Jezzy & The Belles - Compasses & Maps

Album review by KevW

Having such a diverse musical upbringing has evidently served Jessica Eisenberg well. With a father who obsessed over classical music and a Cuban mother whose Latin sounds vied for space on the stereo, Jezzy's own love of more contemporary guitar music made for a heady mix of influences. Starting out as a violinist, her love of guitars soon made her switch instruments and begin forming bands, eventually recording 'Compasses & Maps' as essentially a solo project with the aid of producer Ilia Bis. The chosen moniker of Jezzy & The Belles first appeared on an EP earlier this year, and now this debut album.

Brooklyn is a city renowned for its rich indie/experimental scene and much of this, along with her childhood influences, has been thrown into the melting pot here. The basis for many of these songs is an acoustic guitar and stripped to basics this would be a fine contemporary folk album. Right from the off though, the rich textures of dreampop begin to appear on 'By Proxy', adding an extra dimension to the conventional singer-songwriter fare. She's not afraid of beats either, 'Holiness As High As This' and 'Sailing Into Curious Lands' are given a rockier, alternative edge. 'Confess Child''s jittering beat and forlorn brass and strings would be labelled as trip-hop had it been made in Bristol fifteen years ago.

In the end it's this eclectic approach that transforms what would be a nice enough set of acoustic guitar tracks into something more dynamic and diverse. For comparisons you could thrown in names such as Bjork, PJ Harvey and even Tori Amos, such are the various musical avenues explored, and while Jezzy & The Belles may not quite belong in such esteemed company just yet, 'Compasses & Maps' shows that she has the raw talent and the willingness to not always play it safe that could see her make more headway in the future. A decent and assured first outing.




Free download: 'Confess Child'
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Jezzy & The Belles' website

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Christine Leakey - Shine My Tarnished Sheen

Single review by KevW

Canadian singer-songwriter Christine Leakey's recent album 'Tapping Trees In A Trinket Box Of Treasure' has been one of the finest dream-folk records released this year, using complex and interwoven sections of music and ideas to fashion a work of genuine originality and beauty, one that opens up a strange and inspiring fantasy world. One of the most hypnotic and beguiling cuts, 'Shine My Tarnished Sheen', also proved to be one of the more touching and emotive tracks, adding a spaciousness to the layers of sound and resulting in a more maudlin feel.

It's fitting that the song comes accompanied by such an exotic and distinctive video. The Asian flavour that takes over the middle section is an unconventional and unexpected twist in the music, and the mini-movie storyline that supports it adds an extra element of pathos. Being mostly filmed in India it also plays upon the experimental choice of instrumentation explored by the song. One of the album's least immediate tracks becomes, upon repeat listens, one of the more arresting and outstanding pieces of all, and adding this touching footage only serves to magnify this effect.



Christine Leakey's website

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Five For Free #92

WATERS - If Only

Van Pierszalowski was a member of the quite excellent band Port O'Brien before they split in 2010. After taking some time out, he returned to music with the release of the debut from his new band WATERS late last year. 'If Only' was recorded during the same sessions but has only now seen the light of day. It's brilliantly fizzing, melodic indiepop and it's free below.



WATERS' website

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Paul Banks - Summertime Is Coming



When Interpol frontman Paul Banks put out a solo record a while back he went under the guise of Julian Plenty, and it looks like that alias will survive a little longer as this week saw the release of the 'Julian Plenti Lives...' EP, featuring the moody (and very Interpol like) 'Summertime Is Coming'. Paul Banks will be releasing his second solo album later on this year.

Free download: 'Summertime Is Coming'
(right click, save as)

Paul Banks' website

Stream the EP in full

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Cheerleaders - Puzzles

Leeds trio Cheerleaders are, in band terms, barely out of their nappies, having only formed at the beginning of the year. Taking influence from a wide range of guitar bands from punk to American alt-rock acts such as The National and Husker Du, they've already put on their own DIY shows and are sharing with us the first fruits of their fledgling career in the shape of hectic, buzzing and rather ace indie-punk track 'Puzzles'.



Cheerleaders' website





Arc In Round - One-Sided

Featuring members of now defunct shoegaze band Relay, Philadelphia's Arc In Round have just released their self-titled debut album and giving us the fuzzy and dreamy pop of  'One-Sided' as a free taster. You can hear elements of krautrock, electronica, a swathe of effects-heavy guitar bands and also a small measure of Stereolab, and that's never a bad thing.



Arc In Round's website

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Joe Lewis - Get It Right

Singer-songwriter Joe Lewis is from Newport in South Wales and 'Branches' is his debut release. The EP was written and recorded by Joe himself and 'Get It Right' sets itself apart from routine acoustic fare thanks to the gently humming guitar that adds a warming quality as well as preventing things becoming too slick. His rough growl certainly helps add some passion too.


