/boy hyper-nation. VVC know the value of brevity and belt out short, sharp, punky vignettes with more vigor than a violent storm.

Since forming in 2006 the grrrls have been stirring it up in dear ol' Blighty playing dark, dingy, dusty, dank (and any other foul sounding word beginning with 'd') basements with sticky floors and unfeasibly dirty ceilings to increasing acclaim. They've featured on the best indie magazine in the UK Artrocker's compilation album ‘Artrocker Unsigned Vol 3’, Huw Stephens’ ‘Best of Unsigned’ podcast and have played a live set for Marc Riley’s Brain Surgery on BBC 6 Music.

Go Try

MP3 - Vile Vile Creatures - Faux Feminism
MP3 - Vile Vile Creatures - City Lights
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Vile Vile Creatures Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Vile Vile Creatures - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Vile Vile Creatures
Faux Feminism

If you like this you'll love Vile Vile Creatures...

MP3 - Veruca Salt - So Wierd
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Veruca Salt website and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

They're Too Shy Shy

2009-11-05T20:06:00.000+01:00

Shy Child
Genre: 8-bit, Indie rock
From: New York, United States

Cool New York duo Shy Child were formed in New York in the summer of 2000 by Pete Cafarella
Nate Smith who previously played together in El Guapo (Cafarella continuing with the band when they became Supersystem).

After a three year hiatus the band will be returning in 2010 with a sound that's more lush, dense, intoxicating, and surprising than ever.

Previous album, the critical and commercial breakthrough 'Noise Won't Stop', brought the duo to worldwide attention, landing them supports with the likes of The Klaxons and Muse.

Their forthcoming album 'Liquid Love' however, released on the venerable Wall of Sound label, promises even more. It is brimming over with a surfeit of offbeat ideas and addictive melodies, overstuffed with their trademark infectious beats and off the wall flourishes.

Brace yourself for the onslaught Shy Child are coming out of their shell!

Go Try

MP3 - Shy Child - Criss Cross
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Stay Loose so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Shy Child - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Shy Child
Astronaut

Bring Your Own Bottle

2009-11-04T20:48:00.001+01:00

BYOB
Genre: Fuck Knows
From: London, United Kingdom

'Prescription' from London's 21 year old grindie punkster BYOB (not to be confused with Cali Techno Rockers BYOB) is probably one of the most unusual tracks to pass my way in 2009. A rap about prescription medicine to the tune of the Bangles 'Walk Like An Egyptian' has to be the work of either a genius, a candidate for sectioning or a musical magpie with ADHD!

The rest of BYOB's tracks are not quite as deranged as 'Prescription' judging by the tracks on his myspace site he's shaping up to be the worlds first slowed down Hadouken! kareokeing the Streets.

Go Try

MP3 - BYOB - Prescription
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Good Lizard Media so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

BYOB - Myspace// Website // Last.FM

In A Dress It's Not Easy

2009-11-03T23:44:00.001+01:00

Your Yellow Dress
Genre: Pop / Folk / Electroacoustic
From: Berkeley/Orange County, CA, California, United States

Short but sweet one to end the day as it's way past my bedtime and the only reason I've not yet reached the land of nod is due to a mini crisis over some missing tickets for Morrissey's concert at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Don't worry, after much searching the house and sifting through bags of rotting rubbish the tickets were located down the side of the couch! I thought that the Devil's readers would like a bit of Your Yellow Dress the new project of Orange County’s The Paper Orchestra founder Alexp. The second track 'Lullaby For The Restless' seemed particularly apt!

