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Sleigh Bells – Ring Ring

This is probably the best song you could begin the week with. For a start, it samples one of my all-time favourite tracks, Funkadelic’s ‘Can You Get to That’, and puts it to brilliant use by being almost as catchy and uplifting. Sleigh Bells are a Brooklyn duo who met in a restaurant one summer, got locked into a conversation about music and became a band a week later. They insist that they’re only at the demo stage*, with a full-length LP due to be recorded in the near future, but judging from their management, press and booking contacts, it looks like they’ve already scored some serious  representation – and deservedly so. Continue Reading »

Popularity: 70% [?]

Pushkin – Casual Dismount

Headed to Ten Years of ATP in December? Then you’re likely to enjoy the sounds of Pushkin, a five-piece from the backwoods of Wicklow, Ireland, whose fiddly instrumental jams are about synchronising seamlessly into the one groove. None of that tired build-up-to-a-crescendo-and-break nonsense, this is pin-point accurate post-rock that never tires.  For the time being, their five-song EP is only available at shows but a gig with the Redneck Manifesto is on the horizon – so there’s no better opportunity to check them out. Continue Reading »

Popularity: 4% [?]

We’ll Make It Right – Some Day

In January a group of friends decided to cancel everything in their schedules and convened for a week in Amsterdam’s Lloyd Hotel to see if they could make an album together. The result is We’ll Make It Right, nine tracks of experimental pop songs channeling the spontaneous ideas and energy of half a dozen people. You can download the album for free via In A Cabin. Continue Reading »

Popularity: 2% [?]

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros – Jangle

One of the catchiest tunes I may have heard this year by a band bound for success.  Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are an 11+ ensemble of happy clappy pop geniuses led by IMA Robot’s Alex Ebert. Their debut album Up From Below is released next month (13th in the UK/ 14th in the US) on Community Music & Fairfax Recordings, but if you can’t wait until then catch their recent KCRW session or download their 3-song Here Comes EP through iTunes. Continue Reading »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Givers – Saw You First

As fun and as colourful as this band seem (they are offering to drive 40 gig-goers to their next show on a yellow school bus), there is very little info out there about them. What we do know is that they are a five-piece from Louisiana and they’re self-releasing a two-track demo today, with both numbers perfect for summertime listening. To get a sense of their live show, check out the video for ‘Wanna Want It’ below.
Continue Reading »

Popularity: 7% [?]