Joe Lewis' website

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Red Cosmos - There And Back

Album review by KevW

It's a challenge to get to grips with 'There And Back', the debut album from Red Cosmos. Essentially the work of one man, Kim Tortoise, the album seems to go on and on and on. Taking it all in in one sitting (without a toilet break at least) is quite exhausting because most songs go on a couple of minutes longer than is necessary. It's certainly sprawling and reasonably one-paced, which upon first listen makes it seem impenetrable and not particularly user friendly. Rather than an album, 'There And Back' is more a scrapbook of musical sketches, cuttings of ideas collected over time and then published as they are. As such it becomes a record to pick through rather than enjoy as a whole.

Plenty of time and effort has been put in, the songs are often complex and layered and samples pop up in unexpected places along with sounds from a smorgasbord of instruments. Too often though, this is a record that meanders aimlessly and although there are ideas in abundance, many of them fall short, and this isn't helped by vocals that have a default setting of bored and flat. That said, when things click they really do work and sporadic moments of brilliance are hidden amongst vast musical wasteland. The spooky vocal sample and stuttering beats of 'Iron Rush' for example, or the brilliant minor key, military dirge of 'England's Glory'.'You Said You Loved Me' is a great piece of downbeat psychedelic pop, but it falls into the trap of dragging its heels and simply going on for too long.

The theatrical interlude of 'Do Geese See God?' lightens the journey a little. Red Cosmos isn't short on innovation, that's for sure, what's needed it a helping hand with the quality control. Someone to say when enough is enough. Had 'There And Back' been edited down we could be looking at a modern psychedelic pop curio that many would fall for. Instead this is an over long and heavy going album that almost seems designed for the pick-and-choose download culture. Some truly wonderful music and a heck of a lot of truly average music, this is so close to being amazing that it probably doesn't realise it; difficult at first but for those hidden nuggets of gold, Red Cosmos is just about worth persevering with.





Red Cosmos's website

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Band To Check Out: The Rubbish Zoo

Article by KevW

Originally from Cheyenne, Wyoming, The Rubbish Zoo moved to Los Angeles a couple of years ago in order to pursue their desire to make individual and eclectic indie-rock. The decision looks to have been a shrewd one so far, with the quintet bagging some decent size gigs and scattering of press attention. They've also spent this time honing their sound and getting down to some serious writing, with a couple of self-made EPs under their belt already. The most recent of these being the four demos that make up 'The Rubbish Zoo EP', released earlier this year.

There's definite promise here, even if the songs feel like they need an expert eye cast over the production to really fulfil their promise. The makings of a very good band are in place. Anyone who's been following the alternative scene over the past year or two will find familiar sounds but presented in a slightly different way. You can hear elements of Real Estate, Vampire Weekend and even MGMT in their music. A blend of poppy melodies, synths, harmonies and more traditional alt-rock sounds. They have some decent songs and are beginning to develop a distinctive sound. While The Rubbish Zoo aren't quite the finished article just yet, they're heading in the right direction.



The Rubbish Zoo's website

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Shonen Knife - Pop Tune

Album review by KevW

The Osaka Ramones return with their eighteenth studio album. Such an output and a career lasting over thirty years with only one original member remaining would suggest we should perhaps begin referring to them as the Japanese Status Quo instead. Much like the denim-clad dad-rockers you generally know what to expect from a new Shonen Knife album, although recent years have seen them take a slightly heavier direction. 'Pop Tune', as its title would indicate, marks a return to the more harmony led, bubblegum powerpop that's gained them such a cult following in the past. And it's nothing short of stupendously good fun and near faultless from beginning to end, ideas are churned out in such a way that it's difficult not to be envious of how easy they make it all seem.

The girls are of course past masters at all this, and opener 'Welcome To The Rock Club' may as well be a Ramones cover. It's pure melodic-punk perfection that launches straight into the grin inducing single 'Pop Tune', a song so effortlessly perfect in its simple pop thrills that it should be taught as part of the national curriculum. Not many bands could get away with writing an adorable song about visiting an 'All You Can Eat' restaurant (sample lyric "before you grab a plate, decide which one you want, then help yourself to the food... don't forget to take some vegetables!"), but then not every band is Shonen Knife. It's even got a bloody kazoo solo and still sounds astonishingly good.

The simply beautiful 'Paper Clip' is verging on psychedelic pop and its breezy electric strums and sighed backing vocals are a treat for the ears. 'Psychedelic Life' talks of "burning incense", "being lost in meditation" and "acting like a Bohemian", throwing in a flute solo to drive the point home. The song itself is no hippy nonsense, it's, of course, more bubblegum pop. Something which these girls do better and more naturally than pretty much anyone else. The buzzing 'Ghost Train' is a potential future single and 'Move On' is as catchy as they come, that arresting melody being stretched out to five minutes, something that would normally yield diminishing returns but here still doesn't feel long enough. On 'Pop Tune' Shonen Knife have demonstrated that they're pretty much peerless in this field, and they remain the most endearing and one of the best bands around.