Go Try

MP3 - Your Yellow Dress - Song For The Backseat
MP3 - Your Yellow Dress - Lullaby For The Restless
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Your Yellow Dress Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Your Yellow Dress - Myspace // Last.FM

Here's The Frequency Kenneth

2009-11-03T23:07:00.000+01:00

T he Frequency
Genre: Indie / Experimental / Rock
From: Los Angeles, California, United States

There was a time long long ago when songs were so long that the job of a radio DJ was a piece of piss. Once they started a track they could pop down the pub have a few drinks with their mates, finish the Times crossword and go to the loo for a number two and still have time to write the first chapter of their autobiography before having to cue up the next track. Radio DJ's up and down the UK will be as pleased as a nerd in a brothel with The Frequency's 'Ego Is The Drug/3AM' all 17 minutes 34 seconds of it.

But as the Devil always tells Mrs Devil it's not just length that's important (and to continue the innuendo one of the band members is called A Stiff!) 'Ego Is The Drug/3AM' is causing quite a stir on the NME blog (The Daily Download). It's a truly brilliant track, a blissful meditation that'll melt your brain like ice cream in a microwave. If Pink Floyd were starting out today and heard 'Ego Is The Drug/3AM' they'd give up and go drive buses and if Anton Newcombe catches wind he'll go off the rails, again.

The frequency are on your wavelength.

Go Try

MP3 - The Frequency - Ego Is The Drug/3AM
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the NME.Com and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Frequency - Website // Last.FM

Go View

The Frequency
Ego Is The Drug/3AM

They Plough The Fields & Scatter

2009-11-02T21:06:00.001+01:00

The Seedy Seeds
Genre: Electro / Indie / Pop
From: Cincinnati, United States

Cincinnati's The Seedy Seeds make pop music, sure. Most importantly, they make pop music exciting. "Folktronica" is the buzz word that gets tossed around these days, but it was either Kikergaard or Dick Van Patten who said "if you label me, you negate me." Always melodic and upbeat, yet always eclectic, The Seedy Seeds are more than happy to write concise material that moves far outside convention - be it a banjo juxtaposed against an electroclash rhythm, or acoustic drums beside synth beats, or accordions and mandolins laid on top of booty bass. While The Seedy Seeds' influence may be all over the map, the thread that binds everything together include the consistent warmth of Margaret Darling and Mike Ingram's vocal interplay and the driving, freewheeling, playful songs.

Think of The Seedy Seeds as a Mum who's discovered caffeine, a more bucolic Ladytron, a dance conscious Silver Apples, and a moodier Dntel with mountain instrumentation all in one original act.

The band's we're now rereleasing their debut Count the Days and are working hard on a beautiful new 7" that will be released as soon as it's ready!

The Seedy Seeds ploughing the fields and scattering their good music across the land.

Go Try

MP3 - The Seedy Seeds - The Little Patton
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Seedy Seeds Last.FM site so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Seedy Seeds - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

The Seedy Seeds
The Little Patton

It's A Kinda Magic

2009-11-01T12:55:00.000+01:00

Magic & Fur
Genre: Alternative
Genre: London, United Kingdom

Everybody loves magic (not me I hate magic I know it's a trick but I don't know how they do it which annoys me more than the X Factor!) and with the exception of those allergic to it, most love fur. So it stands to reason that almost everybody should love London fivesome Magic & Fur.

The band's only release to date was the epic, twanging 'Christine', which sounds like a cross between The House of Love track of the same name and Duane Eddy, a limited edition vinyl release from earlier this year on the always excellent Too Pure. Their myspace site is full to bursting with tracks that are destined to soundtrack the next decade. Tracks like the jangly 'Do Not Toll The Bell' which sounds a little like Starsailor if they were the coolest kids on the block or the Go Betweens if they hailed from the London Underground.

The Brit Pop revival starts here.

Go Try

MP3 - Magic & Fur - Do Not Toll The Bell
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Magic & Fur Last.FM site so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Magic & Fur - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

Magic & Fur
Christine

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T22:30:00.000+01:00

It's halloween, the time that all Devil's love. Santa Claus may have Christmas, The Easter Bunny may have Easter and Cupid may have Valentines Day but us Devil's have got the scariest festival of all Halloween. To celebrate the Devil's day here are some seasonal(ish) related tracks and videos to get you in the mood to Trick or Treat.

