It's All Indie

Competition #1 - Remix Competiton - Final Round

2012-02-12T10:17:00.001Z

With ten remixes being accepted into the competition we are now in the final stages of the competition.

Every play on a track and download will count as 1 point, with Baptism and It's All Indie choosing to award three tracks an extra 10 points.

FINAL ROUND CLOSES - `5th February 2012

FLATS Announce New Release On SweatShop Records Imprint‏

2012-02-11T18:33:00.002Z

Following on from recent news that FLATS are due to release début album, 'Better Living’', the band have announced the release of single by new London band Psychic Pussies on their own SweatShop Records imprint at the end of March. A super limited run of 300 7" vinyl, containing two tracks of pummelling Melvins-tinged mayhem, will be let loose on March 31st. Go to ssrlondon.net for more details.

FLATS have also made available for free download 'Foxtrot', that was posted on their Soundcloud page recently and is taken from album 'Better Living', which itself is set for release on April 30th. Go to their facebook page to download/listen now! See the video below.

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FLATS - Foxtrot

Free MP3... Vinyl Jacket - Lucky Soldier

2012-02-11T18:17:00.003Z

Hailing from Newcastle, which over the past year or two seems to have one of the most under-rated Indie bands from there, Little Comets, Polarsets, Echohead and now Vinyl Jacket. According to their facebook page they are a 'Deisel-Pop' band... I have no idea what that means but imagine Everything Everything going a bit more pop and upbeat and there you go.

The free song in question is called 'Lucky Soldier' and it's a quirky Indie-Pop track infused with trickling guitar lines, amazing drum beats and slick vocals.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thecalicoprint.bandcamp.com/track/lucky-soldier"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Lucky Soldier by Vinyl Jacket&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

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Blur announce new album is on its way!

2012-02-10T21:28:00.003Z

Blur will "definitely" make another album, guitarist Graham Coxon has told the Daily Record

When asked how the band's preparations for the Brit Awards were going, Coxon replied: "It’s pretty nice to be getting the Brit award. We haven’t planned the rehearsals yet, but there will definitely be another Blur album."

"There will definitely be another Blur album"- guitarist Graham Coxon

He went on to say "We're always going to meet up and want to play things. We do like recording. Eventually, even if things aren’t around the corner, Blur will do more recordings together. We all love each other and still like making music so that’s not a bad start."

[OFFICIAL SITE]

Introducing... Carnivals

2012-02-09T18:41:00.004Z

A week or so ago Carnivals released a double single, 'Absences/Ino (Parts 1 & 2)'. They've had some good coverage on indie sites like The Line of Best Fit ans No Fear Of Pop. They've certainly caught our eyes! Carnivals is just one guy, Stew Green.

His recent single is electrifying, with cut up beats that some may think back to Burial and the gentle yet haunting hush-like vocals that lull you into a slumber. 'Absences' is the more up-beat track out of the two but with both songs pitching in at over 5minutes long this is single is seriously one to download if you love losing yourself in the majestic sounds that is... Carnivals!

For fans of // Burial / Four Tet / Caribou

[BANDCAMP]

Free MP3... Doc Moores - Of The French

2012-02-09T18:29:00.005Z

Doc Moores are back, the young Brisbane based band have released a brand new demo, entitled 'Of The French'. They've certainly crafted an old song but with the pop sensibilities that we love them for. The opening minute or so is a bit darker compared to their older work but if you're a fan of Two Door Cinema Club you'll love the vocals.

The sound is certainly progress from their previous three songs, not saying they're terrible or anything but a band that progresses from early work yet that can still produce some great music is one to keep an eye out for.

Of The French by Doc Moores

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Bombay Bicycle Club Alexandra Palace show sells-out & confirmed for Hackney Weekend

2012-02-09T12:45:00.004Z

Bombay Bicycle Club have this morning announced that they have sold-out their huge homecoming show (10,000 tickets) at London's Alexandra Palace on Saturday April 28th.

In recent years the legendary venue has become famous for hosting notable shows by the likes of Jay-Z, Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys while their date follows on the heels of shows there by The Black Keys and Florence & The Machine.

Speaking to NME.com this morning, guitarist Jamie MacColl said:

"The gig at Ally Pally is hugely significant for us. I grew up a stone's throw away from there and I can see it now as I look out my bedroom window. The band first started playing together at my house and we'd often convene there before going to gigs at Ally Pally. In addition to its sentimental importance it's the fact it's also the biggest headline gig of our lives. It's a potent combination and we'll be trying to put on an amazing show."

The band have also announced they will be joining the line-up for BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend, which as part of Radio 1’s Big Weekend, is the UK’s biggest free ticketed music event and takes place at Hackney Marshes, London on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June.

Bombay Bicycle Club have also been nominated for three NME Awards – for Best British Band, Best Album Artwork and Best Track in Shuffle - a remarkable achievement on the back of having performed to more than 150,000 people via their main stage festival appearances and headline shows. They have also quietly sold more than 350,000 albums in a whirlwind two years since their debut was released in 2009 – achievements include two Top 10 albums, an Ivor Novello nomination, a No.1 on Spotify ahead of Beyonce and Adele, as well as the band winning Best New Band at The NME Awards in 2010 – all this through the steady support of a loyal fan base built-up over the last three years and via word-of-mouth rather than press hype.

They release new single ‘How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep’ on April 9th through Island Records which is expected to further swell the band’s 175,000 single sales to date. The video for the new single is a beautiful animation created by Anna Ginsburg – which has taken six months to create - and is made even more personal by the fact that she also went to school with the band.

It is the fourth track to be taken from their third studio album, ‘A Different Kind Of Fix’, which has also just been certified Gold with sales of more than 100,000 copies. The album was co-produced between Hamburg with Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Adele) - who worked on their debut - and Atlanta with Ben H. Allen, the former P. Diddy mixer who has worked with Gnarls Barkley and Animal Collective.

The quartet are also about to embark on their first ever North American headline tour which is selling so well that several venues - some up to a capacity of 1,200 people – are being upgraded to accommodate demand. In March they tour Australia with Elbow and they have just returned from shows in the Far East to rave reviews.

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Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This (POWERMODE Remix)

Hidden Gems... Ideals - These Seasons

2012-02-09T12:29:00.003Z

Back before Ideals were signed to Intruder Records, when they were still teenagers they had a track that appeared on a Fierce Panda EP, the EP was called 'Zip It Up' and it's still available to download on iTunes. Anyway, this was the first track they recorded and ultimately the first track that got out into the world.

It's nice that you can see a relatively young band progress in just a few years from this track to their latest EP. 'These Seasons' was the track that got them noticed, and you can see why, even back then they were so energetic, Andrews vocals sound just as good as they've ever done. And with soothing backing vocals and a rampant chorus this is why you have to love this band!

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Single Review... Safari - Doubt / Are We Ready

2012-02-08T13:09:00.007Z

Having been in our top ten artists for 2012 we couldn't wait to share with you their latest single, it's a double A-Side single, their latest song 'Doubt' along with a track we already love, 'Are We Ready'. The single is being released via Sons of Stereo Recordings on February 27th.

Doubt:
It opens with vocals and a riff, the vocals echoing "It's all good", and it seems to be! With the chorus impending the verse drops and you get thrown into a whirlwind of Tropical sounds, stunning guitar riffs and synths. The drum pace is fast and quick and gives that added layer of excitement. Safari are known to us for not putting a foot wrong, and they haven't put one wrong yet, this is stunning!!!
Out of 10: 9/10

Are We Ready:
Trumpets open the song with high pitched vocals accompanying it, then bass hit. The tension is broken when the drums and guitar drop. Great bass riffs and brilliant synth samples are used throughout the song. Safari have really crafted a song to be a big hit in the future, what is for sure is it suits the summer well! I wonder if it is them that has supplied this Indian summer we have been having as of late, hmm. What is for certain is this track is a killer, watch out for more from them in the coming months! They've even re-done 'Reason' which is also available on their soundcloud page, just click 'this is SAFARI' below the stream.
Out of 10: 9/10

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[OFFICIAL SITE]
Safari - So I See

Frontiers - In Persuit (Live) video

2012-02-07T16:02:00.006Z

We've recently had Frontiers up as our track of the week and we've got an exclusive for you! t features the track 'In Pursuit' and most of the footage is taken from their support slot at Koko with Jane's Addiction.

I think you'd agree with me that this song is one of their best and the video just captures how energetic the whole song is! This song is just one of seven songs they've currently got up on soundcloud, so go check them out once you've given this a watch! Scroll down to watch the full video!

Frontiers In Pursuit Live from Tom Berridge on Vimeo.

They also have some shows lined up:
SATURDAY 11TH FEBRUARY - Rescue Rooms Nottingham w/ The Big Pink
FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY - Buffalo Bar Islington
FRIDAY 24TH FEBRUARY - The Chameleon, Nottingham (HEADLINE SHOW) w/Lois and The Amber Herd.
THURSDAY 1ST MARCH - The Venue Derby w/Rugosa Nevada
FRIDAY 9TH MARCH - Antenna (Confetti Industry Week - Acoustic show)
SUNDAY 25TH MARCH - Sport Relief @ Embankment Nottingham
SATURDAY 31ST MARCH - Upload Festival @ Rescue Rooms Nottingham

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Single Review... Fixers - Iron Deer Dream

2012-02-07T15:50:00.005Z

This single is virtually a re-make of two of their biggest singles, 'Iron Deer Dream' is the single they released on the Young And Lost Club label, and 'Swimmhaus San Diego' is a re-model of their stunner 'Swimmhaus Johannesburg' but just change a few bits around and there you go!

Iron Deer Dream:
'Iron Deer Dream' is a a fantastic song, the intro is slow and gains body as it progresses, the tumbling echoing vocals by singer 'Jack' comes in and synths come over the top to provide a anthemic effect. Then the guitar rush comes in and I fell in love with it. The new version just captivates you and wins you all over again! Synths, Guitars and wonderful vocals, you need to buy this!
Out of 10: 9/10

Swimmhaus San Diego:
With classic piano house lines, startling guitar bursts, echo-drenched vocals and a thrilling 4/4 beat. It's pop music in its most bold and forward-thinking sense. Such is their array of influences, Fixers sound never stands still, it's a combination of sonic adventure and their. Fixers create something modern and fresh, and that is exactly what this visionary Oxford-based band embodies. This version sounds a bit more 80's than their last attempt at the song, but overall I'd say it's a great improvement!
Out of 10: 8.5/10

Fixers - Iron Deer Dream (Single)
Out of 10: 8.3/10

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[OFFICIAL SITE]
Fixers - Surf Wax E.P (March 2010/Self Released)

Track of the week... Kenetics - Toothache

2012-02-06T19:46:00.005Z

Kenetics, a 5 piece band, Biggleswade, a very young band that has already got a reputation, a reputation for being really great on the live circuit, with the recordings to back them up! They sold out at their first ever gig and have then since played all over the shop, from the local scene to London.

'Tootache' may sound like fellow guitar bands The Maccabees and Bombay Bicycle Club, but the band more than face up to their contemporaries, the immensely catchy sound here with crisp, longing boy/girl vocals. Their finest single to date, it’s a huge step in the right direction for Kenetics.

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Written by - Connor Browne & Fred Bambridge

Gig Review... Enter Shikari @ The Hippodrome, Kingston, 17th January 2012

2012-02-05T13:29:00.004Z

Enter Shikari have had an official number 4 album in the UK, if that's not something, i don't know what is. A band signed to an independent label, anything but mainstream, singing about real things with the killer force of hugely powerful music behind it (yes- a real band!) beating the likes of Adele and Bruno Mars in the UK charts.
And to top that all off, I saw them live last week, and it was hands down the best gig I have ever been to in my life.

Then came Shikari, fresh from the release of the album just a day prior, they were up for a party, and so were the crowd. The album played a huge part of the set, they started off with the euphoric System... just to keep the anticipation to full level then thundered straight into the massive Meltdown, literally a face melter, following it all up with Gandhi, Mate Gandhi, politically anthemic with a "open their minds" bass worthy of destroying any speaker stack sending the crowd into one huge moving mess. After this they returning to the ancient, crowd pleaser Sorry You're Not A Winner, ventured in to single Destabilise including the tasty Rout VIP mix ending causing a stir, following up with Motherstep/Mothership that is the most stepfilled dance screamo version of a song in existence. Second single Quelle Surprise, well it was hardly surprising with the chant "if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything", turned the crowd into a unity of screaming voices against the system Rou Reynolds seems so lyrically keen on fighting.

