The Blue Child Experiments who I wrote about earlier this month have posted two new songs to their my space page for streaming. The new songs are She Plays Rough and Counting Days. Both songs have the 1980's predominately "Scottish" feel despite the band hailing from Norway! Not indie pop but worth a listen anyway.

The Blue Child Experiments - Better Life
The Blue Child Experiments - Breathing Secondhand Air (DJ Luguber Remix)

The Answering Machine have been coveted recently by the likes of the NME and The Guardian. The latter even stated "it's like 1986 all over again" when writing about the bands love of frisbees, knitwear, anoraks etc. It's a pity they missed the one vital ingredient which is the music itself! Whilst the band takes some of the poppier elements of C86 and it's associated jangle/shambling bands its only a small part of their overall sound which veers towards the likes of The Pixies and to a lesser extent the Strokes.

Silent Hotels is a simply done but effective pop song containing some guitar riffs to die for and some outstanding programmed percussion from their drum machime affectionately known as Mustafa Beat. Highlight for me though is the flip side It's Over! It's Over! It's Over!. It twists and pounds it's way into your senses with harmonious backing vocals in abundance. It certainly warrants being an a-side.

If you want a pointer to other comparable British bands over the past year The Bridge Gang and The Lodger spring to mind. The single is due for release on the 18th June 2007. You can order it here.

Stream the single via My Space.

California Snow Story released their new album Close To The Ocean on Letterbox Records last week. The Eardrum blog have posted an interview with the bands frontman David Skirving to coincide with the album's release.

The band, which has close links to Camera Obscura and The Hermit Crabs, are well worth seeking out if those bands music interests you. Of course you can stream tracks via My Space or download a track from the album if you want to discover more!

California Snow Story - Suddenly Everything Happens

You can buy Close to The Ocean direct from the Letterbox Records shop.

The first Soup Kitchen didn't go exactly to plan!

The nights play lists can be found here.

Colliding Lemons, who I wrote about here, have two new songs in the shape of Liar Liar and Leaky Ceiling up on their My Space page. Additionally there are two new versions of tracks that appeared on their demo CD (Save Me and Unconventional Culture).

The band sound like a cross between jangle pop as well as post punk bands like Dolly Mixture, Girls At Our Best and The Modettes. The two new songs are excellent and Leaky Ceiling has more than a passing resemblance to Those Dancing Days Hitten track which is a very good thing in my book!

The band plan a CDR release of their material which will contain eight songs and they plan to sell this at gigs in the first instance. There are no songs currently available for downloading so I recommend streaming them via their My Space page.

The Whip have moved on from their early New Order-ish inspired sound to one that is fully ingrained onto the dancefloor. Also gone is the electro clash style which made previous singles like Trash sound very dated.

That said Divebomb, which in it's original mix takes elements of early 1980's electronica and uses them to great effect, sounds fresh as a daisy with it's bleeps and energetic rhythms. The Crystal Castles remix has a more updated beat to it and is headed right for a dancefloor burn-up, post haste.

Divebomb is scheduled for release on Kitsune Records on July 2nd 2007. The single can be streamed on My Space.

Vanity Unfair by Sheffield's Meat For A Dark Day is like an update to Blur's Parklife punctured with the quirkiness of XTC played in a garage venue. It's a short, rocky and anthem like affair packing a mighty punch despite clocking in under two minutes.

The flip side 3 Mallards slows things right down and over the course of it's five minutes I am undecided if is a piece of art or a pile of pretentious tosh. Still it provokes a reaction and that's the aim of making music is it not?

Vanity Fair is out on Thee SPC on 2nd July 2007. Three tracks can be streamed via My Space.

Polytechnic serve up another catchy indie pop/rock number in the shape of Won't You Come Around. It has joyful hooks, harmonies and melodies at every turn with plenty of "woo hoos" thrown in for good measure. Your feet will still be tapping long after the song itself finishes!

Originally a limited released on Transgressive it gets the wider release it deserves on June 14th 2007 on Shatterproof Records. Their début album Down Til Dawn is out now and all the previous singles can be streamed via My Space.

Waaaaaah! was a small record label and fanzine active in the early and mid 1990s. The Fanzine may have been active in the late 80s. I can't remember. It was notable for releases - amongst many others - by The Field Mice, The Haywains and The Orchids.

Why the need for this post? Simple. The the Waaaaaah! site now has every release available for download. For free.

