mp3hugger

Pia Fraus - Loveloops

2009-11-21T09:22:00.003Z

Everybody go awwwwhhhh. Think this is the first time I’ve thought that shoegaze could actually sound sweet, normally my reaction to it is to well up inside or coil in the corner with near fatal goosebumpery. ‘Loveloops’ is taken from the Estonian’s 4th LP ‘After The Summer’ and was produced by Norman Blake. Wait, Norman flippin’ Blake, that explains things, he of the pole position monopolising Grand Prix making Teenage Fanclub. In truth Pia Fraus were always a step above the bandwagonesque of a torrent of nice indie bands, they like to pack lots of decent tunes you see. ‘Loveloops’ has me thinking of happy things, like the birth of a first baby…..due tomorrow in huggerland. Awwwwwhhhh. KD

Pia Fraus - Loveloops

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Pia Fraus
Year: 2008

The Free Design - Love You

2009-11-20T20:41:00.005Z

Try this out on some decent earphones and prepare to be teleported to the sunshine stereophonics of the Dedrick family (aka the Free Design). ‘Love You’ has been snapped up by at least half a dozen contemporary adverts and it’s hard to argue with their decision given its downright perfect harmonies. Although the band released an album in 2001 the vast majority of their back catalogue was released in the late 60’s/early 70’s and it is from that era that this piece of adorability was created. The Free Design were a commercial flop despite harmonies like angel delight and a template that smoothed the rounded angles of the Carpenters. It this doesn’t get you the girl it might be time to change your aftershave. KD

The Free Design - Love You

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Free Design
Year: 2009

Health - Die Slow

2009-11-19T20:28:00.004Z

Health had evaded my affections for the longest time but I was finally persuaded by the video for this song. This is so Curve it could almost be a cover of one of that bands industrial tailored shoetronic classics from the nineties. Health are a entirely newer proposition however and come from L.A., or more specifically the DIY scene that conducts its business around the Smell venue in the city. ‘Die Slow’ (from this year’s ‘Get Color’) is initially abrasive but the circular dynamics and faded vocals finally create an impressive polished stain in the fog. This is a very clever invocation of history. KD

Health - Die Slow

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Health
Year: 2009

The Very Most - Away In A Manger

2009-11-16T09:11:00.003Z

About half way through the Very Most’s version of ‘Away In A Manger’ you will hear a curious sound. It is that of the Doucaine (instrument) which we are reliably informed has only ever made it onto 3 recorded pieces of music before now. But that’s just the start of the charm contained in this rendition of the perennially favourite. Save for the words you’ll hardly recognise the original as the Very Most have lent such an air of jollity to proceedings it may even come across as a brand new standard for the season. ‘Away In A Manager’ is one of 3 festive tracks to be found on the ‘Winter’ EP which marks the concluding part of the Very Most’s ‘A Year With The Very Most’ project. The EP is available to buy from Indiecater for the scrooge like price of €2. KD

The Very Most - Away In A Manger

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Very Most
Year: 2009

The Dirty 9s - Lucy Opus

2009-11-11T19:36:00.004Z

I seem to remember JJ72 taking some flack from certain quarters for having that slow/fast dynamic and a lead singer with a voice that could manage a decent falsetto. In other words they had deviated from the staple configuration that had fuelled Irish bands for generations. Let’s hope we have all moved on from that and the Dirty 9s are acclaimed for the bright sparks that they are. ‘Lucky Opus’, their first ever single, is released this Friday and what a luminous nugget it turns out to be. And for all that it starts off quite underwhelmingly but the early lull is quickly replaced by a warhead fuelled by raging guitars/vocals. Whelan’s, prepare for the inevitable invasion of Dirty 9s t-shirt wearing kids with the moshpit on their minds. November swimmers choosing to do it freestyle. KD

~~The Dirty 9s - Lucy Opus~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Dirty 9s
Year: 2009

Fanfarlo - Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time

2009-11-10T20:55:00.004Z

If they make a song as perfect as ‘Fire Escape’ again then they’ll truly enter the pantheon of the greats. Yep, for exactly 180 seconds this London act turned sonic alchemists with that particular pot of indie gold. There are incredible near misses scattered all over their debut album ‘Reservoir’ which came out earlier this year. This is one, an epic in the body of a 4-minuter it creates the tinder for another great arcade fire and towards the end it becomes an altogether impressive blaze. The subject is of a man for whom flying saucers were a reason to get up in the morning. Not your average boy meet girls theme then, nope Fanfarlo have the bigger picture in mind and thankfully can supply an impressive canvas each time. KD