MP3 - Jookabox - Halloween
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Team Clermont so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
MP3 - Horror Story - I Wanna Eat Your Brains
MP3 - Uncle Skeleton - Diskoteq
MP3 - The Skeleton Rock Shock - Deadbeats of the World
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the bands Last.FM site so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go View

David Bowie
Scary Monsters (Super Creeps)

Bloc Party
Hunting For Witches

Queens Of The Stone Age
Burn The Witch

Smashing Pumpkins
Bullet With Butterfly Wings

Peaches
Trick Or Treat

The Coral
Skeleton Key

The Language of Love

2009-10-30T22:16:00.000+01:00

C racked Latin
Genre: Latin / Alternative / Progressive
From: New York, Venezuela

Woven thicker than a Mayan quilt smeared with toad venom, mixing pre-Castro cha-cha, Latin rock, and American pop/soul with a heavy dose of late-'60s psychedelia, Cracked Latin's first release, 'The World Is Cracked Latin', out November 10 from Transparency, is a joyous abundance of Spanglished compass-spinning like the long hidden love child of Syd Barrett and Tito Puente. The music is at once instantly catchy, hook-driven and totally uncategorisable.

If you're an impatient soul and can't possibly wait until November 10th for the album don't worry. The Devil has a sneak preview of one of the best tracks on the album as a taster for you dear readers. Check out the blazing brilliance of 'My Hallucination', which is the sound you get when you put late 60s Beatles and Talking Heads through a mincing machine.

Go Try

MP3 - Cracked Latin - My Hallucination
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Shorefire Media so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Cracked Latin - Myspace // Website

Go View

Cracked Latin
My Hallucination

Paint It Black

2009-10-29T22:55:00.003+01:00

Watercolor Paintings
Genre: Folk / Acoustic / Punk
From: Santa Barbara, California, United States

Watercolor Paintings is the nom de plum of Santa Barbara songwriter Rebecca Redman who, with her brother Joshua and an assortment of other friends, creates cozy lo-fi indie pop music.

Rebecca's shows have a remarkably friendly, intimate atmosphere and her songs are cute, simplistic and as twee as a troupe of pink clad pandas blowing bubbles on a merry go round.

Go Try

MP3 - Watercolor Paintings - Happyships
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Watercolor Paintings Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Watercolor Paintings - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

Watercolor Paintings
Open Your Mouth

Imperial Units

2009-10-28T21:09:00.004+01:00

Metric
Genre: Indie / Pop / New Wave
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Japanese DJs, 80kidz, have added their touch to Metric's hit "Help I'm Alive." Having already created remixes for CSS, Simian Mobile Disco, Phenomenal Handclap Band, Dan Black, and more, 80kidz now partner with Metric. Take Metric's original and add 80kidz' catchy synth loops and bouncy drums and you have a winner.

Go Try

MP3 - Metric - Help I'm Alive (80kidz remix)
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Sneak Attack Media so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Metric - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Metric
Help I'm Alive (Acoustic)

Morning Bell

2009-10-27T18:30:00.000+01:00

Bellflur
Genre: Indie / Experimental / Japanese Classic Music
From: Washington, Washington DC, United States

Scores of DC-based bands touted as “the next big thing” have rapidly sprung up and dissipated just as quickly, but since forming 8 years ago in 2001, Bellflur has been one of the few constants on the DC scene. Bellflur challenges genre-specificity, but it does thrive in the lush space and musical grandeur that might make one call its music “dreamy” although the odd time signatures, bare-boned harmonies and reticence appeals to the dark side of the human psyche.

Fans of Sparklehorse, Pink Floyd, Sigur Ros and Tortoise will dig (a word that is sorely due a revival) the band's latest EP, Last Quarter of the 20th Century Blues.