Here are a couple of choice tracks:

Strawberry Story - Caroline
Fat Tulips - James

You can head over to the Waaaaaah! site for all the other downloads.

Shin Jin Rui is a three piece based in Newcastle and this EP was released recently on the Fake Indie label. It’s an intriguing EP on many levels, careering blinding all over the place, in a search for…well who knows? The quest turns out to be an entertaining one.
While Expletive Conquest is merely a bit disjointed and rambling, London Stinks sounds like Lou Reed fronting The Fall and has a sweet amateurish spirit to it. Other notable points include Kreeper, which mainlines a ramshackle version of The Cramps and the eastern European skiffle of the EP’s title track.
No-one knows where Shin Jin Rui will go next, least of all them. Keep an eye on them though.

The debut Mumm-Ra album is upon us, an album that sees them expand the quality of singles Out Of The Question and What Would Steve Do? over the course of an entire album. The vocals are rather reminiscent of Bloc Party at times; they have that desperate plea from the innocence of youth. Luckily for Mumm-Ra singer James has seen fit to add an extra edge to his vocals to avoid the blandness of the former band.
Now Or Never falls midway between The Polyphonic Spree and Hope Of The States, it’s glorious and spiralling, Song B is bug eyed and paranoid spiky pop, The Sick Deal wide reaching, stratospheric and glittering, while This Is Easy betrays its title, being an odd directionless moment on a quality album.
Things bode well for future releases, mainly due to the fact that they have strength in depth. Despite being rather good the singles aren’t the best things here by a long stretch.

I already knew I liked The Rosie Taylor Project before I was sent this EP. So much so, they’re due to play my Swiss Concrete night in Oxford on June 10th.
The Scotland Sketches EP reaffirms all that I previously thought. Less than a year old and formed through a mixture of boredom and whimsy in Leeds, they sound like a fully formed band already.
On this EP you’ll find the almost a capella, minimally strummed Maps For Lost Lovers which has delightfully maudlin trumpet interjections, A Good Café On George Street that has vocals which positively ache with sadness, alongside the equally wonderful The Sun On My Right and Black And White Films. Jonny and Sophie’s vocal work beautifully together, him sad and up front, her chipping in on backing to hold his head up.
This will be the last self-released CD before Black And White Films is given a proper release as the band’s debut single in July on Bad Sneakers.

Will stay at home having a quiet movie-night. I had already decided to see Mike Leighs "Naked" again, and when I stumbled over a new song by Cloetta Paris, another film was decided. Must have been about 20 years since I last saw St Elmos Fire. Wonder if it is available on DVD at the place I rent movies. hm...

Listen to Cloetta Paris cover here:
St Elmos Fire

Club 8 have announced that they have just finished the first single from the our upcoming 6th album (out September). It's called "Whatever You Want" and will be out on June 13. You can download it for free on My Space now.

I guess it will be released on Labrador although there is no mention of it on the site nor on the release schedules as of yet.

Some sad news: from Lovejoy.

Dear Friends

It is with immense sadness that I have to inform you that my dearest friend Keith Girdler died on May 15th 2007. Keith passed away peacefully after a recent deterioration in his condition - he was diagnosed with cancer in July 2004. Keith was a truly special person and I know that many people will hold very fond memories of their time spent in his company. Keith is survived by his partner, his siblings and their families. We are all devastated at the tragic loss of Keith and we will miss him enormously.

Keith was known to many as the singer in Blueboy - a brilliant band who are still seen as influential many years since they last released a record. He was a gifted songwriter and he had a beautiful voice. I considered Keith to be not only my best friend but an amazingly talented person. It was a huge privilege to know him. Despite continuing to release records with his other groups Arabesque, Beaumont, Lovejoy and The Snowdrops, Keith's focus shifted away from music in recent years. He enjoyed a successful career, first by training as a qualified social worker and then developing a skilled role as Volunteer Services Manager for Age Concern Eastbourne. He was passionate about his work and the need to stand up for some of the most vulnerable elderly people in our society. Keith was exteremly brave and he continued in his work for as long as possible during his illness. I know that Keith was very highly regarded by his colleagues and the people for whom he provided care and support in his work. He was a selfless and gentle person who genuinely affected everyone he knew with his warmth, kindness, humility and humour.

