Happy Halloween From The Devil

It's halloween, the Devil's favourite time of the year. To celebrate the Devil's day here are some seasonal(ish) related bands and videos to get you in the mood for the Tricking and the Treating.

Go Try

MP3 - Scary Monsters - The Cinder Where My Heart Used To Be : Myspace
MP3 - Scary Monsters - Razor Blades : Myspace
MP3 - Horror Story - The Devil May Care : Myspace
MP3 - Silent Horror - Witchkraft : Myspace
MP3 - Trick Trick - Where U From? : Myspace
MP3 - The Children Nightmare - Robotz (Demo) : Myspace

Go View

Sleigh Bells
Treats



The Horrors
Sea Within A Sea



Violens
Violent Sensation Descends



Jeremy Messersmith
A Girl, A Boy and a Graveyard

Searching For The Young Rebel Set

Young Rebel Set

From: England

For those of you hooked on This Is England 86 check out the latest video from English troubadours Young Rebel Set featuring Jo Hartley (Shaun's mum) completely unrecognisable as a man.

Go Visit

Young Rebel Set - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Fight Club

Boolfight
From: Paris, France

Aural alchemists Team Ghost have smoothed out the rough edges of Parisian alt rockers Boolfight's 'Multiple Devils' and added a couple of their own. It's a corker of a remix of an already awesome song. It sounds like Air covering a long lost Prefab Sprout track. It starts off simply and then it just builds and builds with layer on layer of sound overwhelming the senses until you emerge at the end of the track a little punch drunk but blissfully happy. It's better than sex!

Go join the fight club!

Go Try

MP3 - Boolfight - Multiple Devils
This track is published with the permission of Boolfight so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Boolfight - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

Boolfight
Multiple Devils (Live)

Bikos Killed The Videogame Star

bikos
From: Culver City/Mar Vista, California, United States

Check out biko's brilliant acoustic version of their Videogame Sandwich Diamond a leading contender for the Devil's strangest song title of the year award.

BIKOS "VIDEOGAME SANDWICH DIAMONDS" from Gorillacoustic.com on Vimeo.

Go Visit

bikos - Myspace : Facebook

Django Bells

Django Voris
From: United States

Check out this cool video for the haunting track Merlin by Fates collaborator Django Voris. It's enough to give you nightmares. Do sleep well.

Go Visit

Django Voris - Myspace : Website : Last.FM
100m Records - Myspace : Website

Retro Revue

The Jim Jones Revue
From: London, United Kingdom

Be prepared to have your ears blown off coz The Jim Jones Revue are back with 'Shoot First' a single that's more retro than Tony Curtis flying Pan-Am and sounds like Jerry Lee Lewis on a sugar rush. Check out the video below.

Go Visit

The Jim Jones Revue - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

The Jim Jones Revue
Shoot First

Doctor Who

Doctors & Dealers

From: Stockholm, Sweden

Doctors & Dealers is the trade name for beguiling Swedish chanteuse Sparrow (itself surely a pseudonym). With a fine line in slightly retro pop songs and with her latest EP produced by Gordon Raphael it comes as no surprise that Regina Spektor's name regularly pops up in reviews. What may be more of a surprise is that the title track of her latest EP, Trouble, a taster for forthcoming album Every Sinner Has A Future, reminds me of Irish folkie Mary Coughlan. It starts off as a smoky, languid, late night song before the chorus hits you like a slap in the face. It sounds like an echo from another time. A time when the ladies wore feathered headbands and the gentleman wore hats, wing tip shoes and spent their nights searching for a speakeasy.

Sparrow is singing like a canary!

Go Try

MP3 - Doctors & Dealers - Trouble
This track is published with the permission of The Red Turtles so please don't claim breach of copyright
MP3 - Doctors & Dealers - Summertime Love
MP3 - Doctors & Dealers - On The Dancefloor
These tracks are linked direct from the Doctors & Dealers Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Doctors & Dealers - Myspace : Website Last.FM

Go View

Doctors & Dealers
Social Skills



If you like this you should check out Sparrow's other project Southside Stalkers...