~~Fanfarlo - Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Fanfarlo
Year: 2009

Idlewild - Idea Track

2009-11-09T20:49:00.004Z

Idlewild used to be very loud, they also used to be very good. At least until commerciality (as opposed to Roseability) stole their imagination and mushed it into a digestible-for-mass-consumption pulp. Along with ‘Is This It?’, ‘100 Broken Windows’ (the bands sophomore) soundtracked our 15 month trip around the world. The former for that most obvious of reasons, it being the incessant torrent of incandescent tuneage. ‘100 Broken Windows’ had a different tact, its huge swathes of violent guitar noise were on the closer inspection home to the cuddliest of sweet melodies. They were there on every tune, hidden in the crevices, extending a soft welcoming embrace. We were smitten which makes their later defunct works so utterly objectionable. A great band which took the carrot and completely lost their sight, what they'd give for a one idea track now. KD

~~Idlewild - Idea Track~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Idlewild
Year: 2000

Julian Koster - Jingle Bells

2009-11-06T22:17:00.004Z

Because I couldn’t give a fiddlers for those who say it comes earlier every year (2000+, given that logic it should be all year round at this stage) but mostly because along with the Doucaine (all will be revealed on Monday week) the Singing Saw is my favourite new (old) instrument. You will know Julian Koster from the Music Tapes and Neutral Milk Hotel but he has a particular affection for the wood slicer come vibrating instrument come where did that index finger disappear to. KD

~~Julian Koster - Jingle Bells~~

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Julian Koster Never Bleeds
Year: 2008

Midnight Masses - Walk On Water

2009-11-05T22:24:00.005Z

It turns out that the Jason Reece of Midnight Masses is the self same Jason who wrote one of the best albums this century (‘Source Tags & Codes’ if you must know). While his main band continue to freefall after that epic high there are grounds for optimism given the early movements of this supergroup of sorts (Here We Go Magic, TV On The Radio members also contribute). This is the closest thing I’ve heard to mount a serious challenge to the utter redemptive bleakness of that Late Cord record from 2006. ‘Walk On Water’ is the sound of the undead discussing the merits of purgatory before realising that like or not they are stuck there for eternity. Lucky us if they continue their wonderful dialogue. Even the drunks at the back will bow to this sublime artistry. KD

~~Midnight Masses - Walk On Water~~

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Midnight Masses
Year: 2009

The Mary Onettes - Puzzles

2009-11-04T19:55:00.004Z

It’s been a while since we’ve featured a Labrador band on mp3hugger but thankfully the new Mary Onettes album ‘Islands’ means that wrong can now be righted. And like many things from that label POP seems to be the operative word. Or more precisely POP music that emerged from the dayglo ‘80’s, because ‘Puzzles’ triggers a hotch potch of memories, among them OMD, Erasure, T’pau, Fiction Factory and quite bizarrely the more recent phenomenon that is the Frank and Walters. While it lacks the chiselled chorus of their classic ‘Lost’ it nonetheless shoulder pads with epic production values and leg warms with a gloriously grand ambition. Proof if it were needed that real bands still stalk the underground. KD

~~The Mary Onettes - Puzzles~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Mary Onettes
Year: 2009

Indiecater Night - Whelan's - 12 Dec 2009

2009-11-02T06:05:00.005Z

It’s creeping closer, the shop tills are beginning to ring and fairy lights will soon be adorning every dwelling in the city. Yep, don’t you just love the build up to Christmas? This year is going to be a bit more exciting than usual for us. Not only is baby hugger on the way (3 weeks time), a new house to move into (1 day shy of 3 weeks) but we are holding our first ever Indiecater gig in Whelan’s in the middle of December. We’ve invited 3 special acts for the occasion. Irish audiences should know the Ambience Affair and Storkboy Choons but our main act is travelling all the way from the good oul United States of America to be with us on the 12th. They are of course called the Very Most, a band who have spent more time in mp3hugger’s ears than any other act these past few years. Hard to resist their pristine melodies, charm and downright way with an indie pop tune so it seems sorta right that they should be releasing their brand new album on the occasion of the inaugural Indiecater night. Tickets are just €8 and are available to buy from the indiecater site right now. We promise it’ll be more headnod than eggnog. KD

