Doing It For The Kids 08 is a CD and download compilation, taking it's name from Creation's classic compilation, with proceeds going to Yorkhill Childrens Foundation in Glasgow, Scotland. It comprises a staggering 66 tracks featuring unknown artists alongside more established names such as Ballboy, Hermit Crabs and Slow Down Tallahassee. The full track listing can be found here.

The CD version of the album is limited and order enquiries should be sent jaffs@diftk08.org.uk. There will also be the the chance to bid on 266 individually numbered CD's which carry a bed and ward number. See the Doing It For The Kids 08 website to read more about the compilation and to find out about the Yorkhill Children's Foundation.

The download version costs just £6.49 and can be ordered/downloaded from here where you can also stream every track.

CSI: Ambleside is the new LP from Half Man Half Biscuit. Like most people of my age - I first heard HMHB back in the mid 80s - with their John Peel approved pop. Songs like 'I Hate Nerys Hughes' and 'Sealclubbing' were favourites back then . Little did I know that said band and chief songwriter Nigel Blackwell would still be going strong over 20 years on, and by my reckoning CSI:Ambleside is their 11th long player (I could be wrong on this one, don't shoot me).

The formula is pretty much set in stone - funny and well observed lyrics referencing the everyday and the mundane all set to either chugging guitar pop or gentle guitar strums. Doesn't sound that appealing does it? But oddly, it just works. I've had this LP for 3 days now and it's already embedded in my brain. Their are great one liners (...I stick me big nose in when I go out, sealed-off car park - what's it all about?...) top tunes and it feels so comfortable. And I don't mean lazy and not trying - this is more the sound of a band comfortable in their skin and dare I say it, near the top of their game. HMHB make this all seem so effortless - but it can't be easy knocking out these catchy songs time and time again. But that's what they been doing these past two decades.

Half Man Half Biscuit really are a national treasure. CSI:Ambleside is another jewel in their crown.

Slow Down Tallahassee's début album The Beautiful Light will be released on Thee SPC on 26th May 2008. It will be preceded by a single featuring the album's title track with Limbs being on the flip side. Both tracks appear on the album as does last years So Much For Love.

Four tracks from the album can be streamed via their My Space page. An interview with the band can be found at the indie tracks blog as well as an exclusive download of Electric Sun which also appears on the album.

My Raining Stars are a French band who based on this album seem to have spent a lot of time listening to British pop bands from the 1960's to the present day.

The band have their origins in previous act Nothing To Be Done and From St Saviour To Quickwell is their début release. The bulk of the album has it's starting point in 1980's indie pop (think Creation, the c86 tape etc) which is ably supplemented with influences taken in the main from the 1960's, a musical era which influenced a number of bands two decades on.

The album starts of strongly with Gone For Ever More which sets a standard some of the other songs like Head Over Heels or Twisting Over My Soul fail to reach because they seem to be constrained by the bands obvious influences.

Hey! I know that's not a bad thing but I would have like to have heard the band expand their sound a bit more which they would do if they managed to get away from their comfort zone instead of following the same pattern song in, song out. The tracks pick up when they mimic Primal Scream's Sonic Flower Groove era. Songs like Better Days and Shadows sound like they have the hands of Jim Beattie plucking the guitar chords to great effect.

I played this album a lot over the past six weeks and I guess that has made me over critical having falling in, out and back in love with it during that time. It is a solid début and one that all indie pop fans should hear at least once. However they need to gain some confidence to move out of the comfort zone. When that happens I am sure they will get even better.

From St Saviour To Quickwell is self released. Contact the band via My Space to order a copy.

[My Space link]

If 2007 was the year of Finland's Cats On Fire then 2008 could surely be the year of Danish band Northern Portrait. The similarities with both bands are striking. Both are heavily influenced by The Smiths and each have charismatic frontmen with striking vocal styles.

The Fallen Aristocracy EP is the band's debut release and the bar has been set very high indeed. It opens with Crazy with singer Stefan Larsen crooning over the Marr like guitars which sound like they have been lifted straight from The Boy with the Thorn In His Side. Strangely enough though it's not the strongest song here!