MP3 - Southside Stalkers - Not Able
These tracks are linked direct from the Southside Stalkers Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Southside Stalkers - Myspace : Last.FM

One Hundred Not Out

The Hundred Days
From: San Francisco, California, United States

San Fran indie quartet The Hundred Days sound like The Killers if Brandon Flowers had been force-fed the entire back catalogue of The Comsat Angels. It's widescreen moody indie like your grandad used to tell you about when you were a kid.

MP3 - The Hundred Days - Disaster
MP3 - The Hundred Days - So What
These tracks are published with the permission of popantipop the Hundred Days label so please don't claim breach of copyright.

Go Visit

The Hundred Days - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

The Hundred Days
Out Of Nowhere (Acoustic)

Dears Hunting

The Dears

From: Montreal, Quebec, CA

The Dears are back to claim their rightful place as the kings of indie rock with their new album, Degeneration Street. Set for a 15th February 2011 release on Dangerbird Records the album's angst-ridden indie represents a welcome return to form.

The first single from the album, 'Omega Dog', is a tasty preview tickling the taste buds and leaving you desperate for more. Check out the video below and start counting down the days until February!

Go Visit

The Dears - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

The Dears
Omega Dog

Animal Magnetism

Slow Animal
From: New Jersey, United States

New Jersey duo Slow Animal deliver fuzzed up blasts of washed out slacker-surf rock that sounds like they've been intravenously fed The Velvet Underground, Pavement and The Beach Boys since birth. Check out 'Sitting Here' another song that's made it onto the unfeasibly large list of contenders for the Devil's top 10 of the year.

Go Try

MP3 - Slow Animal - Sitting Here
This track is linked direct from the Slow Animal Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Slow Animal - Myspace : Last.FM : Bandcamp

Go View

Slow Animal
the FUNsun

Falcao & Monashee

Falcao &
Monashee
From: Sao Paulo Brasil + Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada

There's an almost religious feel to Falcao & Monashee's pastoral psych folk. Their new album 'Fools', which is available free from their website, is the culmination of a two year project written and recorded on the island of Galiano, Canada. It's breathtaking experimental folk. A lo-fi masterpiece, beautifully melodic and achingly atmospheric.

'Fools' has a real late 60s flowers in the hair hippie vibe, all peasant blouses, flowing skirts and hemp bags. 'Dusty Temple Light' sounds like it was recorded in a monastery by Clannad's distant Canadian cousins. Merry Go Round sounds likes it's been beamed in from another world, a world of angels, ambrosia and bliss while 'Money' borders on the operatic with the voices of Falcao and Monashee complimenting each other perfectly.

Go Try

MP3 - Falcao & Monashee -Merry Go Round
MP3 - Falcao & Monashee - Dusty Temple Light
These tracks are published with the permission of Falcao & Monashee so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Falcao & Monashee - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

Falcao & Monashee
Fighting Challenge

Bodies In The Way Of Me

The Bodies Obtained
From: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Detroit glum rockers The Bodies Obtained are back with their third album 'I Cry When You Cry' . The mysterious electronic duo hark back to the 80s but not the same 80s that the likes of the Killers and the Gagas have resurrected. They take their inspiration from a darker, more bleak 80s. The 80s of the long overcoat, a time when serious bands stretched the musical boundaries.

They inhabit a world of Fad Gadget, of PIL, of Suicide but also a world of Pet Shop Boys ('Baby, It's Not A Sin' sounds like a sullen Pet Shop Boys on 33RPM) and Depeche Mode. A world of synths programmed to simultaneously engage your ear and destroy the very essence of what you thought was possible in the realm of experimental electronica. But it's not a clinically cold, mechanical world there is emotion and soul that adds humanity to the electronics.

