The Devil is dedicated to unearthing unknown, unheard, unseen, unheralded, unfamiliar or down right unbelievable bands old or new that have not yet hit the radars of the British public. If you are a new band or artist and would like to be considered for inclusion then please contact me via email, twitter, myspace or facebook.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

For Your Eyes Only

Inward Eye
Genre: Rock
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Inward Eye are a power trio of three Canadian brothers, Dave (vocals/bass), Kyle (guitar/vocals), and Anders Erickson (drums) with a classic Brit rock sound reminiscent of the Jam, the Kinks, and the Who, The Clash and The Stones.

Evoking a gritty, realistic and retro feel, a
spirit of council estates, routemaster buses, the London underground, Carnaby Street, Inward Eye's eponymous debut is a front-to-back study in rebellion and high-voltage swagger, a snarling selection of revved-up timeless rock music that would sound fresh in any era.

Go Try


MP3 - Inward Eye - Shame
If anyone from the IFPI or Blogger is reading this track is published with the permission of The Musebox so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright and deleting this post.

Go Visit

Inward Eye - Myspace // Website

Stumble Upon Toolbar

River Deep Mountain High

Speck MountainSpeck Mountain
Genre: Psychedelic / Ambient / Gospel
Genre: Chicago, Illinois

United States

There's no conspiracy, I've not been threatened by some mysterious figure and I'm not receiving backhanders it's pure coincidence that Speck Mountain are the third artist from Chicago to grace the Devil's blog today.

All three artists have been completely different reflective of the eclectic Chicago scene. Speck Mountain are all shimmering, spacey rock with one foot in dreamy art-rock and the other in atmospheric psychedelia.

If you've spent the last few years mourning the loss of Mazzy Star then dig out your crampons and pitch your tent at the foothills of Speck Mountain.


Go Try


MP3 - Speck Mountain - I Feel Eternal
If anyone from the IFPI or Blogger is reading this track is published with the permission of Green Light Go Publicity so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright and deleting this post.

Go Visit

Speck Mountain - Myspace
Label - Carrot Top Records // Carrot Top Records Myspace

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Stop Crying Your Heart Out

The Bitter Tears
Genre: Hardcore / Showtunes
From: Chicago, Illinois

United States

As reviews go the Bitter Tears' first was short, sharp and too the point

'thanks for ruining my fuckin’ night.'

Halfway through their first show, a member of the audience approached them between songs, uttered the above profanity and promptly hot footed it out. They have a cellist and a trombonist, and they sound a little like the Decemberists with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (is it something in the Chicago water?) and a musical map of the US. It's a colourful carnival of Dixieland stomps, Americana, Chicago blues and even the odd Texan two-step.

Like their fellow Chicagoan Kato (see the Devil's post from earlier today Kato) Ritalin is recommended.

Go Try

MP3 - The Bitter Tears - Slay The Heart Of The Earth
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Green Light Go Publicity so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

MP3 - The Bitter Tears - Murdered At The Bar
MP3 - The Bitter Tears - Grieving
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from The Bitter Tears website so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Bitter Tears - Myspace // Website
Label - Carrot Top Records // Carrot Top Records Myspace

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Kato

Kato
Genre: Emo / Hip Hop / Pop
From : Chicago, United States


Chicago's Kato (not to be confused with Atlanta's Kato) appears to be on a one man crusade to create a new musical genre from the entrails of Aqua, Linkin Park, Jazzy B and Puff Daddy.

This is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder hip hop,
a liquorice allsorts, everything but the kitchen sink, broad church approach that can be confusing, distracting and counter productive.

The Devil recommends a course of Ritalin.

Go Try

MP3 - Kato - Man Or Liar
MP3 - Kato - Trix

Go Visit

Kato - Myspace

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Friday, January 30, 2009

Trainspotters Of The World Unite & Take Over

Gamages Model Train ClubGamages Model Train Club
Genre: Indie / Folk Rock / Rockabilly
From: Brighton, London & American Samoa


Two and a half years ago the third ever post on the Devil's blog introduced Gamages Model Train Club a band named after a badge unearthed in a thrift shop in Islington, London. I'm therefore pleased as punch on his holidays to announce that they have just released their debut long player 'The Loss of Gamages Model Train Club', on their own Tiger’s Head Records label. It's a strange feeling of pride, the kind of feeling you get when your baby starts to walk.