The rest of the EP expands the bands sound as they force their own imprint onto the songs whilst drawing from other 1980's influences. The remaining three tracks are as perfect as jangling guitar pop as you can get and choosing a favourite would be an injustice to the others. Whether it's the maudlin sound of A Quiet Night In Copenhagen, the slow building but infectious Waiting For A Chance or the glorious finale that is the title track these songs are second to none.

If you are a fan of clever guitar pop (Housemartins, East Village, The Lodger etc) then this is a release for you. Outstanding is an understatement.

Northern Portait - Crazy

The Fallen Aristocracy EP is out now on Matinee Recordings.

[My Space link]

The Seven Inches are a six piece band from Leeds who once featured Alice Hubley, now of Arthur and Martha, in their line up. They have been around for a couple of years now although I am not sure if they have actually released anything as yet.

Their are four songs available for streaming on their My Space page and in the main I am impressed. I really like the fuzzy pop tunes (To Boldy Go and Cashback) although as of yet I am not to sure about the folky sounds of Music For Travel Agents. The best song by far is Little Things which has single written all over it. It's very catchy and very fuzzy!

The band will playing this years indie tracks festival and they will be on my list of bands to catch.

[My Space page]

Thanks to all that entered the competition to win a copy of the 'Clusterfuck EP' by The Manhattan Love Suicides. There were a fair few entries to win this cracking EP. Alas there was only one prize so one correct entry was drawn at random for a medium sized hat. I am happy to announce that the winner is............... Paul Johnston from Scotland.

Paul's copy of the EP will be winging it's way north come Monday morning.

And another reminder that The Manhattan Love Suicides will be playing our Lostmusic afternoon at Rota on 10th May (along with Pete Green, The Fischers and Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring) - read all about it here.

One Unique Signal are one of those bands. You know the type, the ones that make that loud and grinding guitar music. This EP was released as a free download at the end of February this year. I've only just found it and I'm glad I did.

A few months ago I 'got into' One Unique Signal via their 'Tribe, Castle and Nation' LP which was released after much effort in 2007. I'd found the band via My Space whilst looking for bands to play the inaugural Dead Billy gig. They didn't play the gig - but the LP has been a frequent player these past few months.

This new EP sees the band in determined mode. It's sound is dense with guitars, a touch droney in places. But the guitars are still in your face enough to make you feel that you've got something substantial to get your ears into. I am partial to this kind of sound - as it recalls pre shoegaze space rock and a lot of the mid 80s noisier bands. The vocals are always mixed down and this just adds to the denseness of the sound. It's like the singer is trying (and failing) to escape the cacophony of noise that is tumbling all around him. Wonderful Stuff.

This EP is available to download from the bands Website - by clicking into the music menu. The band also have a My Space - where you can stream the whole EP.

Lavender Recordings have just released the brand new mini album from Moscow Olympics. It's called Cut The World and features seven tracks. Two tracks from the album are available for streaming on My Space.

You can order direct from the label and the release will be available in other stores in Europe, Japan and the States.

[My Space link]

New band The Bumblebees are a bunch of youngsters from Bristol who make an old man feel even older.

They have two songs up on their My Space page which have been getting regular playback on the ol' PC recently. I really like this. Cool Science has a few rifts and more from "Rip It Up" whilst Fluffy Clouds of Joy is aimed more at electro pop reminding me of the sadly departed Cooties Attack.

You can catch the band in London on 3rd May at the intimate Monkey Chews where they are supporting Zipper, MJ Hibbert and Horowitz. You can get tickets here.

The Bumblebees - Cool Science
The Bumblebees - Fluffy Clouds Of Joy

[My Space link]

Following a path recently trodden by the likes of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, Middlesborough based singer-songwriter Andy Mitchell is making his debut album, Less Talk, More Static, available as a free download via his Myspace page.

The nine track album starts with hints of almost industrial sounding synths and drums but by the standout track The End Begins these have given way to a more pleasing acoustic guitar based sound. All of this is topped off with Andy's mid-Atlantic drawl, giving rise to what could be the sort of desolate Americana conjured up by bands such as Wilco and Scenic. Given that Andy claims his influences as drifting through deserted early morning city streets and space, and his musical references as Ok Computer, The Joshua Tree and Bruce Springsteen's (in my view, masterpiece) Nebraska, this doesn't seem too surprising.