Go Try

MP3 - Bellflur - Grey Sparkle Finnish Pig
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Fanatic Promotions so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
MP3 - Bellflur - Pretty Piece / Disappear Elsewhere
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Bellflur Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Bellflur - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Bellflur
Shooting An Elephant

If you like this you'll love Bellflur...

MP3 - Sigur Ros - fönklagið (the funk song)
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Sigur Ros website and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Wot No Ugly?

2009-10-26T18:30:00.000+01:00

The Good The Bad
Genre: Surf // Punk
From: Denmark

The Good The Bad (not to be confused with The Good The Bad And The Queen) aren't bad, they're not ugly and they're more, much more, than good they're bloody brilliant.

On paper I have to confess that a Danish instrumental group, they're sans singer because they insisted on the vocalist standing behind the drummer, dealing in New School Surf and Flamenco sounds like a one way ticket to obscurity. But fiddly dee fee to what they sound like on paper, on record they sound like your favourite new band. Their lip-trembling, bone-rattling, hip-shaking dirty cool sound is akin to the Cramps joining forces with Ennio Morricone to perform a tribute to Link Wray.

Who'd have thought that it'd take three Danish desperados to make us fall in love with surf punk all over again?

Go Try

MP3 - The Good The Bad - 019

Go Visit

The Good The Bad - Myspace // Website

Go View

The Good The Bad
019

River Deep Mountain High

2009-10-25T18:30:00.000+01:00

Pennines
Genre: Post Hardcore
From: Norwich, United Kingdom

Norwich doesn't have the musical heritage of the likes of Liverpool, London, Manchester, Glasgow or even Hull but all of that could be about to change. Yes recently Norwich was anointed one of the hottest musical scenes in the UK in 2009 by the NME and was one of just two places in the NME Future 50.

Pennines are one of the hottest bands in the hottest corner of the UK music scene. They have a spontaneous eclecticism and an ear for tuneful complexity with idiosyncratic time signatures and exuberant experimentalism. But it's fresh, sharp and instantly accessible, it's math rock that you don't need a degree in trignometry to enjoy or maybe even math pop?

'Whisky Tango Foxtrot' sounds like three separate songs melded together to create something that is thoughtful and beautiful like a model with a psychology first from Oxford. 'Billie Jeans' is unfortunately not a post rock cover of Jacko's 'Billy Jean' but another piece of post rock sorcery that'll take your heart hostage and never give it back. 'Open Closed Open' will make your heart ache and your brain melt while 'Collapsing New Buildings' is like a post rock earthquake turning your world upside down, nothing will ever be the same.

Pennines are about to hit their peak!

Go Try

MP3 - Pennines - Open Closed Open
MP3 - Pennines - Whisky Tango Foxtrot Lima

Go Visit

Pennines - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Pennines Collapsing New Buildings

Band With Potential?

2009-10-24T18:00:00.001+01:00

The Potentials
Genre: Alternative / Electronica / Pop From: Fairfax, Virginia, United States

The Potentials have taken a bit of a risk with their name. It's a name tailor made for journalists, particularly those the don't take a shine to their electro rocking vibe. You can see the NME licking their lips in anticipation of the 'potentials have no potential' or 'potential by name but not nature' headlines. Given that they've been together since 2001 it's like a open goal for the critics. Unfulfilled potential anyone?

They've recently ditched their live drummer in favour of electronic beats which has generated quite a 'buzz', not all of it favourable (check out the debate at Fall Church News Press). One critic even has the temerity to compare singer Ben to an asthmatic wookie which is very harsh!

As I've not heard the band's pre drummer ditching sound I can't really join the debate raging in Falls Church but on the basis of the tracks they emailed me I'd be surprised if the drummer actually makes that much difference.

Could ditching the drummer and going electric help the Potentials fulfill their potential? Who know but it's certainly stirred up a hornets nest in Virgina!