~~This Year, Christmas Came November 4th~~

Watch The Video For Good Fight Fighting

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Tickets: The Very Most & Friends
Year: 2008

Black Hand Laser Band - The Witching Hour

2009-10-31T21:03:00.007Z

Ok, this is more than a little odd (I’ll stop short of saying it is scary even if it is the scariest night of the year); a band in 2009 without a website or a myspace page. Yep, despite at least 8 seconds scouring google for all its worth it appears as if the Wales' Black Hand Laser Band are cyber virgins. It’s as if someone in authority had told them it was the psychedelic sixties and info that resides on non-geographically defined locations was only for those with mind-altering tendencies. The lack of info although mildly annoying hardly detracts from the vast open sound of ‘The Open Hour’. Right from Dracula’s organ to the beautifully paced BJM momentum Black Hand Laser Band display enough creativity to have their very own wiki page assembled in their honour some time soon. Be ghoul. KD

~~Black Hand Laser Band - The Witching Hour~~

More Info: A Tiny Severed Pinky Worth Of Info

Lukestar - White Shade

2009-10-28T22:49:00.003Z

This is so Mew the Danish lads should be calling up to nearby Oslo to pick up their royalties. But as Mew’s current album is scaring me from their door (and this despite ‘And The Glass Handed Kites’ being by some distance my favourite album of 2005) I have instead become utterly consumed by another Scandinavian beauty. ‘White Shade’ is taken from last years ‘Lake Toba’ record and specialises in peculiarity. There are elements of at least half a dozen different songs here but the patchwork somehow manages to sound a convincing whole. The only pity is that it is so short, there’s acres of background to be coloured but instead the quartet choose to extenuate the illusion. KD

~~Lukestar - White Shade~~

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Luckstar
Year: 2008

The Subjects - Winter Vacation

2009-10-27T20:18:00.007Z

Crikey, it must be at least 2 weeks since we’ve had a Brooklyn band on here. How feckin’ remiss of me, apologies to the epicentre of cooldom, I shall try and rectify the error of my ways by introducing the Subjects to you all. ‘Winter Vacation’ (appearing appropriately enough on the darkest Monday in Ireland for yonks) is a tropical delight, feature an off-centre shuffle and all manner of colourful moving parts. It’s taken from the band’s latest EP (‘New Soft Shoe’) and is certain to be propping up the bar in our Top 42 songs of the year (appearing here in a few weeks). The Subjects are most probably so called because they were once 2 teachers and 2 students (at the same time) who decided the chemistry was sufficient to form an indie pop engine. Their instincts were sound as ‘Winter Vacation’ is perfection. KD

~~The Subjects - Winter Vacation~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Subjects
Year: 2009

Candy Claws - Lantern Fish

2009-10-26T10:28:00.011Z

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so taken by an album. Back as far as ‘Funeral’ I’d say. You know one of those LP’s where every track is vital, where turning it off midway through would feel wholly disrespectful. The love affair began in early summer when Ryan Hover of Candy Claws got in touch asking if we’d take a listen to his album ‘In The Dream of The Sea Life’. From the off we were awestruck and that feeling has if anything blossomed. The album bubbles with melodic creativity, the thrills mature wonderfully and the shivers I’m now feeling aren’t swine flu but the euphoria of listening to one of the most remarkable albums of the decade. ‘Lantern Fish’ should sway your thinking but listening to all 10 cuts on indiecater might just also kidnap your affections. KD

~~Candy Claws - Lantern Fish~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Candy Claws
Year: 2009

Shiversaint - Rise For The Human Race

2009-10-24T13:00:00.007+01:00

The pristine jangle swooped high above the unedifying brouhaha that about a dozen open browsers tend to create. As you can imagine it took some time to find the source but 11 closed windows later and the instrumental gold had revealed itself to be the soundtrack to a promo for an Irish recording studio. Several emails/texts ensued and before long the mp3 was in hand (or more precisely in ear) and once again causing lump in throat moments. ‘Rise Fore The Human Race’ stirs up something inside of me, it has a fluid delivery and the fact that it is an instrumental hardly seems to matter as the music speaks volumes. A couple of seconds was all it took to steal my affection but it will remain in the upper echelons of the library of music I turn to time and again. Thanks to Ryan from Shiversaint and Dermot from Ashtown Studios for making this happen. KD