Andy also feels that the distribution of free music is the future industry, with bands and artists making money from other areas such as movies and it will be interesting to see where his undoubted talent takes him. In the meantime this is a more than accomplished debut and I'd certainly urge you to have a listen.

Aufgeladen und Bereit is a German label based in Hamburg (St Pauli fans I hope) which specialises in releasing Scottish pop records!

Wake The President are at the poppiest they have ever been with You Can't Change That Boy. This is music that if it was made twenty five years ago would have been one of those songs that defined indie pop as a genre. It's like the Smiths being released on Postcard Records with more hooks than an angling centre. Like a fish I rise and greedily take the bait hook, line and sinker!

On the flip side you will find The Kingfishers and their version of Vic Godard's Make Me Sad. Singer Sam Martin's voice has to be heard to be believed. Her voice is fantastic to say the least and she glides her way through the melancholy with ease. It's no surprise to read that Godard is full of praise for the cover himself!

An excellent single and one that's highly recommended.

The single is out now on Aufgeladen und Bereit. Those in the UK can get it from Norman Records. Both sides can be streamed on the respective bands My Space pages.

Over at Indie MP3 we're big, big fans of MJ Hibbett and The Validators. Rather marvellously, their fantastic, shuffly new single Do the Indie Kid is currently a front-page feature on YouTube and has had, ooh, thousand upon thousands of hits. They've got a new album coming out soon and, if that wasn't enough, they're due to play a rather stormin' show at this year's Indietracks Festival. Entitled "My Exciting Life in ROCK", the show will consist of Mr Hibbett telling the story of his lifelong musical escapades via the medium of song - and perhaps a bit of drunken dancing too. The show is a bit of a coup for Indietracks, as its being previewed ahead of its proper Edinburgh Festival outing - wowsers! We literally can't wait until July to see Mr MJ, so we thought we'd catch up with him to see what he's been up to....
The new Chris TT album, rough mixes of our new stuff, The Temptations Ultimate Collection and a LOT of early 70's Paul McCartney and Wings albums.

Shout Out Louds are back with Our Ill Wills, the follow up to their debut album Howl Howl Gaff Gaff.

Lead track Tonight I Have To Leave It is as close to The Cure’s Inbetween Days as its possible to be and the male vocal takes you by surprise and makes a nice change. There follows Parents Livingroom which is pleasant windswept Europop. Which is the way the album seems to be heading until the point when Bebban sings her first track, the delightful lolloping Blue Headlights.

This seems to kick start things and Impossible is grandiose like the Arcade Fire while maintaining their indie pop roots while Adam is still sounding like Robert Smith. After another dip things pick up again later with a jaunty little tune about losing your friends in an accident, called Time Left For Love.

A lot of the album reminds you of a legion of gentle sounding eighties bands, Prefab Sprout, Alphaville, The Kane Gang. And for this body swerve we can only applaud them, when they risk such derision but come up with the goods most of the time anyway.

Our Ill Wills is released on Weekender Records on May 12th.

The Envy Corps release their new album Dwell on Mercury on 28th April, preceded by the single Story Problem a week before.

Lead track Wires & Wool is a car-crash of a song, colliding elements of Radiohead, Guillemots and some long-lost Britpop also-ran all present. Amazingly despite this and maybe because of its brashness it works remarkably well. Sylvia (The Beekeeper) takes T Rex’s Debra, beefs it up and renews the lyrics so they’re about Sylvia Plath. Crazy and in your face, but you’re unable to ignore it.

The amount the singer can sound like Thom Yorke is shown again on Keys To Good Living. It’s as if the man himself took over the job of fronting Death Cab For Cutie, as it’s a brittle, twinkling tune until the explosive climax. Rhinemaidens shudders like some expansive indie from the nineties and Before The Gold Rush is a grandiose shanty. 99, 100 is very wide reaching, eighties like in it’s airbrushed beauty, a little MOR, but still very good. Story Problem is a terrace chant along and you can see why it’s been chosen as the single and then Baby Teeth sees the singer going all Rufus Wainwright on us, all mumbly and dramatic.

