Bikini Tops

Bikini
From: New York, United States

It's the final day of 2010 and, while it may not be the weather for sunbathing or lazing around the pool in the UK, it's a good time to think about the summer holidays. So what better time to chat to Nigel Diamond and Olivier Olivier of New York two piece Bikini?

The Devil: Who are the biggest influences in your life and on your music?

Bikini - Bas Jan Ader, Cy Twombly, Robert Irwin, Juergen Teller, Francois Truffaut, Vito Schnabel's dad and a few bands we used to listen to like Inner City and Mase.

The Devil: What was the first record you owned and what was the first record you ever bought with your own money?

Nigel: Mine was a Tommy Boy compilation.

Olivier: Organisation's Tone Float.

The Devil: What makes Bikini stand out from the millions of other bands across the world?

Bikini: Nothing

The Devil: Favourite song?

Bikini: "In Love With You" by The Paradise

The Devil: Favorite Movie?

Bikini: Cool Kids 1 (1997). Great movie.

The Devil: Tell me something that you've never told anyone before.

Bikini: I'm gay

The Devil: If you weren't in Bikini how would you keep yourself occupied?

Bikini: Write, direct and act in films.

The Devil: If you were interviewing yourself what would your killer question be and how would you answer it?

Bikini:

Q. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A. The bottom of the ocean.

The Devil: Is there anything else you'd like to tell the Devil Has The Best Tuna readers?

Bikini: Thanks for listening.

Go Try

MP3 - Bikini - American Mourning
This track is published with the permission of Lefse Records so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Bikini : Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

Bikini

A Cheerlaeder

The Air That You Breathe

The Air Freshener Man
From: Leeds, United Kingdom

The Air Freshener Man, the alter ego of pretend music maestro Robert Dane, hangs vicariously on the tails of the Leeds music scene. He has one stated mission, to split up with himself, citing ‘Musical Differences’. As you may gather The Air Freshener Man has his tongue firmly embedded in his cheek which makes singing quite difficult!

Despite this his woozy lo-fi tales of life as a not so serious artist are really rather good.

Go Try

MP3 - The Air Freshener Man - They're Playing A Cover Version Of Our Third Favourite Song
MP3 - The Air Freshener Man - From Trying Too Hard To Not Trying At All
MP3 - The Air Freshener Man - Tori Amos
These tracks are linked direct from the Air Freshener Man Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

The Air Freshener Man - Last.FM

The Devil's Top 10 (ok 15) of 10

Where have the last 12 months gone? It only seems like yesterday that I was sitting down to consider the best tracks of 2009 and here I am again sifting through the profusion of songs that my lit up my ears during the year.

Despite the efforts of Simon Cowell to single-handedly destroy the music industry 2010 has been a great year for interesting, inventive and innovative music. It's been such a great year that it proved extremely difficult to select a top 10 (which is why it's actually a top 15 as there are five tracks at number 10!). There have been many tracks that in any other year would have been a shoe in for a top 10 spot that have missed out. Tracks like Joy-Rides amusing Fallesque 'Bishop of Suffolk', Paperfangs' 'Oh I Wandered', The Wind-Up Birds' 'There Will Always Be An England' and Ono Palindromes explosive 'James Dean'.

So here are the Devil's 15 favourite tracks from the underground, the tracks that soundtracked my 2010 and made the world a much better place in which to live. 15 tracks that you are highly unlikely to see elsewhere in the top 10s across the blogosphere.

1. What Would Jesus Drive – The Girls Are In Charge

The track of the year from one of the bands to watch in 2011. An electro glam rocker that sounds like someone turned The Ting Tings inside out and injected the remains with rocket fuel. One day all music will be this good.

Go visit the band's myspace site to hear the track or check out the video...



2. Twin Sister – All Around And Away We Go

Last year I predicted that that much maligned musical form D.I.S.C.O could be the musical phenomenon of 2010 and I was part right. While D.I.S.C.O was swamped by the omnipresent Witch House in 2010's genre wars the Devil's second favourite track of the year was the best indie disco makeover since Blondie ditched their leathers and headed for the dancefloor with Heart of Glass. If the 18 Carat Love Affair's mighty, majestic monster of a song 'Construct' was indie disco's John The Baptist then 'All Around And Away We Go' could well be it's Jesus equivalent.