So is it a train wreck? Of course it bloody isn't. With a band name that positively oozes a quintessentially British style and an album title that recalls the self deprecating 'The Loss Of British Sea Power' it's may come as some surprise that the album
teems with dark tales of death and folk stories from the wrong sides of the tracks like an Old English Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds riding footplate with Johnny Cash.

Dealing in subject matter that recalls the eclectic approach of the aforementioned British Sea Power Taking the listener on a lyrical journey

With an eclectic range of subjects such as the Roger Corman film of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Pit and the Pendulum' ('Poe Faced'), the tragic end of round-the-world yachtsmen Donald Crowhurst ('Sail On') and encounters and dirty deals done with mysterious figures ('Old King Cole') 'The Loss Of Gamages Model Train Club' is a welcome change from the narrow parochialism of modern indie.

Well bust my buffers the Gamages Model Train Club album appearing at platform one could well be one of the albums of the year .

Go Try

MP3 - Gamages Model Train Club - Sail On
MP3 - Gamages Model Train Club - Black Dog
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from Gamages Model Train Club LastFM site so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Gamages Model Train Club - Myspace

Go View

Gamages Model Train Club

Lee Green Blues and Reds



Stumble Upon Toolbar

Pilgrim Fathers

Sweet Billy Pilgrim
Genre: Electronica / Folk /Experimental
From: London, United Kingdom


British folktronica trio Sweet Billy Pilgrim have just released their second album 'Twice Born Men' a stunning album, an album more hypnotic than a bucket of benzos with none of the side effects.

Tinkering about somewhere between Sufjan Stevens and David Sylvian (the band have remixed Sylvian's 'The Heart Knows Better' for his 'The Good Son vs. the Only Daughter - The Blemish Remixes' project)
Sweet Billy Pilgrim's sound is pure and unpolluted, an oasis of calm in the midst of London's indie smog.

Their debut album was awarded four stars by Mojo and The Sunday Times called it, 'a rather special debut', making the single 'Stars Spill Out of Cups' (see video below)one of their songs of the year and that was just the warm up act for 'Twice Born Men'.

Go Try


MP3 - Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Truth Only Smiles
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Sweet Billy Pilgrim so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Myspace // Website

Go View

Sweet Billy Pilgrim
Stars Spill Out Of Cups



Stumble Upon Toolbar

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Pussy Galore

Mistress Stephanie & her Melodic CatMistress Stephanie & Her Melodic Cat
Genre: Other / Alternative / Rock
From: Austin, United States

Mistress Stephanie & Her Melodic Cat is the naughty brainchild of Stephanie Stephens (Golden Arm Trio and The Walter Thompson Orchestra) and Adam Sultan (Golden Arm Trio and, Poi Dog Pondering
), two musicians and actors and from Austin, TX.

Despite having a track called 'I Hate Cabaret' the charismatic couple are a curious cross between the brechtian punk cabaret of The Dresden Dolls and the vintage analogue electro of Ladytron, a sound that has been described by one perceptive critic as 'sado-vaudevillian punk'. It sounds bizarre but amazingly it works.

Their debut CD, 'Take That!' a diverse pilgrimage from Eurotrash dance via punk rock theatre and Texan swing to the Germany of Marlene Dietrich and Kraftwerk, combines everything from classical music to classic rock with a sultry style and saucy humour that sets them apart from the herd.


Go Try


MP3 - Mistress Stephanie & Her Melodic Cat - Little Death
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Fanatic Promotions so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Mistress Stephanie & Her Melodic Cat - Myspace // Website

Go View

Mistress Stephanie & Her Melodic Cat
Too Hard



If you like this you'll love Mistress Stephanie & Her Melodic Cat...

MP3 - The Dresden Dolls - Bad Habit
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from The Dresden Dolls website.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

When Sweet Sleep Returned

Assemble Head In Sunburst SoundAssemble Head In Sunburst Sound
Genre: Other
From : San Francisco, California, United States

San Francisco's Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound hark back to the halcyon days of the first summer of love. Even the name sounds like it was decided under the influence of a cocktail of halucinogens in a west coast garage.