It’s a strange old album, all over the shop musically but still somehow rather assured of itself. And because of that it works pretty well.

The Electric Pop Group have recently released their first new songs since their self released debut saw the light at the end of 2006. They've now been snapped up by Matinée Recordings. The 'Sunrise EP' contains four songs. I have been waiting for this EP to come out for what seems like the longest time. And now I've got a copy - I can fall in love with The Electric Pop Group all over again. I even wrote a mini review of the lead song 'I Could See The Lights' when it first appeared on their My Space page. So it's a joy to have the complete EP in my hands.

Everything is in the right place, the monotone vocals, the beautiful guitars that allow the band to sound like the best bits of indiepop and shoegaze rolled into one. On 'Summer's Day' we start with a gentle acoustic strum and it really does sound like the best moments of Sarah Records condensed into a wonderfully fragile 3 minutes and 40 odd seconds of pop heaven. Lovely stuff. But I think my favourite is the pacier 'Come and See Me' which, if truth be told, is more mid-paced - but it's a wonderful little pop song and I for one will be humming it for the next few hours.

Just when I thought I had covered The Manhattan Love Suicides - I read this on the Squirrel Records website:

"Here comes another Squirrel Records release for you. How does a 27 track compilation CD of all The Manhattan Love Suicides single tracks, plus radio session tracks, odds and ends and 4 exclusive brand new recordings sound? Yeah, we thought so too. Coming late May/early June on Squirrel Records, with the U.S version to be released shortly after on Magic Marker Records, this is going to be something to look forward to before the band present us with their 2nd album a little later in the year. As ever, keep checking back here for availability (official release date will be June 2nd and distributed by Cargo in the UK/Europe)."

That sounds like a mouth watering prospect and although I have most of these songs on various EPs (including our Lostmusic Records released 'Keep It Coming') - there is something to be said for these compilation CDs - much like when The Jesus and Mary Chain compiled a load of non LP tracks on LPs like 'Barbed Wire Kissed' and 'The Sound of Speed' - there are real gems to be unearthed and the promise of Radio session tracks (from the WOXY sessions recorded when the band visited SXSW last year, I'd imagine) and 4 exclusive songs is great news. Add to the fact that their second LP proper in in the offing for later this year as well - all in all - this can be considered a good news day.

We're dead nice here at Indie-mp3 and we seem to have a spare copy of the latest Manhattan Love Suicides EP. I wrote about the said EP - last month and it's easily one of the best 7" singles I have heard in a long time. So to stand a chance of winning the EP - just answer this question:

What band were Darren and Caroline in before they formed The Manhattan Love Suicides?

Answer on a postcard, er, actually email me at this address: tmcNOSPAM@lostmusic.co.uk (removing the no spam bit) - and title the emial Manhattan Love Suicides competition.

The Closing date for this competition is Thursday 24th April. The winner will be drawn at random after the closing date and announced online shortly afterwards.

And remember if you are in London on May 10th - you can see The Manhattan Love Suicides for free @ our RoTA afternoon.

Good Luck!

Screen Vinyl Image got lost. I confess. I've had this promo a fair amount of time. Upon clearing out a load of stuff from my desk I found it. I can't remember if I ever played it when it first arrived. But I am happy I've found it now.

I've always been a sucker for Suicide (the band) and this minimal electro-meets-guitar pop that Screen Vinyl Image make is straight from the Suicide school of music making. Layers of synths and guitars propelled by a drum machine. The band also tip their hats at 80s guitar bands like My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Cure. 'Chaser' came out in 2007 on Safranin Sound. There's also a strong germanic feel to a few of the songs - retro it in it's origin - but still sounding fresh to these ears.

I received this demo a while back. The CDr contains three names and three US phone numbers - but no track details. I think I have lost the sheet of paper telling me that kind of thing. Yeah, I know I should be more organised. I popped the CD in the PC to give it a listen, hoping that the titles would appear out of the ether. Sadly they didn't. As it is The Superbeams appear to come from Dayton, Ohio in the USA. They offer up 5 tracks of punchy indie guitar rock on these demos - coming in somewhere between Pavement and Superchunk. I can't say it's bad. I can't say it's good either. It's ok. I'm not jumping up and down with excitement upon hearing it but unlike most demos I recieve - I haven't switched it off either. I'd mark that down as some kind of acheivement. Take a listen for yourself, if you are that way inclined.