Go Try

MP3 - The Bodies Obtained - Baby, It's Not A Sin
MP3 - The Bodies Obtained - She Wants What She Wants
MP3 - The Bodies Obtained - Are You Happy There?
These tracks are linked direct from the Bodies Obtained Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

The Bodies Obtained - Myspace : Last.FM

Family Values

Family Fodder

From: France

Family Fodder, a group of musicians based around Alig Fodder, were post punk before punk was even invented so you could say they go back a long way. The avant punkers are back and they are as idiosyncratic as ever. Check out the video to their new single 'Ancestor's Feet' which will be released tomorrow as a taster for their new album 'Classical Music' on 1st November.

Go Visit

Family Fodder - Myspace : Website : Last.FM


Go View

Family Fodder
Ancestors Feet

Original Pirate Material

Seafarer
From: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chicago's Seafarer have fully embraced the craft of being dissimilar and still, engrossingly gripping.
Noise Floor is relatively straightforward and a little reminiscent of Cold War Kids. But it's with the mercurial, unquantifiable 'The Archipelago' that Seafarer let loose. It like a kaleidoscope cracking open unleashing an ear bending goulash of sounds. Is it rock, is it folk, is it psych, is it pop. Well yes, yes, yes and yes. The Archipelago surfs the genres with as much dexterity as a rubber gymnast glued to a Tri-Fin.

Go Try

MP3 - Seafarer - Noise Floor
MP3 - Seafarer - The Archipelago
These tracks are published with the permission of Green Light Go so please don't claim breach of copyright
Go Visit

Seafarer - Myspace : Last.FM

Olympic Cyclist

Bicycle Voice

From: Salt Lake City, United States

Bicycle Voice are Meg Webb, ably supported by Alex Cardwell. With their folsky pop with indie sensibilities and an experimental edge they sound like they've set up the Salt Lake City branch of the LDN church. They remind me of Lily Allen and Kate Nash without the mockney affectations or Au Revoir Simone with added ukulele and violin.

On the peerless Red Red Blue Meg whispers "say, say, you love me", how can a boy resist? Bicycle Voice I love you.

Go Try

MP3 - Bicycle Voice - Red Red Blue
This track is linked direct from the Bicycle Voice Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Bicycle Voice - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

Bicycle Voice
Freshman
(Note it's not really a video but it's worth checking out for the song)

The Kings Are Not Dead

King Of The Slums
From: Manchester, United Kingdom

There is a certain symmetry to this weeks blog. Monday's post on Stray Dogs referenced Manchester band StrayDogCafe. Tuesday's post on StrayDogCafe referenced King Of The Slums and today's post is on, yes you've guessed it King Of The Slums. I'm not sure I can keep this up for much longer!

Way back in the late 80s I was blown away by King Of The Slums's 'Simpering Blonde Bombshell' and was therefore pleased to see that they were back recording and releasing albums after 18 years of silence. Their latest album 'The Orphaned Files' was released last year through their official website. Thankfully the passage of time has not dimmed the KotS flame. They are as obtuse, as angry, as savage and as far from the mainstream as ever. They remain peerless poets of the underground chronicling the real world, a world that is rarely seen.

Has it been worth the wait. Abso bloody lutely.

Go Try

Here's an oldie from the first iteration of KotS to wet your appetite...

MP3 - King Of The Slums - Venerate Me Utterly #3
This track is linked from the King Of The Slums Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

and here are a couple of excerpts from the new album to wet your appetite even further...

MP3 - King Of The Slums - Losing Ground
MP3 - King Of The Slums - Without A Scratch
These tracks are linked from the King Of The Slums Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

King Of The Slums - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

King Of The Slums
Fanciable Headcase

Heard It On The Grapevine

Ari Up

1962 – 2010

RIP

I heard it on twitter the 21st century grapevine that the Slits frontwoman Ari Up died yesterday at the age of 48 after suffering a serious illness. The world has lost an original and irreplaceable talent. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.