Next came a breather straight from the new album in the form of Stalemate, as close to pop as Enter Shikari are going to get, complete with "Woooooaaaahs" worthy of a power ballad over a reserved synth backing before transcending in to the latest Adieu, Constellations,with glockenspiel and a guitar riff worthy of a lullaby while the lyrics sound something like that of Mike Skinner and a chorus and breakdown with longing whines of "we can explore space together forever/ I am lost, so lost/ you are the constellations/that guide me"

They then blasted out Juggernauts, causing madness, and returned to their might with Arguing With Thermometers, the latest single filled with the perfect mixture of Faithless-esque breakdowns and heavy guitars before uniting the crowd once again with Fanfare For The Concious Man, yet another political rant. Next they briefly fled the stage with a lack of conviction before returning amidst the chants to the incredible and aptly named

Hello Tyrannasaurus, Meet Tyrannicide and closing the set with a dubbed up version of most recent single Sssnakepit before spiralling into the real thing causing the crowd to descend into a pit of shoving and screaming people having the best time in the world.
Ending the concert on the words "Just push right back" seemed appropriate and fitting to end a crazy live experience filled with outrage at the world.
Enter Shikari are back, and this time, they've got even more to say.

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[OFFICIAL SITE]

Written by - Daisy Edwards

Fixers to support Summer Camp on tour this March

2012-02-05T12:18:00.004Z

Summer Camp announced earlier this week that Fixers will be supporting them on their tour in March. These two bands have such a strong presence when playing live you shouldn't miss it when they come to a town/city near you.

Tour dates:
Tuesday 13th March 2012 – Bristol Louisiana
Thursday 14th March 2012 – Birmingham Rainbow
Wednesday 15th March 2012 – Norwich Arts Centre
Thursday 16th March 2012 – Manchester Night and Day
Saturday 17th March 2012 – Glasgow Captain’s Rest
Monday 19th March 2012 – Sheffield Harley
Tuesday 20th March 2012 – Cambridge Portland Arms
Wednesday 21th March 2012 – London Scala

Fixers
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[OFFICIAL SITE]
Fixers - Surf Wax E.P (March 2010/Self Released)

Summer Camp
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Introducing... Keith Canisius

2012-02-04T16:56:00.004Z

Keith Canisius is a solo artist from Copenhagen in Denmark. He blends electronic, dream pop, shoegaze and ambient sounds to produce his own genre! He currently has an EP out, which you can stream at the bottom of the page, and with another one coming out soon he seems to be a master at making great tracks to fall in love with.

The first track off his EP is the one I like the most, it's a Electro-Dream-Pop gem amongst a vast amount of other outstanding tracks on his page. With him being based in Copenhagen he has a few shows already announced in the city so go and check him out if you're a Dane, you'll be spellbound by the end of the night!

For fans of // Fixers, Elephant, Memory Tapes

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EP Review... Rugosa Nevada - Verona EP

2012-02-04T14:05:00.007Z

We've been following this lovely band from Derby for ages, we have blogged about them before and we thought you should know about their 2nd EP. The first was amazing and the stand out track 'Something's Got To Go' was featured as our 'Track of the week' back in early 2011, and since then we've been keeping a close eye on them! In that year they've released a single and played shows with Futures and Toploader!

Verona:
The title track of the EP and it starts with a whirl of synth, as every band knows, dabbling in a bit of synth is good for you as you can diversify and generate more fans. This track certainly grabs my attention with a great build up and massive riffs that burst into life. After the guitar drops this certainly is one to put on repeat!
Out of 10: 9/10

Hurricane:
This track has a scene of urgency straight from the off, with it's pulsating beat and danceabilty this track is a perfect advert for the band. There is everything you could ever want from a great Indie band, smashing riffs, great vocals, fast drumming and throbbing bass to warm you up on a cold day. When the track drops the interlude is such a great addition to the song, this song is making this EP a whole lot better, I can't believe they're so unheard of. A MUST for any Indie music fan!
Out of 10: 10/10

Build To Nothing:
The shortest track on the EP yet it's a nice change from the rush of the first two songs, this track sounds a lot darker to start off with. Hush vocals and high notes lull you into thinking this is going to stay quiet but with amazing vocals and the guitar tones this reminds me of Editors, simply down to the way it's structured. This should be played over and over again!
Out of 10: 9/10

Strangers:
Now I've already got this track, but when I asked their singer if it was the same version he said "No, this version is a lot better", and so it seems to be! Compared to their old attempt at 'Strangers' this does seem to be literally polishing off the amazing parts and changing what needed to be changed. To sum up, this is a great way to end off the EP, an old track refined and made better in every way. Rugosa Nevada are still a young band with lots of potential, may their year be littered with success!
Out of 10: 8.5/10

Rugosa Nevada - Verona EP
Out of 10: 9.1/10

If you loved that, have a listen to their song 'Something's Gotta Go', a free download!

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Rugosa Nevada - Something's Gotta Go

Free MP3... Mausi - Sol (Polarsets Remix)

2012-01-31T11:27:00.004Z

Due out for official release on 20th February 2012 via US label All Things Go, 'Sol' is the first offering from Newcastle based Anglo-Italian four piece M A U S I. Born in Milan, siblings Daisy & Thomas moved to the UK in 2008 where they met and moved in with Englishmen Ben & Benji at
University in the North East.

Formed in 2010, the band cite French collectives Pony Pony Run Run, Phoenix and Breakbot as their biggest influences, as well as an unashamed love for pop favourites Uffie and Penguin Prison. M A U S I create blissful up-beat pop, that harnesses a carefree Rivieran edge and driving disco feel; that is no more present than in single 'Sol'.

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It's All Indie #5

2012-01-31T10:50:00.002Z

Our 5th instalment of the finest music to fall under the tag 'Indie', all music that was not initially free to share has been given consent by each and every one of the bands and or their management.

1) VOWS - Colours
2) Kenetics - Toothache
3) Heavy Hearts - Take Some Time
4) White Pilots - Backbone
5) Radials - Ships In The Night
6) Jarrod Michael Mahon - Rainy Days
7) Various Cruelties - If It Wasn't For You
8) Echohead - These Stars
9) WU LYF - Wicked Games
10) Everything Everything - MY KZ, UR BF (Grum Remix)
11) Bloc Party - Flux (AlexxFoxx Remix)

[DOWNLOAD]

Track of the week... Swim Deep - King City

2012-01-31T01:28:00.003Z

With so many bands being hyped for 2012, I can't believe this amazing band from Birmingham slipped through the net. They unleashed this track on the world just last week and ever since we've been craving it over and over again!

"I wanna be everything I'm not, I wanna be rich I want to show off"

Having picked up this weeks edition of NME, I was very surprised to see Swim Deep as their 'Buzz band of the week', not that they're a rubbish band, but I didn't think NME still cared about small bands such as Swim Deep. I first heard them after I finished watching the 'Peace - Bblood' on YouTube, coincidently these two bands are friends, and their latest track beats 'Bblood' by a mile! The song initially reminded me of the sounds of an early Is Tropical, but these guys are more than that. The first verse opens out and unfolds before you and you instantly fall in love with the guitar tones and pulsating bass. The chorus then wins you over with the urgency of it all. Swim Deep has seem to have stuck gold with their latest effort, I can see them having a very productive 2012 if they keep on producing great tracks such as this one!

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Track of the month... January 2012

2012-01-29T11:44:00.009Z

So here we are, the first round of votes that'll eventually chose the track to represent January in the 2012 Track of the year votes!

Having a limited amount of tracks being released, and barely any gigs in the first month of the year some people can't wait to get this month out of the way. Not us, we blasted into January with our best figures ever, 21,000 views so far, and we've got a few more days left!

So here are the tracks to vote for!

Dive Bella Dive - Spend The Night Living (And I'll Ne'er Return)

The Chevin - Champion

Sound Of Guns - Remember The Empire

Various Cruelties - Don't Want To Waste Your Time

[VOTE NOW]

In Golden Tears announce 'Underneath The Balance' + 21 Tour dates

2012-01-25T19:33:00.005Z

In Golden Tears next single will be 'Underneath The Balance' and it's out world wide April 20th via Humming Records / Rough Trade Distribution and as digital download & limited 7" vinyl. Also they've announced the first 21 shows of their mammoth European summer tour. They're already on the bill for the legendary SZIGET Festival in Budapest as well as playing one of the best music venues in Essex, The Square in Harlow.

In Golden Tears are playing:
25.02.12: DE, Leipzig - Klanggut Festival
09.03.12: DE, Rostock - MS Stubnitz /w Bodi Bill
20.04.12: DE, Berlin - Magnet Club
21.04.12: DE, Augsburg - Beim Schwarzen Schaf
22.04.12: CH, Ostermundingen - Elchclub
24.04.12: DE, Mainz - Schon Schön
25.04.12: DE, Erfurt - Museumskeller
26.04.12: DE, Dresden - Bärenzwinger
27.04.12: DE, Biberach - Kulturhalle Abdera
28.04.12: DE, Köln - Artheater
01.05.12: DE, Potsdam - Waschhaus
07.05.12: BE, Gent - Club Video
10.05.12: UK, Harlow - The Square
17.05.12: DE, Hamburg - Übel & Gefährlich
18.05.12: DE, Jena - Kassablanca
23.05.12: DE, Ilmenau - BD Club
01.06.12: DE, Chemnitz - Atomino
08.06.12: DE, Bonn - Bla
10.06.12: DE, Leipzig - Neues Schauspiel
07.08.12: HU, Budapest - Sziget Festival
16.08.12: DE, Raa-Besenbek - Fake Days Festival

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[OFFICIAL SITE]
In Golden Tears - Urban Emotions (Radio Edit)

Single Review... Swim Deep - King City

2012-01-25T16:11:00.003Z

Having picked up this weeks edition of NME, I was very surprised to see Swim Deep as their 'Buzz band of the week', not that they're a rubbish band, but I didn't think NME still cared about small bands such as Swim Deep. I first heard them after I finished watching the 'Peace - Bblood' on YouTube, coincidently these two bands are friends, and their latest track beats 'Bblood' by a mile!

King City:
The song initially reminded me of the sounds of an early Is Tropical, but these guys are more than that. The first verse opens out and unfolds before you and you instantly fall in love with the guitar tones and pulsating bass. The chorus then wins you over with the urgency of it all. Swim Deep has seem to have stuck gold with their latest effort, I can see them having a very productive 2012 if they keep on producing great tracks such as this one!
Out of 10: 8.5/10

Swim Deep - King City
Out of 10: 8.5/10

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Blood Red Shoes announce new album 'In Time To Voices'

2012-01-25T16:00:00.003Z

The band announced earlier today that their third album, 'In Time To Voices' will be coming out on March 26, with the first single 'Cold' coming out a week earlier. You may have caught it last night on Radio 1, either way you can hear the single online right now on youtube.

And if you you're in Germany, Austria or Switzerland then sadly you can't listen to it yet because youtube have got into a giant argument over there.

The full tracklisting is:

In Time To Voices
Lost Kids
Cold
Two Dead Minutes
The Silence and the Drones
Night Light
Je Me Perds
Stop Kicking
Slip Into Blue
Down Here in the Dark
7 Years

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[OFFICIAL SITE]

Single Review... Wideboy Generation - Looters

2012-01-25T15:40:00.005Z

This is the first official single by one of the most exciting bands at the moment. Wideboy Generation have been on our radar ever since we first heard their early demos in late 2010, they have announced their début single 'Looters', they released it as a free download so grab it if you love the sound of them! This song was inspired after the riots that hit London last year, the band reside in North London (which was then worst hit).

Looters:
With over 13,000 views on YouTube this Punk-Rock track bursts out into life straight from the word go! They've been given the title of one of the tightest bands in the UK, and after seeing their video on the internet I'd love to see them live. The track is a great advertisement for the band as it just showcases what this band is all about, Rock, Punk and well crafted songs to boot!
Out of 10: 8/10

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Wideboy Generation - Looters

Gig Review... Tubelord @ Portland Arms, Cambridge, 21st January 2012

2012-01-24T21:46:00.004Z

As the first of Tubelord’s support acts arrive on-stage the crowd begin to swell to listen to DTSP’s Math-Rock, their songs abridged by 1950’s movie sound clips. The quick tempo changes and erratic guitar lines may be typical of the Math-Rock genre but their songs are executed with such vigour and musicianship they stand out from the crowd.

Equally Reno Dakota’s rhythms are strong and grooving as are their songs. The crashing-to-a-halt instrumentation yet classic song writing they also make the style their own; they are a pleasing warm-up for the headliners.

Finally supporting Tubelord tonight are Olympians hailing from Norwich, and they have delicacy and soaring vocals and instrumentation reminiscent of Foals‘ awkward and celebratory style. They sometimes delve into moments of instrumentals, but their best moments are the earnest lyrics and pretty soundscapes.

