mp3hugger

A-ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV

2009-07-15T20:20:00.005+01:00

Coming as it did in the wake of the untouchable ‘Take On Me’ ‘The Sun Always Shines On TV’ felt like a bit of a let down. That said it has attained a certain gravitas with age and listening in now almost 25 years later it really sounds wonderful. The plain facts are that A-ha and their music have worn very well, so much so that it’s hardly surprising that their 9th album ‘Foot Of The Mountain’ was released only last month. The trio can thank their lucky stars that that they put their faith in the emerging media of video because without their lavish promo’s it is unlikely that they would have reached such a global audience. ‘The Sun Always Shines On TV’ is an awkward piece of pop, never really settling into its groove but the positives are many. Morten Harket got to showcase his incredible range with a limited tune and the electro movements filled in the gaps with graceful ingenuity. All in all it’s great to see them back, popstars in the true sense of the word. KD

A-ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV

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Year: 1985

Mojave 3 - Kill The Lights

2009-07-14T20:45:00.004+01:00

Damn, I’d forgotten how fantastic Mojave 3’s last album was. Imagine ‘Puzzles Like You’ is a full 3 years old at this stage and it still sound utterly luminous. It highlighted the bands new feel for jaunty tuneage that was so often missing from their, admittedly ravishing, longtime hankering for countrified pop. ‘Kill The Lights’ was a leading figure in their rise to the powerpop throne; along with the standout track ‘Breaking The Ice’. Remember that Mojave 3 had risen from the shadows of Slowdive, remarkable noise merchants who could never have been accused of loitering too long in the company of the dentist’s supply of laughing gas. ‘Kill The Lights’ pulls out all the stops and the result is an irresistible bundle of joy. Adopt it now. KD

Mojave 3 - Kill The Lights

Watch The Video To Breaking The Ice

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Mojave 3
Year: 2006

Dan Koshute - Double Dip

2009-07-13T21:15:00.005+01:00

For most of the time that old adage of youth being wasted on the young holds pretty much true but then there are kids like Joseph D'Agostino and Dan Koshute who’ve recently given the sound of the underground the almighty kick in the balls it needs. You should know the former by now from his glorious ‘Why There Are Mountains’ LP with Cymbals Eat Guitars but the latter is making up ground fast. ‘Double Dip’ knocked my socks off literally 10 minutes ago; it made me well up actually such is its ravenous lust for life. That and the rabid ingenuity at work, I’m sure most acts don’t sound this lively at 78rpm but in Koshute’s hands the stampede never sounds forced and everything is its right place. It’s big, bold and ridiculously ambitious. I’m wondering if they’ve invented speakers yet that could contain this at full tilt. Dan Koshute's debut album ‘Kiss Line’ is out now, I've also started headbanging for the first time in 20 years. KD

Dan Koshute - Double Dip

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Dan Koshute
Year: 2009

Pistol Disco - Organ And Drum

2009-07-13T09:28:00.005+01:00

Sometimes I decide I’d like to make a post like it was my first ever. One that would catch people’s attention, one that would ensure they’d return, one with a song so sumptuous you could be assured that people would leave satisfied. So for one day only I shall drive on from my usual landfill picking ground and instead focus on something big, beautiful and, dare I say it, life changing. Pistol Disco are from somewhere in Sweden and have struck upon the novel idea of giving their album away as a free download (!), if it is impresses you but you prefer a little grope then you can move into the physical arena by simple passing them on some coinage. This reminds me of the sonic boomism of that post Spacemen 3 spectrum, achieving near totality without ever engaging the human voice. KD

Pistol Disco - Organ And Drum

Watch The Video To Beat Of The Tune

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Pistol Disco
Year: 2009

Allá - Sigue Tu Corazon

2009-07-12T09:13:00.004+01:00

Allá are a distinctly unique trio from Chicago who were just made for summer occasions. Their debut ‘Es Tiempo’ came out last year and is pickled with perfect little tunes like ‘Sigue Tu Corazon’. Roughly 2 minutes long it displays Lupe Martinez’s exotic vocals and the playful creativity of brothers Jorge and Angel Ledezma on backup. Listening you wish it would go on forever such are its wondrous swoops and graceful meanders. Allá’s next release ‘Digs’ (a covers project it seems) will be out this Autumn on the Belgium label Crammed Discs. KD

