Houndmouth - "On The Road"

Kentucky band Houndmouth don't pretend to be trendsetters - they play country-folk blues the way The Band did in the 60's and 70's with a touch of the Lumineers from today. Their debut album 'From the Hills Below the City' has just been released and it seems that they are touring constantly to promote it. Good old fashioned values aplenty.

Stereolab - "Super-Electric"

Stereolab were one of the most interesting bands of the 90's and highly influential to many bands that followed. The combination of vintage instruments, Krautrock, 60's French pop, Lounge music, Shoegaze and Indie rock was a blend that surpassed greatness. "Super-Electric" first appeared on the 10" EP of the same name. It was later released on the 'Switched On' album, which combined the 'Super-Electric' EP with the previous EP 'Super 45' along with the 7" single "Doubt" and its B-side - all from 1991. Pure genius!

Wah! Heat - "Seven Minutes to Midnight"

Pete Wylie had many incarnations of 'Wah!' and "Seven Minutes to Midnight" was from the 'Wah! Heat' period. The reference to the title of "Seven Minutes to Midnight" is the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic clock from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which was moved to seven minutes to midnight in 1980, the year this song was recorded. This was the raw sound of the early (post-Joy Division, pre-Smiths and pre-synth pop) 80's. The Wah! early collection 'The Maverick Years' is a must for all indie music fans.
A bit of trivia - the Doomsday Clock moved ahead to five minutes to midnight earlier this year.

Roma di Luna - "Plans to Leave"

Roma di Luna was a band featuring husband and wife team Alexei and Channy Moon Caselle. Channy has one of the greatest singing voices that you (possibly) haven't heard. The band ended with the dissolution of their marriage and Channy is now a member of the band Polica. Although "Plans to Leave" was written well before the split, it does sound quite chilling with the knowledge of what was about to happen.

office space printer beatdown (and family guy version)

Sometimes it's best to bypass the technician or IT department and just do what has to be done.

Frazey Ford - "One More Cup Of Coffee"

Frazey Ford, founding member of The Be Good Tanyas, and the sweetest voice in bluegrass, released her solo debut 'Obadiah' in 2010. The album may have surprised some Be Good Tanyas fans because it is more soul than bluegrass. But one thing is for sure, they wouldn't have been disappointed at all. Her cover of Bob Dylan's "One More Cup Of Coffee" finds some middle ground. Fucking gorgeous... the Bobster would be proud.



A soul number to bring tears to your eyes.

The Books - "Take Time"

Experimental folk band The Books have somehow evaded me until now. "Take Time" is from their second album 'The Lemon of Pink' released in 2003. The New York duo featuring Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong are more than capable musicians, but when it comes to sound collages they are hard to beat. The Books may be a hard read for some - but if you are on the same page, you are in for a treat. Spotify the album and you will know instantly - return unread or renew.

Camera Obscura - "Break It To You Gently"

Camera Obscura have had a near flawless career since their debut album in 2001 and with their latest (fifth) album 'Desire Lines' the legacy continues. Tracyanne Campbell's lyrics can move you one minute and make you smile the next. But it is her voice that I can't get enough of. "Break It To You Gently" has a video that is as special as the music itself.

The Eversons - "Creepy"

Like the 'Front Bottoms' - The Eversons are also self deprecating and humourous. The laughs come from the differences between the singer and the backing singers. They think he's creepy but he's just in love, so he says.

Lorde - "Royals"

It looks like our little secret is out.

Lumerians - "Life Without Skin"

I've been away in Auckland for a few days - in case you thought I had run out of songs to post.
Here is a taster for the forthcoming Lumerians album 'The High Frontier' released later this month. The song "Life Without Skin" is a piece of psychedelic scariness. Well the scariness is realised more through the suspenseful video. Stalked by alien freaks or on a paranoid acid trip... maybe a bit of both. Freaky!

Tall Dwarfs - "The Brain That Wouldn't Die"

The wait has been very long - but finally it's happening. Yes, that's right, Flying Nun are finally releasing the impressive catalogue of theirs digitally (as well as CD's and reissued vinyl). They have joined up with Arch Hill Records with a website full of goodies from both labels and the numbers are basically growing daily. Check it out at http://flyingout.co.nz - but after you've played this classic Tall Dwarfs song "The Brain That Wouldn't Die."

Mr Gnome - "House of Circles"

Ohio duo Mr Gnome are certainly not your garden variety indie rockers. From Cat Power and PJ Harvey influences to riffs that would make Black Sabbath proud - Mr Gnome have done it all... and all of it well. "House of Circles" is a powerful potpourri of musical styles. This is a stadium rock anthem from a little indie duo. I've always loved "House of Circles" but the film they have created to accompany it has made it so much more powerful. I'm going to start repeating myself - so it's best you just check it out for yourself and share, share and share this little masterpiece with the universe.

Ben Watt - "Lone Cat (Holding On)"

Ben Watt's early material, whether solo or with Tracey Thorn in Everything But the Girl, was pure folk. So considering his acoustic beginnings, he ended up as one of the go-to dance music producers. After adding beats to EBTG songs in the mid 90's, I suppose he caught the beat buzz and never looked back. His House Music label Buzzin' Fly had the London club scene Buzzin' for years.

Tiny Ruins - "You've Got the Kind of Nerve I Like"

Tiny Ruins is the musical project for Hollie Fullbrook. Her debut album 'Some Were Meant For Sea' was released by Spunk Records in 2011 and I just couldn't get enough of this track "You've Got the Kind of Nerve I Like" from the album. Minimalism at its very best. WARNING! This may cause obsessive behavior.