Trio Pigalle

Trio Pigalle are three dudes from Sweden. Max Olsson, Gustav Broman and Sebastian Hegedüs. Their album “artwork” is probably one of the best I have seen, ever. Though not for technical ability, just for awesomeness. You can see it here.

In terms of their musical prowess, they are talented young men. There are elements of psychedelia apparent, that are accompanied by an extremely chilled out vibe. The music has a very relaxed feel to it, reminiscent of a more stripped back and coastal version of Cinematic Orchestra’s early material.

The drums are very delicate, and melodious guitar strums alongside a friendly bass line. I recommend this music to people walking down busy streets. This will put everything in perspective and make you feel as though you’re strolling down a sunny + carefree street, to a friends house.

http://www.myspace.com/triopigalle

Matchu "self titled" ep

Matchu sings so softly and sweetly on this 2 song release. The disc is accompanied by some hand made drawings that serve as the artwork. These songs could best be described as "chill" and would fit well with a good weather day or even to share with younger children. Five minutes is definitely not enough time. I wish to hear more.

www.myspace.com/daisydaysdaisydays

Mari Shimamura ep

These sounds by Mari are very "electronica" and "ambient" and "lovely". In a way they make you want to just get up and dance. They are feel good sounds that are sure to produce some good dreams at bed time. It's not very often that you hear listenable, exciting and somewhat energetic music of this kind. Mari has been described by one as being "powerful". I'll describe her music as being "full of good sounds". Album is especially for those that are fans of Royksopp’s “Melody A.M.” album. Very happy that my dear friend Hiroho brought this music to my ears.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/marishimamura
This special edition CD was distributed by my dear friend Hiroho and his page is www.myspace.com/alfa2000

Anne Bacheley “Headquarters”

Anne hails from Poitiers, France. She makes nice bedroom pop songs that come across in a very simple and relaxed manner. Anne’s vocal delivery strikes my fancy quite a bit considering how basic it may be viewed as by others. The selection of instruments and arrangements to these songs are very cool, especially the guitars. Some of these songs to me are so good that they leave me speechless.

I’ll most definitely be listening to this record for as long as it will play. “Headquarters” is a prime example of what one of the best Bedroom pop records of this particular decade would sound like. Anne is also in the great line of active pop artists in France that I would highly recommend to others and some of those names are The Wendy Darlings, Skittle Alley, and Purple Submarine Orchestra to say just a few.

Check em out here www.annebacheley.net

Jodi In The Morning Glory Parade "every morning we must say good morning" ep

The band Jodi In The Morning Glory Parade hails from Bandung, Indonesia. Upon listening to the first song it's quick to get the impression that these are happy songs for happy people and happy couples. Sorta reminds me briefly of I'm From Barcelona or even great songwriters like Sondre Lerche. When listening further it brings to mind a lot of great memories of hearing songs from the obscure Japan band named Flipper's Guitar. The voice to these songs is very sweet and when they sing along it makes for an even more lovely experience.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/soundsfromjodi

Alone With Everybody “Sad songs for Friday evening” ep

Upon listening to the intro song “Eyes blurred with tears” I just knew from the voice I was hearing something that reminded me of “west coast” sounds and I found myself digging through my record collection to come up with what these new sounds reminded me of. I found myself stopped within seconds at the California band named Earlimart.

The songs by Alone With Everybody fit the theme of the album title. The sad of them in a way painfully evoke Elliott Smith songs and the piano gives me this Erie sense which I have gotten from listening to albums like “figure 8” for example. And speaking of Elliott Smith since his passing people throw his name about so much it’s lost meaning. In the sense that I compare Alone With Everybody to the likes of him is quite valid.