Allá - Sigue Tu Corazon

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Allá
Year: 2008

Jubilee Allstars - By The End Of The Night

2009-07-10T18:40:00.003+01:00

1996’s ‘By The End Of The Night’ EP was the first recording the Jubilee Allstars undertook with the Lakota label. It was far and away their best work, a sloppy glorious mess that belied their general country dalliances. The Allstars were a trio of McCormack siblings and Lee Casey and were one of several acts that spearheaded the vibrant Dublin underground DIY scene of the mid-nineties (you can hear several others over on our very own Indiecater). ‘By The End Of The Night’ is a gentle strum, slow to reveal its charms and most effective when heard in the context of the EP of the same name. KD

Jubilee Allstars - By The End Of The Night

Watch The Video To Please Don't Give Up On Me

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Buy Songs: Jubilee Allstars
Year: 1996

Rollerskate Skinny - Thirsty European

2009-07-09T18:58:00.005+01:00

Well thank you Rollerskate Skinny for giving my closest ever brush with tinnitus. You see around the middle of the last decade not even Mogwai (or for that matter arch sonic terrorists MBV) could match this Dublin quartet for eardrum shredding white noise. Could’ve figured from most of their immaculate sophomore ‘Horsedrawn Wishes’ which while splendidly melodic also forced its deafening agenda. The album was a beautiful piece of work, experimental but never losing its sense of memorable tuneage. ‘Thirsty European’ appeared towards the end and displayed many of the bands hallmarks, notably the ad-hoc momentum and the neverending feeling that you’ve just been beamed into several completely different songs. KD

~~Rollerskate Skinny - Thirsty European~~

More Info: @ IMC & Myspace
Buy Songs: Rollerskate Skinny
Year: 1996

Blind Man's Colour - Heavy Cloud Hustle

2009-07-08T20:55:00.005+01:00

You could call it the Animal Collective effect I guess, a rush to woozy dramatics and aquatic vocals. There are bound to be giant pockets of the talentless probing their computers as if engaged in a higher art form but recently I’ve encountered several mood-enhancing generators. Blind Man’s Colour certainly fall into the latter category, 2 kids from a place where the sun is more than a fluke and seem intent in whipping the 1’s and 0’s into aural shapes resembling oceans built with melodies. That’s they’ve already contributed to an AC covers project gives more proof as to their immediate influences but ‘Heavy Cloud Hustle’ is a stand alone gem that bodes well for their future recordings. KD

~~Blind Man's Colour - Heavy Cloud Hustle~~

Watch The Video To Never Hope For Treasure

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Blind Man's Colour
Year: 2009

Cornershop - Wog

2009-07-07T22:41:00.005+01:00

When I’m tired it’s so much easier to fall back on the sounds from the days of ford cortina. Like when looking at old photographs is far more desirable than creating new memories. Cornershop spun into largescale consciousness due to a flaccid Fatboy Slim remix of their otherwise excellent ‘Brimful Of Asha’ single. Although nearly 2 decades old the Leicester band are releasing a brand new album later this month. It’s called ‘The Roll-Off Characteristics (Of History in the Making)’ and if it’s as good as its predecessors it’s quite likely that both woman’s and man’s gotta have it. KD

~~Cornershop - Wog~~

Watch The Video To Lessons Learned From Rocky I to Rocky III

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Cornershop
Year: 1995

Coeur De Pirate - Comme Des Enfants

2009-07-06T11:14:00.005+01:00

Banish those Regina Spektor comparisons straight away because this is in another league altogether (La Liga). Coeur De Pirate has been longlisted (we like this longlister too) for the Canadian Polaris Music Prize but if Quebec’s Béatrice Martin has not been shortlisted in less than a day then there is something radically wrong. You know how we discuss new music in perpetuity and while most acts are worth taking heed of it doesn’t happen that often that we’re spellbound. ‘Comme Des Enfants’ is perfect, building to a soft crescendo while effortlessly displaying why the French language is so beguiling. Beyond Paradis in fact. KD

~~Coeur De Pirate - Comme Des Enfants~~

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Buy Songs: Coeur De Pirate
Year: 2009