~~Shiversaint - Rise For The Human Race~~

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Shiversaint
Year: 2008

The Boston Celtics - Send It Out (That Way)

2009-10-22T22:50:00.004+01:00

Just another in the long list of bands who couldn’t think of a name for themselves and decided to turn on the telly for inspiration. The Boston Celtics picked the sports news for their eureka moment and somehow it fits as they are confirmed basket cases. ‘Send It Out (That Way)’ is more than a little creepy (the band have a Halloween compilation for free download on their myspace), as if the duo had climbed into a vat of treacle with a poltergeist and forgot to turn off the 8-track. It’s a delicate shuffle really, pockmarked by witty asides and misadventures that are cuter than they are cloying. They are planning a Christmas song for us so I better be very nice to them from now on. KD

~~The Boston Celtics - Send It Out (That Way)~~

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Boston Celtics
Year: 2009

Starring Me - Parallels Are Endless

2009-10-21T21:38:00.005+01:00

Guess there was little point in mourning the death of shoegaze all those years ago when in truth it has continued to thrive in darkened tiny pockets on both sides of the water. The Pains of Being Young At Heart, Mew and M83 have refocused things of late proving that all the doubters were shortsighted after all. Away from the main stage there are even more thrills to be had (if you have not fallen for A Sunny Day In Glasgow or our own South Ambulance you are missing out) like the softly focused Floridians Starring Me who have just released their new 7-track CD ‘Parallels Are Endless’. This is the title track, which manages to conceal its offbeat tendencies in the icing of a tender piece of dreampop cake. KD

~~Starring Me - Parallels Are Endless~~

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Starring Me
Year: 2008

Alphamono - Laynod

2009-10-20T19:51:00.007+01:00

You’ll be hearing a lot more about these Dublin lads (or ladies?) sometime very soon but not from me because I know about as much as you. Yep, despite glazing over every visible particle of their myspace I cannot glean a single fact apart from an impression that they have a certain sense of humour (how come I’ve never heard that Inisman joke before?). But lackage of factoids aside Alphamono are an act to celebrate, someone to challenge the emerald electronic crown currently residing at the Dying Seconds residence. And this was achieved with a tune that is liberal in its use of the vocoder (it was never the same after Cher took her perm to it). But ‘Laynod’ has something, a spark, a heart, a personality that indicates that creativity is stirring. Turns out indications were correct as I’ve already heard ‘Fanfaidh Me’ and it’s rekindling my love for nicely turned out chilled up bleeps. KD

~~Alphamono - Laynod~~

Watch The Video To Fanfaidh Me

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Alphamono
Year: 2009

C!ties - !

2009-10-19T12:49:00.006+01:00

Exclamation points in a band’s name doesn’t necessarily make the music they create any more interesting, if anything it’s a pain for those of us onliners not familiar with the shift key. But, allowances will definitely be awarded for acts from my home town especially when they ditch the fiddle for some decent electronics and traditional indie sensibilities. C!ties debut self-titled EP is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but is populated with enough ideas to point to an act with oodles of potential. The ‘C!ties’ EP casts its net far and wide, is loud in places, tender in others and downright unclassifiable elsewhere. ‘!’ is by far my favourite moment, not going anywhere in particular it would have made a most wonderful audio interlude on No Disco if that ship were still sailing. Sorta like Super Extra Bonus Party where they to ditch the superfluous audio widgets. Elsewhere tracks like ‘Satellites’ and ‘4+1=5’ start out wonderfully before somewhat losing their way in a haze of faux drama. This EP is available for free download from the C!ties myspace and with a bit of luck it should soon be knocking the concrete smile off Sharon Shannon’s face. KD

~~C!ties - !~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Download Songs: C!ties
Year: 2009

Norse Horse - Swamp Trotter

2009-10-19T09:08:00.006+01:00

Not sure quite how some indie music making folks get it on with the opposite sex given the amount of time they spend in their bedrooms twiddling with their computers and laying down chords. That said long may they cluster in the dusty half light if it means pale beings like Ryan Beal (aka Norse Horse) continue to conjure underground magic of this ilk. Norse Horse has some very obvious reference points but his exhaustive repeating electronica and vocals hovering like winter fog does more than enough to distinguish itself from the maddening. ‘Swamp Trotter’ is from his new CDR (and cassette, respect) ‘Secret Geographies’ which is selling for pennies from Family Time Records. The tune travels at a slow canter, hardly moving from its original declaration yet it never feels worn. This norse horse will surely stay the course. KD