It does make me wonder what would happen if Alone With Everybody made a follow up to this with a “cheery” album. I am sure if that happens the end result would be beautiful.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/alonewitheverybodypop

Citified "Absence" ep

When this album is put in the player you don’t really know what to expect. What you first hear is so extremely melodic music and it’s catchy and it carries on throughout this album. The lyrics are “so so” but I think those that listen to this album will be paying most of their attention to the melodies. I am curious to know if this band is able to put together a full length this catchy. In the song “Dutiful Scout” there are many sounds that I hear that recall 60’s pop. And in the song “My Family Cup” to me is a lot like beautiful shoegaze music. The opening songs from this album also give off a great dreamy feeling.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/citified

Andy's Tea Party

The vocals are very playful yet distinct and they take on many different directions as the songs on the album go more and more forward. It’s very evident and clear of the Swedish pop and mainstream influences amongst the songs. I get reminded of many things when listening to this album. Funnily it reminds me of the approach Chuck Morgan has to his songs and also recall the vocals from The French Kicks.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/andysteaparty

Foreign Cinema – Non-synchronous Sound

Like a breath of Arctic air, Foreign Cinema sound a bit like New Order. The songs are regulated, cold, and emotionally challenging. The album cover presents a female with headphones, and the back, a male with a small movie camera. These photographs are in black and white, and that only complements the starkness of the album. Not one note is extra or out of place on Non-synchronous Sound. As the title implies, it's a slip from synchronicity, where everything matches up with life; the starkness gives an otherworldly quality to the album. There's a Depeche Mode cover. It fits in so well one might not even notice it was a cover.

Overall, the album has a deliberate, plodding feel - but not in the sense that it will drag you down. Rather, Foreign Cinema wants every beat to count, most notably on "Lovers and Killers," the standout track on this album.

www.myspace.com/aforeigncinema

Robert Church & The Holy Community (hype!)

Yay! New Robert Church & The Holy Community videos – the only thing sweeter than their sound are the beautifully naïve animations that make up the videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou-MUH7Mizo
is the video for “Skinny Rabbit” which will definitely be a summer classic for all of you kids in the Northern hemisphere (here in Australia it’s wet - *sad face*.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1T04qnMwZ0
is the other video for “ The U S of A” and it perfectly exemplifies the introverted questioning apparent in 21st century indie-pop. “It really makes me wonder” is plastered over the screen, but don’t be left probing this track, because it will have you on the first listen.

These songs will appear on “Los Tres De Canarias” a release that will be out on Fox Pop Recording Co before summer is over (in the coming months). Keep an eye out and make sure you don’t let this one pass you by.
http://www.myspace.com/robertchurch

Jane Woody & Angel Eyes – Total Miracle

“Heart broken every weekend, deciphering: lover or friend?” is one of the first lyrics we hear and what the front page of the pocket size zine that accompanies this album states. Quite fitting as Jane Woody touches on most romantic notes.

The first time I listened to this I was content, unbeknownst to me the album started again, and hearing the opening track “Tiny Ants” for the second time really stood out. This is indie-pop disguised with some heart plucking strings and beautiful female vocals.

There is a lo-fi feel to this entire package, the music is put together in such a way that we know she is for real. Don’t worry about anything, we are putting out music that comes from us. There is strong keyboards and a very gestural vibe throughout.

I have the 77th of 150 copies of this LP, get your hands on one before they’re all gone. The music coupled with the zine = everything you need.
www.myspace.com/janewoody

Nebraska Pop Festival MIXTAPE *Free*

Download the Nebraska Pop Festival mixtape here:

http://www.indiepages.com/nebraskapopfestival/popfestmix.zip


Here is the track list and MySpace link for each of the bands :)