Shonen Knife's website

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Kitzu - A Swarm Of Details Into Your Umbilical Cord

Album review by KevW

Jerusalem wouldn't be your first port of call when on a quest for experimental, alternative rock, but the power of music and the desire to push boundaries stretches far and wide. In Kitzu, Israel may have its own female fronted version of Radiohead, and on this, their third album, they explore several corners of the musical spectrum, fearlessly refusing to adhere to rules and regulations. 'A Swarm Of Details Into Your Umbilical Cord' is only even songs in length but it achieves a lot in a relatively short space of time and impresses on many levels.

Beginning with birdsong, 'A Swarm Of Details' acts as more of an introductory offering than a fully-formed song, adding hissing layers, gentle piano and warped vocal samples. Things come alive on on the stuttering math-rock of 'Curious' with it's refrain of "show me details... I am curious". There are details aplenty to be found here, these unconventional songs are littered with background sounds and samples; this isn't your run-of-the-mill alt-rock. 'Magnets' follows suit, its guitar line wandering over electronic bleeps and stuttering beats. You could imagine Portishead concocting a similar musical potion.

There's just as much heart in these songs when they opt for minimalism too. The opening minute of 'White' is a capella and when the instruments do join in they're not allowed to take over, providing a more subdued backing. Guitars return to the fore on the grungy 'Life Of A Waitress', a track that's not a million miles away from early Delgados. The glitchy 'Going Far' feels like a parting shot before they saunter away with the atmospheric 'Into Your Umbilical Chord'. Kitzu are not the most immediate of bands and their music is as much to be admired as enjoyed at first, it's worth persevering with though, as there's a wealth of riches to be uncovered over time.




Kitzu's website

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Neondad - Daddylicious

EP review by KevW

As if the band name and EP title weren't enough, Finnish band Neondad take their paternity-based theme even further, giving their individual names as Hung Dad, Lusty Dad, Feliz Navidad and, ahem, Peter von Baghdad. It all seems to be setting the stage for some "wacky" or "quirky" music, but if you give their new EP 'Daddylicious' a spin you'll find a reasonably orthodox indie/rock sound, albeit one that doesn't take things too seriously or come across as particularly earnest. This is a quartet of accomplished and pretty decent tracks, which although they're unlikely to win any awards, are worthy of a few minutes of your time.

Kicking off with the the likeable if fairly routine 'Drugs' it's clear that they can pen a decent enough tune and execute it with no small amount of deserved confidence. What follows is essentially more of the same, however 'Good Morning, Mr Pink' takes the quality up a notch, and both 'Girl In The Uniform' and 'Create A Silence' are equally competent and slightly charming. There's nothing on this EP that you won't have heard already but that doesn't stop it being, all told, a pretty decent listen and Neondad a name to look out for in the future.
 

Neondad's website

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Hot Head Show - BANG NOW

Article by KevW

London-based nutcases Hot Head Show have just unveiled this brilliantly bonkers new video, 'BANG NOW', which serves as a strange kind of preview to their forthcoming new album 'Double Happiness', the follow-up to 'The Lemon LP', which is due to be released later in the summer. Quite what it says artistically or stylistically about the new record isn't exactly clear, but at a guess we should expect a frantic psychedelic soup, akin to playing a Frank Zappa LP at 45rpm. The sounds here chop, flit, crunch and stutter, giving genres a wide berth.

As for the video, well as you can see it's Monty Python meets Yellow Submarine meets The Mighty Boosh meets an industrial strength blender. It's eye candy alright, but over exposure is likely to cause giddiness, nausea and possibly mild psychosis. It should maybe come with a health warning, but where's the fun in that? One word of advice though, definitely don't try and watch this under the influence of any mind altering substances as it will most likely cause irreversible damage to your cerebellum.

Hot Head Show's website





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The Folk - Say It Again EP

EP review by KevW

Seeing a band name like The Folk, you begin to build an idea of what they sound like before even hearing a note of the music. Why hasn't there been a folk band called The Folk before? (Or has there? Answers on a postcard...) Anyway, it turns out that the initial picture your mind paints from seeing such a moniker is, in this case, incorrect. The Folk aren't particularly folky at all, making a rather more substantial and dynamic form of alt-rock that's electric instead of wooden and somewhat less traditional than you may expect. 'Say It Again' is their second release following a debut at the end of 2011 and acts as a suitable piece of promotion for their first headline tour later this year.

