Soft Metals - "Psychic Driving"

Soft Metals are a Portland duo featuring vocalist Patricia Hall and keyboardist/programmer Ian Hicks. They have recreated the 80's new wave synth sound perfectly with the use of analogue and vintage synths. However, there is clearly something modern or even futuristic in the mix. More cinematic than dance floor electro-pop.

Baxendale - "Music For Girls"

Indie nerd disco. Belle and Sebastian for the dance floor. Twee dance-pop. Add your own definition or just have a listen. This could get a cool party rocking! It could also clear out a Westie (bogan) party.

New Order - "Everything's Gone Green"

New Order were my other 80's obsession, after The Smiths. "Everything's Gone Green" was one of their earlier post-Joy Division tracks that consolidated my allegiance. It may have seemed inevitable that fans of Joy Division would automatically gravitate towards New Order but their style was quite different and became more so over time... so it wasn't a given. All they had to do was keep true to the cult reputation of Joy Division and not compromise. Which they did successfully. "Everything's Gone Green" is a place New Order were at ... somewhere between Joy Division and "Blue Monday".

Regina Spektor - "All the Rowboats"

I've always liked Regina Spektor's music but her last album was something special and on the strength of this single "All the Rowboats" her next album will be another must-have. "All the Rowboats" brings together all her talents... the classical piano, a perfect pop tune, beautiful vocals and compelling lyrics. With Regina Spektor you can usually expect some eccentricity and that is part of the reason I love her music. She doesn't let us down here either. Although, it could even be missed... but I am sure the heavy reverb/80's style percussion that bookmark this song, is vocally driven (beatbox). Good on you Regina!

Stan Getz, Astrud & João Gilberto - "The Girl From Ipanema"

I know "The Girl From Ipanema" now epitomizes elevator music and forgettable lounge music... due to the worldwide explosion of Bossa Nova music and the bad interpretations from the likes of Herb Alpert, Sergio Mendes and other lounge acts as bad as James Last. If you are old enough to remember that period of Bossa Nova lite you are probably no longer reading this. If, like me, you missed that and are not scarred for life... you may appreciate Bossa Nova as an interesting genre. Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto released the most famous version on their Getz/Gilberto album from 1964 and it featured Joao's wife Astrid Gilberto. She only got the opportunity to sing it after they had decided on an English language version while in the studio and she was the only one who could speak English well enough. She wasn't a trained singer and that may have been part of the charm. She became a huge star after the success of the album. It is a beautiful version which features the soft vocals of Joao Gilberto before Astrid adds another dimension to it, although, the single jumped straight to the Astrid vocals, which is a travesty... but I will have to concede that long singles didn't exist in the mid 60's... so I'm glad the album was a success so people could here it as it should've been heard. It also features the songwriter himself (the music - not the lyrics) Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano. The album is a classic that jazz purists and the general public all enjoyed without prejudice. If you don't own this album... you have some shopping to do. I won't hold you up any longer.

Sham 69 - "Hurry Up Harry"

Punk band Sham 69 from Hersham England had a big influence on the Oi! movement during the late 70's that actually led to them stop playing live after violent clashes at one of their 1978 shows. They definitely had a strong punk sound but also had a sense of humour and a pragmatic approach to their songwriting... these guys were more like football chanting lads than their university or art school peers. "Hurry Up Harry" is a good example of their punk with an element of fun added. You have to love a song with a chorus of "We're going down the pub"... I'll drink to that.

Spain - "Untitled #1"

Spain is a 4-piece band from Los Angeles featuring Josh Haden on vocals and bass. He is the son of Jazz legend Charlie Haden and brother of triplets Petra, Tanya and Rachel Haden. Petra and Tanya featured on Spain's debut album 'The Blue Moods of Spain' released in 1995. "Untitled #1" is from that album. The acoustic slow strumming and whispered vocals set up more than six minutes of melancholic bliss.
"Walked away - Released from all my crimes"