Go Try

MP3 - The Potentials - Next Attraction
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of The Potentials so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Potentials - Myspace

Rabbit Droppings

2009-10-24T15:53:00.001+01:00

Scottish modern classicists Frightened Rabbit have a new single, 'Swim Until You Can't See Land' coming out in November. Check out the video for the single below.

Go View

Frightened Rabbit
Swim Until You Can't See Land

Getting Bigger Every Day

2009-10-24T10:19:00.000+01:00

Little Girls
Genre: Minimalist / Post punk
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Little Girls, the solo project of Toronto artiste and one time member post-punk duo Pirate/Rock Josh McIntyre, has a brilliantly arty and unsettling video out just in time for the Halloween season. Perfect for Halloween parties, the video is all treat and no trick but it's not for those of a nervous disposition!

Go Visit

Little Girls - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

Little Girls
Youth Tunes

Little Girls "Youth Tunes" from the album "Concepts" from Paper Bag Records on Vimeo.

Stan By Your Man

2009-10-23T18:30:00.000+01:00

The Laurels
Genre: Shoegaze / Psychedelic / Soul
From: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Laurels first featured on the Devil's blog way back in the dim and distant dark days of September 2006, shortly after the blog was introduced to the world (The Third Wave Of Psychedelia) so it was great to get an email from them with news of their latest single Art School Girl released on Magnetic Recording Council. The single, a preview for the Laurels new album which is rumored to be coming out very soon, is a fine blast of psych pop that starts with a distorted shudder of feedback before tumbling into a pure 60s vibe that the Dandy Warhols would kill their grannies for. The b-side (yes folks they do still exist) 'Wandering Star' sounds like a long lost La's track that even the ever critical Lee Mavers would be happy to release.

Give that band a garland.

Go Try

MP3 - The Laurels - Art School Girl
MP3 - The Laurels - Wandering Star
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the Magnetic Recording Council website and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Laurels - Myspace // Last.FM
Label - Magnetic Recording Council // MRC Myspace

REM Live At The Olympia

2009-10-22T19:49:00.001+01:00

REM LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA

Go Listen

LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE 2-DISC ALBUM
ON NPR

Go Watch

REM
Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)

Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)

R.E.M. | MySpace Video

REM

New This Is Not A Show Trailer

New This Is Not A Show Trailer by Bill Berg-Hillinger

R.E.M. | MySpace Video

Baby They Were Born To Ballad

2009-10-22T18:15:00.000+01:00

Civil Twilight
Genre: Rock / Alternative / Pop
From: Cape Town, South Africa

South African balladeers Civil Twilight are surely about to go global on the back of their track 'Letters From The Sky' sound tracking the most moving, emotional and romantic scene on television in 2009, or ever, the death of Chloe on Harpers Island. Anyone who claims not to be moved has got a stone where their heart should be. If you haven't seen it yet then you can catch it in the video below. Letters From The Sky is a gorgeous soundscape of a song that will forever be connected in my mind with the beautiful and tragic Chloe falling to her death.

If you're expecting Civil Twilight to be a sub Coldplay band with a sackful of songs that tug at the heartstrings then prepare yourself for a surprise. Well actually no there's no surprise they do have a sackful of of tracks in a similar vein to Letters From The Sky, check out Human, Next To Me and Run Dry all of which Chris Martin would crawl over broken organic glass for. It's not all windswept ballads to soundtrack tragic tv scenes the band can rawk, as they do on Soldier, but it just doesn't become them.

If ever a band was born to ballad it's Civil Twilight.