'Rules Of Youth' uses thundering drums and gentle fuzz to conjure up a gutsy and atmospheric opening and you instantly realise they're made of pretty stern stuff. 'When I Go Away' is quite possibly the best song here, although it's a close call, building on the moody beginning with shoegazey guitars and surging percussive swells. Vocally there's no lack of passion, with all three tracks being delivered like they mean it. The title-track also shows they mean business and feels like the result of genuine attention to detail and careful songcraft. For something so seemingly simple it's developed brilliantly, to wring as much potential from the song as possible. It's quite a sound and if they can nail it in the live arena as well as they can on record then those upcoming gigs are not to be missed.




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Snøskred - We Are

Single review by KevW

For their debut single, Norwegians Snøskred have decided to take the wall of noise approach that's seen such a resurgence of late, particularly in northern Europe, the adoptive new home of shoegaze and dreampop. 'We Are' throws everything into its overcrowded mix; there are what sounds like numerous vocalists vying for space, but finding their voices engulfed by a barrage of drums and cymbal crashes and amounting to little more than a reverb-soaked background accompaniment. If you're getting the impression that this is a mistake then think again, because this approach lends an extra urgency and desperation to the song, creating a delicious whirlpool effect.

There are guitars aplenty of course, these also get tangled up in the mix until their sound is barely distinguishable from the rest of the din going on around them. It's as though they've set the every track on the desk to the same distant level and then cranked the resulting typhoon of distorted and withdrawn noise up to eleven. It's probably a nightmare for anyone who wants to learn to play any particular part of this song by listening alone, but it sounds bloody great. It's taken Snøskred two years to get to this point, so lets hope that in that time they've managed to whip up a few other similarly frenzied and blurry aural assaults.
 

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Five For Free #91

Animal Kingdom - Get Away With It

London trio Animal Kingdom have just released their second album 'The Looking Away' digitally with a physical release to follow in July. Taken from it is 'Get Away With It', a quite wonderful and sleek, upbeat indiepop track that's as much for the dance floor as your iPod. Their sound has seen them making headway in the US where they're soon to be touring.



Animal Kingdom's website

Pre-order the album






Bike Warrior - Whatever Nevermind

Gabriel Conti, AKA Bike Warrior is a 24 year old from Buenos Aires in Argentina who started out DJing at house parties and is now prepping his debut album 'Let It Go'. Taken from it (and also featuring on his new mixtape) is this debut single 'Whatever Nevermind' which is a rich and chilled wash of beats and twinkles that he's letting us get our mitts on for free.



Bike Warrior's website





Chains Of Love - Mistake Lover

For further celebration that the excellent garage/pop/soul collective Chains Of Love have now made their album 'Strange Grey Days' available on physical release in the UK, here's new single and free download 'Mistake Lover' which shows a more restrained side to the band without sacrificing any of their retro-pop cool and is still laced with those gorgeous Ronnie Spectorish vocals.



Chains Of Love's website

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So Many Wizards - Happy Birthday

You may have noticed the endless stream of lo-fi, jangly guitar bands emerging from Los Angeles these past couple of years, and here's another. Quartet So Many Wizards are getting set to release their debut album 'Warm Nothing' later in the summer. Until then, here's a free download of album track 'Happy Birthday' to satisfy your hazey indie needs.



So Many Wizards' website

'Warm Nothing' will be available through Jaxart





Victor Talking Machine - Sarah Laughs

We haven't been able to scrape together a great deal of info on Hackney band Victor Talking Machine. We do know that the quartet have recently released a new single called 'Tuscany' and on the B-side is featured this rather nice piece of slow-burning, shoegazey indiepop called 'Sarah Laughs' which you can stream or download from the link below.



The free download of 'Sarah Laughs' is available here

Victor Talking Machine's Website

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Future Of What - Moonstruck

EP review by KevW

Is being moonstruck a bit like being starstruck only not quite as good? Whatever, it sounds like an impressive thing to have happen to you. Considering that this quartet of Brooklynites only formed at the beginning of the year and this is their debut release, maybe they're aiming for us to be moonstruck by these four songs, before becoming starstruck once they've had the time to define their sound and gel a little better. Although to be honest you wouldn't guess this was the work of such a newly formed group, but the frontwoman Blair has previously released solo records to some acclaim, so maybe this accomplished first outing isn't such a surprise after all.

Future Of What recorded this EP without using any electric guitars of cymbals, a fact you probably wouldn't notice unless it was pointed out to you. Still, these are fairly conventional songs nonetheless, and are driven by rich synth textures which create a welcoming and warm sound. This is more pop than electronica though, and feels like an indiepop record in disguise. Most conventional is the lovable closer 'Party In Heaven', but in terms of songwriting there's little that's unorthodox. 'I Wait For You' a beautiful example of the boundaries between dreampop and chart-pop being blurred. At only six months old, Future Of What are already putting many more established acts to shame, the exciting thing will be to see where they can go from here. True to its word, this EP won't leave you starstruck, but you may feel a touch moonstruck by its grace.