The bands third LP,
'When Sweet Sleep Returned' a consciousness-expanding goulash of Blue Cheer's stoner rock , Love's laid back psych pop , Jefferson Airplane's acid rock, the dusty canyon stomps of Crazy Horse and the space rock of the youthful Hawkwind, sounds like it's ambled in from the late 60s. It's heavy duty riffing intertwined with blissed acoustic episodes, a strange soundtrack that twists and turns like a rattlesnake with a temper.

The album, their second for Tee Pee Records will be released to the world on April 7th.


Go Try


MP3 - Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound - The Slumbering Ones
MP3 - Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound - Clive & Lyre
If anyone from the IFPI or Blogger is reading this track is published with the permission of Tee Pee Records so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright and deleting this post.

Go Visit

Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound - Myspace
Label - Tee Pee Records // Tee Pee Records Myspace

Go View

Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Doves Exclusive

Doves
Genre: Rock / Alternative / Experimental
From: Manchester, Northwest, United Kingdom

Tonight the Devil has something a little special for his dear readers. The Doves are about to return with an exclusive free MP3 of a new track called 'Jetstream'.

Full announcement is due tomorrow morning at 9am (UK time) and fans will be able to download the track for free from the official Doves site (www.doves.net).

And, dear readers, here is a 30 second exclusive taster of the track to whet your appetite.



Go Try


Please right click and select 'save target as' to help protect the Devil's bandwidth
MP3 - Doves - Jetstream(30 seconds)
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Stay Loose.

Go Visit

Doves - Myspace // Website

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Haunting Stuff From...

The Tupelov GhostThe Tupelov Ghost
Genre: Indie / Hardcore / Punk
From: Cambridge / London, United Kingdom


The Tupolev Ghost are a DC influenced post-hardcore band from Cambridge, UK. Formed in 2005 as a three-piece comprising James Parrish, Ben Perry and Steven Duggins, they recorded demo EP Take Courage at the Sick Room in autumn 2006.

In early 2007, the band expanded to four when Andy Jenkin joined, having recently left Days Ago. The new line-up returned to the Sick Room in autumn 2007 to record The Alpha EP, released on Disjuncture in July 2008.

The Tupelov Ghost sound is combustible, restless post-hardcore so edgy it's hazardous, a bracing cocktail of influences (52 according to their myspace site) which are shaken, but not stirred, with unbridled confidence and passion. It's a sound that recently pricked up the well honed ears of Kerrang, NME, Drowned In Sound and Big Scary Monsters, who signed them earlier this month.

Go Try

MP3 - The Tupelov Ghost - Diagrams
MP3 - The Tupelov Ghost - First Prize
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the Tupelov Ghost website.

Go Visit

The Tupelov Ghost - Myspace // Website
Label - Big Scary Monsters // Big Scary Monsters Myspace

Go View

The Tupelov Ghost
Mistletoe & Wine



Stumble Upon Toolbar

Monday, January 26, 2009

Because They're Gorgeous

The Covergirls
Genre: Progressive / Pop / Idol
From: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom


I doubt that the ironically monikered Covergirls (they're all lads and not to be confused with the New York City-based dance-pop girl group The Cover Girls) have ever graced the cover of FHM or Loaded but they could, nay should, nay must grace the cover of NME.

Guitars are strummed and thrashed, drums and pummeled and vocals are muttered with barely a nonchalant nod in the direction of musical fads or fashions. They're as lo-fi as a Fall demo and as indie as a pair of skinny jeans, a floppy fringe and a well thumbed copy of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. They're so indie they could, and maybe should, audition for the part of Pavement in a yet to be commissioned movie (it's gotta happen Hollywood), just beware of the director's couch.

Go Try

MP3 - The Covergirls - Don't Spray It
Linked from A New Band A Day

Go Visit

The Covergirls - Myspace

Go View

The Covergirls
La Casilla De La Muerte

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Get Your PJs On It's Time For A...

Slumber Party
Genre: Experimental / Pop /Psychedelic
From: Detroit, Michigan
United States

Formed at the dawning of the millennium Slumber Party are a mean and moody four girl combo from Detroit.