Keith wanted to be remembered, to use his own words, with 'happiness and smiles' - which for those of us fortunate enough to have known him, will come all too easily despite our grief.

Words cannot really come close to describing the feelings we have about Keith. However, I know that many people will want to express their sorrow at this news and their sympathy to his family and friends. If you would like to send a message of condolence, or share your memories of Keith, please send an email to snowboundipc@yahoo.co.uk.

Messages and tributes to Keith will be published online in the near future, when a suitable web location has been established.

Richard Preece May 22 2007

Indie mp3 passes on it's condolences to his family & friends.

If you happen to be strolling around London on the icelandic independence day, June 17th, you just might fancy popping into The Luminaire on 311 High Road, Kilburn. You're likely to meet either yelping punk rockers balancing on chairs and/or tables, half-naked men covered in glimmer pouring champange down their underwear, or the elegant singing salaryman Tim Ten Yen. What on earth is happening?

Well, PR company Two Little Dogs is scheduling the first in what will become bi-monthly events called Reykjavik Nights in London, where two icelandic bands will appear accompanied by a solitary local act. In this case it will feature the punk rockers Puke, whom I've mentioned here before, Trabant, who despite long careers in ignored indie bands are now one of the most popular bands in iceland, and the beforementioned Tim Ten Yen.

I, for one, am sure you will not be dissapointed by this event, Trabant put on a spectacularly saucy show, Puke are the most fun you can have without puking, and Tim Ten Yen hammers out some delightful indiepoppy tunes on a syntheziser with very authentic fake drum beats.

Tim Ten Yen on Myspace
Trabant on Myspace
Puke on Myspace
Tickets to the event available here
Article in Reykjavik Grapevine about Puke's last tour of the UK
Two Little Dogs on Myspace
Reykjavik Nights in London on Myspace

Trabant - Maria (clip)
Trabant - Enter Spacebar
Æla - Hent'essu í mig

Video for Trabant's The One:



Video for Tim Ten Yen's song "Girl number one":

The Soup Kitchen is a new quarterly night set up by Trev and Tom.B so they and their friends can spin their favourite discs to anyone who wants to listen and maybe have a dance. Alongside the regular dose of indie pop, alternative rock, Swedish sounds and girl bands there will be a theme running through each night. This may comprise of tracks from one particular label, a band, a city or even a year!

The first Soup Kitchen night will be on Saturday 26th May 2007 taking place upstairs at the Enterprise with guest DJ's Andy & Emma from Pocketbooks . The theme will be Creation Records from Meat Whiplash to the Boo Radleys, The Bodines to Oasis, Primal Scream to erm, Primal Scream!

It's free entry and runs from 8pm - 1am. 2 Haverstock Hill, Camden NW3 2BL (opposite Chalk Farm tube).

Motoboy has an album due for release on the Songs I Wish I Had Written label in September. The label has released the track Blue Motorbike as a taster for the album. It's a 1980's influenced synth pop track which the label describes as a euro-hit. I am not to sure about it to be honest - it's a bit cheesy. Maybe it needs another play or two. Or not.........

Moto Boy - Blue Motorbike

Thumbs up to Fire Escape Talking for pointing me to the way of Maia Hirasawa. I was well impressed with this and picked up the wonderful And I Found This Boy single from Klicktrack. There is also an album out which has been added to my shopping list. Stream tracks via My Space.

Fades In Slowly is another John Peel blog. There is some excellent stuff here such as a documentary on the have they or have they not split, New Order.

Talking about Peel another blog is Teenage Kicks. It's very Festive 50 orientated and is well worth a look.

Swedish indie pop troubadours The Lovekevins have produced an album which attempts to blend dreamy, sugary vocals and infectious melodies with futuristic electronica. Unfortunately, they have moved on just a little bit too far from the unashamedly pop sound of their first 7” single, Happy Happy, and seem far too content these days to let bleeps and drum machines replace their guitars. The stand-out song is the slightly eccentric Private Life of a Cat, which inadvertently quotes Ant and Dec’s “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” (possibly something lost in translation?) and uses glitches and beeps to highlight and enhance the pop melody, not to drown it. However, it is hard to criticise a band who sing so lovingly of anoraks, Tamagotchi and tandem bikes without sounding ironic…..all they need to do is ditch the over-reliance on their computer and they could be the pop minstrels they so clearly long to be.