1. Poland - Finally September www.myspace.com/polandmusic
2. Transmittens - The Sea At Night www.myspace.com/transmittens
3. Strega - I Don't Think You Know www.myspace.com/streganyc
4. Cowboy Indian Bear - Mathematicians Colour www.myspace.com/cowboyindianbear
5. Zanin's Magic Crayon - A Kind And Green Night www.myspace.com/zaninsmc
6. The Tinycakes - Huge Spinning Ball www.myspace.com/thetinycakes
7. The Argyle Wishlist - A New Leaf www.myspace.com/theargylewishlist
8. Cleemann - Absent pt.1 www.myspace.com/cleemann
9. At Land – Running www.myspace.com/awesomesupply
10. Labrador - Caleidoscope Aeroplane www.myspace.com/labradormusic
11. The Mother Z's - Check-Out www.myspace.com/themotherzs
12. Electric Needle Room – Wikipedia www.myspace.com/electricneedleroom
13. Sweet Pea - Cut Out Magazines www.myspace.com/wearesweetpea
14. Mammoth Life - Convoluted I www.myspace.com/officialmammothlife
15. Mr. and Mrs. Muffins - The Magic Cloud www.myspace.com/mrandmrsmuffins
16. Pennyhawk – Seeds www.myspace.com/katekennedymusic
17. The Sleepover - Built For It www.myspace.com/thesleepoverlincoln
18. Spiders For Love - What Am I Doing Here www.myspace.com/spidersforlove
19. Probably My Son - Hum, Hummingbird! www.myspace.com/probablymyson

The Oversleep Excuse – Holding Hands

Hailing from Japan, the Oversleep Excuse seems to be a mixed band of Japanese (or maybe Japanese-Americans or something, I don’t know) and foreigners. This throws me back to when I lived in Daegu, South Korea and one of the best bands in town was a mixture of a foreign guy and some South Koreans. That band sounded a lot like Yo La Tengo, and Yo La Tengo has had so many phases it’s easy enough to pick and choose pieces that are reflected in the Oversleep Excuse, who are so precious that they make me sigh indie, yet I can’t think of a single band to compare them to.

The Yo La Tengo influence is there though, in the softer edges, in the hushed and whispered vocals (this is talking quiet YLT only), in the guitar meanderings that settle someplace for a short while, and only briefly. Sound effects creep in and out of the music, adding texture and never detracting from the melodic points. There’s harmony and there’s singular singing. There’s fun and there’s games. There’s a bit of darkness. There’s a lot of sunshine and romance. And the expected resulting bliss.

http://www.myspace.com/theoversleepexcuse

Kanina “A Short Story”

This band from Japan named Kanina can surprise a person in many ways. The album contains 3 songs of what appears to be their short story. The song length is a big surprise with each song averaging to be almost 8 minutes in length. When the Danish artist named Mew came out with their album “Frengers” some years back people were calling it one of a kind or genre defining music. I think though Kanina’s music couldn’t be described in that way but I choose to describe it as extremely lovely. These would be perfect songs to fall asleep or songs that could serve as “Bed time stories”.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/kaninaamm

Leo Leoson ep

Leo Leoson has a very interesting voice. In a way it seems like the voice can take over each song for good and for bad. The good parts is that the voice fits the melodies very well and that if he's saying the right words it can make for a very lovely song. His songwriting is good but not quite excellent. There is nothing wrong with that. If he were able to achieve excellence in songwriting which Leo doesn't appear to be far from and if/when he makes it to that point he can only go up.

For now the lyrics to tell you a story but a story that is quite vague. If he goes beyond basic feeling in his songs and gets more descriptive in his songs they may appeal to a much larger legion of fans. On a final note the guitar playing by Leo in some of the songs are so good they can be found irresistible at times.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/leoleoson

The Pedestrian Pets "Over" ep

The Pedestrian Pets hail from Denmark and they make some pretty interesting music. They are affiliated with a label named BSBTA over there in Denmark. And that's a pretty interesting label collective as well. Nis of The Pedestrian Pets writes commonly good songs that have unpredictable endings and fairly long choruses. The songs recall memories of the smaller label collectives in Sweden such as Canarie and Bedroom. And these songs also recall to memory a few of the earlier artists from the K label.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/thepedestrianspets

Bryan Drummond "Sea Of Timber"

This is a great album. Upon listening to it it's very easy to notice similarities to albums by artists such as Beck, Nick Drake, and early Jose Gonzalez. Regarding the Beck comparison one of the closest album comparisons that comes to mind is the "Sea Change" album. Like most artists that sound like much better known artists often times singers and songwriters try to sound too much like the other band or artists style way too much to the point where it makes the artist sound 2nd or 3rd rate or worse. Bryan Drummond doesn't appear to make efforts towards taking too much from his influences. It's his style and it's class. If he keeps with it you'll definitely be hearing more great stuff coming from him.