~~Norse Horse - Swamp Trotter~~

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Norse Horse
Year: 2009

The Charlatans - Believe You Me

2009-10-18T09:29:00.006+01:00

For those of you old enough to remember a time when you couldn’t rely on a hard drive to preserve the music from your past I understand your pain. Mixtapes for all the accolades are a pain in the reflection stakes, especially if the last time you used a working player Gabriella Sabatina was creating all sorts of dribbles (she subsequently butched up something awful). One song that made a late push for entry onto my Golden Greats (copyright Lawrence Gogan) mixtape came from the Charlatans greatest (and most aged) album ‘Some Friendly’. Back in 1990 ‘The Only One I Know’ was everything (The Stone Roses apart), the hair, the video, the shuffle, the ‘Looking For The Orange One’ t-shirt all infected my life to such a degree I must have been close to intolerable. I remember one Christmas eve playing the album to death in our banger as me and my Dad drove around the markets. By the end he was so brainwashed that almost despite himself he had amassed half a dozen pudding bowls (for DIY mop styling later) and several pairs of chinos (very unbaggy like it must be said) that could have fit a man twice his size. I sniggered, turned on my floppy fringe and promptly tripped on a wind propelled Joe Bloggs trouser leg. Fine times but looking back I wish there had been a digital depositary that I could have used to amass all those songs, instead I’ll have to leaf through several years worth of unlabelled spools. Oh yeah, Tim Burgess looks really silly nowadays. KD

~~The Charlatans - Believe You Me~~

More Info: Wiki & Myspace
Buy Songs: Some Friendly
Year: 1990

The Travelling Band - Only Waiting

2009-10-17T10:06:00.004+01:00

If this song wasn’t enough I then find out that the Travelling Band are soon to be joined on stage by none other than Dodgy (yep, those self same underrated 90’s rascals). But, back to matters in hand, here is a new band from rainy Manchester with a particularly sunny disposition and not a particularly British sound. ‘Only Waiting’ is stripped of studio fandango yet still packs plenty of punch through some lovely morning after vocals and perfectly pitched instrumentation. Why shout it from the rooftops when you’re hovering majestically over earth in a zeppelin. And they also do a nice understated reworking of one of the highlights from the best album ever released (it’s called ‘Waterfall’). What’s not to like? KD

~~The Travelling Band - Only Waiting~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Travelling Band
Year: 2008

Princeton - Calypso Gold

2009-10-16T20:22:00.005+01:00

You may have guessed it by now but we’re pretty partial to a good dollop of Princeton (they appeared on our last compilation). So you can imagine the broad smiles when we heard that ‘Cocoon of Love’, the band’s debut, was about to arrive. Yep, with twilight hours appearing earlier and earlier it’s always a good idea to have something from a different age (namely Summer) belting out from the nearest stereo. Tends to frighten the ghouls away and that feeling of regret because we've failed to replace the windows in time for the colder months. ‘Calypso Gold’ is a sprightly cherub, bouncing it’s way through almost 4 minutes without the slightest sense of adulthood. Class acts are made of these. KD

Princeton - Calypso Gold

Watch The Video To Martina and Clive Krantz

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Princeton
Year: 2009

Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - The Blogger And The Dandy

2009-10-13T20:28:00.006+01:00

The crux of this wonderful tune reminds me of something else but I can’t pinpoint it, could be another Italian band. Le Man Avec Les Lunettes come from Brescia and are led by Alessandro Paderno. Prolific set they appear to be too with a great pile of releases put out since they formed over 5 years ago. ‘The Blogger And The Dandy’ appeared on a Series Two compilation from the band called ‘La Belle Epop’ and is a near surreal experience. At times it gets woozy, almost ragged yet the tune that pulls the levers is utterly captivating. I’ve had it on repeat for the last 24 hours and it’s still gently tickling my insides. KD

~~Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - The Blogger And The Dandy~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Le Man Avec Les Lunettes
Year: 2008