Today's Guardian has reported that the film Control, which is about Ian Curtis of Joy Division, opened to acclaim at Cannes yesterday. The book was based on Deborah Curtis book Touching From A Distance.

Which seems timely news now it seems that New Order have split following Peter Hooks revelations that he will never work with Bernard Sumner again. Hooky has a My Space page where he was written a bit more on the subject. However New Order Online writes that just because Hooky has left the band it does not mean the band has cease to exist and the current situation is just a spat.

Personally I hope they have split and they should have really called it a day after 2001's Get Ready album. The follow up Waiting For The Sirens Call was a work of a band in decline and devoid of ideas although it's one bright spot was the wonderful Krafty single.

The Guardian were also impressed with the three part New Order tribute from Coffesnorter.

EDIT: Another nice piece from earlier in the week courtesy of The Independent.

The Envelopes have made a live version of their current single Smoke In The Desert, Eating The Sand, Hide In The Grass available as a free download.

It was recorded for the XFM station during last months Camden Crawl. It can be downloaded from here.

The original version can be streamed via their Myspace page.

Atomic Beat Records is a new little indie pop label from London Town. They describe the label as thus: Indiepop is what we live for and singles are our idea of perfection. And that's all you need to know about us.

They have just released their first two singles this past Monday. The first was Pete Green and Everything I Do Is Gonna Be Sparkly and the other was from the Pocketbooks with Cross The Line. Nat Lady's review of the Pocketbooks single can be found here.

The label is hosting it's first night on Friday 25th May 2007 at Fortuna Pop (Buffalo Bar). Alongside the artists above the Owls & Stars of Aviation will also be playing whilst Atomic Beat will be supplying the dj's. Tickets can be purchased from here. The following night (26th May 2007) Andy & Emma from the Pocketbooks will be the guest dj's at The Soup Kitchen's first night.

Pete Green - The Ballad of Phil Jevons
Pete Green - I Haven't Got A Myspace Because Myspace Fucking Sucks
Pocketbooks - I'm Not Going Out

The singles can be purchased from the labels shop in either limited 7" singles or digital formats.

This album contains the best song of this year so far.
Listen to Idyllwild and be amazed!


Interview with Bobby Wratten of Trembling Blue Stars


1. It seems as if one can not expect Trembling Blue Stars to play live again in a near future. (or ever again) Can you please tell us a bit about the reasons behind this decision?

I've always had a strange relationship with playing live. A lot of the things connected with it (soundchecks, the waiting around, the lack of control over sound) I dislike.
Refusing to play live seems to suit the private nature of the band and I don't want to play live just because it's what bands are supposed to do; a strange ritual that you have to put up with. Also, when you finish a record I can't think of anything more dull than having to repeat it for the next year or eighteen months. It doesn't seem a very creative process. I've always been much more of a fan of records than gigs and I feel the record should be enough......why do an inferior version of it? Finally there is also the question of age. At a certain point it seems undignified to get up on a stage! :-)


2. The new Trembling Blue Stars album was released the 14th of May. Is there anything in particular from the recording process that you would like to share with us?

Every time you record hopefully you combine new approaches with all that you've learned so far.So, a lot of it was familiar to us (recording with Ian Catt, deciding how to arranged songs written on an acoustic guitar in an interesting fashion) and some of it was new ground. We carried over the idea of incorporating field recordings from The Occasional Keepers album that Beth and I were involved in. So we were up at five am to record the dawn on the Romney Marsh in Kent and we recorded footsteps on shingles to use as a rhythm track along with footsteps on crackling dry branches. We asked Dani from the band Malory to record the phrase "Schnee Gletscher Glas"(after a Modernist painting) for us. John from the band Aberdeen recorded some guitars in LA and sent them to us. We used Hugh McDowell (ELO) once more to provide the strings. Basically, we're always looking for a balance between songs and an avant-garde approach. We like to incorporate ideas from our leftfield listening habits.


3. What would you say is the best thing that could happen to the band and have you made any future plans?

We aren't ambitious at all. It would be nice to just always be in the position where we can make another record and for that record to be exactly the one we want to make. We've been doing this too long to compromise! Luckily for us that's the position we are in with Elefant right now. They give us complete freedom. For instance, we didn't want to release a single from the album and they just said fine. The single will be a non album track that will follow the album.