Future Of What's website





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Metric - Synthetica

Album review by KevW

There must be temptation for Emily Haines and co. to plot a course for arenas, mega sales and the ethically dubious path towards selling out. It's clear this is a viable option: Metric write big songs, they use big production, their records garner much acclaim and decent sales. They're just a mega hit away from a couple of years worth of raking in some filthy lucre and sitting pretty for the rest of their lives. It's a route they refuse to take, and they deserve much respect for remaining an "alternative" band, brave enough to churn out album after album of immaculately produced indie-rock that inhabits a credible middle ground between lo-fi cool and commercial credibility suicide. But that's what they do best, and on new album 'Synthetica' they may well have nailed their style more firmly than ever.

These tuness are huge without being distasteful, pristine in every way, not a hair out of place and still as appealing as ever. In an ideal world it would be songs like 'Artificial Nocturne' and 'Breathing Underwater' that would be filling mega venues, not soulless, insipid filth like The Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2, but human nature doesn't allow genuine and properly realised ambition to flourish. As well as these perfectly executed widescreen anthems-that-will-never-be, Haines goes all Suzi Quatro on us with the glam stomp of 'Youth Without Youth', and the album's title-track is exceptional alt-rock that Belly or The Breeders would have sold their grannies for. 'Dreams So Real' is exquisite in its simplicity, carried along on a gentle electric fuzz, it's the antithesis the album's grander moments. Essentially it's this kind of musical understanding that ensures Metric stay not only credible but bloody fantastic with it. They know not to overstep the mark.

The real high point on 'Synthetica' is 'The Wanderlust', maybe even a contender for song of the year, that features a heart-warming collaboration with Lou Reed, going some way to making up for the whole Metallica debacle. Metric, although capable, will never join that band in setting their sights on the stadiums of the world and the millions of album sales that come with it, they have too much integrity for that, too much of an understanding of what music stands for. So while 'Synthetica' is an ambitious album with some colossal sounding songs on it, it never crosses the line and, for those who care about this kind of thing, it never loses credibility. Metric have shown here that you can aspire to great things without jeopardising your principles along the way. It's not an approach that many master with such aplomb, and for that reason 'Synthetica' is an album that should be cherished by many.



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Wyatt - Wyatt

EP review by KevW

Finding herself in New York, a city not short of a musician or two, singer-songwriter Maddy Wyatt decided to expand from solo artist to full band by calling on her brothers Paul and Alex to form the genesis of Wyatt. With the addition of Zach Lane and Dana Haynes they were ready to go. Building upon their experience of improvising together as children, using household objects to create sounds, along with musical ability picked up at school (they don't shy away from using flute, clarinet and other music lesson staples) they began to flesh out the sounds of Maddy's songs. This self-titled EP is four examples fairly conventional indie-folk, but with a glint in its eye, giving it a likeable and humane touch.

Beginning with the aforementioned flute, 'Octopus King' is a reasonably routine strum through familiar singer-songwriter territory but the addition of occasional wind instruments and tambourine lend a plesent quirkiness. 'Nobodys' could almost be Nouvelle Vague covering Fleetwood Mac. Again it's likeable without being overly remarkable. The real highlights of this EP are the countryish, picked and slightly moody 'Good Fight' and, best of all, 'Leonah' which is the closest Wyatt come to sounding like a complete band rather than a backed singer-songwriter. The melody is stronger and the slow build creeps up on you gently, bringing a subtle force. And this subtlety is the key; it would be all to easy to go over the top here, but the restraint only adds to the power. If they keep this up they might really be on to something.



To stream 'Wyatt' in full and get a free download of 'Leonah' head to Wyatt's website

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Echo Lake - Wild Peace

Album review by KevW

Since hearing 'In Dreams' back in 2010, Echo Lake had been on my personal radar and I'd been looking forward very much to hearing their debut, a promo of which I was lucky enough to receive prior to release. After listening to the album repeatedly I began to gather my thoughts with regards to writing a review. Part way through doing so, the tragic and shocking news broke that drummer Peter Hayes had passed away just days from its release. This puts a rather different perspective on the album and the way in which it could be reviewed. What follows is the review as it would have been from a totally objective point of view and without the sad news that broke this weekend, although naturally my thoughts and condolences go out to Peter's family, friends and band mates.

As with much music that comes under the shoegaze/dreampop banner, getting the mix right is crucial, and the genre's past is littered with tales of months of tweaking in the studio and pushing back release dates in the quest for sonic perfection (hello My Bloody Valentine, Spiritualized and more). It's fair to say that this debut album from London's Echo Lake has been a while in construction, and it's pretty clear that much of that time has been spent getting it to sound just right. Initially formed by Thom Hill (producer/songwriter/instrumentalist) and singer Linda Jarvis, the band began to flesh itself out for live dates, but studio-wise it was very much Hill who masterminded the project.

