It's A Nice Day For The White Witches

White Witches
Genre: Alt / Pop
From: London, United Kingdom

I received an email out of the blue from Dave Barnett (alumni of The New Royal Family, Luxembourg, Pure, Greenheart) about his new and as yet little known London band White Witches (not to be confused with the not much better known US indie folksters White Witches) alerting me to their storming demo 'This Is A House' .

The black clad four piece are really as unknown as a band can be these days. Their myspace site has had a mere 750 profile views and contains absolutely no information on the band other than a quite brilliant list of influences and they have just 28 myspace friends. They don't appear to have a Last.FM site and I couldn't find a Facebook site. This is a band so off the 21st century grid that they are virtually see through.

The band also have an impressive, if career limiting, punk attitude. They say that they are making music for themselves and if anyone else likes it they can FUCK OFF. Well I guess that means that I need to FUCK RIGHT OFF because I like 'This Is A House'. It starts with a burst of T-Rexian guitar and then launches into a piece of Sparks like garage pop that reminds me of the early days of Pop Levi. Is there a garage glam genre? Glamage maybe? If not then I think White Witches may well have just created it.

It's a nice day for the White Witches

Go Try

MP3 - White Witches - This Is A House
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of White Witches so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

White Witches - Myspace

If you like this then you might like Dave's other band The New Royal Family...

MP3 - The New Royal Family - The New Royal Family Rules OK
MP3 - The New Royal Family - Scotland The Brave
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the New Royal Family Last.FM site so are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Christmas Chorus

The Brute Chorus
Genre: Alternative / Garage / Folk
From: London, United Kingdom

The Brute Chorus are releasing their first Christmas single, Bury Me In Hawaii, on Christmas Eve. The song was recorded at The Strong Room close to the Brute’s East London home two days after returning from their album tour.

As usual this song comes with a twist. Firstly, in a departure from the rammalamma sound of their live debut album, this is a beautiful, hushed affair recorded mainly on acoustic instruments and secondly, with the un-Christmas nature of the lyrics: On the last day of Christmas, as carol singers sing Noel Noel outside in the snow, having smoked his last three Superking cigarettes a man decides to hang himself, asking that he be buried in Hawaii. The band describe it as a Hawaiian Death Carol and the lyrics blend Christmas carols and Hawaiian imagery to an unusual blend of Hawaiian drums, surf guitar and plaintive melodica, not to mention a double bass, ukelele and, of course, right at the end… sleigh bells.

‘I’ll be thinking of the girls of Waikiki
As my stockings kick at the air
Noel, noel, you can sing me to hell…
… it’s Hallelujah, Aloha for me’

This single acts also as a bridging gap between The Brute Chorus’ debut album released in October and the release of new material from the band in early 2010.


Go Visit

The Brute Chorus - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

The Brute Chorus
Bury Me In Hawaii

Do You Think I'm Seksu

Asobi Seksu
Genre: Psychedelic / Trance / Pop
From: Brooklyn, United States

One of the last albums ever recorded at London’s renowned Olympic Studios (where The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Who have all recorded), ‘Acoustic At Olympic Studios’ finds Asobi Seksu stripped down to core duo—vocalist Yuki Chikudate and guitarist James Hanna to give listeners a fresh take on songs spanning the band’s career.

The album is a departure from the waves of shoegazy guitars that have flooded previous Asobi Seksu albums like a swollen river in Cumbria. If I hadn't seen the name on the album I wouldn't have guessed that it was Asobi Seksu. Their eyes are no longer glued firmly to their shoes, this is a band that have their heads held high looking to the stars. They've ditched their My Bloody Valentine wall of feathery noise for a simpler acoustic sound which proves the old adage that less really can be more, a sounds that pitches it's tent somewhere between The Sundays and Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins.