Go shake your bootie to the Devil's second favourite track of the year...

MP3 - Twin Sister - All Around & Away We Go
This track is linked direct from the Twin Sister website and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

or check out the video...



3. Warpaint – Billie Holiday

Warpaint turned Mary Wells' 1964 hit 'My Guy' inside out until it sounded like the last lament of a bunny boiler. It tingled the spine like a massage from a snowman with cold hands. If there's a top 10 out there which doesn't include this it's not worth the paper it's not printed on.

Check out the track at the Warpaint myspace site or check out the band performing it live...



4. Achille Lauro – No Brakes


Biggest surprise of the year was the transformation of Achille Lauro from a weak Coldplay by numbers kind of band into a full bodied heart and soul band that blew me away. It was all down to the astounding 'No Brakes' which sounds like a chaingang performing in a gospel church. It was in a genre all of it's own, a genre so unique it doesn't even have a name.

Check out the track at the band's myspace site or take a look at the video of the band performing No Brakes live...



5. Everything Everything – Photoshop Handsome

In any other year Everything Everything's 'Photoshop Handsome' would probably have been number one of the year. It's a reflection of how good a year it's been that it just about scrapes into the top 5. It's the kind of intelligent indie rock that will hopefully make a return in 2011 after a short hiatus while the world went electro. It's poppy, it’s as catchy as a porcine based pandemic and it’s unique. It's the type of song that makes the daily grind feel a little less grinding. If Everything Everything aren't one of the bands of 2011 then I'll eat my laptop.

Check out the Soil In The Synth remix of Photoshop Handsome

Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome (Soil In The Synth Remix) by EverythingEverything

and if you'd rather check out the original version that first excited the Devil and turned him onto the wonders of Everything Everything then here is the video...



6. Not Squares – Release The Bees

Irish punktonic trio Not Squares served up the longest track to make it into the Devil's top 10 of 2010. 'Release The Bees' is a frenzied seven and a half minute sensory assault that's more wired than a toddler group on red bull.

Check out Release the Bees courtesy of Teto Records and Souncloud...

Not Squares - Release the Bees by Teto Records

or check out the mind altering video...



7. Young Circles - Sharp Teeth

Sharp Teeth starts off like the great grandsons of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club band tuning up before morphing into a Beckesque shuffle. It's bizarre, idiosyncratic, refreshingly original and worthy of a place in the Devil's top 10 of 2010.

Check it out...



8. Terror Bird - Shame Is On Your Side

'Shame Is On Your Side' is the missing link between The Supremes and The Pretenders at their poppiest. It's a huge song. It's pop so big it could consume the planet with a vocal performance that could stop traffic. It's the sort of performance that makes you glad to be alive. While the track was actually released about 2 years ago I unearthed it in 2010 and therefore it deserves it's place in the list of favourites for the year. The top 10 would be a poorer place without it.

Go check it out...

MP3 - Terror Bird - Shame Is On Your Side

9. Guildean Gang - Dennis Bergkamp

'Dennis Bergkamp' sounds like a less whimsical and ballsier Young Knives and, like most of the tracks in the Devil's top 10, it's original with a touch of off the wall eccentricity. If there was any justice in the world Cheryl Cole would be scanning groceries and the Guildean Gang would have been world wide mega stars. The band have subsequently changed their name and now ply their trade under the altogether more commonplace and homely Curtains.

Check out the video...



10= Gazelle Twin – Changelings

Brighton's Elizabeth Walling, aka Gazelle Twin is a dream weaver, a dealer in ambience. She channels the spirits of Portishead, Lamb and Fever Ray into a bewitching, beguiling brew that shivers the soul. She sounds like Enya getting in touch with her dark side.

The stunning Changelings, with its existential lyrics, dramatic symphonies and dark electronica is a chilling and beautiful, eerie and enchanting addition to the top 10 of 2010.

Go listen...