As for that all important mixing, well that works a treat. Jarvis' vocals are mainly pushed back to be engulfed by the other numerous layers of sound. The effect is a bit like deliriously seeing a mirage of Elizabeth Fraser appearing in a scorching desert of reverb. While the voice and depth feel warm, the clanging guitars and snappy drumming are far more chilling. 'Wild Piece' is an icy record and you could say that the warm colours covering the snowcapped mountains on the sleeve is a suitable visual metaphor for the music. Even when the compositions are relatively barren, as on 'Monday 5AM' there are no gaps in the sound, a gentle and comforting hum is always present. Right from the off the treated vocal washes drift back and forth, swirling around like ghosts in the ether.

As lovely as the more atmospheric pieces are (and really, they're done incredibly well), it's when Echo Lake spring in to song mode that they're at their most memorable. 'Another Day' is indiepop forced through several echo chambers, 'Last Song Of The Year' is otherworldly and haunting, 'Even The Blind' is post-punk played through the tinniest of AM radios and the sublime 'In Dreams' is still truly wonderful with it's motorik beat, distant voices and sharp, simple guitar chimes. While 'Wild Peace' isn't quite as solid as could have been hoped, it's no let down either. The impression here is that Thom Hill is finding his feet, discovering new ways to manipulate sounds and combining them with traditional pop. It's a commendable album but you suspect the very best is yet to come.





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Pale Man Made - Red Box Secrets

Album review by KevW

For their second album, Newcastle's Pale Man Made are offering up a whopping fourteen tracks. Now that's pretty good value for money, but it's also a lot to digest and you could argue that 'Red Box Secrets' would have been better slimming itself down to a less daunting ten or twelve tunes. There's no real need for such a culling though, as there's no real excess weight and with an average song time of around two and a half minutes the album flies by and you're barely given the chance to consider changing the record. The only downside it that 'Red Box Secrets' isn't the most diverse album you'll hear all year.

The default setting is something akin to a more British, more indiepop Dinosaur Jr, shorn of the gruff masculine singing and replaced with more appealing boy/girl vocals. They're not afraid to use their guitars but they never let them run the show either. Much of this album seems influenced by alt-rock bands of that vintage from both sides of the Atlantic. For example to outstanding 'Trojan Horse' contains DNA from The Breeders, Pixies etc. but packs a mighty melodic punch for the chorus, whereas the equally great '901' is a direct descendent of the UK's indie heroes of the late 80's as well as 90's icons The Delgados. It's also not short in the tune department.

Single 'In Your Bed' possesses earworm qualities that ensure it burrows deep in to your subconscious, after a few listens you'll find yourself randomly humming it. It's here that the real quality of Pale Man Made shows; the melodies of 'B-Line', 'Cut Out' and 'It Started In 1966' are sweet and infectious and the permanent buzz of guitars is the ideal accompaniment. They may not win awards for originality or diversity but on the strength of the songs alone these guys deserve plenty of acclaim and you could do a lot worse than to open up their Red Box and sample some of the Secrets that lie within.





Pale Man Made's website

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Out This Week: 25th June 1012

Stars - The Theory Of Relativity

Over the past decade or so, Toronto's Stars have given us some truly wonderful alternative rock/pop songs and the stage is now set for more, with the announcement that their new album 'The North' will be released in September. We don't have to wait until then to hear the first fruits though, as the band are kindly giving away a free download of the rather decent new track 'The Theory Of Relativity'.



The free download of 'The Theory Of Relativity' is available from Stars' website





Ty Segall Band - I Bought My Eyes

Ty Segall is pretty much the busiest man in music. As well as being a member of several bands including Sic Alps and The Perverts, he's recently been collaborating with White Fence on the 'Hair' album and has a solo album due for the Autumn. Then there's the small matter of squeezing in new LP 'Slaughterhouse', which is out this week. Here's the ragged garage rock of 'I Bought My Eyes'.



Ty Segall's website

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Jesca Hoop - Born To 

Eclectic songstress Jesca Hoop is also giving the world her latest record 'The House That Jack Built' this week. Free single 'Born To' distils her many influences and vast experience into a delightful song-shaped package. You can hear folk, indie, pop, electronica and rock in the mix, and while she may be a hugely respected artist, she really deserves to be a household name by now.



Jesca Hoop's website

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Beachwood Sparks - Sparks Fly Again

A full decade after they last released any music (barring free single 'Forget The Song' from this very album), the reunited Beachwood Sparks return with their hugely anticipated third album 'Tarnished Gold'. Lovers of alt-country and indie-rock are certainly in for a treat, and to get you in the mood here's another free track, 'Sparks Fly Again', which recalls The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Flying Burrito Brothers.