Following on nicely from Hayman, Watkins, Trout and Lee we have The Accident That Led Me To The World. A three piece from America. 'The Island Gospel' is the bands second release and it comprises elements of folk, Americana and a little bluegrass. There is banjo, upright bass and acoustic guitar dotted across this LP. I hear hints of bands like Low in the bands sound - but this is far more folky proposition overall and you'll not get the louder rumbles that make Low's sound more complete for me. The record as a whole does sound absolutely gorgeous though and is worth further investigation. It never truly sets my heart on fire - but that's more down to my tastes than any slight on the songs recorded here. 'The Island Gospel' will appeal to those downbeat Americana fans. I know you are out there. Go take a listen to The Accident That Led Me To The World. The LP is released on Nobody's Favourite Records.

The Accident That Led Me To The World - Hole of Doubt

'Sly and the Family Stone' is the first single from Hayman, Watkins, Trout & Lee. It's available as a free download. The band feature Darren Hayman (Hefner) and Dave Tattersall (Wave Pictures). They hail from the east of London and are, oddly, an indiepop take on bluegrass. The band formed as a place for Darren Hayman to let off steam away from his solo/hefner stuff. But since the arrival of Dave Tattersall the band have shifted gear and gone and recorded a debut LP. The eponymous titled LP follows this single in May. On paper, a just for fun bluegrass band formed from various indie bands shouldn't work. But it does.

And did I mention that the single is free? It can't hurt to take a listen, can it?

Hayman, Watkins, Trout & Lee - Sly and the Family Stone

If Ladytron were predominantly a guitar based band then I guess they could possibly sound like Crimes Of The Future whose post punk pop also reminds me in parts of the Chiara L's.

Whilst début single Screen Villans isn't their strongest song - check out Elemental on their My Space page - it's a fine slab of retro pop music which has all the pieces in the right places courtesy of some decent melodies and singer Sally Moriarty's striking voice.

Screen Villans is out on 12th May 2008 on Zap System Records.

[My Space link]

As expected of a review site we receive a large number of demos and singles for review. One thing that strikes me about the majority of the singles we receive from UK bands is that there is no individuality between x, y and z.

Take Swirls which is the debut single from the Bedforshire based Guildean Gang. This could be anyone on the London circuit over the past five years. Think Bromheads Jacket, The Holloways, Larrikin Love and inevitably The Libertines. Granted both sides of the singles has it's infectious moments but I can close my eyes and pick up any CD from the review pile and it will sound exactly the same. Still it's a winning formula for the kids. Expect them to be massive.

Swirls is released on 12th May 2008.

[My Space link]

******FREE ENTRY******

Lost Music Records RoTA afternoon @ Notting Hill Arts Club

Saturday, May 10, 2008 between 4:00pm - 8:00pm at Notting Hill Arts Club, 21 Notting Hill Gate, London

******FREE ENTRY******

The Manhattan Love Suicides

The first band to be released on our Lostmusic label (Keep It Coming EP (Oct'07)) and what a band they are. Cracking tunes, bags of attitude and just a touch of feedback. They've wowed audience in New York and London with their shock and awe shows. Expect it to be short - but ever so thrilling.

Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring

Lostmusic's special guests for the day are Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring. A four piece from London - that have some of the best tunes we have heard in ages. Their single 'A Question of Trust' has been on heavy rotation at Lostmusic and the one time we got to see them play live we were blown away!

"Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring ... specialise in pure wide eyed heartbreaking pop and they play it like no-one else" - Heavenly Social

The Fischers

The second 7" single released on Lostmusic was by The Fischers (Down The Days 7" (Nov'07). A band from 'up north' that manages to craft gorgeous lyrics onto super catchy tunes. Their main man Jamie Holman was once the lead man in Track and Field favourites Tompaulin. If you love Darren Hayman, David Gedge and the acidic side of Bob Dylan, you'll love this.

"This is a defiant, verging on the arrogant, assertion of the new band’s existence and it's more than justified" said SoundsXP about their debut single 'Down The Days'.