Gazelle Twin - Changelings by Cannonball_PR

10= Horse Guards Parade – Her Scabby Knees

The brilliantly titled Her Scabby Knees with it's haunting, ghostly echoes starts out with an ambition to become the 21st centuries Ghost Town before turning into a lilting, downbeat psych folk ode to the owner of the local abattoir. Every top 10 should have one.

Check it out...

MP3 - Horse Guards Parade - Her Scabby Knees

10= Hotbodies - Lollipop


Los Angeles kooky electro ensemble Hotbodies cooked up a storm with their first single 'Lollipop'. Starting off like an electro torch song it soon morphs into a Soulwax mainlining Ariel Pink ode to the world changing medicinal wonders of Lollipops. If it's casual refrain of 'Fuck yeah I got a lollipop, I don't give a fuck' doesn't take permanent residence in your brain you've probably been lobotomised.

Take a suck on Hotbodies Lollipop...

Lollipop by Hotbodies

10= Modern Witch – Measure Me For Size

Witch House was the underground genre of the blogosphere in 2010 and 2011 will surely be the year it goes mainstream. There are so many Witch House tracks to choose from but I plumped for Modern Witches' Measure Me For Size which sounded like The Normal dabbling in witchcraft. Although there were a number of better known tracks from the likes of Balam Acab or oOoOO it was Modern Witch who sounded the most revolutionary and completely bewitched this Devil with some of the most frightening video music combinations this side of the Saw horror franchise.

Check out Measure Me For Size...



10 = Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union

Power and glory combined need I say more?

Check out the video...



So that's it 15 brilliant tracks that show that it's not all x factorised karaoke and bump 'n grind over sexualised exploited nymphs. Dig deep in the undergrowth and you will be rewarded with nuggets of pure gold.

The Devil's wish for 2011 is for the smug smile to be wiped off Simon Cowell's face, for Cheryl Cole to disappear from the face of the earth and for Frankie Boyle to disappear up his unpleasant backside.

Oyster Cult

The Oyster Murders
From: Brisbane, Australia

Formed way back in 2005, The Oyster Murders are an Australian trio with a carousel of musical collaborators who help to help bring their complex musical excursions to life.

The progressive trio treat musical boundaries with disdain without descending into self indulgent noodling, wrapping their songs in a sweet pop veneer that belies their complexity. They're like an antipodean Radiohead after a saccharin overdose.

It's time the world woke up and joined the Oyster Murder cult.

Go Try

MP3 - The Oyster Murders - Boys Become Girls Become Boys
MP3 - The Oyster Murders - Oceans, Hearts & Ghosts
MP3 - The Oyster Murders - Actors & Models
These tracks are linked direct from the Oyster Murders Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

The Oyster Murders - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

The Oyster Murders
Lovers Who Drink The Sea

Talking Romance

Techromancer
From: Victoria, British Columbia, CA

Andrew & Calli from Canadian electro poppers Techromancer took time out from electrifying the world of pop to chat to the Devil about their differences of opinion on Lenny Kravitz, the influence of video games on their music and the difficulties of hand made packaging.

The Devil: Why Techromancer? What other names did you ponder before deciding it had to be Techromancer?

Calli: Years ago I was playing a Nintento emulator on a modded Xbox and while scrolling through the games on it ran into one called "Exed Exes" which I thought would make a really great band name. When I met Andrew and we started thinking of band names I remembered that one, and it was on the short list of names for our band, too. This was way before anyone knew The XX existed, so I'm glad we didn't choose that one, because then it would have seemed like we were copying them. Anyway, since I really liked that name, and I've always loved video games I decided there must be some more gems amongst them. So I read every single Wikipedia entry that lists every name of every gaming system ever (for real. all of them) and pulled out all the ones I thought would be good names. Then we shortened the list and made this video (http://www.youtube.com/theslyestfox#p/a/u/1/EkF0xw9Crzw band talk starts at 2:15 into it) asking people to help us decide between them (at the time I was really into making YouTube videos and we couldn't decide on a name). Anyway, funnily enough Techromancer isn't even on that short list of band names we ask people to choose from in that video...I only found it after we'd made that. The video game is actually Tech Romancer, and it's a Capcom fighting game wherein "The player controls a giant robot which is used to fight another robot in one-on-one combat." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tech_Romancer). Honestly I've never played it...we just really liked the name because what we do in our band involves a lot of us "romancing" technology into playing half our songs for us.