The songs included on ‘Acoustic At Olympic Studios’ re-imagine the texturized dream-pop of the band’s three previous full-lengths, February’s Hush, Citrus (2006) and Asobi Seksu (2004). In addition, the album features tracks previously only available as B-sides and a sublime cover of Hope Sandoval’s (Mazzy Star) Suzanne. Stand out track for the Devil is the albums final track Thursday which is a witches brew of REM's Everybody Hurts, anything off Rabbit Fur Jacket and Je T'aime. Brave. But it works. Just. It could make a Vulcan cry and it's certainly had my tear ducts working overtime.

Go Try

MP3 - Asobi Seksu - Urusai Tori
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of One Little Indian so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Asobi Seksu - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Asobi Seksu
Thursday (Original)



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Une Cartouche Is...

French For Cartridge
Genre: Rock / Experimental
From: London, United Kingdom

London's genre defying, style blending, art-pop geniuses (or should that be genii?) Cartridge changed their name to the very similar if slightly longer French For Cartridge. While they've been busy changing their name they've thankfully not tinkered around with their incomparable sound.

If you check your dictionary (do people still have dictionaries in these days of the internet and smart phones??) for the definition of unique you'll find a picture of French For Cartridge. If you don't then you need a new dictionary.

The duo's new single 'Oooh!' has more originality than a Salvidor Dali retrospective, a Terry Gilliam box set and a Yoko Ono happening. If you don't check it out today your ears will never forgive you!

French for Cartridge herald the changing of the avant-garde.

Go Try

MP3 - French For Cartridge - Oooh!
MP3 - French For Cartridge - Boxing Stravinsky
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Bloody Awful Poetry so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

French For Cartridge - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

French For Cartridge
Oooh!

Elephant Men

Cage The Elephant
Genres: Alternative Rock, Punk Rock, Funk Rock
From: Bowling Green, KY, U.S.

Imagine for a second that the Replacements didn’t reign over the Midwest, and instead Westerberg and company wrote their brand of raw-bone rock underneath the sunny skies of Kentucky. Or let’s say the Stones emerged from the American South instead of Southern England. Well, then it’d be a hell of a lot easier to describe the racket drummed up by Bowling Green thoroughbreds Cage The Elephant. This motley crew of kids, led by brothers Matt and Brad Shultz, manage to make big name comparisons like the above go down easy, while stupefying fans and critics everywhere with their wildly individualistic take on Southern rock. Thanks to relentless touring, festival gigs, and some late night love on Letterman, the band’s eponymous major label bow has been turning heads since its May 2009 US release.

On the off chance your head has yet to be turned, might I suggest giving a listen to monster hit Ain't No Rest For The Wicked (check out the video below), a tumbling ode and/or kiss-off to the almighty dollar and the endless pursuit to lay hands on it. Banjo, groove, sassy half-spoke lyrics? AND a monster chorus? What more could you ask for? Or check out 'Back Against The Wall' courtesy of the Devil and his friends at the Musebox.

Go Try

MP3 - Cage The Elephant - Back Against The Wall
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission The Musebox so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Cage The Elephant - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Cage The Elephant
Ain't No Rest For The Wicked




Cage The Elephant
Back Against The Wall

Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow

Snow Patrol
Genre: Alternative rock, power pop, indie rock
From: Dundee, Scotland

Pop quiz. What do Arthur Russell, TV on the Radio and Tribe Called Quest have in common?

Stumped yet?

If you guessed that they’re each one of the incredibly surprising picks on Snow Patrol’s Late Night Tales DJ mix you’re probably cheating.

But seriously, the Patrol boys, who’ve built a reputation for soaring balladry and immaculately written rock dramas (and come in for some stick from the indie cognoscenti who sneer while the boys rake in the cash), apparently have a madcap DJ side. Who’d a thunk it?

Careening from Beefheart to Bobby Gentry, from Miracle Fortress to Field Music, the 19-tracker is a crash course not in dancefloor glitziness, but rather a startlingly comprehensive record collection, one that can flex its obscurest muscle right along with its INXS covers. The latter is the comp’s treat: a freshly recorded rendition of the rollicking “New Sensation.” Released in the US on November 3rd, the laboriously compiled mix bears the fingerprints of Patrolers Gary Lightbody and Tom Simpson, and should please Snow fans and newbies alike.

