Warmth for winter

I went to see the lovely Tap Tap play on Monday which was a treat. Even better was the evening when I saw Air Waves supporting. The Brooklyn band consists of Nicole Schneit and supporting guests, who collectively play some softly crafted melodic treats of indie garage. She subtley grabbed everyone's attention in the venue filling our ears with lyrically blessed and inviting us in with a warmth of acoustic guitars and snare. I picked up their EP after the show, and would heartily recommend you buy a copy. The uplifting harmonica of 'Shine On' should get you going. They are playing more dates around the UK, Europe and the USA. Deet are on the myspace. Snug.

Air Waves – Shine On
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/buy EP

Mad times

Hola. Soz I ain't been posting anthing for a bit. Hopefully you'll accept this ace track by Not Squares as a peace offering. I'm addicted to it. Massive force, massive sound, simple and good. Just what you want in your life in pansy February where nothing good seems to happen. Not Squares are a tree peice from Dublin of the fair emerald isle. They're bobbing over the water to play a few gigs through Feb, so brave the winds and make sure you're there for a refreshing live show. Rumors are of a debut release in May. Thanks to Offset for the tip off. Love love.

Saturday 23rd Jan – Twisted Pepper – Dublin
Saturday 30th Jan – Out To Lunch Festival – Belfast
Friday 19th Feb – Puregroove Instore (1:15pm) – London, EC1A 9JX
Saturday 20th Feb – Brixton Windmill
Sunday 21st Feb – Old Blue Last – (8pm) – London, EC2A 3E
Friday 26th Feb – Cabaret Voltaire – Edinburgh

Not Squares – Asylum
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No more Fantasy

So Owen Pallett released his new album 'Heartland' this week, dispelling the guise of Final Fantasy (although the music still sounds the same). It's a good listen, although not as edgy as 'He Poos Clouds'. He relies more on electronic sounds on this recording and less strings, but the orchestral builds and considered arrangements are still apparent. There are still some beautiful tracks on the album though, including 'Lewis Takes Off His Shirt' and a slower 'Red Sun No. 5'. The album is out now on Domino Records. There are tour dates on his myspace too. Pop your ears around these...

Owen Pallett – Lewis Takes Off His Shirt
Owen Pallett – Red Sun No. 5
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/buy

Bear with me

Bit late blogging about this, but I saw Bear In Heaven play an awesome in-store gig in Brooklyn last month. They filled the room and made all the hipsters shut the fuck up. Quite a power. Their synth pop psyche of epic scale has all been instilled in a great album 'Beast Rest Forth Mouth'. It's a nice little trip through space. The biggest track that the four Brooklyn boys have put down has to be 'Lovesick Teenagers'. It's like you've packed loads of painkillers and everything is easing. Love it. They're playing a shed load of live dates to promote the album, including SXSW and some European dates in April. Go see 'em. I've also included the track 'Bag of Bags' of the previous release 'Red Bloom of the Boom', as it's amazing.

Bear In Heaven – Lovesick Teenagers
Bear In Heaven – Bag of Bags
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Strong stuff

HNY 'The Internet'! Hope you're all warm where you are. So now, I've got over the hump of moving cities and post-turkey stomach cramps, I can delight you with more music! So let's start with the very exciting Connan Mockasin. The New Zealand born man makes the most wonderfully weird psychedelic munchkin music. I love it! I heard the track 'Egon Hosford' on recommendation from a mate, and was very excited. Even more so, when I discovered that he's putting final touches to his debut album 'Please Turn Me Into The Snat' which is due for release in late February, early March. There's a cracking sample off the release on his myspace entitled 'Megumi The Milkyway Above'. I can't wait to hear more tracks. Love the warped acoustics, synths and Helium filled vocals. He's got a few EPs out on the circuit, so if you haven't got patience than sniff out a copy or two. Enjoy the vid and the track and I'll bob you more details of the album release when I hear more.

Connan Mockasin – Egon Hosford
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Bright Spark

Sparky Deathcap is a one man creation by Robert Taylor. He's just released a beaut EP called 'Tear Jerky'. The release emalgamates a few different sounds, which bodes well. The track below features Brian Wilson vocal harmonies, mixed with Final Fantasy. The Mancunian has also made some awesome tracks, including a Microphones-esque acoustic beauty called 'Berlin Syndrome'. The best track is 'Send It To Oslo' which sounds like Polyphonic Spree mixed with TV on The Radio or something. All in all, this is a fucking great EP and well worth the five or six quid it's on sale for. I can't wait to hear more from this fella. He's got a couple of UK dates which I've listed below too, so you should go see him.

10th Dec - Proud Galleries, London
11th Dec - Instore @ Pure Groove
16th Dec - The Hop, Wakefield

Sparky Deathcap – Glasgow Is A Punk Rock Town
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/buy

Fill you ear chasms

Summery sounds for wintry days. Neon Indian is touring around Europe right now promoting his debut album 'Psychic Chasms'. The album is a Washed Out style treat of late seventies french pop influenced synth. A lot of this sort of stuff around at the moment, it's a good job I like it. Everyone's raving about the remixes Alan Palomo has done of Grizzly Bear's 'Cheerleader'. Although they are rather lovely, I just wanted to draw people's attention back to the great album he's created (out now) and his tour, which will make it's way back to New York before he hits down under in the new year. If you like this track, check out Washed Out, Tickley Feather, Nite Jewel and Ariel Pink too.

Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer
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/buy

How I love thee

Thee Oh Sees. Great great band. I've only just cottoned onto their last album 'Dog Poison' which was released on Captured Tracks back in October. If you like dark grimey feedback, Velvet Underground tambourine shakes, and lazy drawl style harmonies, you're going to fucking love this album. So many good tracks in one place. They've chucked out loads of material this year, including another LP 'Help' and some demos. Great stuff. Their touring Australia all December too. Psych!

Thee Oh Sees - Dead Energy
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/buy

Scratch your itch

I had a weird dream last night and it should've been accompanied by the soundtrack of Tickley Feather. The talented female that is Annie Sachs has just released a 12" filled with aquatic, echoey, tones and warped vocals called 'Hors D'oeuvres' on Paw Tracks. There are a few acts around deeming a similar guise, stemming from Ariel Pinks' offerings, but Tickley Feather holds her heads above the rest. The album sways you around in a euphoric fug from start to end, highlights are 'Don't Call, Marilyn' and 'Trashy Boys'. You can grab her self titled debut album too.

Tickley Feather – Trashy Boys
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/buy

Day Glo

I saw Brazos support the mighty White Denim last week. They eased us into the night nicely. The three-piece also come from Austin, Texas, but their sound however, is quite different to the Denim's. It's much softer, and less Hendrix, but their musical ability is definately on par. Their sound drifts between southern country music, through spanish guitar, between upbeat and melancholy, and wanders Grizzly Bear style through different arrangements. They've just released a wonderful album entitled 'Phosphorescent Blues'. It's a treat from start to end, you can almost feel the Texan sun stream onto your face when you listen to it. Here's a couple of tracks off it to get you going. They play a couple more dates with the Denim and you can download the album from the iTunes link below.

Brazos – Day Glo
Brazos – Tell
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/buy Phosphorescent Blues