The Devil: Who are the biggest influences in your life and on your music?

Andrew: Life? My drumming instructor, Gary Tomlin, really got me excited about music when I was a kid. I'm really glad I got to take those lessons and got good at drumming. Those lessons ultimately set my life-course for me and got me to the place I am today. As for musical influences, although you might not hear it on the album, I'm really starting to get influenced by bands like Earth Wind and Fire and Parliament Funkadelic. Slightly more modern influences are bands like M83, Crystal Castles and The Rapture.

Calli: My mother likes to say that I started singing before I could even talk and I started playing piano when I was 3, so keyboards are like an extension of my body now. My family is also super musical and I always grew up going to concerts and singing in the car with my parents and siblings. It was just what we did. My mother trained me how to figure out harmonies by ear on car rides! When I was little and people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I went through stages of saying "ballerina" or "marine biologist but behind those answers I just always knew I would be a musician, even when I was pretending I wanted to be something else.

As for influences for my current musical interests...not to sound repetitive but VIDEO GAMES. Their sounds just make me feel so many things at once. Excited and nostalgic all at once.

The Devil: What was the first record you owned and what was the first record you ever bought with your own money?

Andrew: My house always had a lot of records laying around but the first record that I owned was MC Hammer's - Please Hammer, Don't hurt 'em. I played that until my tape player started playing it in reverse. The first record that I actually bought with my own money, I bought second hand from a classmate. He hated it, but I loved it. It was "Are you gonna go my way" by Lenny Kravitz. I have fond memories of singing at the top of my lungs to "come on and love me" while standing on the chesterfield.

Calli: Like I said, super musical family so there was always someone singing or playing an instrument or blasting something on the stereo. My first favorite band ever was Roxette. Their album "Look Sharp!" I just loved. I went to their concert when I was 8! It was fantastic! I used to sing along to "Dressed for Success" in my living room on the coffee table pretending I was in the (non-existent) music video for that song.

The Devil: If you could remix any artist and/or track what would it be and why?

Andrew: I haven't thought about that before....but now that you say it, I'd love to remix something old of Lenny's to take me back full circle to when I listened to him as a kid. He's got all these soft rock 70's sounding songs and they'd probably translate so well to a remix. Maybe, "Sugar" or "What goes around comes around".

Calli: Sorry Andrew, but I detest Lenny Kravitz. I just don't think I can ever forgive the man who wrote the atrocity "Fly Away". The rhyme scheme in that song makes me want to kill. Sadly though, Andrew is the one who knows how to do things like make remixes. I can only do them in my head. But shit man, it's too bad no one else can hear them because they are amazing.

The Devil: What makes Techromancer stand out from the millions of other bands across the world? What makes you unique?

Calli: I'm not entirely sure we can answer this without sounding really full of ourselves but...despite bands I mention in the next question there really aren't that many bands that are just two people. Also, every other one has one person who does the music and one person who sings (Kap Bambino, Crystal Castles, Sleighbells) or the ones that are computer music with people playing real instruments over top (Anamanaguchi) don't have vocals. I guess Neon Indian are closest, but there are so many instruments I almost feel like they're a group that uses a computer as another instrument, whereas with Andrew and I I feel like the computer is the third member of our band. Also, my keytar was originally an idea I had just because it's no fun to watch a band where both members are stuck behind stationary instruments, and Andrew's gotta be behind that drum set so it's sort of up to me to do any dancing. But I can't do that standing behind a keyboard. Keytar seemed like a good way to keep playing and still move around. Also chicks dig it. Everybody digs it.

The Devil: Which bands or artists on the current music scene make your spine tingle?

Andrew: Caribou never fails to disappoint. A couple of songs on that new album are so good. Also James Blake is killing it right now for me.

Calli: Kap Bambino and Sleigh Bells are really inspiring, but I found both of them after Techromancer was already well underway. I guess I like and identify with them because I feel like they're making similar music to us. And also they're both duos! Also Miami Horror is fabulous, I really like Neon Indian and I want to be in Anamanaguchi (check out the free Anamanaguchi ep by following this link).