Check em out here www.myspace.com/bryandrummond

The Shot Heard 'Round The World - “Ten Songs For Town And Country”

Folk. Psych. Whatever name you want to try to give to Brooklyn's The Shot Heard 'Round The World — it's really just pop at its finest. This album has a virtual orchestra of instruments featured on it — clarinet, violin, piano, trombones — and of course all your required pop instruments, as well.

The album opens with “Lentin,” sounding very folky with guitar and sporadic tambourine. The vocal harmonies really make the second half of this song. The crank the psych-factor up a few notches for “Mtn. Song (for M-- Howell)” and pick the tempo up as well. This track has some great guitar play and some very fun piano work. The piano instrumental, “Time Covered Bridge,” breaks up the album before “Dead on Night” goes all psych on you again with feedback and horns and such. “Evening Prayer” ends the album with a great little jangly pop song before lapsing into something like a drug-induced cowboy trail song.

I think The Shot Heard Round The World are really onto something here. This is definitely a “listen-through” album. I hope to hear more from this band — they deserve to be heard.

www.myspace.com/tshrtw
www.prayfortheprairie.com

The Artificial Sea – City Island

I am really surprised to be reviewing this, mostly because these guys should be very well known by now, their music is applicable to television. For example they could appear on a medical drama show, a romantic comedy show, or in a number of movie genres.

The easiest comparison for me to draw was The Sneaker Pimps. But they have a little something else, a more soul. Think Sneaker Pimps with a serve of quality folk music for the side dish. Good music for driving around on overcast days, and brooding by yourself.

Track number 5, Vor, was my favourite. Introverted/different/imaginative are 3 words that came to mind in trying to describe this. The music has an Indian/gypsy edge though, very downplayed. I recommend this to people in their Mid 20s all the way through the 30s. It’s very chic and designed, in a positive way.

www.myspace.com/theartificialsea
www.artificialsea.info/

Quince – The Devotion Dance

A mysterious traveler, shirtless and female, on horseback, journeying through the woods adorns the cover of Quince’s Devotion Dance. Like the quirky cover, which as you can see above, looks to be a mixture of photo and paper collage, the lyrics to this CD are full of weirdness, endearing weirdness. The opening song, “The Desert” goes starts with dogs barking and goes, “I have heart disease and chicken knees/I used to water the desert/would you believe.” Now, there’s a change I’m hearing that wrong, and water could be wander, and chicken knees something else entirely, but it’s still something sweet that rhymes.

The singer’s voice helps propel the offbeat lyrics along, it’s somewhere between throaty and charming. The band plays an electronic funk, a mixture of genres that never sounds like straightforward rock. It’s always tantalizing, especially the “remix” tracks that highlight the electronic elements of the songs, working with delay and satisfaction in slow motion.

www.myspace.com/quincech
www.mx3.ch/artist/quince

Great Dynamo - The Average Genius EPs (2008)

No, not the criminal mastermind who first appeared in Pow Annual 1971, more the German electronic/new wave/indie pop mastermind, Hauke Schmidt. Lo-fi, indie-pop, packaged, jangley… however you want to describe Great Dynamo’s sound – it’s up to you. This release is very ‘home made’, not that it is bad, more that it has loads of heart.

“The trains on your one track mind never run on time” is repeated on the third song which targets presumably one person, followed by “Own This Town” in which Hauke then focuses on a group of “little shits”. Usually I am not one for these type of defamatory type songs, yet in Great Dynamo’s case, I find myself warming to them. Since there is a steady degree of spirit to back it up.

The second half of the 14 songs is a tad more obscure, but in a very pop friendly way, these songs have a way of getting into your head. The beats and lyrics are very attention grabbing, making you listen. Then think about. His respectable and wide range of influences come in to play here, namely Cleaners from Venus and The V.U.

Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany) is where Great Dynamo comes from, and Hauke sings in English, which I am all for, especially since his lyrics would be lost on me otherwise. Though his ever changing guitars and back ground orchestration are so intriguing I’d still happily listen if it was all sung in German.

www.myspace.com/greatdynamo experience it for yourself.

Khancoban – Limbs May Fall [2008]

Described on their website as “Half Noise, Half Folk Music”, Khancoban are from Melbourne. Their intriguing brand of folk is largely unparalleled in Australia at the moment; their sound is smart and thought through.

I had the pleasure of seeing Khancoban last Thursday. They are a 5 piece now, though in this album they are but 4. The vocalist André Hooke has a very beautiful voice. His singing perfectly complements the folk styling of the band, dealing with pop elements in a downplayed and intelligent manner.

Andrew Bonnici’s guitar playing is the second most notable aspect of Khancoban’s sound, which is rather unusual in a folk band. What made it stand out was on the second last song “Such A Big Sky” it is very atmospheric and beautifully suited to André’s lyrics, in the last couple of minutes is when his playing truly shines (Kind of like in Red House Painters’ ‘Make Like Paper’”.)

The best part about Khancoban is that they are great people, watching them play live was really something, as the circumstances were not exactly perfect - they took this in their stride and played excellently. The album is available at http://khancoban.net/ and http://www.myspace.com/khancoban

Mammoth Life "Kaleidoscopic Art Pop"

Mammoth Life hail from Lawrence, Kansas. They have an interesting pop scene in that college town to say the least. They make an album full of interesting pop songs. Like most Midwesterners due to lack of things to do depending on a variety of factors, many find themselves in need of a good imagination to get you through. Mammoth Life does better than some pop bands at times in the sense that they have a lot of energy spent into creativity and imagination.

The male and female vocals together strangely recall early Eux Autres but with more decency in lyrics and tone. A good share of these songs have noticeable themes to them. For those that pay great attention to detail you will discover those themes : )
The male vocals come out in a Ben Gibbard like way but to me the vocals are delivered to the listener in a more tolerable manner. Recently the band has put together a 7 inch release and will set out for a Midwest tour this month.

Check em out here:
http://www.myspace.com/officialmammothlife

2 Out Of 3 Rule "Really Elementary"

2 Out Of 3 Rule band from the United Kingdom has released "Really Elementary" full length album that includes 20 songs. I was quite pleased with the consistency and variety in the recordings.
More can be learned from this release compared to the EP. Given more songs it gives the listener more of a chance to hear more from this band where as most "pop" bands typically stop a full album with around 10 tracks or there abouts.

I am not the best with genres but to me this album is filled with pop songs and also includes a dash of a little rock added to some of the tracks. Maybe i'm wrong. Either way it sounds great. Even though this album is full of great songs since there is 20 it does seem to drag on a bit. It's very evident this band can craft an abundance of great recordings in little time.

There are even bands where i'm content if they can make 8 song recordings over 3 years. With this band 2 Out Of 3 Rule may be setting a new standard for track totals of pop albums ; )
This album is likely one of the most remarkable follow up's to an EP in quite some time especially for pop music.

Check em out here:
http://www.myspace.com/2outof3rule

Apricot Rail - Pouring Milk Out The Window [Single]

When Apricot Rail play live, you kind of nod your head slowly, well, it’s not really a nod it’s more a progression of their sound. Then when one of their beautiful choruses hits, it is possessive. On my first listen to this single, I felt just like their live shows make me feel, which is a rare quality. They don’t “rock” so much as make you thank yourself that you’re listening to them at any given time.

It’s like walking around in a beautiful forest, looking up at autumn leaves falling, and feeling the delicate promise of rain.

Their debut LP comes out on July 4th, and until then you can get the single for a free download on the Hidden Shoal Records page:
http://agora.hiddenshoal.com/
and check out Apricot Rail at: www.myspace.com/apricotrail