Then Tubelord materialise before us on the stage, and launch into their set -introducing themselves only with “hello there…” Tubelord’s songs tonight sound good, and there’s a lot of head-nodding throughout, but the band’s back catalogue isn’t enough yet to fully captivate audiences not familiar with them for a full set. Their tracks are slightly predictable tonight, though enjoyable enough. When they launch the pure euphoria of ‘Night Of The Pencils’ and take great pleasure in belting out: “we spent the rest of the summer stoned,” and this is a high-point of the night. The Tubelord faithful undoubtedly enjoy the set tonight, belting every word back at the band, but for newcomers they could be a difficult prospect.

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Written by - Connor Browne

Track of the week... Various Cruelties - Don't Want To Waste Your Time

2012-01-23T15:40:00.007Z

We've posted about Various Cruelties twice before, and we've seen them effectively grow up since we first listened to them! Slowly but surely seven tracks have worked their way onto the internet but this soulful Indie-Rock do not have one bad track, they're all highly rated if you ask me.

So the track of the week is 'Don't Want To Waste Your Time', this is currently a free download over at their facebook site, and to be honest it's one of their best tracks! The song will not feature on their début album but this will be put into the folder of 'hidden gems' as far as I am concerned. The vocalist does a wonderful job keeping you listening, along with the harmonies in the choruses. Chiming guitars, a marching drum beat with even more effects, the tambourine is a nice effect and adds to the layers. This song is simply amazing, a great track to define this band by, remember, it's a free download on their site. SO what's to lose!

[FACEBOOK]
Various Cruelties - Don't Want To Waste Your Time

Gig Review... Various Cruelties @ King Tuts, Glasgow, 21st January 2012

2012-01-22T13:47:00.005Z

You can often feel a real of anticipation amongst a crowd at the gig of a rising band like Various Cruelties but it's clear to see the bands themselves are excited to be back in Glasgow playing the legendary King Tuts Wah Wah Hut with singer Liam O'Donnell telling the crowd how much they've been looking forward to this particular show.

But before they take to the stage local indie band Huevo And The Giant play a chirpy half hour set. It's clear they've roped in a lot of their friends to watch but the neutrals among the crowd are soon won over by their blend of cheery tunes with 'Wings (We Are The Kids)' being a particular highlight. I'll be sure to check them out again.

But as enjoyable as they were, Various Cruelties are a level up. They don't waste any time getting started, kicking off with the up-tempo 'Neon Truth' getting the crowd moving right away. If this wasn't enough new single 'Great Unknown' is up next as the band get into their stride. Across their forty five minute set they entice us in with their soul-tinted indie. With Etta James having passed away yesterday, the band dedicate 'She Is The One' to the former soul legend. They seem to have upped their game musically from their earlier releases with tracks such as 'Don't Want To Waste Your Time' sounding bigger than its ever sounded before with a beefed up beat behind it. Playing twelve songs, it would appear they may have premièred their whole album, and if so it looks like it's going to be a great début album!

With chanting for bassist Beanie throughout the show, the band take their leave after new song 'Beautiful Delirium' winds its way into their fans' ears. They're only off of the stage for a matter of seconds though before storming back on to finish with their biggest hit 'Chemicals', drawing a huge sing-along and sending fans and band alike home happy.

Various Cruelties played:

Neon Truth
Great Unknown
If It Wasn't For You
Magnetic Fields
Cold As You
Thrill Is Gone
Capsize
Dry Your Tears
She Is The One
Don't Want To Waste Your Time
Beautiful Delirium

Chemicals

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Written by - Neil Shaw

Single Review... Alt-J - Tesselate

2012-01-20T18:55:00.003Z

∆ is the symbol you get from hitting alt+j on an Apple keyboard apparently and has resulted in a band that I would have referred to as Triangle instead taking on the name "Alt-J"

Tesselate:
Much is expected of this collective for 2012, and with 'Tesselate' you can see why. It’s soulful, bluesy and has a great beat. The guitar chimes away with it’s slacker-pop hook as the vocals soar and take you on a journey through the blues-infused electronic vibe. New and innovative this track could really take Alt-J or∆ places.
Out of 10: 9/10

Alt-J - Tesselate
Out of 10: 9/10

[FACEBOOK]

Written by - Connor Browne

TV Review... Skins (Season 6 Episode 1)

2012-01-18T12:08:00.004Z

An exclusive online preview of the first episode in the brand new award-winning sixth series. The gang return in style burning their way through a holiday in Morocco. If you haven't seen Skins before it's an extreme spin on a what parents think their kids are doing.. After the fifth season getting a 'bad reaction' in America (which us Brits found very humorous), season six comes bursting with all the usual. Drugs, Sexual content and an abundance of swearing.

The sound track for the first episode is the usual 'rave' music, combined with Indie-Rock and slow harmonious music for the programmes 'quiet' and 'sexy' scenes. It's only available to watch on 4OD in the UK, until then you will have to wait (sadly) for the rest of the season, it doesn't officially go on air until the 26th of January but if you click HERE you'll be able to give it a watch. If you haven't seen Skins before it's an extreme spin on a what parents think their kids are doing.

[OFFICIAL SITE]

Stream Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid here + Tour dates

2012-01-18T11:39:00.005Z

New York-based duo Sleigh Bells have today premièred a brand new single Comeback Kid. The single is taken from Sleigh Bells’ hugely anticipated second album Reign Of Terror, the follow up to the duo’s acclaimed 2010 début, Treats. Comeback Kid is available to buy digitally now and can be heard from a stream below!

Produced by guitarist Derek E Miller and co-written by singer Alexis Krauss and Derek, new album Reign Of Terror will be released in the UK on 20th February 2012 via Mom + Pop / Columbia. The band recently premièred the first piece of music from the album – Born To Lose – to widespread excitement.

Meanwhile, Sleigh Bells are set to come to Europe for a February / March 2011 headline tour. Tickets for all shows are available to buy now and the full dates are as follows:
February

27th The Academy, Dublin
28th Oran Mor. Glasgow

March
1st Electric Ballroom, London
2nd Sound Control, Manchester
5th La Machine Du Moulin Rouge, Paris
7th Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin
8th Melkweg, Amsterdam

Upon unleashing Treats into the world, Sleigh Bells quickly became the most exciting new band to emerge from their hometown of New York City. Treats’ deft, stylish combination of genres, sounds, and dynamics was simply unprecedented. The album’s own extreme volume was matched by the deafening roar of praise, landing the band everywhere and putting the record on over 50 year-end lists for 2010. Sleigh Bells toured behind Treats relentlessly, opening for the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, Yeasayer and Major Lazer before headlining their own shows, many of which sold out in mere minutes. They played lauded, exhilarating sets at festivals around the globe, confirming their status as a sheer tour de force on the stage.

[FACEBOOK]
[OFFICIAL SITE]

Track of the week... Sound Of Guns - Remember The Empire

2012-01-16T16:23:00.003Z

Sound Of Guns have recently released their EP entitled 'Silicon', it's effectively a warm up for their fans ahead of their second album. 'Silicon' will feature on their up-coming album but one of the B-Sides on the EP that I've become very fond of over the past week has been 'Remember The Empire'

It has such a drive in the choruses, mainly commanded by the Vocals of Andy and the rest of the band providing the solid wall of rock for him to sing along to. They have crafted some amazing riffs in this song, some great lyrics and the breakdown around towards the end of the song is pure genious! Just when you think that's it, the song slows down and nearly stops they grab you and give you that pulsating chorus once more before ending. How this ended up as a B-Side I have no idea, I just hope they play it live, I'd love to see this sometime!

[FACEBOOK]
[OFFICIAL SITE]

Single Review... Bos Angeles - Beach Slalom/ Days Of Youth

2012-01-16T16:07:00.006Z

Beach Slalom:
Chiming, catchy and hazy riffs are the order of the day on this single from Bournemouth’s Bos Angeles on their début single. The sound is akin to bands like The Drums and Two Wounded Birds, yet the slightly lo-fi edge singles them out as well as the massively catchy tunes on this thing.
Out of 10: 9/10

Days Of Youth:
'Days Of Youth' combines elements of surf-pop with a darker, post-punk sound and the dark repetition of "why would you change for me?", amongst another catchy hook. The slightly lo-fi edge I talked about never makes the single feel under-produced, and adds to the effect.
Out of 10: 9/10

Beach Slalom/Days Of Youth 7"
Out of 10: 9/10

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://bosangeles.bandcamp.com/album/days-of-youth-beach-slalom-7"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Days of Youth / Beach Slalom 7&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; by Bos Angeles&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

[FACEBOOK]

Written by - Connor Browne

Single Review... Toy - Left Myself Behind

2012-01-16T15:56:00.005Z

TOY is a Korg Delta led five-piece formed in 2010. It consists of Tom Dougall (Vox/Guitars), Dominic O'Dair (Guitars), Maxim Barron (Bass/Vox), Alejandra Diez (Synthesizers/Modulation) and Charlie Salvidge (Drums/Vox). TOY's musical influences incorporate a wide range of genres including punk, psychedelia, krautrock, post rock and musique concrete to name a few.

Left Myself Behind:
The A-side 'Left Myself Behind' has an urgency and driving rhythm throughout that will make Toy a force to reckon with for 2012. The subtle yet highly effective sampling is penetrating and the delivery of vocals is icy and dark.
Out of 10: 8/10

Clock Chime:
The B-side 'Clock Chime' doesn’t stand up against the A, with a slow pace and minimal direction. However the A-side is so great that the single is worth that alone.
Out of 10: 8/10

Toy - Left Myself Behind 12"
Out of 10: 8/10

[FACEBOOK]

Written by - Connor Browne

Single Review... Theme Park - Milk

2012-01-16T15:42:00.004Z

London’s Theme Park have been much lauded by the music press in the UK, building hype already landing them a support slot with Florence & The Machine at the cavernous Alexandra Palace.

Milk:
Milk has a chirping, sprightly guitar hook and the kind of Talking Heads-esque rhythms that have won them so much positive press and left them up to the neck in hyperbole. The vocals are solid and the chorus is uplifting and melodic. Since we first heard the demo we've always thought a fully produced version will have us going crazy, and we were right!
Out of 10: 9/10

Ghosts:
B-side Ghosts is unashamedly poppy and 80s-worshipping in it’s synthesisers and bittersweet chorus. 'Ghosts' suggests they’re also fond of late Orange Juice and '80s chart pop like Curiosity Killed The Cat or Prefab Sprout. They've put their own spin on an '80's sound, and they've pulled it off, the guitars in the chorus is what wins it for me!
Out of 10: 8/10

Theme Park - Milk
Out of 10: 8.5/10

[FACEBOOK]
[OFFICIAL SITE]

Written by - Connor Browne

Un-Signed Mixtape Jan/Feb 2012

2012-01-16T14:09:00.004Z

So welcome to 2012, we have yet another batch of the finest Un-Signed music available, and it's all for free!

The track-list is...

1) Temple Bay - Hidden In The Clouds
2) I Am Allstars - Navy Blue
3) Tyrannosaurus Dead - 1992
4) Go Lazarus - Arial Said
5) Baptism - Tide
6) Who's Panda - Your Smile
7) SideSteps - The Heartbreak Song
8) PJ Morand - BONDAI
9) Simple Machines - Revolver.
10) Party Club - Our Path
11) MONDRAIN - Paris
12) Trophys - Funeral
13) And The Centurions - The Other People

[DOWNLOAD HERE]

Introducing... Kenetics

2012-01-14T15:59:00.005Z

Kenetics, a 5 piece band, Biggleswade, a very young band that has already got a reputation, a reputation for being great! They sold out at their first ever gig and have then since played all over the shop, from the local scene to London. Despite none of the band driving they are are convinced about going further afield.

They are constantly writing tracks and are always up for sharing some on the social media sites, and the track that's currently gaining them the brownie points is their head-bopper 'Toothache'. 2012 is set to be a bigger year for them, with the band releasing songs such as 'Toothache' I am sure that they'll produce an absolute deal with a record company, I know it!

For fans of // Foals, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Maccabees

[FACEBOOK]

Introducing... Contours

2012-01-14T15:47:00.004Z

An Alternative-Rock band formed in 2010, Contours have already racked up plenty of shows to date in venues around Cambridge, Peterborough, Hertfordshire and Essex. Playing with bands such as Dinosaur Pile-Up, Turbowolf and The Worldonfire.

They have an abundance of attitude when playing live, and it certainly gets transferred onto their recordings. Their début EP was such a mindblowing thrill to listen to, punchy guitar riffs clashes with powerful vocals make their EP what it is, every track is amazingly put together, these guys have a great future ahead of them if they continue along these lines!