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Twin Of Myself

2009-07-05T19:40:00.007+01:00

This certainly has the ‘Air Safari’s about it and by that I mean it is pretty fantastic. But rather than sweeping in on a seabreeze of Parisienne korgs Black Moth Super Rainbow actually call Pittsburgh home. ‘Eating Us’ is their 4th LP, early copies of which came complete with a hairy summer jacket (see there are still ways to flog the physical if you’re inventive). ‘Twin Of Myself’ is characterised by its languidness and is graced at regular intervals by a voice squeezed through a vocoder. If it doesn’t kick off your 2 week summer holiday on the right footing then you don’t deserve the time off. I’m already on my 3rd cocktail…singing hot hot hot. KD

~~Black Moth Super Rainbow - Twin Of Myself~~

Watch The Video To Sun Lips

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Black Moth Super Rainbow
Year: 2009

Dr Fox's Old Timey String Band - Kids

2009-07-04T23:47:00.006+01:00

This an oddity that works well when combined with alcohol, in saying that I played it earlier and it sounded quite well back then too. ‘Kids’ they call it and the savvy amongst you will spot the inspiration (it's pretty obvious really, even for drunkards). The not unsubstantially named Dr Fox's Old Timey String Band come from Kerry and make music using banjo’s, violins and voices. It’s early days but there is the distinct whiff of individuality about these lads, they know the score and they are only willing to divulge their secrets on their own terms. This is probably how Gomez sounded before they came up with ‘Bring It On’, let’s hope the Old Timey's can deliver on the promise (at which stage the time to pretend they're another band will come to an end). KD

~~Dr Fox's Old Timey String Band - Kids~~

More Info: Official
Year: 2009

Sam Bisbee - Never Fall In Love

2009-07-03T20:16:00.006+01:00

Wow, this was bigger than I thought was possible from a singer songwriter. And the more I listen the more I realise that perhaps it’s the unexpected noise that has drawn me moth-like to the flame. Sam Bisbee has been knocking around forever and despite a wealth of positive press he has yet to ride a wave of convincing popularity. A shame really because ‘Never Fall In Love’ (from his latest ‘Son Of A Math Teacher’) is really quite good. Having a chanteuse of the quality of Leona Naess to lead on vocal duties certainly helps though and when the bluster loses its edge it's her vocals that make your crave reruns. KD

~~Sam Bisbee - Never Fall In Love~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Sam Bisbee
Year: 2009

Wild Sweet Orange - Ten Dead Dogs

2009-07-02T17:57:00.006+01:00

Much as it would be in keeping with the total avoidance of a song that has appeared on Letterman I can’t deny myself the pleasure of ‘Ten Dead Dogs’. As you’d expect Wild Sweet Orange have also done some time on Grey’s Anatomy, the pained delivery is an undeniable fit for slo-mo surgical theatrics. But, for all the strong arguments brought forward by the prosecution it seems the case for the defence is watertight. ‘Ten Dead Dogs’ is just too pretty and cleverly built to be brushed aside on a whim. And with a bassist called Garret Kelly it would be just too rude to piss on one of our own. Stunning, there I said it. KD

~~Wild Sweet Orange - Ten Dead Dogs~~

Watch The Video To Wrestle With God

More Info: Myspace
Buy Songs: Wild Sweet Orange
Year: 2008

Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel

2009-07-01T20:17:00.005+01:00

It might just be straining to fill nearly 7 minutes but for the most part ‘Surprise Hotel’ is an intoxicating piece of craft. Calypso (or perhaps Tropical) you could say but then I’m no expert, being only a casual frequenter of the realm that exists beyond indie rock. Fool’s Gold’s journey began in the town of Weed (makes sense) at Cass McCombs wedding (doesn’t) and they will leave their first marker this September with the arrival of a self-titled debut. Going on the evidence as laid down by ‘Surprise Hotel’ you can be guaranteed it will be fun and so parallel to current thinking they could possibly be onto something really special. And all I want to know is what's with all the bands named after Stone Roses songs all of a sudden? KD

~~Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel~~

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Buy Songs: Fool's Gold
Year: 2009

Men Who Listen - Find Our Way Again

2009-06-30T19:47:00.005+01:00

Sleepy Rock eh?!? Not sure if that classification even exists but it seems like an apt genre for this group from Chicago. I really like the cut of their jib; they play it straight as if reading from the guidebook of how to play good without ever exerting themselves. The upside of course is the fact that Men Who Listen can actually write a pretty good darn song. ‘Find Our Way Again’ sounds like it was adapted from a barbershop quartet ditty and the pedestrian playing hardly helps alleviate that particular notion. I do like the guitar turns for all my moaning and you’ve got to love a band that call themselves after a phenomenon that has yet to be filmed in the wild. To sum up, I’m diggin’ it quite a bit. KD

~~Men Who Listen - Find Our Way Again~~

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Men Who Listen
Year: 2009

Elephant Stone - I Am Blind

2009-06-29T15:45:00.009+01:00

Update: So impressed were we with Elephant Stone’s record that they’ve now joined us on our label Indiecater!