Signed to the hugely influential Kill Rock Stars label the quartet have released four albums of magically minimalist, hauntingly hip bitter-sweet indie, a back catalogue that's a joy to discover.

If you can imagine The Shangri-Las swathed in synths covering Raincoats records in the style of the Velvet Undergound then you'll have an inkling of where Slumber Party are at.

Go Try

MP3 - Slumber Party - 10-9-8-7-6-5-4
MP3 - Slumber Party - Soldier
MP3 - Slumber Party - I Don't Mind
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the Kill Rock Stars website.

Go Visit

Slumber Party - Myspace // Website

Go View


Slumber Party
Late Nite


Stumble Upon Toolbar

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Champagne Supernovas

The Flaming Stars
Genre: Rock
From: London, United Kingdom


Formed in 1994 by ex Gallon DrunkMax Décharné you could say that The Flaming Stars have been around for a while.

Merging the menacing sensuality of The Doors, the swampy swagger of The Birthday Party, the suave intensity of Tindersticks and the rockabilly twang of Duane Eddy it's shocking that they remain underground legends but mainstream unknowns.

When this years Brit nominations are full of the regressive, misogynistic heavy metal of AC/DC and Iron Maiden and the even more regressive, though thankfully not misogynistic warblings, of Duffy the lack of recognition for bands like The Flaming Star makes me despair.

If you like debauched old school rock 'n roll played with brooding menace check out The Flaming Stars back catalogue.

Go Try

MP3 - The Flaming Stars - Bring Me The Rest Of Alfredo Garcia
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from Alternative Tentacles website.


Go Visit

The Flaming Stars - Myspace // Website

Go View

The Flaming Stars
Downhill With Brakes


Stumble Upon Toolbar

Friday, January 23, 2009

Thin As The

The Rakes
Genre: Rock / Alternative / Indie
From: London, United Kingdom


The Rakes third album, 'Klang' is in the can and will be released on the 23rd of March, preceded by the single ‘1989′ one week earlier. The band will also be on the road around the UK in April.

To get you in the mood for this positive deluge of English post punk the Devil has a stomping preview from the album 'The Light From Your Mac'


Go Try

MP3 - The Rakes - The Light From Your Mac
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with permission from Radar Maker so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Rakes - Myspace // Website


Go View

The Rakes
The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect


Stumble Upon Toolbar

Luke Jackson

Luke JacksonLuke Jackson
Genre: Acoustic / Easy Listening
From: Canada

In the Spring of 2006, a seven-year email correspondence culminated in the meeting of Luke Jackson and Magnus Börjeson.

Luke had long been a devoted fan of two of the Swedish musician’s former bands, Beagle and Favorita, and the two songwriters finally met in Paris where Magnus was mid-tour playing in The Cardigans. By the end of the weekend they were old friends and Luke had accepted an invitation to Sweden for the upcoming Midsummer holiday, the focal weekend of the Swedish Summer. These celebrations were taking place in the countryside outside Malmö, at the Aerosol Grey Machine – the stunning, all-analogue recording studio of Christoffer Lundquist, producer and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, former member of Roxette and founding member of Brainpool, yet another of Luke’s favourite bands.

The Midsummer weekend was a magical time filled with wonderful people, beautiful weather, great music, fantastic food and free-flowing booze of the highest quality. As Luke boarded his flight back to London in a Schnapps-induced fog, he considered the invitation to “come back and record any time”. It had been six years since the release of his self-produced second album Momentum, and Luke knew that the songs currently springing from his right hemisphere were the best he’d ever written.

"WHY NOT make an album with my favourite musicians on the planet?” he mused. And so Luke returned to Sweden in January 2008 and set to work in the studio with Magnus on bass and Christoffer’s Brainpool bandmate Jens Jansson on drums. The four musicians worked quickly and spontaneously to capture half a dozen songs, including "Come Tomorrow" which Luke had begun writing the day before leaving for Sweden. Luke returned to London buzzing with excitement. Not one to manifest small, he sent the rough mixes of the songs to renowned London-based string arranger Robert Kirby (who has orchestrated celebrated works by Nick Drake, Elvis Costello, Elton John and many others). To Luke’s delight and surprise, Kirby loved the songs and offered to write orchestrations for the album and accompany Luke to Sweden to conduct the necessary recording sessions with nine players from Malmö’s Opera Orchestra.