For fans of // Biffy Clyro (early) / Pulled Apart By Horses / Dinosaur Pile-Up

[FACEBOOK]

Theme Park and The Cast Of Cheers announce a Co-Headline UK tour

2012-01-13T15:06:00.005Z

Beginning at the Glasgow Art School on Feb 27th and finishing up in Kingston’s New Slang, with a sure-to-be-packed show at the Lexington in London in between, these are set to be exciting live shows heralding the arrival of two vital new UK bands – be sure not to miss!

The Cast of Cheers self-recorded album “Chariot” notched up over 150,000 downloads on BandCamp and netted them a nomination at the Choice Music Awards in their native Ireland. Their imminent début single 'Family' has already been causing a ruckus on national radio, with support from the likes of Zane Lowe, Fearne Cotton, Huw Stephens, John Kennedy, Radcliffe and Maconie ahead of its release on February 20th.

Theme Park who were voted second in the 'Blog Sound of 2012' Poll have released two singles to date (also receiving strong radio support from the likes of Huw Stephens, Nick Grimshaw, Zane Lowe, John Kennedy, Lauren Laverne, etc) and toured the UK with the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Summer Camp and Antlers. The band are also set to support Florence and The Machine at Alexandra Palace in March. Their next single is due in March on Transgressive Records (details to follow).

February
27 – Art School, Glasgow
28 – Electric Circus, Edinburgh
29 – Cockpit, Leeds

March
1 – Bodega, Nottingham
2 – Charlie Browns, Luton
3 – Temple, Birmingham
4 – Deaf Institute, Manchester
5 – Louisiana, Bristol (The Cast Of Cheers only)
6 – Lexington, London
7 – Joiners, Southampton
8 – New Slang, Kingston

The Cast Of Cheers
[FACEBOOK]
[OFFICIAL SITE]

Theme Park
[FACEBOOK]
[OFFICIAL SITE]

Arctic Monkeys to record some new songs

2012-01-13T13:59:00.005Z

Alex Turner spoke to Triple J radio is Australia yesterday, after being asked what 2012 had in-store for them he said "We're about to go on tour in the States with The Black Keys, we're going to open for them for a while, play Coachella and tour South America too." He went on to say "We're going to try and record a couple of new songs in the next few weeks, and maybe put a single out around that. Like a new tune"

They will be recording the new tracks in Sheffield and should be out (we hope) for the American tour supporting The Black Keys. You can hear the interview from Triple J below, he plays 'Suck It And See' and a cover of Patsy Cline's 'Strange'. You can also download the whole interview here if you fancy.

[FACEBOOK]
[OFFICIAL SITE]

Bombay Bicycle Club aiming for 'Heavier' new direction

2012-01-13T10:33:00.004Z

Speaking to NME in this weeks issue (14th Jan 2011), Jamie MacColl (Guitarist) hints towards their new sound. Since releasing 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose' in 2009, they've released two more full LPs since, 'Flaws' in 2010 and 'A Different Kind Of Fix' in 2011. Jamie said "We'd like to put another record out in the next 12 months", but it does seem like it'll be an early release for 2013 rather than a late 2012 release it's exciting to think that by this time next year we will have another BBC album right around the corner.

He also went on to say that they have a guitar riff already written that is "A monster, and another one that sounds very electronic and poppy". After releasing a Reggae version of 'Lights Out, Words Gone' I wouldn't put it past them to go in yet another new direction. As a fan of their first album, I've literally grew up listening to them, so any new sound would be warmly welcomed from me, as I can see them making the new sound work.

bombay bicycle club-lights out words gone by laxmasmusica

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[OFFICIAL SITE]
Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This (POWERMODE Remix)

Album Review... The Maccabees - Given To The Wild

2012-01-10T19:55:00.004Z

Only last year that Faris Badwan said that there is no need to compromise to be one of the top 10 albums. The Maccabees haven't compromised either, yet their album is set to do bigger and better things versus The Horrors effort. While The Horrors peaked at #5, The Maccabees are set to romp to the top of the chart. This has been hyped as the most defining album for Indie lovers for the whole of 2012, I'm not too sure, but so far this sounds like it'll be on my iPod for a while!

The start to the album has a very gentle warm sound to it, the trumpets and soothing bass on 'Child' really compliments the opening interlude. With the track gaining pace towards the end this'll be on their set-lists for the rest of their careers, the riff is simply sublime and technical! 'Feel To Follow' is another outstanding track on the record, along with 'Pelican' and 'Went Away' these three tracks seem to be at the peak of The Maccabees music career so far. 'Pelican' has such a drive from the start of the track to the end, without a second to breathe you'll be going mad to this at the festivals for sure. There isn't a single track that is below a 8/10 rating for me, but with too much to write I'll just tell you that 'Pelican' is a definite to buy when it becomes available as a single, it'll sound even sexier on vinyl! I have been overwhelmed with this album as I wouldn't normally be dabbling in The Maccabees, I've seen them live before and everyone has said they're worth it, but from now on I am a fan. This album is one of the top albums of 2012

The Maccabees - Given To The Wild
Out of 10: 9/10

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[OFFICIAL SITE]

Competition #1 - Remix Competiton

2012-01-10T19:10:00.006Z

We are once again running competitions, and this time we have something special for you. We have hooked up with 'Baptism' and they've kindly let us give away the stems for their latest song 'Tides' to be remixed.

So what's in it for you? Well, if you win the competition you will have in their début EP that'll be released in the coming months. So get out your mixing software and get your headphones out, lets remix!

FAQ:
How do I submit my remix?

Upload it to Soundcloud and then drop it in our dropbox and we'll then post all of the remixes into a 'set' and then people will vote for the best, plays also will count towards the overall verdict.

[STEMS DOWNLOAD - 33MB]

[SUBMIT TO THE DROPBOX]

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[TUMBLR]

Introducing... PET

2012-01-10T18:53:00.004Z

The amount of new music that we hear nowadays is getting harder and harder to keep up with. A few days ago I got wind of a Edinburgh based group called Pet. While doing some research on them, I couldn’t find much info besides their tumblr and bandcamp page. We like their sound a lot and will feature more tracks from them as we get them.

The opening track from their latest EP sounds like a perfect mash-up of a James Blake piano, Wu Lyf style deep sounding drums and something else that you can't put your finger on. But one this is for sure, it's certainly a distinctive track, it's even below to stream.

For fans of // Wu Lyf, James Blake, Fixers

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://petpetmusic.bandcamp.com/album/middle-child-syndrome"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Middle Child Syndrome by PET&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

[TUMBLR]

The Shins release 'Simple Song'

2012-01-10T10:22:00.004Z

Taken from their forthcoming album 'Port Of Morrow' out 20th March. When The Shins release fourth album Port of Morrow March 20, you'll be able to hear all 10 songs on glorious reel-to-reel tape (provided you or your Grandparents still has the necessary equipment to play it). That old-timey format is on offer as part of a $109.99 special edition available via the bands website!

[FACEBOOK]

Track of the week... The Chevin - Champion

2012-01-09T17:03:00.002Z

We've already posted about The Chevin before, and for good reasons too! The Chevin are a Leeds based that play a wonderful mix of Acoustic, Folk, Alternative and with dashes of Post-Punk riffs. The 'Track of the week' this week is the opening track off their EP, 'Champion'.

The track opens with riffs and vocals echoing all over it, the chorus is probability one of the best to sing along to. "oooh, I'm your favourite son, I'm a champion, oh and the fire and sun, oh the loaded gun, I'm a champion, fire and sun". There is a sense of urgency with the chorus, with it being the opening track to their début it's a great way for you to get to know them. We first heard about them after we saw White Lies at Wembley Arena, and it's safe to say, we've been in love with them since!

[FACEBOOK]

Interview... with Dive Bella Dive

2012-01-08T19:43:00.004Z

Having them as our 'Track of the week' all this week, we thought it would be fit to interview them and gain an insight into their world that is, Dive Bella Dive. We chatted to Barnaby (Lead Vocals) and asked how it was recording their album and how they got signed to Island Records.

You literally BURST onto the scene only a few months ago, and after playing your first show I thought you were amazing, how was it playing your first show as 'Dive Bella Dive'?

To play for the first time after three years of no gigs was INCREDIBLE! There was such a tangible atmosphere at the Guild Hall. I don't know why but people were simply excited to be there before anyone really played. The nice thing about working with the guys in Dive Bella Dive is, you don't ever have to give them a kick up the arse. Whenever I look over my shoulder they're always thrashing about like there's no tomorrow. Combine that with the insane energy of the crowd we played to and you have one crazy party. I loved every second of it!

Right after that the fans were already going mental for you guys, how has the 'stardom' felt for you guys?

I was actually really taken aback! I had to go upstairs and hide for a full 15 mins before I could come to terms with what was happening! Although the other guys just dove straight in without a second thought! I'm so grateful to all the people who came. They really did make that day for me.

I already knew about Dans old 'solo' band after seeing him play on Channel 4 years go, how did you guys meet?

I met Dan on a show called Orange Unsigned Act. I was in a band on the brink of civil war and he was a friendly face I could hang with back stage when tensions rose. During the penultimate round, I split up with my band and that's when Dan and I decided to work together. We found Sam on Facebook. Loved his music, his fashion and his passion for all things Pokèmon. As for Ben, we stole him from another band...shhhh!

You guys have signed to the record label 'Island Records', congratulations, how did that come about?

Just luck! We went to a lot of labels but Island were the only guys who really understood what we were going for. In fact, none of the demos we showed them are going on the album. We're very fortunate that they had faith in our ability to improve.

Also I hear you have been meeting established names such as Snoop Dogg and RedOne, are you going to be collaborating with any of them in the near future?

We're actually doing the whole album with Red One. I can't even begin to describe that guy! He's full of energy, charisma, basically the physical embodiment of all things positive. Working with him is a lot of fun. Snoop isn't on the books right now but he's more than welcome if he wants to stop by! haha

One final question, I really do love your song 'Spend The Night...', you had such energy when playing it live, will we be hearing any new recorded material soon?

We're ALWAYS trying to weasel our material onto the internet! There are a lot of tracks to come. We're just trying to hold out until we get them recorded properly. Everything so far is a home demo.

My thanks go to Barnaby for answering the questions, keep an eye on Dive Bella Dive in the coming few weeks, they might be playing some shows near you soon!

[FACEBOOK]
Dive Bella Dive - Spend The Night Living (And I'll Ne'er Return)

Introducing... Baptism

2012-01-07T17:11:00.006Z

Baptism is the moniker of solo musician Luke Morgan from Birmingham. He is influenced by bands like Dive, Swim Deep, Peace and WU LYF. Baptism try and create big atmospheres but with simple melodies akin to The XX, and all the tracks are recorded in Luke's tiny uni room. His sound is enhanced with the Lo-Fi approach he has taken, he has two tracks recorded so far, and they're both the best Lo-Fi sounding Indie gems I've honestly ever heard!

He has just started a band called Heavy Waves and hopes to gig Baptism's and new tracks live with band members Ed Taylor and Matt Tucker. Baptism's new track 'Tides' will be appearing in our latest 'Un-Signed Mixtape' but you can download it before anyone else right here!

For fans of // Wu Lyf, Peace, The XX

[TUMBLR]

Introducing... Gentlemen's Club

2012-01-07T12:31:00.005Z

Upbeat Indie-Pop hailing from the Biggleswade/Gamlingay/Hatch area just outside the vibrant city of Cambridge. Gentlemen's Club are here and ready with an EP that should get your feet tapping, hands doing the air drums and head bopping. They''ve already played numerous venues across the capital (London), Harlow, Hithcin, and Bedfordshire. They're only 17-18 years old and after their first EP was released they sold over 200 copies of it, and the EP was only available at their gigs.

With them being a young band some people thought that they would have to wait a while to support some big name bands, so far they've supported.. A Thousand Autumns, JoanOvArc, Silent Smiles, Kenetics, The Macanoes, Monaco Bears and The Last Men. They have an EP just only a couple of months away and from what I've heard it's the most unique Indie-Pop record for a while, these four young lads have it all, flare, charisma, style and most importantly great showmanship! Have a listen to their EP sample below!

For fans of // Los Campesinos, The Chevin, Theme Park

[FACEBOOK]

Introducing... Ivory Seas

2012-01-06T14:30:00.005Z

This year brings a whole host of fresh talent, and this band has got it all! They are a four piece based in London and they sound like the perfect balance of Wild Beasts and Chapel Club. Post-Punk Revival with a hint of Shoegaze for good measure. One of their first shows is playing the Artrocker/POPULAR Festival on the 12th Jan with The History Of Apple Pie and Young*Husband.