Get converted or reaffirm your love when you check out 'New Sensation' and the video below, a clip shot in the BBC Radio 1 studios of Snow Patrol plowing through the cover in question with unmistakable style and panache.

Go Try

MP3 - Snow Patrol - New Sensation
Please note that despite having permission to post this link from The Musebox this does not stop the overlords of the music industry and Google from conspiring to claim infringement of copyright. As the process of appealing against claims of copyright infringement is long winded, unnecessarily complex and clearly designed to discourage the music loving blogger from tackling the mighty music industry I've decided that discretion is the better part of valour and have therefore removed the link.

Go Visit

Snow Patrol - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Art For Art Sake

The Little Philistines have a new single out a double header Bus Pass/Judith Cut My Head Off (maybe it's a single header after all - groan!). As you'd expect from the Little Philistines it's as sharp as a box of tacks after a visit to the local tack sharpener with witty lyrics and guitars with more kick than a Johnny Wilkinson DVD box set.

Bus Pass is the better of the two tracks and, while neither of the tracks are as brain rattlingly good as the mighty Love Explodes, if they continue to churn out tracks like this it won't be long before they're criss crossing the globe in diamond encrusted gold plated jets.

Go Try

MP3 - The Little Philistines - Bus Pass
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of The Little Philistines so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Little Philistines - Myspace // Last.FM

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The Little Philistines
Bus Pass

Deena For Two

Deena Chappell
Genre: Bluegrass /Rock and Roll / Folk /Swing /Jazz
From: Cambridge, New York

Deena sent me an email asking me to check out her tracks so I did and she's as mad as a box of sectioned frogs. Her rather traditional bluegrass and folk is embellished with found sound and a quirky sense of humour which elevates it above the standard toe tapping trad folk that has been the staple of barn dances down the ages.

Go Try

MP3 - Deena Chappell - The Trickster
MP3 - Deena Chappell - Big Green Bus
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Deena Chappell so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Deena Chappell - Website

What Katy Did Next

Kate and After
Genre: Pop / Rock / Indie From: Göteborg, Västra Götalands län
Sweden

I've been snowed under in work this week and haven't been able to post as much as usual. I have also neglected the inbox which has been filling up like a storm drain in a monsoon with music from exciting artists from around the world. Over the last day or so I've been desperately trying to catch up so forgive me if today's piece on Swedish indie poppers Kate And After is brief and too the point.

They're good, you'll like them and, with 'Snow Angel' (which seemed quite apt given how snowed under I've been this week!), they're the first Christmas related song on the Devil's blog this year (it's not just you it does get earlier each year!).

Go Try

MP3 - Kate and After - Snow Angel
MP3 - Kate and After - Pop Icon Messiah
MP3 - Kate and After - Back Where I Belong
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the Kate and After Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Try

Kate and After - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Kate and After
Wrong Intentions

Fangs For The Memory

Fang Island
Genre: Healing & EasyListening / Children / Visual From: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Fang Island describes its sound as "everyone high-fiving everyone." and the Brooklyn quintet's anthemic, soaring songs certainly deserve universal high fives.

The band's finger-tapping guitar lines, chanted vocals, triumphant harmonies and overall perky songs are like the music in your head at that moment when everything feels just right; your first kiss, that high score on the video game, buying your first small nation in cash... you know, the good stuff that makes life worth living. Guitarist Jason Bartell says that the band's aim is to "make music for people who like music," music without irony that is shamelessly uplifting, music that can stir the emotions and lift the spirits.

The band's debut 'Fang Island', scheduled for release in February 2010, begins appropriately with the sound of erupting fireworks on 'Dreams of Dreams' leading into a cascading chorus of ringing guitar notes before the group vocal harmonies chime in with the mantra, "they all are within my reach, they are free." The second song, 'Careful Crossers' launches in beneath the vocals with a chorus of gleaming guitar harmonies smeared over the marching, syncopated rhythm section. Elsewhere, tracks like 'Sideswiper' is a blast of metal-laced positivity that sounds like Andrew WK . 'Daisy' sounds like a unique collaboration between the Fucking Champs and Jay Reatard.