Luke had managed to bring together two of his most beloved musical worlds: the pop sensibilities of his friends in Sweden, and the distinctive eloquence of Kirby’s arrangements. It is the collision of these two worlds which makes ...And Then Some so compelling. Densely layered guitars and vocal harmonies fuse with sweeping string lines, none of which ever draw the ear too far from what lies at the heart of Luke’s music...gorgeous, expressive, unpretentious songs born of the trials and tribulations of a life lived to the fullest.


Go Try

MP3 - Luke Jackson - Half A World Away
MP3 - Luke Jackson - All I Can Do
MP3 - Luke Jackson - Come Tomorrow
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with permission from Fanatic Promotion so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Listen



Go Visit

Luke Jackson - Myspace // Website
Label - Popsicle Recordings

Go View

Luke Jackson
A Little Voice

Stumble Upon Toolbar

The Reigns In Spain Fall Mainly On The Plain

Reigns
Genre: Electronica / Folk Rock / Experimental
From: Southwest, United Kingdom

Reigns are two brothers from the Somerset/Dorset borders with a backstory that takes in Christmas (the band not the season) with Rob Ellis, PJ Harvey and Spleen. Dealing in sinister, spine-chilling atmospherics that warp your brain and leave you temporarily incapacitated in shock and awe Reigns are completely out of step with the rest of the musical world.

New album 'The House On The Causeway' is like a surreal tsunami of nightmares, the perfect soundtrack to a night in with a Ouija Board and a first edition Edgar Allen Poe. It's hair-raising stuff with grumbling, semi-detached voices, fragments of piano, spectral guitars and sounds of paper being torn. Just be thankful it hasn't got the sound of someone digging a grave like the bloodcurdling 'Tup's Fold' from the duo's debut album
'We Lowered A Microphone Into The Ground' .

It's spooky, it's challenging and it's as close to an out of body experience as you'll get this side of Most Haunted. It's also one of the most original albums you'll hear all year.


Go Try

MP3 - Reigns - Tup's Fold
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from Reigns website.

MP3 - Reigns - Everything Beyond These Walls Has Been Razed
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with permission from Fanatic Promotion and is linked from Montreme Record's website so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Reigns - Myspace // Website
Label - Monotreme Records
// Monotreme Records Myspace

If you like these you'll love Reigns...

MP3 - Spleen - Glass Eyes
MP3 - Spleen - Sister Ruth
MP3 - Christmas - I Am 50 Fathoms
MP3 - Rob Ellis - Parade In Your Palm
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are all linked direct from Rob Ellis's website.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Spiritual Mansions Exclusive

Spiritual MansionsSpiritual Mansions
Genre: Indie / Psychedelic / Lounge From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States


Spiritual Mansions are gearing up to release 'Touched' a full-length follow-up to 2007's EP 'Give Us Your Hearts'. The new album is available next week on iTunes, and will be in stores February 24.

Those good folks at Afternoon Records have allowed the Devil's blog a sneak preview of what the bands new album has in store and given permission for it to be shared with you good readers the debut of their first, tender hearted, single from
'Touched', 'The Sweeter Side'.

Ain't life sweet?



Go Try

MP3 - Spiritual Mansions - The Sweeter Side
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Afternoon Records so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Spiritual Mansions - Myspace
Label - Afternoon Records // Afternoon Records Myspace

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Canadian's Are Coming...

Canadian InvasionCanadian Invasion
Genre: Indie / Pop / Rock
From: Philly, NYC, DC, United States

M&Ms, Faulkner and Lou Reed are undeniably American, and all serve as some sort of passion or inspiration for Philadelphia’s Canadian Invasion. It is understandably odd, therefore, that a band deeply rooted in all things American would chose a name empowering our neighbours from the North. While the band refrains from jumping on the pop-culture bandwagon, the reason for this five-piece and its moniker help explain the musical messages the band hopes to convey.