They only have one track finished at the moment and it's called 'Boundary' and this song has a pulsing bass in the background and guitars tingling away in the foreground. This is yet another track to fall in love with, as I am sure this band will eventually spawn into something bigger. They've even got Wild Beasts producer 'Richard Formby' to produce their track for them, with more songs in the pipeline!

For fans of // Wild Beasts, Chapel Club, Flashguns

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://ivoryseas.bandcamp.com/track/boundary"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Boundary by Ivory Seas&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

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Introducing... Swiss Lips

2012-01-05T17:49:00.004Z

They been around for around a few months now, maybe more but sadly I don't know much about their history, only about where they are destined! They had a long hiatus (in various bands) from releasing any tracks and they are now back and bigger than ever!

The first track they have unleashed upon the blogosphere is called 'Grow', this is a synth laden pop-rock nugget of perfection. Sam from the band said to me (about this track)...

"We didn't want to come back with anything until we had nailed it, and we're confident we have."

They have already started the free give-away with 'U Got The Power', and based on that track and 'Danz' I am sure they have achieved their goal! As one of the very first bands we covered I am pleased to see them come back with such a strong song. And what makes it better is that you can hear it below. They will be releasing a brand new track every week so make sure you 'like' them on facebook and follow their blog religiously!

For fans of // The Naked + Famous, MGMT, Wolf Gang

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Swiss Lips - U Got The Power

Introducing... Kulaks

2012-01-05T17:32:00.006Z

Kulaks are made up of 3 friends from the Harlow/Hoddesdon area of the UK, they are made up of Sam Watson (Vocals, Guitar), Luke Hunns (Guitar) and Charles Bird (Bass), they are also accompanied on stage with a live drummer. Their sound is somewhere in the middle of Lo-Fi and Indie-Pop with elements that have been taken from The Vaccines book of riffs.

After playing lots of shows in the past year, from Cambridge down to London and to Chelmsford (Essex) they've certainly got their foot through the door as far as a good fan base is concerned. They've played for us three times, and the last two times they've graced the stage they've played some brand new songs, one that we are very fond of is called 'Pain', it's a heartfelt song about break-ups and having a tough life. These guys are just turning 18 this year, they've got their whole careers in-front of them, they just need to secure a drummer and they'll be set. Their last track to be uploaded is their best yet, 'Big Issues' is only a rough demo, but it sounds sweet as a nut!

For fans of // The Strokes, The Vaccines, Yuck

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Kulaks - Pain

The Killers announce a new album for 2012

2012-01-04T12:55:00.006Z

The Killers have said they will "definitely" be releasing a new album in 2012 around late summer. Singer Brandon Flowers told BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe that the band had already recorded some songs, including a track called 'Battleborn', but fans will have to wait until at least the summer to hear it. The Las Vegas band haven't released an album since 2008's Day & Age, though fans were able to get Brandon Flowers solo album in 2010 which ultimately flopped compared to his other work in The Killers.

Referring to the band's first two albums, he added: "We're not so much looking to go make some drastic change or throw a curveball, I think the consensus in the band is to take the things that we've done well and just really home in on that, we don't want to make 'Hot Fuzz Two', or 'Sam's Town Two', but maybe take the best of all of it and really do what we know how to do."

The Killers by mastermedia

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The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Nicademass Remix)

Biffy Clyro to release two albums in 2012

2012-01-03T16:38:00.005Z

Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil has hinted to his fans that there may be two albums in 2012, more specifically a 'double-album'. The band last year released yet another compilation album, but this time round it was the B-Sides from the singles that were taken from 'Only Revolutions', it was called 'Lonely Revolutions'.

Back to the current, Talking to Q magazine, frontman Simon Neil said:

"We're going to make a double album, so the intention is to do most of the recording in LA and then do more of it elsewhere. We're going over the top as we can. It's an album about a fork in the road and how your decisions can take you on one path or the other. One path is the right decisions and one path is the wrong decisions - and each album's going to represent each path."

He has also said that so far they've laid down 30 demos, so it is more than feasible that this will indeed happen later on this year.

Mountains by Biffy Clyro

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Kele reveals Bloc Party will be back with a new album

2012-01-03T10:34:00.007Z

2012 has got off to the best start (as far as I am concerned), Bloc Party ARE OFFICIALLY recording their 4th album. Kele Okereke spoke to Zane Lowe this morning on his Breakfast show today (3rd January 2012). Kele confirms that they have already recorded 2 brand new songs and have already demoed 17 songs! We've been tracking their return to the big stage as early as Christmas 2010 when they were pictured together in a festive photo, to random tweets by record producers to even Kele and Russell having fun with NME.

Kele has apologised for that fiasco, but the NME were fuming over this, so it's exciting to think that this year they will be releasing a new record. I hope they will have the album out in time for the festivals, but we shall see. After seeing them band in James Ihas studio last month it's no surprise the album is going to be more 'Rock' than previous LPs, I reckon we will hear some new material soon, and maybe some live dates!

You can hear the full interview with Kele here.

Compliments - Bloc Party by canyouhearthis

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Track of the week... Dive Bella Dive - Spend The Night Living (And I'll Ne'er Return)

2012-01-02T20:13:00.007Z

Having blogged about them since September of 2011 it's safe to say that we've been with them since the beginning. This song has been with me for a while now and the band have finally made it free to download from their site. Dive Bella Dive are a Punk-Dance band based in and around the London area.

They've recorded their album in Paris and we've even got a treat install for you... it's called 'Jack The Ripper', it's a demo from the album, and they've even made a video for it too, just click at the bottom of the page. This is set to be an amazing year for this highly talented rockers. Yes they may not directly be 'Indie', but the gear they use on stage such as a GameBoy is something we are very fond of, weird and wonderful instruments. And to the way they play on stage, this band has such a glow around them, 2012 is going to be a good year for them, if not, I'll eat my own hair! But with 'Island Records' backing them, it definitely will be!

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Dive Bella Dive - Jack The Ripper (Demo)
Dive Bella Dive - Spend The Night Living (And I'll Ne'er Return)

Young Bands of 2012... Heavy Hearts

2012-01-02T19:57:00.006Z

They have the right combination of influences to create a sound that is their own. With the female vocals combining with the jangly guitars and fast drumming this is one of those hidden gems in my music library. I've been playing their tracks off their soundcloud on repeat (more or less) since I first got them, and it's nice to see other people take notice of their skills. They've recently played at 229 Club in London.

One thing I do like about going to gigs is finding those young bands that have only just started out, and an added bonus is they already sound amazing. I originally found these guys supporting Fenech-Soler at The Cresset Heavy Hearts was one of those bands that played all of their own songs, no covers, not one in sight, all their own material. And that's something that I like from a new band. This will be their year for gaining a strong local support and getting some even more gigs.

Noughts And Crosses by Heavy Hearts

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Heavy Hearts - Hit The Road (Live)

Track of the year is ... New Ivory - A Knight

2011-12-31T19:51:00.005Z

New Ivory have smashed their way to the top spot on our 'Track of the year' for 2011. They first caught our eyes way back in early June, here is the original post.

They won with 345 votes out of the 1045 cast. A close second place is the best performing international act for the second year running, and third was a close battle between two bands that are very close to each others hearts, Safari and VOWS.

Here is a run down of the top 5:
2nd - In Golden Tears - Urban Emotions
3rd - Safari - So I See
4th - VOWS - Colours
5th - Films Of Colour - Actions

The rest (in no particular order)
The Spires - Fireworks
Is Tropical - South Pacific
Peace - Bblood
Rapids! - Littleblood
Waylayers - Hear No Lies
I Heart Sharks - Neuzeit
Hey Sholay - Wishbone

This has been a fantastic year for me and all of my contributors.

We all wish you a very happy new year and have a great 2012, I know I will.

Fred Bambridge (Editor, Founder, Admin, Promoter and all round good-guy)

New Ivory - A Knight With A Sword Killed His Own Son by DimMakRecords

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New Ivory - A Knight (Audionite Remix)

Hidden Gems: White Lies - Shadows

2011-12-25T20:23:00.003Z

So here it is, the free download of 'Shadows'. An old demo from when they were called 'Fear Of Flying' this track, 'Unfinished Business', 'The Waves', 'You Still Love Him' and 'Farewell To The Fairground' were all written around the same time.

I got this track over three years ago, it's also a free download from zShare, and the fans all know about it's existence, to re-illiterate, I got this via the old 'Fear Of Flying' MySpace when it was still online. So go on, share if you care! This is a great insight to their older stuff.

White Lies - Shadows by It's All Indie (Fred)

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White Lies - Bigger Than Us (Factory Floor Remix)

Films Of Colour release a new demo

2011-12-25T17:26:00.001Z

Films Of Colour placed third on our 'Sounds Of 2012' list, and they already are making good progress towards their dominance on the Indie scene. The track (which you can get for free from their facebook page) sounds like a homage to Radiohead, with some Experimental elements in there and some glitchy vocals flowing over the drum-machine-esque beats.

Yes this may be a demo, but I can see this being amazing in the coming year. You can check out the progression of the band on our blog by clicking the 'Films Of Colour' tab below this post. This is another Christmas day treat, go and like their page and download now, it's seriously worth it!

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Films Of Colour - Tightrope (Demo)

The XX - Open Eyes (Demo) - Listen to it here

2011-12-25T16:36:00.006Z

The XX have released a demo from their forthcoming album, 'Open Eyes' and a really mellow song with just a guitar and vocals caressing it's fragility. It's only 2:32 long but it demonstrates what the new record would sound like. You can also download this song by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

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The XX - Open Eyes (Demo)

Morning Parade cover David Bowie - Life On Mars

2011-12-24T15:17:00.004Z

Morning Parade have literally just released this astonishing cover of the classic Bowie song 'Life On Mars', you can hear Ben and Steve from the band performing a special acoustic cover of the song below, and what's even better Andy and Chad both edited and shot the video too.

This was the cover that their fans chose around June 2011, this was to mark the band reaching 10,000 likes on facebook, it's been a long wait, but this cover is just in time for Christmas! Thank you guys, have a nice one!

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Sounds of 2012 - #1 - Kilto Take

2011-12-22T14:33:00.005Z

So here we are, again. Kilto Take are our top tip for 2012. The three friends from the Bedford area, they've been featured a few times on the blog in the past year, and they've even been on radar ever since I started blogging about music. They've had an amazing year, headlining the Islington 02 Academy, being written about all over the internet (including Music Week), releasing a live recording of one of their album tracks - 'Mimic' - and even playing for us at our last official "It's All Indie Live Show" back in August of this year.

2012 sets to be bigger and better for them, still receiving massive applause from their fans after the release of their début EP the threesome are set to release their first long play in 2012 on the Medical Records label. You can hear a live recording of their new song 'Mimic' on youtube, or by scrolling down below and clicking. They've drawn on their various influences to generate a sound that is distinctive yet has echoes of stadium anthems all over it! I wouldn't be surprised if they end up supporting Muse or Bloc Party in the next year or so.

I'd just like to say, keep an eye on them, the album is coming! And be sure to check them out in London on the 29th of December, they're playing at the Monto Water Rats in Kings Cross, I'm going, and so should you! Missing this amazing band play live will be a huge disappointed on your part, they've got such a great front-man, and he is always backed up by two great friends of his. 2012 here we come!

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Un-Signed Mixtape how to apply (Jan/Feb 2012)

2011-12-22T12:44:00.002Z

Who fancies being in the Janissary & February 'Un-Signed Mixtape'?

Criteria:
1) MUST be either Unsigned or able to share a track freely without any commercial interference.

2) When 'dropping' your song into our 'drop-box' (located on the left hand side of the blog)
You must fill the following out when sending the song (in the comment section of the form).
- Band Name:
- Song Title:
- Facebook page/group (link):

3) Please do the above otherwise it is hassle for everyone to find all of the information for a track

4) You may be involved if you have been before, this is all about Un-Signed talent here and we welcome any genre of music as long as it falls under the category of 'Indie' in one way or another.

5) "But wait we only have live recordings!" It's OK we accept 'Demos' 'Live' 'Remixes' all the way up to the fully produced (so long as it's OK to share for free)

Have fun guys and if you do follow the following guidelines/rules then you will know as soon as the mixtape goes live by a comment on your facebook page by "It's All Indie".

Closes: 1st January 2012 at 20:00 (GMT)

Sounds of 2012 - #2 - Morning Parade

2011-12-21T17:59:00.006Z

Where to start! It's been a fantastic year for the five friends from deepest Essex, they've recorded their début album, released 2 official singles and one for Record Store Day. While they were in the studio for the album with Dave Kosten (Everything Everything producer) they've managed to squeeze in European support tours with The Wombats, The Kooks and 30 Seconds To Mars, plus playing countless festivals. Steadily building their fan-base over the past year they played one of their last shows of 2011 at The Camden Barfly.