The Slits
So Tough

More Stray Dogs

StrayDogCafe
From: Manchester, United Kingdom

At the risk of turning having this weeks blog overrun by stray dogs tonight's post features Manchester post punk trio StrayDogCafe following on from last night's post on Russia's Stray Dogs.

They don't conform to the man in the streets stereotypical sound of a Manchester band. They hail from the more obtuse, angular, uncompromising side of the Manchester family. The side of the family that gave birth to The Fall, King Of The Slums, A Certain Ratio, Crispy Ambulance and The Chameleons rather than the side that gave the world the more trad dad rock of Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Courteeners and James.

Theme From Warlock is like Frank Zappa being force fed Shellac while Sweet Jebus sounds like Mark E Smith having a party.

StrayDogCafe serve up an angular post punk treat.

Go Try

MP3 - StrayDogCafe - Theme From Warlock
MP3 - StrayDogCafe - Sweet Jebus
These tracks are linked direct from the StrayDogCafe Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

StrayDogCafe - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

StrayDogCafe
Maxamillion

Stray Dogs Howling

Stray Dogs

From: Russia (I guess)

I stumbled across Stray Dogs while tootling around Last.FM and can't for the life of me find any trace of them anywhere else on the interweb. The world wide web is seemingly over-run by Stray Dogs. There's the New Zealand Stray Dogs (who seem to have two myspace sites!). There's the Colorado based Stray Dog or the Belgium electronic duo Stray Dogs there's even a Romanian Stray Dogs from London and a StrayDogCafe from Manchester. But no trace of a Russian (I think they're Russian but I can't be sure) Stray Dogs that sound like Love Is All and The Hives being rogered by a narwhal. I can't even be sure that the picture is actually Stray Dogs but never mind just take a listen and have your ears cleaned out for good.

If anyone out there can cast any further light on Stray Dogs then please get in touch through the usual communication channels.


Go Try

MP3 - Stray Dogs - Everybody Wants Sex
MP3 - Stray Dogs - Little Anny
MP3 - Stray Dogs - People On Speed
These tracks are linked direct from the Stray Dogs Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Stray Dogs - Last.FM

Burnt Offerings

Burnt Ones
From: San Francisco, California, United States

San Fran trio Burnt Ones have got a track called 'Gonna Listen To T Rex (All Night Long)' and this is a band that do exactly what they say on the tin. They've clearly had T Rex Great Hits playing non stop on their iTunes for much longer than just one night. They take that early 70s sleazy, fuzzy, tinny Bolanesque glam sound and inject it with a needle full of JAMC style distortion to create a sound so cool it could give you hypothermia.

The latest Burnt offerings is the recently released debut album 'Black Teeth & Golden Tongues' on Roaring Colonel Records the label set up by one of the Devil's favourite sources of musical excellence My Old Kentucky Blog. It's well worth a few of your well earned greenbacks.

Go Try

MP3 - Burnt Ones - Bury Me In Smoke (DEMO)
This track is linked direct from the Burnt Ones Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Burnt Ones - Myspace : Bandcamp : Last.FM

Go View
Burnt Ones
Gonna Listen To T-Rex (All Night Long)

Come With Me To The Sealove

Sealove
From: Athens, Ohio, United States

I love publishing this blog. I love turning my laptop on and not knowing what great band or song I'll find trawling the world wide web. Take tonight's featured artist Sealove less than half an hour ago I had never heard of her or her music and now I'm head over heels in love with her songs and sharing it with the world. You gotta love the internet.

SEALOVE:

one girl
equal parts ukulele and guitar
equal parts silly love songs and ghost stories
a tablespoon of shanty
a pinch of google maps
a kazoo, tambourine, and a relaistic concermate 200 electric keyboard

mix gingerly and enjoy at your own risk.

(republished from the Sealove Last.FM site coz it's a perfect description that I couldn't better).