‘I Am Blind’ is taken from the Polaris Prize nominated album ‘The Seven Seas’ from Montrealers Elephant Stone. And enough of all that bickering about the ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ start this is something that annoying baldy could only dream of writing. Lead singer Rishi Dhir used to be in the High Dials (whom we briefly frolicked with 3 years past) so he has form (6 albums worth in fact). ‘I Am Blind’ is so well endowed with honeyed melody it’s a wonder there’s not already a swarm domesticating in your speakers. Jingle jangle without any of the auld triangle it certainly looks like Dhir has found a bright new angle. KD

~~Elephant Stone - I Am Blind~~

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Elephant Stone
Year: 2009

Farmer Sea - A Brighter Sunday

2009-06-29T12:52:00.006+01:00

Of late I’ve been retreating into the sound of my youth, I think it may be down to the fact that hugger junior is on the way. Not sure why but the experience is starting to get to me – could be the realisation that mythical characters called squarepants will be replacing genuine indie characters with nice haircuts. Ok, enough of the sappiness here is a cute little band from Italy that have that early 90’s sound down perfectly. ‘A Brighter Sunday’ is taken from their new album ‘Low Fidelity In Relationships’ and bursts with the sort of harmonies, brass interludes and inventive chords you’d expect from a breaking band in the UK inkies (oh, NME already have). Pretty soon this particular Turin crowd could be leaving their own indelible mark. KD

Farmer Sea - A Brighter Sunday

Watch The Video To Teenage Love

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Farmer Sea
Year: 2009

The Brothers Movement - Nothing Means Anything

2009-06-28T08:55:00.005+01:00

I keep hearing whispers about this band and then when I go to find out more the trail goes cold. Their official site is nonexistent and their myspace gives the Da Vinci Code a run for its money. Do know they are from Dublin and they have are a pair of Paxton siblings involved but the whereabouts of their debut album remains a mystery. If it does arrive it should be a delight given the neo psychedelic tendencies of ‘Nothing Means Anything’. Think Thirteen Tales Dandy’s and you have the sound – the fact they have a singer called Danda just gives the game away. Seriously though this is a giant leap forward for Irish bands of this ilk, a widescreen approach that has been largely missing from the local scene. Makes you sorta feel proud of them, at least until they start hanging out with Bono or Glenda Gilson. KD

~~The Brothers Movement - Nothing Means Anything~~

Watch The Video To Blind

More Info: Myspace
Buy Songs: The Brothers Movement
Year: 2009

Ride - Mouse Trap

2009-06-27T09:20:00.010+01:00

Ride remain one of my favourite bands ever. Probably because they coincided with my college years when there was time to get immersed in the music (man). Although later albums had some great songs it was their first two ‘Nowhere’ and ‘Going Blank Again’ that left the biggest impression. At the time I feverishly collected all their singles which often turned up non-album classics like ‘Howard Hughes’ and ‘Going Blank Again’ (they didn’t even see fit to include it on the album of the same name). The band revolved around the twin vocals of Mark Gardener and Andy Bell (how could you?), molten guitars and the impossibly rendered beats (which this song so ably highlights). ‘Going Blank Again’ was an album of great singles but the lesser lights were no less illuminating. I’ve always had a gra for ‘Mouse Trap’, it may have been light on the word front but it is Ride at their most instrumentally dynamic. Couldn’t you just listen to Mark Gardner aah-aahing for the weekend? ‘Mouse Trap’ is heavy on invention and while Alan Moulder’s pristine production marks out the disparate parts clearly the whole is magnificently cohesive. Right, I’m off to have a little cry for myself. KD