The Devil: Favourite song?

Andrew: That changes all the time for me, so its hard to nail down an all time favorite. I'd say my most played song on my ipod is probably 'Everybody's Down' by No Age. You can't not rock out on the air-drums on that song.

Calli: Hardest question ever! Last fm. says my most played song is 1901 by Phoenix with 91 plays, which might explain why I'm sick of it now (also apparently Last fm stopped knowing what I was listening to last July so it's wrong about everything). Itunes says it's Asobi Seksu's 'Everything is On' (102 plays) which is hilarious because it's the 17 second long intro to their album. I refuse to answer this question on principle.

The Devil: Favourite book?

Andrew: Probably after death by Darryl Reanney. You can pretty much make me very happy with any book dealing with perception, quantum mechanics and the like. So interesting.

Calli: I generally read comics more than books nowadays. Jeffery Brown is my favorite graphic novelist.

The Devil: Favourite Movie?

Andrew: The Abyss. So lame but so good.

Calli: I minored in film studies so....this is also a stupidly hard question to answer. I love really bad horror movies but I'm not sure I'd say any of them are my favorite per se. I've seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind probably 10 times, including with the director's commentary and I wrote a 10 page paper on it for a class once. And I'm still not sick of it. So probably that. And anything in 3d and/or that has amazing CG in it.

The Devil: Favourite word?

Andrew: Nerdshire - A gathering place where nerds and/or geeks are found in groups. As in, "Meet me for lunch at the nerdshire".

Calli: I didn't even know that was a thing until Andrew just mentioned it but I'll go with that too because it is awesome.

The Devil: Tell me something that you've never told anyone before.

Andrew: Due to laziness, I ate only a mix dried bananas, nuts and raisins today for lunch. I am feeling unsatisfied with this decision but will probably not do anything about it.

Calli: I think it's pretentious to judge people on what music they listen to, but I totally judge people on what technology they use. I pity people with PCs, couldn't date someone whose internet browser is Internet Explorer. Someone who still used hotmail? Dude, get gmail already! You still have an active Friendster account? Really?
God I'm an asshole. Re-reading that makes me hate myself, but it's actually pretty true. Except instead if disliking people because of it I just try to get them to see the light and use better programs/websites.

The Devil: If you weren't in Techromancer how would you keep yourself occupied?.

Andrew: I'd probably be finishing a PhD if it weren't for music and Techromancer. Bad life choice averted.

Calli: I'd be in another band, probably. This is my fifth band I think? I've been in one band or another since 2001. Also I'm a merchandiser so I'd probably just be dressing and redressing mannequins. Also cooking/baking and the internet. And have I mentioned I like video games?

The Devil: If you were interviewing yourself what would your killer question be and how would you answer it?.

Andrew: How about, what's next for Techromancer after you are done promoting this album?

Well Andrew, that's a great question Andrew. We're thinking of switching our home base from Victoria to maybe Montreal or New York. There's a lot of obstacles we need to get through before we do that, but it should happen sometime soonish. Also, we're getting close to finishing off material for our second album. The songs on "Space Duel" are actually pretty old to us and we're pretty stoked on the new songs. So we should be getting in the studio again at the beginning of 2011.

Calli: Also we need to get shirts made and sew more covers for our album. Hand making the packaging was one of my best/worst ideas ever. It looks really great and makes each one unique and personal but good god does it take forever. Also a label would be nice.

The Devil: Is there anything else you'd like to tell the Devil Has The Best Tuna readers?

We're starting to organize a Cross-Canada tour, along with possibly one or two U.S. dates for the late-winter, early spring. Keep your eyes open for tour dates! We're on facebook and myspace.com/techromancer as well as techromancer.tumblr.com and techromancer.bandcamp.com for song listening/downloads. Follow our Tumblr because we're going to be giving away album downloads on there soon!

Go Try

Check out Techromancer's Spoiler Alert a slice of dirty glam electro pop that takes you on a trip to the wild side and touches parts that only a lover should touch...