“I’m proud to say that we’ve had the band name even before the South Park movie, and while it’s a pretty silly name, it has really encapsulated what the band is about,” says vocalist and guitarist, Andy Canadian. “Our songs are a satirical assault on American ‘values’. We call ourselves ‘America’s last line of defense against the evil Canadian socialist empire’s pernicious ideology of cheap health care and gun control.’”

A satirical combination of rollicking bass, drums and guitar, Andy Canadian, Jim Foley (bass), George Groves (drums), Eric Miller (lead guitar) and Chris Morita (guitar, backing vocals) continually trek across the East Coast, sharing the stage with legends such as David Bowie, The Stones and Lou Reed himself. Canadian Invasion uses its deceitful brand to emphasize what they believe fellow suburbanites feel on their latest album, 'Three Cheers for the Invisible Hand'.

“Our songs are about how the suburbs are a non-place, negatively defined as not-the-city and not-the-country,” says Canadian. “The characters in our songs float listlessly through a world they don’t feel a part of, grasping at anything around them that might give them an identity. The album title is a commentary on how this kind of situation came to be. The ‘invisible hand’ of progress and equilibrium has brought our characters to desperate, ghost-like existences, ones they feel incapable of changing.”

With inspiration from classics like The Beatles and REM mixed with the more modern sounds of Wilco and Okkervil River, Andy Canadian points out, “As much as we want to be John Lennon or Michael Stipe, we want to be Raymond Carver and David Lynch. We want catchy pop songs that remind you that your life is fairly absurd.”

“I am always fascinated with people like Martin Luther King and Einstein who have the courage to lead extraordinary lives and artists like Bob Dylan and Freddie Mercury who make extraordinary statements,” says Foley. “I am always inspired by those who really truly love music as an art form rather than a means to an end.”

Due out in February 17, 2009, 'Three Cheers for the Invisible Hand' takes a little American pride, some tongue-in-cheek Canadian love and a wealth of inspiration to bring together a sound Philadelphia City Paper calls "a gently rocking landscape of sublimely catchy choruses."

Go Try

MP3 - Canadian Invasion - Standing On The Shoulders Of John Mayer
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Green Go Light Publicity so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Canadian Invasion - Myspace

Go View

Canadian Invasion
Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand


Stumble Upon Toolbar

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

It Must Be Saturday Night

The Fevers
Genre: Indie / Experimental / Garage
From: Sheffield, United Kingdom


Sheffield's The Fevers dropped the Devil a line to bring attention to their new single 'Alright' (disappointingly not a cover of the Supergrass classic) which will be released on 9th February.

'Alright' does exactly what it says on the tin, it's alright and worth a listen. It's also easy to see why they've chosen it as the single. It's accessible, catchy, safe and a little flat pack indie. It'd sell it's granny to be the La's but is resigned to being Cast.

The good news is that 'Alright' isn't representative of The Fevers sound and is easily my least favorite track on their myspace site. Their best and most interesting track by a good country mile, the epic eight minute long 'Stop', kicks off like Echo & The Bunnymen circa 'Crocodiles''Alright' that they could be produced by two different bands.

Of the other tracks on their myspace site 'Wishing My Life Away' is another Cast off, 'The Lights Aren't On' and 'Gotta Change' are cut from the same cloth as 'Stop' and 'Falling' (with it's self indulgent guitar solo) hasn't quite made up it's mind (I guess you could say it's falling between two stools - groan!).

The band tell me that 'Alright' was one of their earliest tracks and the other tracks on their myspace site were written within the last four weeks. Where they're heading looks like a much more interesting destination than where they've been.

It's early days for the Fevers but if they throw away the La's albums, ditch the self indulgent guitar solos and take the road less travelled signalled by 'Stop' then they'll be a band to be reckoned with.


Go Try

Please right click and save as to download as it's much kinder to the Devil's bandwidth

MP3 - The Fevers - Alright

If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of The Fevers so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Fevers - Myspace

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

It's Hello From...