~~Ride - Mouse Trap~~

Watch It Live From 1992

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Buy Songs: Ride
Year: 1992

MC Tunes v 808 State - Tunes Splits The Atom

2009-06-26T22:04:00.007+01:00

Some earlier chat about retro gaming really got me on a nostalgia buzz and as I had this in reserve for such occassions I thought I’d give it a whirl. You know the bass turn from the meltdown on ‘I Am The Resurrection’ and can’t you just imagine good old Mani making like it was 1990. Guess the whole world has gone a bit rose tinted at the moment given MJ’s demise so ‘Tunes Split The Atom’ may not be so outta place. Mr Tunes started out as Nicholas William Dennis Hodgson (no less) and saw some chart action between several bouts with 808 State. ‘Tune Splits The Atom’ is horribly ancient but for those of a similiar vintage it’s also about as satisfying as wiping out a complete squadron of Galaxian invaders. KD

~~MC Tunes v 808 State - Tunes Splits The Atom~~

Watch A Performance on THE WORD!

More Info: Wiki & Myspace
Buy Songs: MC Tunes
Year: 1990

Gazelle - The First Rays

2009-06-25T17:29:00.007+01:00

I might be wrong but this sounds like very early Boo Radleys. The bit where the discordant noise was louder than the vocals but you could still hum along to the resultant haze. Gazelle are a much more contemporary proposition (even if its playmates are longish of tooth) but their time machine is locked in on 1991. I’m hoping the techies never remedy this quirk because ‘First Rays’ is a wallowing delight that switches allegience towards the end when ambient waters shimmer over a more distinct vocal output. If this wets your tastebuds there’s lots more to savour on Gazelle’s ‘Sunblown’ album of last year. KD

~~Gazelle - The First Rays~~

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

Tafra - Oh Daniel

2009-06-24T20:21:00.006+01:00

Indie pop doesn’t get more cute than this (watch the video below if you don’t believe me). It’s just one of a number of illuminating releases from that great CDR label Series Two Records based out in Nebraska. Tafur’s ‘Why Even Bother’ album came along last year and is dutifully lo-fi and expansive. As soon as you think the instrumentation is gone a tad stale in swings a rib of brass to add meat to the twee concoction. Tafra even has a first name, Niklas, and he comes from Sweden but lives in London and played some part in the recording of a record by Suburban Kids With Biblical Names. Much too complicated really so you’d probably be best served sitting the family in front of the computer speakers and treating them to 2 minutes of unadulterated fun. KD

~~Tafra - Oh Daniel~~

Watch The Video

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

The Postbox Theory - Recommence The Tea Party

2009-06-23T20:55:00.006+01:00

Some weeks back a lovely chap called Patrick Kane wrote to tell us about an all ages gig he is putting on in Belfast on the 14th of July. His inspiration for doing so was genuine because he’s suffered from not seeing lots of his favourite bands over the last few years due to that near insurmountable issue that he’s just too young. So rather than waiting for the promoters (or that fake moustache in the post) to jump at what is surely the most obvious market for brand new bands he has decided to kick off with his own ‘The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance’ series of nights (4 in all). The inaugural show has 4 acts including the Postbox Theory who I’ve started to grow very fond of. Yeah, they ain’t reinventing the wheel but I can’t help falling for their hardcore slacker attitude, pounding instrumention and furious stop/start momentum. Expect the waves of adulation to extend well beyond their base in Lisburn very soon. In the meantime Mr. Kane (in post-exam daze) will continue show the big boys how to make good in the recession while still retaining every shred of cool. KD

~~The Postbox Theory - Recommence The Tea Party~~

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Postbox Theory
Year: 2009

18 Wheeler - Nature Girl

2009-06-22T20:36:00.005+01:00

This is straight out of the Teenage Fanclub handbook so it’s hardly surprising that 18 Wheeler (or Wheeler 18 if you’re the English PM) came from Glasgow and were signed to Creation Records. This was the 1990’s when Alan McGee’s label was the touchstone for quality jangling indie (he also discovered Oasis btw, the very night in Glasgow when they were supporting none other than 18 Wheeler). Tragically for the Sean Jackson outfit their greatest success came in 1997 as they turned their hand to a dancier angle (album #3 ‘Year Zero’) leaving behind the perfectly formed tunes of their debut ‘Twin Action’. Nothing else they did quite compared to ‘Suncrush’ and ‘Nature Girl’ which were so openly tunesome and loveable they are now used as examples for ‘perfect little nugget’ in the indie dictionary. KD

~~18 Wheeler - Nature Girl~~

Watch The Video To Stay

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: 18 Wheeler
Year: 1994