MP3 - Techromancer - Spoiler Alert
This track is published with the permission of Techromancer so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Techromancer - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Don't Believe The Hype - The Most Loved Tracks Of 2010

As an appetiser before the Devil finally unveils his favourite tracks of the year today's post provides an insight into those tracks that were most loved by visitors to The Devil's Hype Machine site in 2010.

Like last year the top 20 was spread fairly evenly throughout the year with only February (that's two years in a row!) and July not having a track included in the top 20. The favourite tracks this year were a lot less cosmopolitan than last year with only five countries represented and 80% of the tracks by bands based in either the UK or the US.

Last year no artist or band featured in the list of Hype Machine most loved tracks more than once. This year however no less than three bands/artists featured more than once and The Good Natured managed to appear three times! The only band that managed to appear on both last year and this year's list was Grizzly Bear and once with the same song 'Cheerleader!

The most noticeable change between last year and this year's lists is the increase in the number of remixes. Just two remixes made it as most loved tracks in 2010. In 2011 this has increased to eight an amazing 40% of tracks. 2010 was truly the year of the remix.



The full list in order of most popular is

1. Phoenix – Fences (Delphic Remix)

2. Phoenix – Lasso (Two Door Cinema Club Remix)

3. Birthday Club – You Want To

4. Paperfangs – Oh I Wandered

5. Wild Party – Take My Advice

6. Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk (Crystal Fighters Remix)

7. Parties In Belgrade – Statues

8. Wolf Gang – Pieces of You (Baby Monster Remix)

9= The Good Natured – Be My Animal (Get People Remix)

9=Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader

11. Grizzly Bear – Don’t Ask (Final Fantasy Remix)

12. Delphic – Doubt (Ramadanman Remix)

13. Fink – Q&A

14. The Good Natured – Prisoner

15. Zola Jesus – Sea Talk

16. The Good Natured - For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti (Sufjan Stevens Cover)

17= Years Of Rice & Salt – Splendid Isolation

17= The Volitains – Underground

19= Naked Hearts – Call Me

20= Balam Acab – See Birds

20= King Antics – Liars (Techromancer Remix)

20= Fetch The Witches – Life Support

All tracks are linked direct from the artist's Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Happy Christmas From The Devil

It's Christmas Day, Santa's made his way down your chimney, the presents have been opened, the Queen's spoken, the crackers have been pulled and you're exhausted so imagine if it was Christmas every day!

Happy Christmas From The Devil Has The Best Tuna

Go Try

MP3 - Jonny Cola & The A-Grades - Christmas Every Day
This track is linked direct from the Jonny Cola & The A-Grades website and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

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

It's Christmaaaaaassssss

It's Christmas eve and what better way to celebrate than putting up your christmas tree...


MP3 - The Douglas Fir - Your Gorgeous Mess : The Douglas Fir - Myspace : Last.FM

decorating it with tinsel...


MP3 - The Tinsel Fairies - All Wrapper and no Candy : The Tinsel Fairies - Last.FM

and lights...


MP3 - Lights - Just Say Goodbye

and don't forget the gifts...

MP3 - White Elephant Gift Exchange - See You Again (Miley Cyrus cover) : White Elephant Gift Exchange - Myspace : Last.FM

After all that effort you can sit back and relax with a drink...

MP3 - Mulled Wine - Nothing's Free : Mulled Wine - Myspace : Last.FM

and something sweet...

MP3 - Candy Cane Children - 1988 : Candy Cane Children - Myspace : Last.FM

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM THE DEVIL HAS THE BEST TUNA

Hometapes For Christmas

Ormonde

From: Marfa, Texas, United States

It's getting closer and closer to the big day and what better way to prepare for the arrival of the big man than sitting back in your favourite armchair with a hot chocolate and a mince pie and fill your ears with the sounds of the Hometapes Christmas album 'I'll Be Hometapes For Christmas'. After lighting up the end of 2009 with their 'Eight Days of Hometapes' the innovative label have returned to those same songs to brighten up Christmas 2010.