Beachwood Sparks' website

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OBLIGATORY RECORD OF THE WEEK

Chains Of Love - I'd Rather Be Crying

Although it's been available on import for a while now, one of our favourite new bands have finally given their awesome debut album a proper UK release. Chains Of Love channel Ronnie Spector, 60s garage, soul, pop and Motown and their album 'Strange Grey Days' contains some of the finest songs we've heard all year. They already bagged themselves an OROTW spot with single 'In Between', but the issuing of a physical product in British stores demands to be marked by another. There were several candidates of course, but we've gone for the stunning retro-pop stomp of 'I'd Rather Be Crying'.


Chains Of Love's website

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No Colour - Stranger

Single review by KevW

"Ragged DIY indie" is what their website says. It's a rare moment of unpretentiousness in a world of bands determined to give clever, pompous and downright false descriptions of their music. No Colour are true to their words too, with new single 'Stranger' (their second) being a delightfully messy clatter through a three-minute indie/punk track. It's a superbly unrefined sound, you can hear the rattle of the drum kit and the buzzing of the amps, it's the perfect level of production to bring the best out of a dishevelled pop song that's loaded with spirit and tinny, reverberating guitars. Apparently these guys are based in London, but the cover photo and the singer's accent suggest they may not be born and bred cockneys.

They're not part of the current fad for lo-fi, Jesus & Mary Chain guitar-pop either, because although these songs are scruffy and unkempt they're bursting with vigour and sound as though they're trying to be your friend rather than sitting in the corner, wearing shades and being all aloof. B-side 'Agree In The Dark' isn't short of energy and willpower either. It's not as good as the lead track but it is snapping at its heals, and the overriding impression is that No Colour are hungry, determined, enthusiastic and have an ear for a decent pop tune. All of which should stand them in good stead, we look forward to hearing more.
 
No Colour's website





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jj - High Summer

EP review by KevW

Are they chillwave? Are they Balearic-beat? Are they dreampop? It's always been difficult to categorise Swedish enigmas jj and it's not only their music that's unconventional. Their whole approach is refreshingly obtuse and individual, as if they don't really understand the meaning of the word "rules". So their new 'High Summer' EP is, unsurprisingly, a surprise release to coincide with the summer solstice, and as is commonplace with this pair, the EP is yours for the meagre price of a computer and some internet access. And you have those already, because you're reading this.

Musically they're still inhabiting their own world, sounding something like a Mediterranean version of The xx remixing Beach House. The songs are minimalist yet rich and give off the warm radiance of sunlight with each lazy beat and hazey sample. '10' even manages to borrow lyrics from 'I Think We're Alone Now' by Tiffany and not sound ironic. Elin Kastlander's voice is as adorable as ever and the crisp acoustic guitars are offset with a gentle background glow. As always jj's music is overflowing with youthfulness and the sense of an endless future disappearing over the horizon. They may sound nonchalant and like they don't give a damn about anything, but there must be some effort put in to sounding this effortlessly, casually fantastic, surely?





Free download: 'High Summer EP'

jj's website





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Imaginary War - The Tide Has Turned

Single review by KevW

In 2004, Welsh new wave veterans The Alarm conned their way into the top 30 by disguising their new single as the debut by a fictional band called 'Poppy Fields' which came with a video of a much younger band miming along. The hoax was eventually revealed but the question remains; would the song have achieved that level of success had it been released as The Alarm? The answer is almost certainly not, and proves that , although it shouldn't matter a jot, age is unfortunately a factor. The reason this example is relevant to the release of this new single from the forthcoming debut album by German synth-pop group Imaginary War is that the accompanying eyeliner-heavy video reveals them to be no spring chickens themselves.

Had 'The Tide Has Turned' been the comeback single from Two Door Cinema Club then Radio 1 would be all over it. As it stands, it'll probably fizzle away into nothing, and that's both unjust and superficial. 'The Tide Has Turned' is made up of post-punk guitars, retro electronics and owes a debt to Depeche Mode and New Order. It's also a consummate example of classy, radio-ready pop music with an arena-sized chorus. By rights it should be everywhere right now and well on its way to becoming one of the anthems of the summer. But the band aren't 21 and don't look like they've just been dragged through Topman's 'indie' section, so it will probably go largely ignored. And that's just not right.
 