It's time to get your sailing gear on and take a trip to Fang Island.

Go Try

MP3 - Fang Island - Daisy
MP3 - Fang Island - Life Coach
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission Us/Them Group so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Fang Island - Myspace // Website

Go Visit

Fang Island
Curaga (Live)



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Mums The Word

Mumford & Sons
Genre: Indie Folk /Folk Rock / Bluegrass
From: London, England, UK

Mumford & Sons are one of the most significant success stories of 2009, with their debut album charting at number 11, and number 1 on iTunes. But like all great stories, we’re not even halfway through the first novel and the best is still to come.

Their new single, ‘Winter Winds’ is released through Gentlemen Of The Road / Island Records on the 7th December 2009. It is taken from the band’s critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Sigh No More’.

If you can't wait until then check out the video below.

Go Visit

Mumford & Sons - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Mumford & Sons
Winter Winds



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Lift To Experience

The Black Elevators
Genre: Garage / Psychedelic / Jungle
From: Kent, Ohio, United States

I stumbled upon the Black Elevators, or rather they stumbled upon me, when they sent me a friend invite on myspace. Yes, in these short attention span twittering days, Myspace does still exist! I liked what I heard and voila they have a prestigious spot on the mighty Devil's blog.

The Black Elevators name makes them sound like the illicit fruit of an adulturous relationship between the Black Angels and the 13th Floor Elevators which is spooky because that's exactly how they sound. It's not often that you can say that a band's name sums up their influences so perfectly.

Although the Black Elevators have been around for a couple of years the current line up of Alfred H., Steve Wask and the man with the least cool nickname in music Spaceman Spots, haven't been together long. They've rarely ventured out of the basements and garages of Kent, Ohio, but they sure make an ear splitting racket, elevator music it ain't!

The Black Elevators are on the way up!

Go Try

MP3 - The Black Elevators - Sleepwalking
MP3 - The Black Elevators - Stacy Strangelove

Go Visit

The Black Elevators - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

The Black Elevators

Summer Lovin

Summer Dregs
Genre: Electro-pop
From: Chattanooga, Tennessee
United States

Summer Dregs is the result of Carl Cadwell collaborating with a group of hyper talented musicians in an effort to prove that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

The band have chosen their name well because their new album From Gold To Green is the sound of an Indian summer. It's light and breezy short sleeved music. It's like waking up in October to an unexpected burst of sunshine bathing you in waves of warmth.

If you're a fan of Sufjan Stevens or The Postal Service then get out your bikini and enjoy the dregs of summer with Summer Dregs.


Go Try

MP3 - Summer Dregs - Bones
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Banter Media & Management linked so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
MP3 - Summer Dregs - Astoria
MP3 - Summer Dregs - Toybox Rattle
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the Summer Dregs Facebook site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Summer Dregs - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

Summer Dregs
From Gold To Green

Heavens Gate

Gate |˟˟|
Genre: Experimental / Industrial / Jazz
From: 八王子, 東京都, Japan

Gate, also written as |˟˟| (if it was good enough for Prince it's good enough for Lajos Ishibashi-Brons The person behind |˟˟|) creates a improvised masterpiece on his debut on Fluttery Records. 'No Exit' is pitched somewhere between noise and jazz, between drone and industrial with a dose of Mongolian traditional music thrown in for good measure. This Tokyo based project is as close to pure music as you can get. It's solo improvisation without any overdubbing; it is completely free music without plans, themes, or melodies; and the music on the CD is - except for some fade-in or out - exactly the same as when it was first created. 'No Exit' is an expression of discomfort, restlessness and oppression.

