Lisa Hannigan covers Goyte

When even Lisa Hannigans pr man starts an email with the words "I know the last thing the world needs is another Goyte cover" you would think the game is up but yet if Lisa hit herself on the head with a tin tray it would sound angelic. So it goes without saying that this is worth a few moments of your time.

This was recorded live recently for 3FM...

New Beach House

So I have to confess I'm normally quite averse to twitter based hype - where possible I try and steer clear but when folks are getting as excited as they are about this track then of course it's hard not to sneak a click.

In doing so, whats to be found is simply Beach Houses finest moment to date - a breathlessly wonderful song that sets expectation for the new album even higher than current lofty expectations indicate.

Try for yourself:

The very first alarm

Whilst not quite as implodingly fragile as Perfume Genius, there is indeed a familiarly tremulous wobble in the vocals and solo guitar line that underline this new track from Londons Monument Valley that skirts perilously close to the line. The track in question is 'The very first alarm, the b-side to MV's new single 'Your cover blown' which awesomely comes with a limited edition disposable camera to use / photograph and send back to the band for future use. Very cool.

If down at heel, lonesome street walkers and 21st century twisted blues sound like your thing then pour a gin and grab a stool; things are about to get awesomely depressing...

The Futureheads Return!

While the recession continues to throw up all manner of god forsaken revivals (do we really need to see bis again? Really?) there are some comebacks that seem less cyclical than others and given the average listening attention span of most radio one listeners (somewhere between 6 and 7 seconds) it's not outrageous to suggest that The Futureheads decision to return to the fray with an acapella album is brave if not downright suicidal.

here's hoping the various Mrs Futureheads hadn't set their hearts on a new car or boat this year (perhaps when the obligatory 10 year reissue of their debut rolls around any day now) but bless their hearts its a bold move and while it doesn't really grab me for more than about two minutes it's worth those two minutes at least:

Power Up

Ever wondered what This Charming Man by The Smiths would sound like if recorded in a Super Mario Bros stylee?

Well wonder no more my lovelies...

Wolf Hand

Took me a while to get into Pulled Apart By Horses but it was worth the perseverance as new single Wolf Hands is as blisteringly face stripping a single as you could possibly wish for.



If memory serves you can also "borrow" the new album 'Tough Love' when you hit up the band Facebook page which I would advise you do. It's lovely. In the same kind of way that a tank crashing through the walls of a hospital for sick kittens is lovely. Or a punch to the face (or indeed the throat if you are a lion) is lovely.

Just go do it already.

Portasound

Freshly signed to Blood and Biscuits (part of the wonderful Pink Mist Collective with the likes of Tangled Talk and Holy Roar) London based four piece Portasound cut a delightfully wonky path through patches of scuzzy sounding electronica and a skewed pass at Spazzy indie rock patterns.
The bands new ep is in four parts and tells a fittingly bonkers tale across its four sections. You can Check it out below:

Crocodiles return...

Crocodiles return with another slice of leather smelling loveliness in the form of new album Endless Flowers. The band have been floating around for a while now with a deliciously fuzzy blend of Mary Chain guitars and a neat surf-pop sensibility.

Anyway in addition to playing the following upcoming gigs...

(*opens brackets)

31 May Berlin Bi Nuu (TICKETS)
01 June Amsterdam Paradiso
05 June Paris Nouveau Casino
07 June London The Royal Princess Cruise Liner (TICKETS)

(*closes brackets!*)... the band have also made a new single "Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)" available for free download. Check it out below...

For The Country...

Currently on tour through Germany and (I believe) a few other places around Europe right now - Mr Einar Stray has released a new video of a new song - For the country. Recorded live in a church somewhere in Germany this is a very cool, kinda haunting acapella thing with the vocals all intertwining and being carried along by the solitary handclaps rippling along at the front.

Beautiful.

And if you havent as of yet checked out Einar's back catalogue I suggest you track down a copy of his most recent album "Chiascuro" (Spoon Train Audio) as soon as you can

Einar Stray - for the country from medienjargon on Vimeo.

You got Sad Eyes

So about a year ago I started noticing the name Katie Malco on various blogs and twitter feeds - usually these were Kingston-ish people, the Alcopop records crowd and the like. I saw the name and as people are wont to do I thought no more about it. Fast forward a year or so and the Alcopop newsletter told me that Ms Malco had indeed jumped aboard their fair vessel and was readying a new release. Nice I thought and as people are wont to do I thought no more of it (coming as it did in the middle of an extended period of listening to nothing but complicated Math rock - a rebellion to the previously extended period of listening to little else but elfin like female singer songwriters).

Fast forward to a month ago and with a couple of quid remaining in my emusic balance I bought the aforementioned new ep from Katie Malco with not so much as a preview. Im impulsive like that. Especially when buoyed by Christmas cheer and just one monster sized joint too many.

Imagine my delight then to find that not only is it bloody brilliant but also naggingly moreish, like heroin tinged chocolate. To be honest I've listened to little else since.

The great thing for me is this. Is Malco breaking new sonic ground and exploring the possibilities of bolting dubstep breaks onto polyrythmic mathrock? Nope. Is she going to be welcomed into the pantheon of all time great vocalists with a breathtaking falsetto or swooping Florence-y howl? er no. What she HAS done is put together a set of simple, sweet, heartfelt, every(wo)man songs that rank as some of the most immediate, fresh and fun songs I've heard in ages.

By focussing solely on the songs and not the image / twitter beefs / intricately names album titles Katie Malco may well have stumbled on the formula to become one of the countries most underrated songwriters. Genuinely cannot wait for a full length to follow it up!

Take a listen to yourself with this video for the track Sad Eyes.