4. What do you think of the musicscene in England these days and is there any bands in particular you listen to?

The last thing I want to do is bemoan the state of music in England.....there is always good stuff around. Sometimes you just have to look harder. The thing I would say though is that very little of the new music I listen to is English rather American or German or Swedish or Scottish or whatever. This isn't by design just the way it is. About 50% of what I listen to is reggae or reggae related ie dub, dancehall etc. I do buy lots of records and I am aware of new releases but if I think about the English albums I've bought this year they are all by very established artists (The Fall, Tracey Thorn and Throbbing Gristle). Most of the popular new English bands don't interest me except for The Artic Monkeys who I do like and I will be buying their new album!
My favourites so far this year are the albums by Bright Eyes and Laub.


My favorite:

song I have ever written: Maybe "If I Handle You With Care" or "Ammunition"

film: Lost In Translation/ Before Sunset/
Last Life In The Universe/ Valerie and her Week of Wonders.

city: Berlin/Glasgow/LA

season: Winter

album: Laughing Stock by Talk Talk


Record label Elefant

Trembling Blue Stars Homepage

Official MySpace

I caught & heard the Buck Brothers for the first time at the recent Santa Dog single launch.

The Hackney based anglo-Swedish band have been in the news worldwide recently when they broke the world record for playing the most gigs in 12 hours. The band managed to play 28 times in that time beating the previous record of 26. Does that make them a novelty band? Certainly not.

The band play a fusion of punkish power pop and are throughly entertaining with their wit and style. They borrow from the likes of The Hives, garage rock and early Manic Street Preachers to name but a few and to say that their performance is enthusiastic is a gross understatement!

The band have four songs for streaming via their My Space page and all are taken from their début album titled Me. If you only listen to one track try Girls, Skirts, Boots & Bikes. It's infectious hooks and melodies will have you bopping around in no time.

Me can be purchased from the bands website or from i-tunes.

Santa Dog have released their début 7" single today in both limited edition 7" vinyl and digital formats.

It's called Big Bang b/w Are You Hot Enough and is on the Sounds eXPerience label.*

The single is a preview of what's to come on the Kittyhawk album which will be release by Quince in Japan although it will be available on import elsewhere.

Both sides of the single can be previewed via My Space.

The single can be purchased from here.

To win a copy of the single tell us via the contact form which English city Santa Dog hail from. First out of the hat wins and closing date is 25th May 2007.

*Okay that's the label I run with friends but if I can't plug it on my own blog where can I?

Letterbox Records have released two more free download singles as tasters for forthcoming and current album releases.

The first is by the French band Watoo Watoo and is a track called Perdu. It's taken from their forthcoming La Fruite album.

The second release is by the Hackney based (no bias here) Morning Bride and is called Replica. It's the second free download single taken from their recent Lee Valley Delta Blues album.

Watoo Watoo - Perdu
Morning Bride - Replica
Morning Bride - Time Delay

You can buy/pre-order the albums from the labels shop.

To get happy!

"In short Twee as Fuck will be a new monthly night in London celebrating Sarah's Records and kittens and indiepop and cardigans and picnics and coach parties and sunglasses and Polaroids and Molly's Lips and Vaseline and C86 and janglepop and fun. "

As you can read in the info above a new monthly night will start in London this summer. You can always argue about the word Twee and what it really means. Seems like some people are kind of scared to be associated with that expression. Lame as I am I try to stay away from those theoretical discussions to focus on the music instead.

Expect to be able to swing your legs to songs such as Emmas House, You Should All Be Murdered, Cemetry Gates, Poppy Days, I´ve Got a Habit, C is the Heavenly Option and possibly newer ones such as Higher Grounds, Stalking Skills, Lloyd I´m Ready To Be Heartbroken and Simple Thing.

Another clubnight called How Does It Feel To Be Loved? has had a twee-test on their webpage for some time, years I think. If you haven´t filled it out already it, now might just be the the time to do it.

How Twee are you?

You can also head over to the clubnights
Myspace
and recommend bands or just to say hello.

If you can imagine Joy Division fronted by The Fall's Mark E Smith then you may have some idea of how Fade To Sepia sound. The band's demo, titled simply CDR-004, rumbles with thumping Joy Divison style basslines whilst the vocals of David Duell, whilst not imitating Smiths style directly, do bear an uncanny resemblance.