Go Try

MP3 - Sealove - Kitty Tummy
MP3 - Sealove -A Smile To Fit Your Face
MP3 - Sealove - The Saddest Song
These tracks are linked from the Sealove Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Sealove - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

Sealove
Kitty Tummy

Those Pesky Kids

All The Damn Kids
From: Sheffield, Midlands, United Kingdom

All The Damn Kids'sound isn't revolutionary, it's not novel, it's not trendy, it's not cool, it's not the next undiscovered musical genre. There are no additives, no preservatives, none of your e-numbers or oddly named chemicals here it's just honest to goodness, uncomplicated indie pop music like your mummy used to make and I like it. It really is as simple as that. So deal with it.

Go Try

MP3 - All The Damn Kids - The Books Stop Here
MP3 - All The Damn Kids - Like Seeing A Fox In Daylight
These tracks are linked direct from the All The Damn Kids Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright.

Go Visit

All The Damn Kids - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

All The Damn Kids
With A Devil's Tongue

Fangs For The Memory

Paperfangs
From: Finland

In the era of the internet, facebook and the iphone we are all suffering information overload. Our puny human brains cannot cope with so much data. Thank god for bands like Paperfangs who have all the accoutrements of the modern age. The myspace site, the facebook site, the website and any other site you care to mention but they provide so little information on the band that you somehow seem to know less about them after visiting than before. Take their myspace site for example it is possibly the most minimal on the planet consisting of a picture and a couple of tracks and nothing else. Their tumblr site is slightly more informative but not much more.

Without the usual ephemera that litter bands online presence it's up to the music to speak for itself and boy does it speak for itself. But, in keeping with the Paperfangs less is more philosophy I'm not going to tell you what they sound like I'll leave it to you to find out for yourself.

Go Try

MP3 - Paperfangs - Oh I Wandered
MP3 - Paperfangs - Books
These tracks are linked direct from the Paperfangs Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Paperfangs - Myspace : Website : Last.FM


Go View

Paperfangs
Books

Blind Faith

Blindness
From: London, United Kingdom

I first encountered London Blindness about 12 months ago and was blown away by their music. I exchanged myspace messages with them and promised to feature them on the blog. Unfortunately there was a breakdown in communication with subsequent emails from the band apparently finding there way into my spam folder. Fortunately at the weekend I decided to do a little spring cleaning (yes I know it's autumn but it's been one of those years!) of my myspace messages.

I reacquainted myself with Blindness and the rest is history. Their sound takes a walk on the darker side of chillwave with an electro-pop sheen. They recycle Garbage (sorry current resist) with more than a hint of one of guitarist Debbie Smith's former bands Curve. The awesome 'Broken' is a slab of dirty, sleazy, dark robotic pop. 'Confessions' is more Curvey with a beat so big it could cause an earthquake.

There are none so blind than those that will not see the brilliance of Blindness.

Go Try

MP3 - Blindness - Broken
MP3 - Blindness - Confessions
These tracks are published with the permission of Blindness so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Blindness - Myspace

If you like this then you'll love Blindness...

MP3 - Curve - Weekend
This track is linked direct from the Curve website and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Todays The Day

DD:MM:YYYY
From: Toronto, Canada

It's no surprise that Toronto's DD:MM:YYYY (pronounced Day Month Year) chose such a challenging and obtuse name. Their music is discordant with more angles than a geometry book and sounds like nothing else you'll hear this, or any other, year. They are the experimenters' experimenters. They push the boundaries of art rock so far they're in danger of snapping. If Liars released their inner Zappa and released a homage to the glory of the DADA movement they'd probably sound something like DD:MM:YYYY.

Today's the day to investigate the twisted abstract world of DD:MM:YYYY.

Go Try

MP3 - DD:MM:YYY - White Lines
This track is linked direct from the DD:MM:YYY Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

DD:MM:YYYY - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

DD:MM:YYYY
Infinity Skull Cube

Nun Plussed

Ten Foot Nun

From: London, United Kingdom

Ten Foot Nun are a boyband from Croydon. A Croyband. They’ve been together since, 2002 and apparently all posses super powers and magic sticks of rock. They also have a gift for wierd and twisted rock, an incomprehensible brew of pop, punk and prog that they've termed Pronk. A brew that will leave you nun plussed.