And Lostmusic DJ's spinning some tunes before and inbetween the bands!

The third Lostmusic night @ The Gramaphone, E1 (Liverpool Street Tube) Thursday 8th May 2008

Doors 8pm. Tickets are £4 in advance and a fiver on the door (ignore what the flyer states)

The Gresham Flyers

London-based quintet The Gresham Flyers are the hybrid of their diverse geographical backgrounds (north, midlands, south and .....Slough) and the best bits of your record collection, all sprinkled with a little sugar - David Gedge fronting an unruly combination of Sparks and Pulp. The band should be ready to launch their Debut LP '’Sex With Strangers’ (released on Cherryade) at this night!

The Scaremongers

Simon Armitage fronts The Scaremongers - a man better known for his way with words than his way with songs - finally gets the chance to turn his fantasies into reality as he launches his first ever band with their début London show. Expect top notch tunes and some truly great lyrical twists!

The Birth of The Scaremongers - Guardian

Simon Armitage - Gig: The Life and Times of a Rock-star Fantasist - Times Review

Gig - Independent Review

Sparky's Magic Piano

Delightful elctro tinged indie-pop - with hints of Saint Etienne and a popped up My Bloody Valentine. This London duo are nothing short of amazing! And loads of other people agree:

"Bedroom produced electro-pop that will not fail to make you smile." - Subba-Cultcha
"Listening to sparky’s magic piano was an unexpected delight, and i encourage you to do the same." - To Hell With

Guest DJ's will be Andy from Pocketbooks and indie mp3's Nat Lady.

Chris Price has found a home on this site before and its reassuring to see a constant progression in his work from Myspace to EP to Album. According to his bio, he served his apprenticeship making music for the US adult industry and, as a result, I’d imagine that he is one of the few people for whom “Don’t give up your day job” wouldn’t have necessarily been a negative comment. However, give it up he did and Post Pop Parade is the result.

Previously, New Order seem to have be name checked and I can see that in some of the beats but to me his sound, whilst dripping with 80s electro, seems to be headed in a much more modern RnB direction. Charge Me Up and As She Was (the two tracks mentioned in former reviews) close the album, which is consistently sharp production-wise and, if you liked those tracks, there is a good chance that you’ll find the full 12 worth a listen.

Chris Price Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/cpricemusic

Just a quick post to tell of you a Radio programme up coming on Resonance FM. This is a two part show that will be of interest for those interested in the noisier end of the C86 scene.

This two part programme for Resonance FM looks at the groundbreaking indie label Ron Johnson (1983-1988) that was at the centre of a short lived post-punk scene of uncompromising groups such as bIG*fLAME, A Witness, and the Noseflutes. The show will feature two hours of rare music and exclusive interview extracts with Alan Brown & Gregory O’Keeffe of bIG*fLAME plus sundry members of Birmingham’s wildest sons, The Noseflutes.

Part one Thursday 17th April at 8.00pm
Part two Friday 18th April at 8.00pm

Featuring tracks from Classic groups such as the Franz Ferdinand lauded Fire Engines to the original ‘Shambling’ group Bogshed, and coming bang up to date with new kids on the block Sarandon.

Resonance Fm on air in central London 104.4 fm Online worldwide at www.resonancefm.com

Liechtenstein's new single will be released on Fraction Discs in May.

It's called Apathy and reminds me of all the slow songs The Shop Assistants used to do. Mind you most of their songs remind me of The Shoppies regardless of the tracks speed! You can stream it from their My Space page. It's backed with Security By Design.

The band have also been announced to play at this years indie tracks. They are very good live you know!

[My Space link]

This is the second single by The Rosie Taylor Project, out now as download only and taken from the forthcoming album ‘This City Draws Maps’.

It’s a whimsical little ditty, reminiscent of an English version of Iron & Wine; all hushed singing and brushed drums. The lead in to the chorus is wonderful, the band struggling to muster their spirit, before collapsing in relief at the utterance of the title words. Parps of brass from Sophie know their place, providing welcome interludes and departing at just the right moment.