On other songs I also hear elements of Big Black and Silverfish. It's fast, furious and frantic stuff whilst the only band I can compare them to directly at the moment is Sarandon. Whilst not sounding the same the method of execution and the final results are comparable.

Highlights for me are Nacht Vision and the superb The Veteran which sounds like The Slits "New Town" in places. If you are a fan of post punk era then this will be right up your street. If you are not a fan you soon will be!

Fade To Sepia - The Veteran

More songs to download/stream can be found on My Space.

Listening to the first two tracks of this début EP by London based Gooblar filled me with some optimism. Twentieth Century and Girl are two fine examples of power pop sounding like the long forgotten Irish band The Power Of Dreams.

The Times That You're In continues in pretty much the same vein but suddenly changes course, sounding like a completely different track. Whilst it drags on the early signs of promise start to fade. Sadly it doesn't improve on the final two tracks which are pulled apart in two directions, unsure whether they want to sound like American indie rock or bands from the so called British invasion.

Gooblar have a number of ideas arising from their many influences. However this seems to be causing problems in as such that the band sound like two distinct outfits on this EP without any clear clues to their own current identity or direction. Still it's early days and there are some positives on this EP.

Gooblar - Twentieth Century
Gooblar - Girl

Other tracks from the EP can be downloaded from the bands music page or streamed via My Space.

Don't You Want Me, Gooblar is out now.

I saw Fanfarlo the other night supporting Surburban Kids With Biblical Names. I have only seen them once before at a Fortuna Pop night where they stood out but on Tuesday they were simply fantastic. Every one of their beautifully crafted songs scored "180" on the indie pop dartboard with singer/songwriter Simon's voice outstanding throughout.

The band, who have released two singles to date, have the launch party for their third single @ White Heat (Madame Jojos) in London on June 5th 2007. The single is Fire Escape b/w We Live By The Lake and will be released on White Heat Records.

You can stream the new single via My Space.

Sometimes life’s mundanities get in the way of being a grown-up. Sometimes it’s hard to decide whether to even be a grown-up, with all it entails - suits, houses and 4 x 4s. Pocketbooks playfully approach the subject, tousle its hair and take it on a tube journey in their charming debut single Cross the Line, a self-questioning internal dialogue tinkered out across delicious boy/girl harmonies and an irresistible tambourine beat. They have a lovely knack of transforming the workaday into the heroic - B side Every Good Time We Ever Had defies an ex’s accusations of forgetfulness with a list of closely scrutinised memories buoyed up on a dramatic, ascending piano line. Pocketbooks are the best kept secret of the thriving London indiepop scene right now – see them while you can.

Cross the Line is released on 7" vinyl on Atomic Beat Records on May 14, 2007 and is also available to download at 7digital indiestore.
To mark the release of the single, Pocketbooks are playing a free PopArt show at the Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes in London on Sunday 13 May.

The Blues Child Experiments is the moniker used by Norwegian Mats Davidsen. If that name rings a bell it is because Davidsen was the singer/songwriter of acclaimed and Orange Juice influenced band, the Wallpaper Silhouettes, who disbanded last year.

I have been listening to tracks available on his My Space page. It's interesting stuff. I find it to be very eighties influenced and it has a certain Scottish feel to it. By this I mean bands such as Aztec Camera, The Associates, Lloyd Cole and dare I say it, Deacon Blue. Sticking with the 80's pop feel I even hear hints of ABC on Hand Me Your Heart. Davidsen has a fine voice which, despite being strong, don't actually threaten the songs. It's not exactly indie pop but it does make a strong impression on listening.

The Blues Child Experiments - Better Life

There is another track to download. It's titled Breathing Secondhand Air and is an ambient remix by DJ Luguber. I rather like it and it can be downloaded from the My Space page.

The These Times EP is out now and can be purchased via the website.

Recommended Track - Hand Me Your Heart (available for streaming on My Space)

La Famille Catastrophe is the side project of Mutt Ramon's Simon Lancaster. It seems to be a lo-fi indie pop plan at present and he describes it as an outlet for his quieter, slower songs.

There are two demo tracks available alongside one live one. Not unsurprisingly it does sound like Mutt Ramon unplugged at present although as he is advertising for a singer for the project it may not do so for long. Outside is the most interesting of the three songs available. There is something about the vocals which makes this stand out for me.