The person behind |˟˟| Lajos Ishibashi-Brons says “Modern society expects - even demands - people to be happy. Vast numbers of people walk around with a forced and fake smile, pretending to be what society wants them to be, until they break down. Such fake happiness and its commercial products, such as most pop music, is depressing and nauseating more than comforting. Perhaps my music is a response to and expression of the discomfort caused by this euphoritotalitarianism.” Deep!

Go Try

MP3 - |˟˟| - 23
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the |˟˟| Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

MP3 - |˟˟|- 51
MP3 - |˟˟| - 53
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the |˟˟| website and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

|˟˟| - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

One In A Million

Jihae
Genre: Alternative / Experimental / Pop
From: New York, United States

From South Korea, to Nigeria, to Sweden, to the UK... chanteuse Jihae's global knowledge of music fits right in with New York's rhythm. Her songs carry with them the weight of an epic poem, the darkness of the most forebidden dreamworld and the magic of a fairytale.

New single 'My Love' is the first single to be taken from her next album, Fire Burning Rain, which is die for release in July 2010. 'My Love' is an oddly haunting pop song with more atmosphere than a Martin Scorcese trailer. At one point the song veers off on an odd tangent where it sounds like the music from the Dali dream sequence in Hitchcock's 'Spellbound'. It's strange, almost mystical air makes it one of those songs that could either sink like a stone or stride the globe like a colossus in hiking boots crushing all competition.

Unique is a word that is bandied around too easily in music these days but there really is no other way to describe Jihae. There really is no-one who sounds like Jihae.

Go Try

MP3 - Jihae - My Love
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Sneak Attack Media so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Jihae - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Jihae
Black Pearl



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Benson & Hedges

Brendan Benson
Genre: Rock / Alternative Rock/ Power Pop
From: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

The music business is a fickle mistress. Before his collaboration with Jack White in the Raconteurs Brendan Benson's solo career wasn't exactly lighting fires. His debut album, One Mississippi, was released in 1996 on Virgin Records but despite critical acclaim sold less copies than a Paris Hilton covers album and he was unceremoniously dumped by Virgin. His subsequent two albums, Lapalco and The Alternative to Love, fared a little better but the world refused to be set alight. Then came The Raconteurs and bam the world recognises the name.

Back in August Brendan released his fourth solo album My Old, Familiar Friend to a much larger, more eager audience. Funny that isn't it. His music hasn't got any better, it's always been good, it's fame by association. While it's great that his solo work is now getting the attention it deserves and he's recruited an army of fair-weather fans it's sadly symptomatic of a society where the corporates can whack a celebrity name on any old product ramp the price up and the hordes of sleepwalking sheep buy it.

Go Try

MP3 - Brendan Benson - Garbage Day (Live)
MP3 - Brendan Benson - Tiny Spark (Live)
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Banter Media & Management so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Brendan Benson - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

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Brendan Benson
Whole Lot Better

The Lord Meyer's Show

Yael Meyer
Genre: Folk / Pop / Electronica
From: Los Angeles, California, United States

LA singer songwriter Yael Meyer, who was born in Santiago, Chile, sent me a digital copy of her latest EP 'Heartbeat' last week and it blew me away.

The EP is deceptively yet beautifully simple. It's the sound of running barefoot in a dew encrusted meadow in white chiffon. It's the soundtrack to one of those dreams where everything in your life is perfect. It's the sound that creeps from under the door of an innocent hippy chick's boudoir late at night. It'll be the sound you hear when sipping your cappuccino in your local chichi coffee shop in 2010, a decaffeinated Sade if you like.

I hope there's meyer of the same to come from Yael (groan that's bad even for you The Devil's editor)



Go Try

MP3 - Yael Meyer - Shed Their Fear
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Yael Meyer so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Yael Meyer - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Yael Meyer
The Making of Heartbeat (the EP not the UK series!)

Let's Get Dirty With...