Another comparison worth drawing is that of The Lucksmiths, for the sheer delicate sculpting of delightful pop songs. And if they keep up that standard the album should be a mighty fine thing indeed.

Both the single and album are released by Bad Sneakers Records.

MJ Hibbert & The Validators have made a song that should cement their legacy in the history of indie pop discos, complete with a dance to match.

The song, with it's witty lyrics, is a tongue in cheek jab (or possibly tribute) at those cheesy songs us Brits pick up on our Euro trash holidays or seem to place at number one in our irrelevant singles chart. All together now!



Do The Indie Kid is out now on 7" and download formats. You can buy it here or on i-tunes.

[My Space link]

I first wrote about Stray Dog Cafe - here - back in September when I picked up on their single 'Maxamillion'. That came out on Ubik Records, as does this, the bands debut LP - 'The Experiment Requires You To Continue'. The label is run as a collective out of Manchester and has the aim of bringing attention to exciting, experimental, fun, passionate and generally loud music. Stray Dog Cafe definitely meet some of these criteria - although I'd argue it's hard to be an 'experimental' guitar band in 2008. Although this record does manage to sound fresh and invigorating to these ears.

The LP has hard and fast rhythms that are often coupled with crunchy guitars but the band also lend their songs a slower slant - 'Gridlock Gridlock' is one of those songs and a lot of the songs here come with almost spoken word verses - before guitars and singing return.

The band list influences like The Fall, The Country Teasers and McClusky to name three, and I can certainly hear some of this abrasive guitar sound in the noise that this three piece make. But Stray Dog Cafe aren't a band that sound like anyone of their influences - there is more than enough Stray Dog Cafe here to make this LP a fine debut in it's own right. I, for one, want to hear more bands taking this harder edge to their guitars. Highly recommended.

The CD can be bought from the Ubik Myspace for £7,

Hypochondriac by First Of The Giants is their first release since 2006's Obsessive Compolsive single.

Apart from the odd line up change they have also moved away from the retro eighties sound that saw them sharing a similar sound with the likes of British Sea Power. In it's place is that brand of alternative rock which I find can either be monotonous or vibrant.

Luckily it's the latter in this case with the title track having catchy guitars with a poppier edge than Obsessive Compolsive. Another factor is that the vocals of Stephen Powell have improved greatly over the past year and that's evident throughout the song as well as the slower paced flip side My Voodoo Doll. You can get really behind the band and into the songs as he sings. You still get the impression that the band want to headline the worlds stadiums but with songs like this they also want to gain some credibility beforehand.

I am not to sure what path the band are going to take next but until then enjoy this pretty decent effort.

Hypochondriac is out on April 18th 2008 on the Little Think label. It's only a quid (plus p&p) and you can pre-order it the bands My Space page.

[My Space link]

The Indelicates - American Demo
Released April 14th: Weekender Records

I've had a soft spot for Julia Clark-Lowes ever since she shrugged off her slinky polka dot dress and ran away with performance poet Simon Clayton (whom she met at a 'poetry slam') to form The Indelicates. The svengali behind The Pipettes, she is everything you could want in a pop punk girl - ferociously witty with an ear for a melody and more sass than you can shake a stick at.

Aside from Julia's unmistakable voice, American Demo journeys a million miles away from the polka dot world of twee handclaps and arch lyrics, and into a full-on early 90s' indie revival, albeit one with lyrics full of bile and bitterness. "Let's just be pretty, let's just be beautiful, let's just be retro and disco and twee, we don't like the song so we can't sing along and our daughters will never be free", spits Julia on feminist refrain "Our Daughters Will Never Be Free". Hmmmm. Maybe I'm just too much of a sunny disposition, but personally I prefer The Indelicates when they're upbeat; the record is drowned in melancholy but seems at its strongest (and least pretentious) when it surfaces for air with dance-along hits like "Julia, We Don't Live In The 60s".

American Demo is an enigma. On one hand, it revels in unbridled joy in pop and casio keyboard lines and, on the other, old-fashioned, high-drama duets which belie their production credits (Art Brut and Carter USM). It is essentially a one-band, brutal attack on the current indie scene and a record which demands more than a cursory airing. I'm off to have another listen, and you might want to listen to some songs too - let the Indelicates debate begin!