Go Try

MP3 - Ten Foot Nun - (Gett In The) Gimpboxx
MP3 - Ten Foot Nun - The Mask Drop
These tracks are linked direct from the Ten Foot Nun Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright.

Go Visit

Ten Foot Nun - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

Ten Foot Nun (with the Gash)
Lesbian Fiction

Fizzy Pop

Jonny Cola & The A-Grades
From: London, Zone 2, United Kingdom

I've been a very naughty Devil and have failed to maintain my interest in the pop songs of the glamtastic Jonny & The A Grades. My misdemenanours have not gone unnoticed and this week I received a final notice threatening legal action if I do not show my appreciation by 25/10/10! Failure to comply may result in additional costs and more importantly suffer the ignominy of missing out on one of the best albums of the year. Well I confess I have not been as diligent in my praise for Jonny and his A-Grades as perhaps I should since my initial praise of their mini album 'The Yellow Mini' (They're The Real Thing).

It's a good job that the band's new album 'In Debt' is out at the end of this month as it gives me an opportunity to redeem myself. Given the album title and it's first single 'The Party's Over' it could be George Osbourne's favourite album of the year! Although I can't see it booming out from the windows of number 11 Downing Street somehow!

Where 'The Yellow Mini' dripped with Suedette androgyny 'In Debt' has a harder edge, a more masculine feel. It's indebted to early 70s Bowie, prime time Pulp and Denim with the odd Brett Anderson harmony thrown in for good measure. It's a throwback to those heady Britpop days when London ruled the world and grime was something that you got on the collar of your Ben Sherman! Final track 'Out Of Focus' is like a one song Britpop collection. It could be the sound of the Blur/Oasis armistice.

With 'In Debt' Jonny Cola & The A-Grades have got the Britpop fizzing again.

Go Try

If you can't wait for the album or haven't yet tasted the pleasures of Jonny Cola then here are a couple of old tracks for you to quench your thirst...

MP3 - Jonny Cola & The A-Grades - Shooting Up
MP3 - Jonny Cola & The A-Grades - Disappearing Act
These tracks are linked direct from the Jonny Cola & the A-Grades website and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Jonny Cola & The A Grades - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

Jonny & The A-Grades
The Party's Over

Christ You Know It Ain't Easy

Zola Jesus
From: Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Since I featured Zola Jesus back in February (Riding The Crimson Wave) her ascent to the summit of the music mountain has been unstoppable. While I can't claim any influence on this rapid rise I take some satisfaction from seeing an artist I featured get the attention her music deserves.

The next stage of the Zola Jesus assault following her first UK and European shows and the release of the critically acclaimed album Stridulum II is the release of a double A-sided single, 'Poor Animal' / 'I Can't Stand' through Souterrain Transmissions on November 1st.

PS: This post is published at 10:10pm on 10/10/10 how cool is that?

Go Try

MP3 - Zola Jesus - Sea Talk
This track is published with the permission of Work It Media and Soutterain Transmissions so please don't claim breach of copyright
MP3 - Zola Jesus - Clay Bodies
This track is linked direct from the Zola Jesus website and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Zola Jesus - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

Zola Jesus
Night

Years Of Rice & Salt

Years Of Rice & Salt
From: London, United Kingdom

After last night's detour to the musical world of the Russian Federation I'm back on familiar territory tonight with Years Of Rice And Salt a five piece post rock, post folk, post everything band from dear old blighty. YORAS, presumably named after the Kim Stanley Robinson book, serve up beautiful, meditative, contemplative instrumentals occasionally supplemented by hypnotic vocals and eerie whispering. It's haunting, dark and melancholic and I love it.