Also they managed to get round to playing The Scala in September of this year, their biggest headline show to date! With the album already in the bag the band are set for a nice cosy Christmas in front of the TV... Steve has said on twitter that they are writing more songs, they just can't keep still, they always "hit the ground and start running" (Steve Sparrow) and without a bad song in sight their success is going to continue in 2012. Expect a BIG show at Heaven (Charing Cross), a few singles and even a UK tour. Stay safe guys, it's been a blast so far!

Morning Parade - On Your Shoulders (7" Version) by It's All Indie (Fred)

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Spring Offensive Documentary - Watch here

2011-12-21T17:50:00.004Z

Oxford based Indie-Rockers Spring Offensive have uploaded a short documentary about the free gig they put on at The East Oxford Community Centre. Also the video is narrated by one of the band members and he also tells all about their plans for the coming year.

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Sounds of 2012 - #3 - Films Of Colour

2011-12-20T16:15:00.002Z

Films of Colour are: Andy Clutterbuck (vocals), James Hatcher (guitar), Jack Allinson (bass/synths) and James Rees-Flynn (drums). They are one of the best finds in the world of It's All Indie in the past year, with two singles and a David Bowie endorsed track being released they are lapping up all of the pre-album success.

Having played KoKo and Shepherds Bush already this year, I wouldn't be surprised by this time next year they'd be on everyone's lips, with amazing tracks such as 'Capital', 'Circles', 'Actions' and 'Persinette' they've already managed to create four amazing tracks to call their own, also they've covered a Bowie song, 'Slow Burn', which has been promoted on the Bowie official website and by such media sites as NME.com! It is a darn certainty that 2012 will be a big year for the four lads from London, I hope they're ready, because it's going to be a whirlwind. Expect an album and some live dates soon!

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Films Of Colour - Actions (Acoustic)

Top 30 Albums of 2011 - 10th to 1st

2011-12-19T20:42:00.012Z

This is our top 10 albums of 2012, the top 30 has been created by myself and a few other 'tastemakers'. Hope you enjoyed the countdown, and if you haven't heard any of the albums, go and listen to them, they're all amazing!

10th - Friendly Fires – Pala

9th - Red Drapes - Suffer In Silence

8th - Chapel Club - Palace

7th - Cats Eyes - Cats Eyes

6th - Cloud Control - Bliss Release

5th - Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix

4th - Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See

3rd - WU LYF - Go Tell Fire To The Mountain

2nd - The Horrors - Skying

1st - Wild Beasts - Smother

Track of the week... Coasts - Pacific

2011-12-19T20:25:00.004Z

If you haven't heard of Coasts yet, where have you been for the past month! If you don't know they just yet, don't worry here is a brief bio of the band. Hailing from the depths of Bristol, Coasts are Ben Street (Drums), James Gamage (Bass), Liam Willford (Guitar), David Goulbourne (Keys) and Chris Caines (Vocals). Hiding away in the studio for months developing their sound the guys have now hit the circuit running and their first show was in London's Bull & Gate in September of this year.

They only released this song yesterday as a stream on their facebook page, but we've been very lucky enough to have heard the demo. It's a really good improvement on the initial recording, the vocals are slick, the guitar and bass riffs are crunchy and bold, and the organ and drums in the foreground just add to the sexy sound they've created for themselves. You can stream the song just by liking them on facebook and clicking here.

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Coasts - Breathe
Coasts - Drum Song

Sounds of 2012 - #4 - In Golden Tears

2011-12-19T20:03:00.005Z

It's been one amazing year for these four young men from Germany. Not many bands outside of the UK even get on our radar, and let alone a small band from Hamburg! When they were called 'Secrets.' they won our 'International Band Of The Year' in 2010, and it's just got even better for them in the past year! With the amazing début song 'Urban Emotions' they saw a massive increase in the fans that came to their shows, bought music, and even managed to get some amazing shows.

They've supported the now defunct Indie-Rockers 'Flashguns' and have now even got an amazing support slot with The Vaccines! In the past year they've also played a UK tour supporting Sunberbans and Red Drapes. With Humming Records backing them in 2012 you'll be sure to expect another single and maybe even an album! Check out one of their album demos below while you're here, I honestly can't wait to see this astonishing band play again!

Unique (Rough Demo) by INGOLDENTEARS

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In Golden Tears - Urban Emotions (Radio Edit)

Gig Review... The Chevin @ Wembley Arena, 17th December 2011

2011-12-18T19:44:00.004Z

One thing I do love about seeing White Lies is the amazing opening acts they provide, we've seen Post War Years, Wild Beasts and Active Child grace the stage before the Ealing lads came on. And today wasn't any different. The Chevin are a Leeds based that play a wonderful mix of Acoustic, Folk, Alternative and with dashes of Post-Punk riffs.

I was standing outside the doors for the floor inside the arena when this band were doing their final sound-checks, and event thought it was muffled by my friends chatting, the vendors selling beer and the many doors between me and them it sounded ace! So when they emerged from the shadows you they blew me away with the opening track. I'm sure the song was 'Menwith Hill' and then it was 'Blue Eyes', the lead singer commanded the crowd with these first two songs and grabbed their attention from the get go. They played a solid set and were given an amazing farewell from the crowd, I especially was impressed and I thought that they more then deserved it! I also picked up their EP after the show, and for £5, six tracks is well worth it, considering the sheer quality of the songs. I think I've found a new band to get crazy over!

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Sounds of 2012 - #5 - Ideals

2011-12-18T19:32:00.004Z

Need we introduce them to you? We have featured them an awful lot over the past 12 months, and for good reasons too! Ideals have been one of our tips for 2011, and they are now set to be also in our tips for 2012 list no thanks to their astonishing EP! The quartet from London/Ipswich have been holed up on the studio for the past few months and the outcome is this... you can read it here. We gave the EP a 9.1/10, which is one of the best ratings we've ever given away! You need to seriously buy the EP once you get your Christmas money!

I really do hope Ideals become one of those big bands that we all love and follow! I know they deserve the recognition they truly deserve, and it would be a crying shame if they don't become big. You can go on and check out their other songs that we have reviewed simply by clicking this link. Also you can check out a couple of interviews we have done with the band!

Ideals Altar by Ideals

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Sounds of 2012 - #6 - Coasts

2011-12-17T08:19:00.004Z

So were at 5th post in our countdown of bands that'll define 2012, and today it's the turn of Bristol based Tropical-Indie band Coasts. They've had an amazing year supporting the likes of Trophy Wife and Jonquil only after a few months after they announced that they've signed their record deal with Norwich based label 'Intruder'. We've already heard a few of their demos when they were masquerading under their old name and they sounded great, but not as great as their new tracks, one in particular called 'Echoes', they've already got that recorded and it's now doing the rounds on youtube and on the blogs too!

We caught up with them at The Nest in Dalston (London) last month and we were clearly blew away with their musicianship, you can read the review here. Every song is unique in it's own way, with the commanding vocals echoing off the walls and making everyone in the venue turn and admire their skills. With an EP in the pipeline and maybe an album too be sure to give them a listen before they get too big!

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Coasts - Breathe
Coasts - Drum Song

Top 30 Albums of 2011 - 20th to 11th

2011-12-16T15:40:00.010Z

Here is a list of what we think are the top 30 albums to be released in 2011! Not 20 because too many albums were released this year that deserved a mention! This is the 20th to 11th section, check back daily for more updates!

20th - Kasabian – Velociraptor

19th - Johnny Foreigner – Johnny Foreigner vs Everything

18th - Is Tropical – Native To

17th - The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

16th - Radiohead – King Of Limbs

15th - Los Campesinos! – Hello Sadness

14th - Foster The People – Torches

13th - White Lies – Ritual

12th - Digitalism - I Love You, Dude

11th - Dananananaykroyd – There is a Way

Stay tuned for more great albums!

TOP TEN COMING VERY SOON!

Sounds of 2012 - #7 - AUX Innocent

2011-12-16T15:27:00.004Z

AUX Innocent is an electro collective from somewhere near the old steel city of Sheffield. They are a chemical balance of colour and sound with melodies and a bass-drum that floods the room. Twinkling layers of electronica surge towards a cacophony of beautiful noise. We etch our insignia on today and tomorrow. We've been keeping a close eye on this band, and with a track called 'Indigo' already doing the rounds on the blogs I'm sure they'll make an amazing album in 2012.

They have Intruder records backing them in 2012 and with the members once being in Dance-Rock band The Spires. They've transferred their abilities into a magical combination of danceable Indie-Rock to aspire to in so many ways. Check out 'Indigo' on their facebook site now! It's also free to download!

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Sounds of 2012 - #8 - New Ivory

2011-12-15T14:37:00.003Z

So number 8 on the 'Sounds of 2012' list is New Ivory. A London based Post-Punk Revival band who are signed on to the Dim Mak label, that alone gets them into the top 10! The label is renowned for unearthing talented bands such as Bloc Party before the other labels even know of their existence.

We've reviewed their latest single 'Something You Should Know' and it got 9/10 from us, also their début track- 'A Knight' - was a track of the week back in June, and the track is even in the final for 'Track of the year'. Back to the list, with an album that is eagerly awaited by me and a few of my friends - and not forgetting the rest of the music industry - 2012 will see them rise up the 'Indie' ladder and produce a massive début album that'll have the big labels swarming all over them!

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New Ivory - A Knight (Acoustic Version)

News: WhiteMoor release 'Three Words At Christmas'

2011-12-15T14:25:00.004Z

This is the season to be jolly, and WhiteMoor like to think the same too! The Derby based band have released a festive song for free on their labels website. We first heard of this band via one of their members, he sent me their album and I fell in love with it as soon as I heard it,

So the free track is set to be a big hit with their fans, if you have not heard of them before be sure to like their page as they've got some amazing songs just waiting to be heard, for example, their debut album which we reviewed. The track itself is a Christmas song that everyone should hear, it's haunting and chilling yet it's got a subtle warmth about it, the band have hit the nail on the head with this song. It's free to download, so you should get it, do we ever steer you wrong!?

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WhiteMoor - Three Words At Christmas

Top 30 Albums of 2011 - 30th to 21st

2011-12-14T16:41:00.015Z

Here is a list of what we think are the top 30 albums to be released in 2011! Not 20 because too many albums were released this year that deserved a mention! This is the 30th to 21st section, check back daily for more updates!

30th - Givers - In Light

29th - Wombats, The – This Modern Glitch

28th - Wolf Gang – Suego Faults

27th - Does It Offend You, Yeah? – Don't Say We Didn't Warn You

26th - Young Legionnaire – Crisis Works

25th - Yuck – Yuck

24th - Tubelord - Romance

23rd - Tom Vek – Leisure Seizure

22nd -Dutch Uncles – Cadenza

21st - Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know

20th to 11th coming SOON!!!

Stay tuned for more great albums!

Sounds of 2012 - #9 - Fixers

2011-12-14T16:18:00.003Z

After getting the free download of their début track 'Amsterdam' around March time of this year I've been really intrigued by this band. Their psychedelic and experimental take on Tropical-Indie guitar based music is a niche that had not been explored until this funky Oxford based band came into being.

So far this year they've released two 7" singles and two 10" EPs, with lots of music already out there to listen to you'd be hard pressed not to find some of their tracks catchy. The latest offering is one of their oldest tracks 'Majesties Ranch' which has been re-reocrded for the latest EP, and it sounds amazing! And even their older music is amazing, they re-released their old 3 track EP that was sold at their gigs in 2010 free, and it's available just at the bottom of the post. With a début album coming at last in 2012, they hype is already starting to gain some momentum, especially since the last EP has got so many rave reviews. Keep a close eye on this band, we'll be following them very closely in the coming year!

Swimmhaus Johannesburg by Fixers.

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Fixers - Surf Wax E.P (March 2010/Self Released)

Sounds of 2012 - #10 - Safari

2011-12-12T20:03:00.004Z

We've heavily featured this band since we first heard them in July, and for good reasons too! I suspect a highlight of their year would be playing 'Rhythms Of The World' Festival in Hitchin in their home county. I heard about the masses of young fans ramming the small stage and people bouncing along to the grooves!

They've had a wonderful year and with the début album just round the corner the band released a double A-Side single 'Are We Ready/Doubt' on their website just a few days ago. They only released 'Doubt' on YouTube a few weeks ago, but this is what we though of 'Are We Ready' ... Trumpets open the song with high pitched vocals accompanying it, then bass hit. The tension is broken when the drums and guitar drop. Great bass riffs and brilliant synth samples are used throughout the song. Safari have really crafted a song to be a big hit in the future, what is for sure is it suits the summer well! I wonder if it is them that has supplied this Indian summer we have been having as of late, hmm. What is for certain is this track is a killer.