Go Try

MP3 - Civil Twilight - Something She Said
MP3 - Civil Twilight - Run Dry
MP3 - Civil Twilight - Trouble
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Civil Twilight's Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Civil Twilight - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Harpers Island
Chloe's Death

Civil Twilight
Letters From The Sky

A Mars A Day

2009-10-21T19:39:00.000+01:00

Zechs Marquise
Genre: Rock / Progressive / Psychedelic
From: El Paso, Texas, United States

Free Moral Agents
Genre: Psychedelic
From: Long Beach, California, United States

Considering how The Mars Volta's songs are so complexly intertwined, it would only make sense that the band's ever-expanding family of related projects are bound together as well. In November, two of the Mars Volta's progeny, Zechs Marquise and Free Moral Agents take to the road to show the world how this belligerent brood continues to mutate like a post apocalyptic pathogen.

Zechs Marquise features multi-instrumentalist Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez (who also plays in The Mars Volta) and bassist Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez, both siblings to legendary guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. Free Moral Agents is a collective of musicians founded by The Mars Volta's Grammy Award winning keyboardist Isaiah "Ikey" Owens.

While sharing The Mars Volta's penchant for expansive passages, Zechs Marquise, named after a popular Japanese anime character takes a hazier, psych-laden approach to its songs, as evident on its 15-track debut album Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare which was released at the end of August via Rodriguez Lopez Productions.

Go Try

MP3 - Zechs Marquise - Chase scene
MP3 - Zechs Marquise - Sirenum Scopuli
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of UsThem Group so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Zechs Marquise - Myspace // Website // Last.FM
Free Moral Agents - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Zechs Marquise
Black Art Dub

Free Moral Agents
Lay Down

Swing Low Sweet Charity

2009-10-21T19:35:00.002+01:00

Swing Youth
Genre: Punk / Rock
From: London, United Kingdom

Swing Youth are a pair of brothers originally from Watford, Chris and Dave Chanell and Louie and Jimmy Johnson. The band take their name from the 1940s German counter culture which gave German youth the freedom to express themselves in a National-Socialist society through
meeting in secret jazz and swing clubs. Their fast and frantic live performances which echoes with the sounds of Siouxsie & The Banshees and X Ray Spex have had veterans of the late 70s punk scene salivating.

Following the death of a former schoolmate serving with the British forces in Afghanistan's Helmand Province the band are donating 50% of the sales of infectious double a-side debut single 'Myself To Blame / Blade of Grass’ to the Royal British Legion.

Go Buy

Swing Youth 'Myself To Blame'

Go Visit

Swing Youth - Myspace

Go View

Swing Youth
Myself To Blame

Here Comes The Birds

2009-10-20T18:45:00.002+01:00

Ravens & Chimes
Genre: Indie
From: New York, United States

Asher Lack the leader of Ravens and Chimes took time out from recording their new album and rehearsing for their CMJ show on Friday 23rd October at the Mercury Lounge to chew the virtual fat with the Devil.

The Devil: Why Ravens & Chimes? What other names did you ponder before deciding on Ravens & Chimes?

Asher: We were called Lost At Sea at first but they're were 8 or 9 other bands called Lost At Sea and most of them were hardcore. The record company gave us a week to change our name so we didn't have much time to argue over it. I was driving to a wedding in rural Canada and this gigantic black bird flew by the car. It reminded me of the first time I ever saw a raven when I visited The Tower of London and I had this flurry of random thoughts somehow combined into Ravens and Chimes.

We sometimes tell people that it was the name of a 19th century secret society though.

The Devil: Who are your biggest influences?

Asher: Donna Tartt's book The Secret History had a big affect on me as a writer. She captured loneliness, obsession, and regret so dead on that you can't help but identify with the struggle of the narrator even when your being lead down some very morally questionable pathways.

Musically and lyrically Leonard Cohen's first two albums (Songs and Songs From A Room) have been a pretty constant thing for me since I was 16. The production is antique without being affected or posed out. They have a depth in the lyrics that is matched perfectly by the instrumentation, the melodies, and the way it is all recorded. I think he's one of the only songwriters whose lyrics you could print and they would not lose any of their meaning or strength on the page.