Say HiSay Hi
Genre: Indie / Alternative / Rock
From: Seattle, Washington, United States


Barsuk Records’ newest roster addition Say Hi (previously and possibly still known as Say Hi To Your Mom) is set to release the brilliant 'Oohs & Aahs' nationally on March 3rd, 2009. Say Hi is the pseudonym of one Eric Elbogen, who wrote and recorded the LP at his home studio over the course of 2008. He used to live in Brooklyn, NY, but in December of ’06 moved to Barsuk’s hometown of Seattle, where he quickly won the label over. Last week, Spin.com premiered the first track from the record, 'November Was White, December Was Grey', (see below) and had this to say: “Anchored by an icy lead guitar riff and a chorus that longs for winter's end, ‘November Was White, December Was Grey’ is what's playing in Mother Nature's iPod this weekend as she tightens her frigid grip on much of America.” There's not a lot to add to that!

Go Try

MP3 - Say Hi - November Was White December Was Grey
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of The Orchard so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Say Hi - Myspace // Website
Label - Barsuk Records // Barsuk Records Myspace

Go View

Say Hi
Sweet Sweet Heartkiller




If you like 'November Was White December Was Grey' then you'll like the following tracks from Say Hi's previous records...

MP3 - Say Hi - Angels & Darlas
MP3 - Say Hi - Blah Blah Blah
MP3 - Say Hi - Zero To Love
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Say Hi's website.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

How To Get To Heaven From Scotland

Aidan MoffatAidan Moffat
Genre: Miserablism / Indie
From: Bonnie Scotland


Having tasted cult success with Scottish legendary Scottish folk miserabilists Arab Strap, Aidan John Moffat has earned a reputation as a bit of a whinging Glaswegian alcoholic lo-fi misanthropist. A reputation that could well be demolished by his latest album with The Best-Of's, the playful and remarkably cheerful 'How To Get To Heaven From Scotland' an album about lurve.

Not content with producing a love album it's scheduled for a beautifully apt 14th February release date in an ultra-deluxe box set edition containing an LP version of the album, fully artworked CD version of the album, an exclusive 7" featuring cover versions of Sonny and Cher's'I Got You Babe' and Glen Campbell's 'Love Is Not A Game'. Also a 5 track CD EP featuring 4 alternate versions of tracks from How To Get To Heaven... and another bonus, exclusive track. Plus a board game of How To Get To Heaven From Scotland (with dice and counters) and a Valentine’s Card personally signed by Aidan himself. Now that's what you call a perfect package.


So all in all the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a loved one.


Go Try

MP3 - Aidan Moffat & The Best Ofs - Big Blonde
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of TeamClermont so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Aidan Moffat & The Best-Ofs - Website
Label - Chemikal Underground Records // Chemikal Underground Records Myspace

Go View

Aidan Moffat & The Best Ofs
Big Blonde




If you like these you'll love Aidan Moffat & The Best Ofs...


MP3 - Arab Strap - Islands (Live at the Academy Liverpool 2005)
MP3 - Larmouse & Aidan Moffat - The Night Before (Unreleased)
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Aidan Moffat's website.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Monday, January 19, 2009

Your Daily Helping Of Roughage

The Bran FlakesThe Bran Flakes
Genre: Other / Pop / Experimental
From: Scrumpdillyishus Land, United States


The woodwork squeeks and out come the freaks!

Cult band The Bran Flakes, one of the worlds leading sonic recyclers, are back after an absence of six years. Otis Fodder and Mildred Pitt are returning in February with a new album 'I Have Hands' on Illegal Art. They've obviously spent the past six years trawling the internet, charity shops, dustbins and waste recycling centres for freaky sounds to slice and dice.
Nothing is safe from the Bran Flakes sonic marauding.

Coming on like a cut price Residents, the Bran Flakes hide their identity behind smiley faces (or large cartoon cats and rabbits!) while on 'I Have Hands' they coral their found sound into sonic collages that are less songs and more fragments of pandemonium.

The Bran Flakes are a multi-coloured, hallucinogenic cross between The Avalanches, Negativland and The Magic Roundabout and what a breakfast that'd be!

Go Try

MP3 - The Bran Flakes - Evil Knievel
MP3 - The Bran Flakes - Turn The Channel It's Another Commercial

MP3 - The Bran Flakes - I'm So Very Glad You Are My Friend
MP3 - The Bran Flakes - God
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from The Bran Flakes website.

Go Visit

The Bran Flakes - Myspace // Website

Go View
The Bran Flakes What's It All About?