But I'll Be Hometapes For Christmas is not just a rehash of last year it includes a couple of new tracks and they are real bobby dazzlers. Bookending the album are brand new tracks by Ormonde and Sunless (a.k.a. Hometapes co-founder Adam Heathcott) and nestled in the middle is Keith Sunset and "the sound of a dreidel, spinning endlessly inside of a dark (yet peaceful) space vortex."Intriguing. The album can be downloaded for free by visiting the Hometapes Bandcamp site (see link below).

The Ormonde track, which you can download below courtesy of Home Tapes, is a perfect cover of Blue Christmas, the heart-broken tale of unrequited love during the holidays.

Go Try

MP3 - Ormonde - Blue Christmas
This track is published with the permission of Home Tapes so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Ormonde - Myspace : Last.FM
HomeTapes - Myspace : Website : Bandcamp

Christmas Club

Slow Club
From: Sheffield, United Kingdom

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the traditional sound of the indie crowd warbling their way through the festive classics and Sheffield duo Slow Club don't disappoint with a whole hearted (and full throated) version of the Phil Spector penned classic Christmas ( Please Come Home) courtesy of the Christmas Elves at Moshi Moshi.

Go Try

MP3 - Slow Club - Christmas (Please Come Home)
This track is published with the permission of Moshi Moshi and Big Hassle so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Slow Club - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

Slow Club
Christmas TV

A Christmas Gift From Matinée

Matinée Recordings
From: Santa Barbara, California

Matinée Recordings, from the very seasonally named Santa Barbara, have got an early Christmas present for all you indie kids out their counting down the days until the big man comes down your chimney. It's a very special Christmas EP featuring exclusive new seasonal songs from five of their most beloved current artists.

Seattle's Math and Physics Club arrive with sleighbells on, as 'It Must Be Christmas' successfully manages to knit candy canes, carolers, mistletoe, reindeer, Santa's sleigh, snowflakes, stockings, and winter into an indie Christmas carol of their very own. Copenhagen's Northern Portrait answer the challenge with an acutely jangling take on Christmas tradition called 'Leave The Trees Alone' which speeds along at a distinctly steady pace. Tis the season to be jolly, indeed!

Glasgow duo Strawberry Whiplash celebrate the season with a reverb-drenched and highly melodic nod to our overworked chubby pal up north called 'Santa Needs A Holiday,' while new label signing Champagne Riot from Copenhagen set the bar high with their debut Matinée track, the orchestral and hypnotic holiday love song 'Xmas Safari'. Finally, Glasgow's prolific Bubblegum Lemonade deliver a Jesus and Mary Chain-infused tale of the telly going out on Christmas day called 'White Noise Christmas.'

This is not your standard novelty Christmas tie-in and it's the perfect way to start the festive season with a bang.

Go Try

MP3 - Strawberry Whiplash - Santa Needs A Holiday
This track is published with the permission of Matinee Recordings so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Math and Physics Club - Myspace : Last.FM
Bubblegum Lemonade - Myspace : Last.FM
Champagne Riot - Myspace : Last.FM
Northern Portrait - Myspace : Last.FM
Strawberry Whiplash - Myspace : Last.FM
Matinee Recordings - Myspace : Website

Christmas Wrapping

Summer Camp
From: London, United Kingdom

The countdown has started, the tree is decorated, the gifts are bought and, if you're organised, wrapped and your probably on the verge of exhaustion. Well sit back with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie and enjoy Summer Camp's cover of the Waitresses christmas classic courtesy of those nice people at Moshi Moshi.

Go Try

MP3 - Summer Camp - Christmas Wrapping (Waitresses Cover)
This track is published with the written permission of Big Hassle and Moshi Moshi so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Summer Camp - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

Go check out the Waitresses original if you're one of the only people on earth who hasn't heard it in the shops this christmas...

The Waitresses
Christmas Wrapping

Plastic Flowers Remind Me Of You

Plastic Flowers
From: Florida, US



Todays post is short but sweet. You just have to check out Florida's Plastic Flowers they're the real deal.