So with an album out in 2012 they'll be one to keep an eye on for sure, be sure to like their page and to check back every few days because I'm sure they'll announce a show near you soon!

Are We Ready by this is SAFARI

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Safari - So I See

Track of the week... Frontiers - Borderline

2011-12-12T08:04:00.003Z

Frontiers are based in Nottingham, and they play heart on their sleeves Post-Punk anthems. They have had quite a year, they've supported The Chapman Family this month and have toured with We Are Scientists as well as playing the Reading/Leeds festival, Dot to Dot, Camden Crawl as well as several other festivals. If you've ever wondered what band to follow in 2011 to witness them become massive in 2013, this is the band for you!

Every one of their demos are strong as they can physically be, but the track 'Borderline' really stands out from the crowd! From the start you know you're going to be in safe hands with guitar tones that remind you of the early Bloc Party, vocals to warm to like a hot water bottle to on a freezing winter night, and the melodies that craft out such emotion in the vocals. The latter half of the song is great when they all drop at the same time and give you a great farewell from the song, something to look out for next year, trust me!

Borderline (demo) by frontiersofficial

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Gig Review... Futures @ The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 7th December 2011

2011-12-12T07:49:00.004Z

On a cold December evening battling with the remains of man flu, two friends and I wander into the Tunbridge Wells forum to be greeted by floods of pre-adolescents waiting for the final support to finish and the draw dropping Futures to arrive on stage. Apart from the sense that I am one of the oldest people in the room I can feel that cameras are about to go off and people are going to start dancing.

Futures started off their astounding set with their latest single 'Start a Fire'. With alternating guitars and all four members joining in to provide harmonised vocals, the single is one to watch out for. Apart from the natural energy that Futures brought with them, they also managed to captivate a crowd of devoted fans hang on every syllable that was sung.

IMAGE (c) of Charlie O'Halloran

At this point the only thing that I wanted more of was the crowd of fresh faced teens to be moving, just a little? However my attention was reverted back as Futures stepped into 'Sal Paradise' a song which mixes pop verses with a hint of pop punk in between. The song again showed many influences of the band and also let lead singer Ant West showcase an impressive vocal range which lead the band into the title track of the début album 'The Holiday'. At this point the shouts and camera flashes echoed around the room with all eyes trained upon the stage eagerly awaiting the bands response to their efforts of singing along to Futures set so far. To which they respond "What day is it? Wednesday? Wednesday!...Is everyone having a good Wednesday?" the crowd reacts with warmth and comic chorus in their response. Before Futures play their final track 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' they leave the crowd waiting whilst sipping what looks suspiciously like peppermint tea. This in turn enabled enough time for crowd to muster what strength they had left for last song from the Buckinghamshire based band to play. The last song highlights what's best about Futures, that fact they have managed to merge both pop and punk to form a perfect balance which attracts such a wide audience. It's an odd sight, seeing a band of this stature playing a relatively small venue in comparison to the earlier dates of the bands UK wide tour. Overall Futures delivered a blistering set in which the underrated band set an extremely high standard for others to reach. I’m personally excited to see what will come next.

Gig Review written by - Joshua Tanner

Futures - Speed Of Light by It's All Indie (Fred)

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Gig Review... Futures @ Chinnerys, Southend, 9th December 2011

2011-12-10T21:09:00.004Z

After following this band for a long time, I finally got round to see them play The Haymakers in Cambridge earlier this year. This tour was different though, they chose to play places they've not been before (as a band). And today it was the turn of the famous Chinnerys in Southend-On-Sea. As per the usual Futures asked their fans to suggest some opening acts for the gig, the first band was good, had some cracking riffs, but the vocals seemed too familiar, good all round. But I didn't get their demo CD, which is a shame because I'm sure they'd sound better on CD. The second band sounded way too commercialised to even dare mention them on this blog.

The turn out wasn't as I expected, around 150 people were in attendance, but then again this was the 'Far Reaches Tour', playing places they most likely will not play again (as I suspect they'll be bigger next year). They played an energetic mix of songs opening with their latest endeavour 'Start A Fire', the energy in the crowd spurred on the band and they performed in typical fashion... amazingly tight and without fault. They played 5 out of the 7 tracks off their 'Mini-Album' with the additions of new tracks 'Say My Name' and 'Start A Fire'. The track I most enjoyed out of the set was 'Island In The Sea', I've got the demo and the new version but the live performance always blows me away. Futures will be building on their success and I wouldn't be surprised if they have a top 10 album next year. Also, a brand new track is available to stream below, it's the B-Side off their last single, it's called 'Speed Of Light'

Futures played:
Start A Fire
Sal Paradise
16
Holiday
Island In The Sea
Say My Name
Thank You
The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Futures - Speed Of Light by It's All Indie (Fred)

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Gig Review... Morning Parade @ Camden Barfly, London, 8th December 2011

2011-12-10T14:50:00.003Z

This was a special night for everyone who was there, for the fans that'll be hearing the album played from start to finish, to the journalists and press that have yet to see them play a small venue and see what they're like. Not forgetting the band too, this is a journey for them too, this is the first time they've played a set in this order and afterwards Steve told me "it's really great to hear it back and to see what the record sounds like being played from start to finish".

Even though this was 50% journalists and 50% fans they still performed to their high standard of showman-ship. They kicked off the show with one of the songs they streamed before the Scala show a few months back, 'Blue Winter', following that was one of their older songs, the song of which I am very happy to see on the album! 'Headlights'. 'Us & Ourselves' and 'Under The Stars' got the most amount of people dancing like loonies and singing to their hearts-content. Also, as it was the album playback party they played 'Half Litre Bottle', which from the very first time I heard it even to now, I still can't believe how beautiful it is. What's more is that the new version of 'Monday Morning' is just as stunning as the track before it, this too got some fans singing along and certainly was the highlight of the night for me. But then came 'Speechless' and 'Born Alone' maybe the best two closing tracks to any live performance or album. I was just so glad to be down there to bear witness to this, I'll be following them closely in the next few months, some treats are coming your way

Morning Parade played:
Blue Winter
Headlights
Carousel
Running Down The Aisle
Us & Ourselves
Under The Stars
Close To Your Heart
Half Litre Bottle
Monday Morning
Speechless
Born Alone

Morning Parade - Close To Your Heart by It's All Indie (Fred)

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News: Young Legionnaire announce 'Wreckonomics' + Free Download

2011-12-08T11:57:00.004Z

'Killdozer' is a brand new track, taken from their new Wichita released EP, entitled 'Wreckonomics'. The five track EP, which also features the songs named 'Perfect Chain', 'Pinstripe Crown', 'We Can Build You' plus this and predictably the title track 'Wreckonomics'.

Their EP was mixed (after a few duff mixes) by the legendary Alex Newport (At The Drive In, Death Cab For Cutie, The Melvins) and features Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party) and Paul Mullen (yourcodenameis:milo) making a helluva lot of beautiful noise, which sounds exactly like this (below). If you want to buy the digital copy, don't bother, why? Because their label give away a free download code with all vinyl, so why not buy the 10". You can pre-order it now on the Wichita website.

Killdozer by Young Legionnaire by seaninsound

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News: Stream and Download Matthew CH Tong - 'Into The Middle Distance' Here

2011-12-08T00:51:00.004Z

The drummer from Bloc Party has provided his fans with yet another golden nugget. The song is just about one hour old and already I've downloaded it, listened to it too much and now love it! You can only hear Matt do backing vocals on just a few Bloc Party tracks, but I'd love to see him do more backing vocals.

This is his 8th 'Solo' track since we first started to see his material surface just over a year ago on the 'Hilarious Consequences' soundtrack compilation CD. This has seen him literally unleashed and produce some amazing tracks, such as 'Into The Middle Distance' and 'Big Love' (a cover of Fleetwood Macs hit track), not to mention his (almost) Post-Hardcore track 'God Is Great', with 8 tracks so far done, I would love to see him release this as an album, but what will the future hold? Just wait and see!

Into the Middle Distance by Matthew C H Tong

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Track of the week...Song Of Return - Trajectory (Single Mix)

2011-12-05T15:31:00.003Z

I am just about to head off to London to see this band, then I remembered I hadn't posted a 'Track of the week' yet. So I thought, well, I've been loving this track recently so why not post about it. SO here I am, running late but wanting to share this astonishing track with all of you beautiful people. They are having this song released on an EP, and as such, they are releasing it today at The Old Blue Last in London. The EP is available for stream at the bottom of the post.

The track has so much going for it, as well as it having a really great chorus the track boasts a vocalist who is at the peak of his ability, the lungs are massive, he must have gone through a lot of training to get his lungs to perform for such a long time at full voice. The track also has a great atmosphere to it, with the track bursting at the seams when the chorus kicks in, the guitars jangle beforehand and lull you into thinking it's a quiet track, just wait, it's not, but it's still just as epic!

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://songofreturn.bandcamp.com/album/trajectory-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Trajectory EP by Song of Return&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

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News: Exlovers give away 'Starlight Starlight' for free!

2011-12-04T19:15:00.002Z

The band have a wistful, Indie/LoFi edge sound and are giving the track away ahead of their final year show at XOYO on 16th December and the release of their début album 'Moth' in Spring 2012 through Young & Lost Club.

B
Following the release of sold-out single 'Blowing Kisses' in February this year, selling out on pre-order, the band have spent the past year touring the UK & Ireland with Young & Lost label mates Noah and the Whale in the May earlier this year, and putting the finishing touches to their debut album, recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales with Demian Castellanos and Jimmy Robertson (Florence and the Machine, Big Pink), which will be released Spring 2012 through Young & Lost Club.

Starlight Starlight by Exlovers

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News: Get People new track 'Macaw'

2011-12-01T20:44:00.003Z

The trio from London have had a wonderful success that has gone down to their début single and EP, and they seem to be sitting on more gold with the release of 'Macaw'.

This song will be off their new EP - which is still untitled - which is due out early next year. The EP should once again be some sort of Cosmo-Pop / Tropical-Dub atmoshperic ear delight. As you may know I love this band ever since I saw them open up for Friendly Fires in Heaven earlier this year. The new EP should be stunning based on this track alone!

Macaw by GET PEOPLE

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Get People - Rain Tears

Sounds of 2012 - Shortlist 15th to 11th

2011-12-01T16:17:00.004Z

With all 15 bands this year providing us with great tracks to remember for life, amazing live shows and brilliant musicianship. We've narrowed it down a bit more. 15th place

15th - Pilots
14th - Polarsets
13th - Vows
12th - Theme Park
11th - Dive Bella Dive

Every day until we will be unveiling another band that'll define 2012! Come back every day to see the latest band to make 2012 their year!

News: Fixers - Evil Carbs video

2011-12-01T16:13:00.002Z

Fixers are known for their Phycadellic and Experimental music, this track is their most Experimental by far. Starting with the video it looks like a retro 70's kids show. What's more is that the track - which is taken from their new EP released December 5th - is the most Psychedelic since their early stuff. The same music they released on the 'Surf-Wax' CD last year.

Fixers are playing The Horn in St Albans tonight and are paying The Independent in Sunderland on the 5th. Their live shows are to remember, they sound so great live and I'd love to hear this new song live too, I can imagine them being even more experimental come the début album.

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Fixers - Surf Wax E.P (March 2010/Self Released)

News: Bloc Party recording new material

2011-12-01T15:44:00.003Z

Yet to be officially announced, but, Bloc Party seem to be recording in James Iha's studio. He is best known as having been a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It seems that the four-some from London are taking this slow this time round, the last time they took an album slow was when they released their début recording 'Silent Alarm' and I'm sure we all know how good that was!

I can see a Banjo in this picture (above) and I hope that they don't go down the 'Folk' route, it would not suit any of their playing styles at all. But last week Russell tweeted

"Did write a guitar solo inspired by an NYC fire engine though."

I do hope they let him free on this album and doesn't get restricted to using his Guitar live, yes 'Signs' is an amazing song, but I can't help what the album version would sound like if it had the guitar at the forefront and not synths.

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Gig Review... Friendly Fires @ 02 Brixton Academy, London, 25th November 2011

2011-11-29T15:14:00.003Z

This has been an incredible year for the St. Albans trio. 'Pala' is one of the top albums of the year and the band have had sell out shows across most of their UK tour. I have been lucky enough to catch the boys 3 times this year. Some call me obsessed but they have been 3 of my favourite moments of 2011. The combination of the atmosphere in the crowd, the eye candy, the hypnotic bright lights and fantastically engineered Indie-Pop music. Front man Ed has a unique presence on stage and you couldn’t miss the magnetizing shapes he pulls from a mile away.