Stumble Upon Toolbar

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Better Red Than Dead

Red SammyRed Sammy
Genre:
Americana / Alternative / Country
From: Baltimore, Maryland, United States


Taking their name from one of the characters in Flannery O'Connor's short story 'A Good Man Is Hard To Find' Baltimore's Red Sammy are singer songwriter Adam Trice and a cadre of Baltimore indie folksters including the beautiful Katie Feild.

With a gritty, weather beaten voice that sounds like Adam's been gargling a barbed wire and gravel cocktail daily and a sound that evokes windswept prairies, tangles of tumbleweed and rushing rivers Red Sammy's songs are a perfect musical backdrop to O'Connor's novels and short stories.

The band have just released their sophomore album 'Dog Hang Low', eight haunting stripped back tracks of downbeat death country that crackle and spit like a campsite fire. Eight dark and intimate tales of the trials and tribulations of life, love and loss that are part Whiskeytown, part Neil Young and part Tom Waits.

The Devil gives you the ultimate twang 'n croak merchants, Red Sammy.


Go Try

MP3 - Red Sammy - Lord Don't Break My Back
MP3 - Red Sammy - Postmark My Apologies
MP3 - Red Sammy - Outside
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Red Sammy's website.

Go Buy








Red Sammy 'Dog Hang Low' from CDBaby

Go Visit


Red Sammy - Myspace // Website

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Burn Up & Shine

GladshotGladshot
Genre: Pop
From: New York, United States

Gladshot are a duo from New York who specialise in literate sun-kissed pop that's as finely crafted as a Shaker cabinet.

Before forming the band Debbie Andrews (vocals, keyboards) and Mike Blaxill (vocals, guitars) had forged their own independent musical careers and there are times on their latest album 'Burn Up and Shine' when you're tempted into a little of the Lennon/McCartney guessing game. Fortunately Gladshot have made it easy for the would be sleuths amongst their fan base. The mellow, laid back tracks tend to be Debbie's while the rockier guitar lead tracks tend to be Mike's.

Go Try

MP3 - Gladshot - All I Want Is You
MP3 - Gladshot - Straight From The Fridge
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of Gladshot so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Gladshot - Myspace // Website

Go View

Gladshot
Fabulous Friends



"Fabulous Friends" by Gladshot from matthew k on Vimeo.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Station to Station

railcars
Genre: Other / Experimental / Live Electronics
From: San Francisco, California

United States

San Franciscans railcars (the artists formerly known as Aria C Jalali) are a quartet of undergraduates including the aforementioned Aria C Jalali, multi-instrumentalist Dasha Bulatova, guitarist Biljana Mirkovski and bassist and laptopist! Shaw Waters.

The railcar sound is fuzzy and anarchic like a lo-fi, bontempi Arcade Fire fronted by a less self conscious David Byrne mumbling through a Wal Mart microphone which is a damn sight more memorable and catchy than it sounds. They sound seriously under produced which is why they stand out from the crowd.

The band have been playing with the Handsome Furs and their last ep was produced by Jamie Stewart (of Xiu Xiu) so expect to hear much more about them in 2009.

Go Try

MP3 - railcars - through the trees lay smokestacks
MP3 - railcars - saints are waiting for me (outside my door)

If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of railcars so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

railcars - Myspace

If you like these you'll love railcars...

MP3 - Handsome Furs - I'm Confused
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Sub Pop Records website.

MP3 - Xiu Xiu - I Do What I Want When I Want
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Kill Rock Stars website.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Cool to The Core

E Reece & Core ElementsE Reece & Core Elements
Genre: Hip Hop / Jazz / Soul

From: Mo Cnty. MD -to- Hollyweird, CA, California
United States


E Reece brings you "Organic Hip Hop" for your mind, body and soul. GM free this is natural Hip Hop produced without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers and processed without ionizing radiation, additives or preservatives.



Go Try


MP3 - E Reece & Core Elements - How We Do
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of Dunn Deal PR so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

E Reece & Core Elements - Myspace


Go View

E Reece & Core Elements
How We Do


E Reece & Core Elements "How We Do" from E Reece on Vimeo.

Stumble Upon Toolbar