La Famille Catastrophe - Outside

It's not the first side project from Mutt Ramon. There is also Muut Ramonia which is described as "the electronic brother of the indie Mutt Ramon". It's also becoming my favourite! There are no songs to download but there are four to stream. Check out I Come Round Your House which is pretty good. Hopefully there will be something to download soon.

TacocaT are from Seattle but they sound nothing like most of that city's musical history. There is not much - actually I lied - there is nothing about them on their My Space page. There are four songs to download though which may give us some clues in establishing their identities.

Peeps is the best of the four songs sounding like The Pipettes going up against a chainsaw. The fuzzy chainsaw guitar continues on Bike Ride and UTI both of which which hint at Jan & Dean and riot grrrl as influences. The only weak spot is Annual Violation which, whilst isn't bad compared to some other tunes I have heard on My Space, fails to move or excite.

This is pretty interesting stuff - hopefully we will find out more about them soon.

TacocaT - Peeps

Live: SHOUT OUT LOUDS, LONEY, DEAR, MAIA HIRASWA
Institute Of Contemporary Arts, London, UK
The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH
Thursday May 24, 2007

Deejays: Off The Wall + Andres Lokko
Doors: 7pm
Tickets: £ 9.50 advance
Closest Tube: Charing Cross

Tack!Tack!Tack! is London’s only truly international club night promoting and playing exclusively Swedish artists and music.

On May 24 in partnership with the Swedish Institute, and Live Nation we are presenting the cream of the current crop under the banner of ‘Swedish Indie NOW!’, at London’s ICA.

Performances from Shout Out Louds, Maia Hirawasa, Loney, Dear perform, electro producers Off The Wall and legendary Swedish Journalist Andres Lokko DJ.

The night coincides with the arrival of the Swedish Sailing Ship Götheborg into West India Docklands, South Quay on its way back north from Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, China, India and France.

Tack!Tack!Tack! has been running since 2005 at The Social. T!T!T packing the venue more often than not with fans of the best in Swedish indie (Marit Bergman, The Embassy, Tough Alliance, Cat 5, David & The Citizens, Tiger Lou, Firefox AK plus many more).


SHOUT OUT LOUDS

The first and only exclusive London headline show in two years from Sweden’s best-known indie exports of recent years, Shout Out Louds. The band recently released their second album Our Ill Willis. The record features radio hit Tonight I Have To Leave it.

LONEY, DEAR

The first non-American act to sign exclusive terms with Sub Pop. A folk-darling with the music press, Loney, Dear has built up a dedicated fan base over the last year through relentless touring and some choice support slots. Once in your head, his understated folk loveliness just refuses to go away.

MAIA HIRASAWA

The only act ever to collect the Scandinavian Alternative Music Award as an unsigned artist. See her once, and her cutesy charm will be sure to win you over – Maia is strikingly beautiful in voice and vision. Half-Swedish/Japanese Maia Hirasawa recently stepped out from the shadow of Hello Saferide with whom she often shares a berth.

Just a brief round-up of blogs that have been keeping my attention for the past month or so.

I'm Not Always So Stupid - An excellent blog written by Nancy who describes herself as an ageing indiepop fan and anglophile. If she lived in the UK I would ask her to DJ at The Soup Kitchen!

Phoenix Hairpins - Strangely named blog posting mainly 1980's music. Look out for releases by Bogshed, The Membranes and The Leather Nun.

Dusty Sevens - This blog is run by Ally who used to run Sombrero label that was once the home of Bob. A lovely, quirky English blog.

Pop Will Eat My Blog - One of my current faves with a person known as Dreamwave posting some excellent music most of which saves me having to digitize my vinyl. Recent posts include singles by Lush, Primal Scream, The Mighty Lemon Drops and sadly Candyflip!

Musicalement Votre - Regular visitors to this blog will know of my hatred of I'm Free by The Soup Dragons. The god awful remixes can be found here including Terry Farley's worst ever moment. However dig deeper and Musicalement Votre throws up some delights in the shape of a number of McCarthy 12" singles (see under April archives).

Medium Cool - is it a blog, a record label site or a haven of some fine tunes? It is all three actually and I suggest you put some tunes on from their jukebox over the bank holiday weekend.

And finally Fire Escape Talking and xpqwrtz are always worth a read.

Swedish band The Salty Pirates have released a brand new EP as a free digital download! It is called the Back With A Vengeance Ep and features four tracks. You can download it from the bands downloads page.

Review to come!

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