Go Try

MP3 - Plastic Flowers - Japanese Vegetables
MP3 - Plastic Flowers - Drive Me Home
These tracks are linked direct from the Plastic Flowers Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Plastic Flowers - Myspace : Last.FM

Go View

Plastic Flowers
Drive Me Home

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Bragging Rights

The Lucky Dip Escapade
From: Göteborg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden

The Lucky Dip Escapade is the nom de plume of Oliver Smith a UK emigre to Sweden from where he churns out acoustic gems like Camp Fire Song which has to be the best Billy Bragg song that Billy didn't write.

Go Try

MP3 - The Lucky Dip Escapade - Camp Fire Song
This track is linked direct from the Lucky Dip Escapade Last.FM so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

The Lucky Dip Escapade - Myspace : Last.FM : Bandcamp

Sleep Talking

Svengali Slumbers
From: New York, United States

The Devil's week of interviews ends with a Q&A with Svengali Slumbers' Kevin Schneider (previously of The Boy Koan, Drop The Boy Drop The Boy) who told the Devil about his favourite Little Rascal, his approach to band naming and his influences.

The Devil: Why Svengali Slumbers? What other names did you ponder before deciding it had to be Svengali Slumbers?

Kevin: I settled on Svengali Slumbers because I think it's attention grabbing, and because it sounds cool to me. Unfortunately there's no personal meaning attached to it beyond that.

The Devil: Who are the biggest influences in your life and on your music?

Kevin: Musically, the bands I was listening to most often when this project was conceived were Sonic Youth, Eric's Trip, Galaxie 500, Dinosaur Jr., Yo La Tengo, and Swell Maps. I don't know how much Svengali Slumbers sounds like any of those bands. I'd say Phil Elverum (of The Microphones and Mount Eerie) is a major influence as well.

The Devil: What was the first record you owned and what was the first record you ever bought with your own money?

Kevin: If my memory serves me correctly, the first record I owned was Green Day's "Dookie". My father had a pretty huge classic rock collection, so otherwise I would listen to that. The first record I went out and bought with my own money was Green Day's "Kerplunk". That, or maybe a Weird Al album. It's very possible it was a Weird Al album.

The Devil: What makes Svengali Slumbers stand out from the millions of other bands across the world? What makes you unique?

Kevin: It's hard to say. When I sit down and record songs for Svengali Slumbers, I'm only looking to make something I like and have fun while doing it. I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel. I try to make songs that are unique to my own songwriting abilities if anything.

The Devil: Which bands or artists on the current music scene make your spine tingle?

Kevin: Women. They put out an album this year called 'Public Strain' that's really good. Also, Titus Andronicus.

The Devil: Favourite song?

Kevin: Maybe "The Wild Kindness" by the Silver Jews.

The Devil: Favourite book?

Kevin: "The Fall" by Albert Camus.

The Devil: Favourite Movie?

Kevin: Lost in Translation.

The Devil: Favourite website?

Kevin: I don't know if I have a favorite website. I spend a lot of time reading blogs like yours that promote smaller bands. All of those blogs can collectively be my favorite website.

The Devil: Tell me something that you've never told anyone before.

Kevin: I need to preserve some of my mystery. (I tried to think of a clever answer to this, and my wit is failing me.)

The Devil: If you weren't in Svengali Slumbers how would you keep yourself occupied?

Kevin: I have other musical projects I work on, and I work an office job in Brooklyn.

The Devil: If you were interviewing yourself what would your killer question be and how would you answer it?

Kevin: Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Spanky. Or who has the best tuna after the devil? Not sure how I'd answer that one (John West??).

The Devil: Is there anything else you'd like to tell the Devil Has The Best Tuna readers?

Kevin: Start a band.

Go Try

MP3 - Svengali Slumbers - Every Year Is Going To Be
MP3 - Svengali Slumbers - Cigarette Trail
These tracks are posted with the permission of Svengali Slumbers so please don't claim breach of copyright

If you want to hear some more then check out the Svengali Slumbers bandcamp page where you can download their latest EP.

Go Visit

Svengali Slumbers bandcamp

Go View

Check out Svengali Slumbers current musical squeezes Women and Titus Andronicus...

Women
Eyesore (Live)



Titus Andronicus
A More Perfect Union



and if you're not familiar with what maybe Kevin's favourite song here it is...

Silver Jews
The Wild Kindness