Imaginary War's website

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Joachim De Lux - Le Rondo Des Sirènes

Single review by KevW

'World music' is a horrible, almost insulting term. Its purpose is to describe virtually any sounds that aren't derived from western rock/pop/blues/folk/soul music. So that's pretty much all other music on the planet then, which stretches far beyond Europe and North America. Such a sweeping generalisation makes you wonder if there is such a thing as 'world music' after all. Surely, unless it's beamed from outer space, it has to be 'world music'? Well if there is such a genre then maybe this new track from Frenchman Joachim De Lux would be a perfect example. 'Le Rondo Des Sirenès' pulls in strains of genres from across the globe and intertwines them wonderfully.

What would, broadly speaking, be considered electronica, is pieced together using vocal samples, a variety of beats and percussion and eclectic instrumentation plucked from different origins and different continents. It's high on melody too, making for a song that's accessible to ears used to different styles and different cultures, truly spanning international boundaries whilst staying familiar. It's an inspiring approach and one that is hoped will inspire others thanks to the remix competition which is running until July 8th, when the winning entry will be included on the final release along with a handful of other official remixes. You'll have to go some to better the original though, consider the gauntlet thrown down.



Info on the remix competition and other mixes can be found here

Joachim De Lux's website

The single and winning remix will be released through Nero Plastic Records





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Proto Idiot - Idiot Proto

Album review by KevW

Fidelity: the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced. In musical terms it would be used to describe the level with which the sound of a recording is produced. Music that is note perfect, crystal clear, precision engineered and refined, well, that would be high fidelity. It can be truly amazing, but more often than not it's sterile and soulless. On his second album as Proto Idiot, Hipshakes man Andrew Anderson doesn't seem bothered about sound fidelity of any kind. 'Idiot Proto' goes beyond styled low fidelity, the preferred production technique of hispsters everywhere, and does away with the whole concept almost entirely.

We're not taking the manufactured no-fi scree of Times New Viking and their ilk, the songs on this album are presented as they are. Not made to appear warts-and-all, and not given any make up either. These dozen tracks are au naturale, and without wishing to sound like some kind of musical perv, this naked approach suits them well and it would be difficult to imagine them any other way. There's an personal, almost intimate quality on tracks like 'Breaking Up' or the garage stomp of 'Not Responsible'. 'Explain Yourself' is about as simple as rock 'n' roll songs get, in fact there's virtually nothing adventurous to be found here at all.

Had, say, 'Nothing Inside Me' been included on an album by a lo-fi/slacker group from twenty or thirty years ago it would probably be considered an important forerunner to the low budget D.I.Y bands of today, but as it is, it remains simply a decent, dirty and ragged alternative guitar tune. Much like the rest of 'Idiot Proto', its wearing the emperors new clothes but is neither new in design or likely to become a ruler of anything very much. But don't let that detract from what's great about this album, and that is raw, impassioned and simple indie/garage/fuzz tunes of the variety that will hopefully always have a place  in the world, whatever 'fi' bracket you wish to stuff them into.





Proto Idiot's website

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Five For Free #90

Stepdad - Must Land Running

With a brace of EPs to their name already, this month sees the release of the first full-length from Michigan electro/pop/indie mashers Stepdad. Taken from it is free download 'Must Land Running' which treads similar ground to TV On The Radio or Maps & Atlases in its anything-goes approach to alternative pop, adding just a hint of a more commercial edge and a bellowing chorus.



Stepdad's website

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Lace Curtains - Bedroom Honesty

Formed by Micheal Coomers of American garage rockers Harlem, Lace Curtains will be releasing their debut album 'The Garden Of Joy & The Well Of Loneliness' next month and if we're going off this early indicator, they could be sliding towards slightly more indie/pop territory than his other band. 'Bedroom Honesty' is lo-fi but catchy with it.



Free download: 'Bedroom Honesty'

Lace Curtains' website





Icons Of Andria - Icons Of Andria

At the start of the month we introduced you to the excellent new dreampop band Icons Of Andria (well, you may have known them already, but you know what we mean) and you can check out what we had to say and download a few tunes by checking that article. Well they've now posted another gorgeous piece of winsome loveliness in the form of this eponymous track.



Icons Of Andria's website





W. Pontonen - Come Smile

The name W. Pontonen might not be instantly recognisable, but once you've listened to this track you probably won't be too surprised to find that it's the alias of Miike Snow man Pontus Winnberg. 'Come Smile' follows his main band in their journey through experimental but accessible alternative pop, stitching together tracks by Lykke Li and Smile to great effect.



Free download: 'Come Smile'

W. Pontonen's website





K-Holes - Frozen Stiff

We'll finish this batch of quality freebies with a nice piece of adventurous garage-punk from New Yorkers K-Holes. Their second album 'Dismania' is out now on Hardly Art Records and taken from it is the raucous,  sax-fuelled thrash of 'Frozen Stiff'. It's a splendid mix of 60s beat groups and angry new wave experimenting, and it's yours for the measly price of a computer and some internet access.



K-Holes' website

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