Readers Wives
Genre: Alternative / Indie / Pop
From: Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland

What possessed Irish troubadours (isn't everyone in Ireland a troubadour?) Readers Wives to saddle themselves with such an unfortunate name? For one thing no matter how popular they become they'll never be the top search on Google, for another they could easily get a lot of rather disappointed visitors to their website. Either the band are big John Cooper Clarke fans or long coated perverts. Or maybe they're just innocents abroad who thought Reader's Wives sounded like a cool name.

As if to add insult to injury they've only gone and called their new ep 'Secrecy & Sex', out now, and included tracks like 'Sexually Attracted To Myself' and 'I Don't Need To Be Seduced'. Freud would have field day.

On 'Secrecy & Sex' Reader's Wives sound like Neutral Milk Hotel gone slightly sour with an Irish lilt. This is avant garde pop with it's guard let down.

Indulge your naughty side with Reader's Wives.

Go Try

MP3 - Reader's Wives - Sexually Attracted To Myself
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of 360 Degree Music so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Reader's Wives - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Reader's Wives
Unservicable Prophet of the Lord

Sweet As Sugar Candy

Candy Claws
Genre : Psychtronica // Experimental // Newgaze
From: Fort Collins, Colorado United States

The Devil Has The Best Tuna is taking part with Candy Claws and a few of the best music blogs on the planet in what may be the worlds first virtual tour and what could be the future of touring for hard up indie bands in these straightened times.

Candy Claws will be touring for their latest album, "In the Dream of the Sea Life" online. The band will be posting videos on music blogs in different cities and towns across the entire planet. The first ten dates will feature live footage of acoustic versions of each song on the album, enhanced with digital magic. The last ten dates will debut brand new music videos for each song.

The kicks off today at Fort Calling, the band's hometown music blog with the Devil's slot confirmed as 30th November. So keep watching as the Devil and Candy Claws enter the future.

Go See

Here are the confirmed dates so far:

9/11 - Ft Collins, CO - Fort Calling
10/11 - Denver, CO - Cause = Time
11/11 - Los Angeles?
12/11 - Seattle?
13/11 - Lexington, KY - I Guess I'm Floating

16/11 - Indiana?
17/11 - Canada?
18/11 - Philly?
19/11 - Brooklyn, NY - Chocolate Bobka
20/11 - Chicago?

21/11 -28/11 Thanksgiving Break, Thanks!

30/11 - Liverpool - The Devil has the Best Tuna
1/12 - Ireland - Asleep on the Compost Heap
2/12 - Norway - Eardrums Music
3/12 - Germany - Das Klienicum
4/12 - Scotland - Song, by Toad

7/12 -
8/12 -
9/12 - Venezuela - Gopher Illustrated
10/12 - Philippines?
11/12 - Surprise Finale!

Go Try

If you can't wait for the Candy Claws tour here's a track the Devil's featured before to keep you going until next week...

MP3 - Candy Claws - Beyond The Skies
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Candy Claws Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Candy Claws - Myspace // Last.FM

Tubular Bells

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

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

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

Go Try

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

Go Visit

Morningbell - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Morningbell
Let's Not Lose Our Heads

Murder on the Dancefloor

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

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

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

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

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

Go Visit

Ste McCabe - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

Ste McCabe
Militant Disco

Curt Vile

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

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

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

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

Go Try

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

Go Visit

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

Go View

Vile Vile Creatures
Faux Feminism



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

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

They're Too Shy Shy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Shy Child
Astronaut

Bring Your Own Bottle

BYOB
Genre: Fuck Knows
From: London, United Kingdom

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

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



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

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BYOB - Myspace// Website // Last.FM

In A Dress It's Not Easy

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

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

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

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Your Yellow Dress - Myspace // Last.FM

Here's The Frequency Kenneth

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

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

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

The frequency are on your wavelength.

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MP3 - The Frequency - Ego Is The Drug/3AM
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The Frequency - Website // Last.FM

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The Frequency
Ego Is The Drug/3AM

They Plough The Fields & Scatter

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

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

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

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

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

Go Try

MP3 - The Seedy Seeds - The Little Patton
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The Seedy Seeds - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

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The Seedy Seeds
The Little Patton