Due to popular demand Friendly Fires occupied Brixton Academy for 3 whole nights. I bagged tickets for the first announced gig on Friday 25thNovember. Brixton is the largest venue I have experienced Friendly Fires, and even with only 2 albums under their stylish belts the guys and their accompanying brass band had no problem igniting up the Academy by performing banger after banger.

Opening the show with 'Lovesick', you would never have thought that just over a week before Brixton Friendly Fires had to cancel a string of shows due to Ed's health. The front man sent it, belting out the chorus at once with moves to match. Keeping with the first album, the next track was my personal Friendly Fires fave 'Jump In The Pool'. Jack's amazing drum work really stood out for me in this rendition. Then a conga of jewelled ladies donning tails of feathers evocative of the Pala parrot came out for a Samba remix to the end of the song.

Image (c) Krystelle Kubicki

Friendly Fires introduced Brixton to the latest album 'Pala' with the big songs 'Running Away' and 'Blue Cassette'. I have to give props to Diz-Co Lighting Design for the incredible visuals for the shows. The suited disco light set for the funky 'True Love' put an edge to the song that made me fall in love with it all over again.

The guys then played between the two albums, both being equally received by the audience with shaking hips, arms in the air and mass sing-alongs, or was that just me? For the infectious 'On board' Jack comes away from drums for some cowbell banging while the Balearic 'Chimes' gives you a taste of Ed's vocal range. It's no surprise that 'Skeleton boy' always gets a huge reaction from the crowd, with its electro-funk and poppy lyrics. Then Energy came down for 'Show me Lights', 'In the Hospital' and 'Pala', then came straight back in our faces for the first release off Pala, 'Live Those Days Tonight'.

One of my most memorable moments from the gig was during the enchanting 'Hurting', where Ed stood on a disco lit box with smoke blasting up from it, showing off his signature moves to the max, all very Marilyn Monroe-esque. Friendly Fires ended the main set with the gorgeous 'Paris' and 'Pull me back to Earth'.

For the encore the guys quickly returned blasting out ‘woooop woooop woooop durrrr-um ping’ through the Academy. Which some may recognise as the intro to Hawaiian Air. If you followed Friendly Fires throughout the festival season, live or on the telly box, you were probably expecting a string of beautiful Hawaiian costumed ladies to appear on stage. And right so, because that is exactly what we got at Brixton too. Then the cowbells came back out for 'Kiss of Life' to draw a close on the monumental night.

Gig Review written by - Krystelle Kubicki

Friendly Fires - Hurting (Dezlin Rework) by DEZLIN

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EP Review... Morning Parade - Us & Ourselves EP

2011-11-29T14:50:00.005Z

I'd say this is the start of the album promotion now, Morning Parade has been in my life for 18 months now and it's been a great journey as a fan! From seeing them open up the Junction in Cambridge to playing The Scala two months ago I'm sure they'll go on to be even bigger by this time next year! The 'EP' isn't a proper 'EP' in the sense that they went out to do an 'EP' rather more it's a single with a live song and a remix. One thing I was excited about is the new version of 'Youth'.

Us & Ourselves:
With this being the first single off the album - as of which, fans have been waiting a while for - the song proves the hype right down to the final beat. The lads are once again on top form here with one of their best songs to date (that we know of).

"I kick my legs and I surface for air
I'll show you when I'm out of luck"

The lyrics are sung with such heart and soul, Andy (the drummer) has his work cut out here as he doesn't have one second to breathe, a song filled with great drumming accompanied with the riffs (down to Steve and Chad) and synths (Ben) that have gotten them the fan-base. With added backing vocals (Phil and Ben) the song gets more depth, more in depth as I've ever heard from this band before.
Out of 10: 9.5/10

Youth:
The new version of 'Youth' is so superior to the demo that I've heard over 200 times (according to last.fm). But one thing Morning Parade know how to do is progress, and my gosh, this song really represents what they're about! Still to this day I don't know why it's not on the album but at least it can be a fan favourite. Steve has said to me that "we want to put new music out, so 'Youth' had to be missed off the album", still I am pleased it got released, this is still, and always will be my favourite song by these guys...
Out of 10: 10/10

Us & Ourselves (Live):
This live version of the single is a great way to see/hear how good the band is performing live, they are so tight and even when playing live they sound so polished!

"Hit the ground and start running"

The best opening lyrics to any of their songs - bar 'Youth' - and when they're playing this live, people are singing it so much they're sweating! Apart from the dodgy equalization 6 seconds in this track is just as good as the studio track.
Out of 10: 9/10

Us & Ourselves (St Lucia Remix):
I am one to admit straight away, I'm not a fan of remixes, yet for some reason this remix has proved to be the anomaly. The big bass running up to the chorus isn't amazing but it's the latter thrid of the track that really grabs you, very atmospheric, even by a remixes standard, it's amazing to see the remixer still keep the 'Morning Parade-touch' on the track. That being, I'll still never give more than a 8/10 for a remix.
Out of 10: 8/10

Morning Parade - Us & Ourselves EP
Out of 10: 9.1/10

Morning Parade 'Us & Ourselves' (KAMUKI Bring Back the 80's Remix) EMI Records by kamukihq

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Track of the week... Vows - Colours

2011-11-28T07:36:00.003Z

Vows is one of those hidden gems, a band that combines more than the one genre to give you something different. They have aspects of Rock, Tropical, Alternative, Indie-Pop and some funky cowbells to create something I like to call 'Shakin'-Pop', something to dance to yet something that you can appreciate and love over and over again. What's best is that this band is a young band, they surely have a bright future ahead of them if they keep up making music like this!

They will also be appearing in our mixtape of 'The Best of 2011' simply down to this song, if you fancy grabbing yourself a copy of this song they are giving it away for free on their facebook page, just click the link, like and download it. I know you'd love it, so just go on and download it!

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Introducing... Frontiers

2011-11-26T19:26:00.005Z

Frontiers are based in Nottingham, and they play heart on their sleeves Post-Punk anthems. They have had quite a year, they've supported The Chapman Family this month and have toured with We Are Scientists as well as playing the Reading/Leeds festival, Dot to Dot, Camden Crawl as well as several other festivals.

One of their demos is available for stream directly underneath this post, it's called 'Borderline' and it's the track that they'd most likely to be known by. It has a seance of intent with guitars that are reminiscent of Silent Alarm-era Bloc Party, the vocals sound familiar too, but I think that's just down to having a great voice! If they sound this great on record then I'd love to see them live, they've got one remaining show in London before the year is out (it's at The Good SHip on the 29th of November), but do go to it if you can! This band is one for the future, I can see them rising above the rest and making an amazing album in 2012!

Borderline (demo) by frontiersofficial

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Gig Review... Wild Beasts @ The Junction, Cambridge, 25th November 2011

2011-11-26T16:30:00.005Z

I was so looking forward to seeing Wild Beasts live, purely because this would be the 4th time seeing the Kendal based band play. After seeing them support The Temper Trap and White Lies within the space of 4 days in 2009 and seeing them playing to a half filled gig at The Troxy in East London it was a present surprise to see the place filled with such a diverse fan-base, from the typical screaming girls in the front row, to the distinguished old gentlemen and his wife towards the back.

IMAGE (c) of Paolo Perona

They opened the show with an instrumental of 'Burning' playing away, then they all appeared on stage to a mass of cheers and hand-claps. 'Lion's Share' and 'Bed Of Nails' were the first two songs they played fully, and with an additional member providing the samples to create a more in-depth sound. They seem to be lapping up the warmth they received from the crowd and that really did show when they played 'Albatross', the track was longer than usual, but the additional 15 to 20 seconds on the last part of the chorus won me over. One of only two songs to survive from the 'Limbo, Panto' era was next, 'Devils Crayon' still has me in awe even to this day and it's a nice step back in time to when they played to barely anyone - and as Tom Fleming put it " we also played here to about 20 Arab business men in Cambridge". The first track off their Mercury Prize nominate 2nd album was next and I still don't know why to this day they have never won the accolade! 'Two Dancers (I)' was the song I sung the most of, purely because of the very dark and sexual lyrics? Maybe, but also because of the atmosphere when the first few notes were played, the place was buzzing! They've just performed one of the best sets I've ever seen, and then they came back to an encore that I've never seen before. The last three tracks were not a shade under magnificent and the last track 'The End Has Come Too Soon' was very apt, the 7:33 long track ending what has been a fantastic night to be a fan of great British music!

Wild Beasts played:
Lion's Share
Bed Of Nails
Albatross
Devils Crayon
The Fun Powder Plot
His Grinning Skull
This Is Our Lot
Loop The Loop
Two Dancers (I)
Reach A Bit Further
Hooting & Howling

Plaything
All The King's Men
The End Has Come Too Soon

If you want to see Wild Beasts, they have just announced more shows in March:
Sun 11th – Warwick, University
Mon 12th – Norwich, Waterfront
Tues 13th – Colchester, Arts Centre
Wed 14th – Exeter, Phoenix
Thur 15th – Falmouth, Pavilion
Fri 16th – Cardiff, Coal Exchange
Sun 17th – Liverpool, Masque Theatre

Wild Beasts - Thankless Thing by DominoRecordCo

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News: Little Comets unveil two new tracks from their EP

2011-11-25T15:50:00.006Z

Little Comets made their mark at the start of this year with the release of their brilliant début album 'In Search of Elusive Little Comets', making them one of the most exciting new bands to come out of the North East in the last 18 months. These Geordie mavericks have wasted no time delivering their new single 'Worry', taken from an upcoming EP due for release through Dirty Hit on December 12th.

'Worry' brings with it the Little Comets' trademark afro-beat swagger; a highly contagious and beautifully unconventional chorus hook, with their usual carefully constructed poetic lyrics, sung with both power and perfection in equal doses. It all comes together to make a heartfelt lament to take the Indie clubs by storm. The EP follows a triumphant 18 months, which has seen the band release their début album on Dirty Hit last January to critical acclaim and reach a very respectable No.6 on the UK Independent Chart. You can hear the latest two tracks from their highly anticipated EP just below, they are 'Worry' and 'His Thunder'. 'Worry ' reminds me of their early demos, thankfully, I do have their Demo CD so I know this! It sounds so up-beat and bouncy, and 'His Thunder' is more of a turn towards Folk, the acoustic guitars and added strings sound amazing with their vocals on top of them!

Little Comets - Worry by Dirty Hit

Little Comets - His Thunder by Dirty Hit

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It's All Indie #4

2011-11-24T10:38:00.006Z

Our 4th instalment of the finest music to fall under the tag 'Indie', all music that was not initially free to share has been given consent by each and every one of the bands and or their management.

1) Pilots - Let The Light In
2) Films Of Colour - Slow Burn
3) Fixers - Trans Love
4) Elephant - Ants
5) Smith & Burrows - Funny Looking Angels
6) Dog Is Dead - River Jordan (Acoustic)
7) Futures - Islands In The Sea
8) Waylayers - Magnets
9) Chapel Club - Waterlight Park (Demo)
10) We Are Tokyo - Magnetic
11) Trophy Wife - Canopy Shade (Acoustic)

[DOWNLOAD]

If you have any problems about the mixtape please email us at bambridge@hotmail.co.uk before taking action as I can take out any tracks if need be.

Sounds of 2012 - Shortlist

2011-11-24T09:57:00.006Z

We have drawn up a short-list of talented bands that are going to take 2012 by storm, all of these bands are yet to release a full length album and are due to release one at some point in 2012.

The bands are...

AUX Innocent

Coasts

Dive Bella Dive

Films Of Colour

Fixers

Ideals

In Golden Tears

Kilto Take

Morning Parade

New Ivory

Pilots

Polarsets

Safari

Theme Park

Vows

We will devour them some more and release the 'Top 10' of 'Sounds Of 2012' in the coming weeks

News: Hoodlums to release a new single in 2012

2011-11-24T09:50:00.003Z

Already championed by the likes of Q Magazine and BBC 6Music due to their gloriously unpredictable live show, HOODLUMS release their second single 'Dark Horses' along with B-side 'Ends of the Earth' (physical and digital format) on January 30th via Blow The Whistle Recordings.

Their track, 'Not A Love Song' fea'ures on Fierce Panda's new talent EP, 'Zip It Up' before they then embarked on writing and recording new material at London’s famous RAK Studios & Leeders Farm in rural Norfolk. Watch out for a full review in the new year of the single!

HOODLUMS - DARK HORSES / ENDS OF THE EARTH by HOODLUMS

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