Howard Bilerman who recorded Reichenbach Falls is also someone who has had a big effect on me. He makes records that don't sound like anything people have ever done. His stuff has definitely inspired me to try and look beyond the limitations of going with a sound that's momentarily popular.

The Devil: What was the first record you owned and what was the first record you ever bought?

Asher: My uncle used to play me The Smiths, The Stranglers, The Cure, Depeche Mode, and all those new wave bands when he would babysit for me. I didn't realize it until I got to college and discovered that I knew all the words to these records that I had no memory of hearing before.

The first record I bought with my own money was Melancholy And The Infinite Sadness at a used shop on St. Marks Place that isn't there anymore. My mother gave me a bunch of records before that thought. All The Beatles albums on cassette and Nirvana's In Utero. She was a huge Nirvana fan.

The Devil: What makes Ravens & Chimes stand out from the millions of other bands in the world? What makes you unique?

Asher: There are two answers to this one I think. More immediately what separates our music from many of our colleagues is the fine line between making sure there is depth in every element of the work (from the chords and lyrics to the emotions behind it all) and maintaining an immediate emotional reality to what's going on in the song.

We struggle really hard to make sure that every musical and lyrical decision is what's best suited to serve the song while still trying to hold on to that sense of emotional presence and urgency that made the song happen in the first place. The hope is that ultimately it resonates with the listener on a very visceral and immediate level but also has a symmetry that holds up to closer or repeated listening where more meaning comes out over time.

I guess a lot of other bands do this as well but it's not often I hear something that really takes me there right away and then makes me want to sit down and pick apart. It's not often that I write something that makes me do that either which is I guess what makes it so special (to me at least) when it does happen.

The other thing that separates us from other groups is our future potential. Obviously I don't want to toot our own horns too much but I do think that as a group we have a great ability to see outside our own box and I think that is something that is worth taking note of and makes me excited to see and be a part of what we're going to do in the future.

The Devil: What's the strangest place you've ever played and would you go back there?

Asher: We played at a house in Olympia that you could smell from across the street. I think I would go back there but only if I could leave right after the show.

The Devil: Other than Ravens & Chimes who are the most exciting bands on the music scene at the moment?

Asher: We went to college with the guys from Grizzly Bear so we're all big supporters of their work and are super proud of their success.

In terms of other acts I think I usually latch on one or two elements of what a group is doing that really push my button. Right now I love the new White Rabbits record and we've been wanting to play a show with The Walkmen since seeing them play at CMJ in 2007. Victoria LeGrand from Beach House has a voice that makes me melt inside.

Also Jay Reatard makes me want to jump up and down every time I hear him. He is like a big drug addled gorilla.

The Devil: If you weren't in Ravens & Chimes how would you keep yourself occupied?

Asher: Probably I would be standing outside of the NY Stock Exchange with a sign that says "THE END IS NEIGH".

Since doing this is about communicating a lot of abstract stuff in a clear way I think if music wasn't an option for whatever reason I would be trying to channel that energy into writing or taking pictures or making movies. Something to communicate a certain point of view.

The Devil: What are you doing to beat the recession? Any tips on saving money for the Devil's readers?

Asher: Whenever I get home I take all the change in my pocket and put it in a jar. It's the closest thing to a savings account I have.

The Devil: If you were interviewing yourself what would be your killer question and how would you answer it?

Asher: I always want to know what piece of work makes people feel so intensely that they don't know what to do with themselves. Something that they find so appealing that they love it but also feel almost guilty for devoting so much energy to it. The way Salieri feels about Mozart in Amadeus. I can think of one thing that made me feel that way but it's very embarassing to admit. I guess that's why I always want to ask it of others.

The Devil: What's your favourite joke?

Asher: When someone trips and falls and someone else says "oh that's a shame". Always cracks me up.

The Devil: Anything else you'd like to say the the Devil's readers?

Asher: Thanks for supporting the music.

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