Go Try

MP3 - Years Of Rice & Salt - Occasional Flashes Of Warmth
MP3 - Years Of Rice & Salt - Splendid Isolation
MP3 - Years Of Rice & Salt - Plankton
These tracks are linked direct from the Years Of Rice And Salt Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Years Of Rice & Salt - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

Years Of Rice & Salt
(Rearranging) Deckchairs

Real Thoroughbreds

Not him...

But them...

Red Rum

From: St Petersburg, Russian Federation

There are times when the Devil's blog can be a little anglocentric which is probably a reflection on the fact that 99.9% of the emails I receive are from the US/Canada and the UK. Well tonight I'm venturing beyond the usual shores and taking the musical road less travelled to bring you Russian experimentalists Red Rum (not to be confused with the myriad other bands from across the globe with the same name).

I don't know whether it's because I'm on unfamiliar territory but it's really difficult to categorise Red Rum using the usual genre definitions. Take a listen to the Devil's favourite Red Rum track 'Torment Hill' with it's grungy guitars, it's jaunty electro, it's indie guitars and it's sub death metal vocals. On paper it shouldn't work but it does. It could appeal to readers of Kerrang, NME and Artrocker and let's face it there are not many bands that have managed to pull that trick off.

Unfortunately it's not a trick that Red Rum themselves manage to pull off consistently. They can, at times, try to be a little too clever and fall flat on their arses with tracks that repeat the worst excesses of the progressive rock of the early 70s. When it's good it's very very good but when it's bad it's horrid!

If Red Rum can repeat the 'Torment Hill' formula then they could turn out to be real thoroughbreds!

Go Try

MP3 - Red Rum - Torment Hill
MP3 - Red Rum - From Within
These tracks are linked direct from the Red Rum Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Red Rum - Myspace : Last.FM

The New Roman Empire

Roman Photos
From: Atlanta, United States

Disco, synth-pop, techno and trip hop are usually known for their atmosphere and/or rhythm. They are not generally known for emotion. Well at least not until now. Atlanta's Roman Photos infuse their tracks with a sprinkling of emotion, blending meditative, reflective vocals with the velvety throb of techno like chilled out alchemists.

The band recently released a free digital EP and a 7” on Army of Bad Luck (run by Josh from Deerhunter) and will be releasing a new 7" single, Decline/These Arms via Double Phantom Records on December 7th. If you can't wait until then you can have a sneak preview of Decline courtesy of those good people at Banter Media.

Go Try

MP3 - Roman Photos - Decline
This track is published with the permission of Banter Media so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Roman Photos - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Witch House

White Witches

From: London, United Kingdom

When I brought you London's White Witches towards the end of last year they were so off the 21st century grid that they were virtually see through. They have clearly been working hard on their profile as they now have a Last.FM site (ok they now share a Last.FM site with their US folkie namesakes), their myspace friends have rocketed to 202 and they have even got a presence on Youtube with a video documentary they have soundtracked in collaboration with notorious South London revolutionary Wolfgang Moneypenny.

Go View

White Witches
Little Ease

Go Visit

White Witches - Myspace : Last.FM

Wily Coyote

Coyote Clean Up
From: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Chris Sienkiewicz, or ‘Ice Cold Crissy’ as he is sometimes known, records and releases as Coyote Clean Up and plays live sets and DJ’s around Detroit and surrounding areas. He has also been putting himself around a bit over the last few months remixing everyone from chillwave flavour of the month Balam Acab (see Call Me Acab) to 4ADs The Big Pink and releasing an amazing 23 track mixtape/sampler that for some reason he decided to name 'Double Trouble Doo Doo Bubble'.

With a sound that could be best described as The xx visiting SALEM for a spot of laid back vibe creation CCU couldn't be more 2010 if Chris formed a coalition and called himself Dave.

Roadrunner beware because here's one wily Coyote that is going to succeed.

Go Try

MP3 - Coyote Clean Up - This House Boat Is Making Me Sick
MP3 - Coyote Clean Up - A-Bomb Paper Tigers
These tracks are linked direct from the Coyote Clean Up Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Coyote Clean Up - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

Coyote Clean Up
Dumber By The Day