Elle Mary & The Bad Man - New Music "Introducing"

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I'd not heard of Elle Mary & The Bad Man until the other day when I was gently pointed in the direction of them by a school hood friend Phill, who happens to run the Manchester blog / promotions / turned digital-label Tru Luv. Their first release is Elle Mary & TBM's (a quartet led by Elin Rossiter) track "Angels", available as a free download now via Tru Luv's Bandcamp.

The tracks reminds me of a combination of Sharon Von Etten's vocal tone and intimacy combined with Smoke Fairies allure and mystique, "Angels" is an intriguing, sparse beauty that makes you want to close you are eyes and wait until the sun comes up. A demo of another track found of Soundcloud "Ghost" is sparer still, with little more than perfectly-placed ringing guitar helping to bring out the heartbreak and sadness in Elle's affecting words and devastating delivery.

Adna #3 - Night

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I've covered the intoxicating Adna Kadic here a couple of times previously and now with the release of the title track from her forthcoming debut album "Night" I'm compelled to again, Adna a young Swede, since relocated to Berlin is possessed with a timeless voice that rings with haunting beauty and intimate song-craft that plucks straight at your heartstrings.

"Night" might just be her finest moment yet, with her softening voice swelling around melancholic strings, restrained piano keys and soft ringing guitar rhythms. It's infinitely sad and personal but sometimes lonely, contemplative moments can be the best too - especially if they are soundtracked by something this beautiful.

Night is due February 5th via Despotz Records.

Dum Dum Girls #3 - Too True

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Dum Dum Girls are a band I've talked about before here and as much as I enjoyed their last album Only In Dreams (and adored the incredible "Coming Down") I didn't quite connect with the band when I saw them live a good couple of years ago at ULU, their latest release Too True makes me want to give that another go...

The album came out this week and is streaming in full via label Sub Pop's soundcloud (and is available on super limited vinyl with a bonus 7" here). The overall theme of which sees DDG's leave behind much of their garage-pop roots and complete a transformation to 80's inspired Cure-esque rhythms and echoey guitar shimmers that could have been written at any point in time since. I'll focus on a few of my favourites here.

"Evil Blooms" is the perfect example on the reverb-heavy sheen that propels uplifting melodies with darkly-hued intent. "Lost Boys and Girls Club" adds in a synthetic heart-beat amongst gorgeously dreamy harmonies and "Rimbaud Eyes" is a sweet pop hit in the making, armed with a cinematic melody laced in fuzz and Dee Dee's smoky vocals. The title track "Too True to Be Good" similarly swirls with intoxicating bliss, throughout the forumla rarely changes; short, sharp, simple and immediate, treading a similar path to that of last years PINS album, a dark, brooding combination of jangly goodness that can be traced back to Siouxsie and all, it's one I meet with instant approval.

Miserable - New Music "Introducing"

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With a band name like Miserable you're not exactly expecting a bed of roses and music to soundtrack your kids birthday party to when you press play and you'd be right of course, the project of ex-Whirr vocalist Kristina Esfandiari is dark, dramatic and intense from the get go...

The opening track from her debut release (a 7" EP due February 18th via a new label to me, New York's Native Sound) "Bell Jar" instantly conjures a stormy blend of moody Siouxsie / Esben & the Witch inspired dissonance, big on atmosphere the track takes a languid, ominous build up where Kristina's plaintive, haunting words combine with sonically unsettling instrumentation, climbing towards a conclusion of almighty noise with wild widescreen guitars and pounding drums let loose.

The second track from the release "Halloween Dream" is similarly shrouded in gloom, a bleak lonesome slow-waltz gradually rises in tempo with a swell of unnerving emotion, doom-laden beats and meaty riffs; it's never anything but primal, powerful and completely absorbing.

I've been pretty hooked with American Horror Story this past month and I can imagine this fitting in the background of Coven just nicely.

The Sun Days #2 - Don't Need to be Them

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Seemingly setting a trend with Luxury artists here, The Sun Days promptly follow up my Introducing post from last week with a brand new track "Don't Need To Be Them", another slice of indie-pop perfection with an uplifting, shimmering guitar melody nestling amongst warming vocals.

It makes you forget the foul, always raining weather of January 2014 and transports you to somewhere always sunny and carefree and that is just what I need right now after getting soaked to the bone yet again on my latest marathon training run.

You can download "Don't Need To Be Them" via Bandcamp now.

Hydras Dream - New Music "Introducing"

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Hydras Dream is a new project between Swedish composer Matti Bye and my artist of 2013 (whose releases I voted at numbers ten and one in my albums of 2013 posts) Anna Von Hausswolff, seemingly not content with last years Ceremony and accompanying live dates around the world, the collaboration will release their debut album The Little Match Girl in March via the ever wonderful Berlin label Denovali Records.

A taster has been shared in the shape of "The Joys of a New Year", a track which starts all languid beauty with dreamlike synths and Anna's emotive vocals, bathed in a sea of reverb, carrying you in a hypnotic state towards somewhere more safe and tranquil before dashing that sense of security with a searing finale of crashing noise, a perfect combination of shades, light and dark meet in perfect harmony and I'm left wishing for more. Thankfully there's not too long to wait.

The Sinclair Sinclair #5 - Paradise

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You've possibly heard me going on about The Sinclair Sinclair before now, a Tallinn based quartet whom first featured here in late 2012 after I fell in love with the intoxicating, dreamlike promise of their debut track "Feel". Repeated postings followed and a relationship formed which led me to release the bands heavenly debut EP The Dreamers of The Dreams on cassette tape via Beautiful Strange, to welcome in 2014 they return with their new track "Paradise" and its simply wonderful....

The accompanying video takes place in an appropriate haze of shrouded fog as the quartets signature ethereal soundscapes melt hearts. A minimalistic melody is carried by crystalline synths and punctured drums which float with a slow-burning beauty around tantalising harmonies, the kind of gorgeous that should come with a warning sign.

"Paradise" can be downloaded for free via the Soundcloud link below - what are you waiting for.

Layla - New Music "Introducing"

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I'm still slowly catching up with a whole host of emails and draft posts from before Christmas, the latest long overdue post to find its way here is by Layla, a London based singer-songwriter whom released her second EP Yellow Circles late last year. A release which instantly creates a gooey, warm feeling within led by a soulful voice that echoes the lovely tone of Emily Wood's and a collection of gently melancholic tracks full of sweet, sweet charm and exquisite melody.

"Oh My Love" is the track I first heard, as beautiful an introduction as you could wish for as Layla's pure, hushed lead, piano keys and twinkling glockenspiel create a simple yet luxurious melody around similarly restrained backing vocals and flourishing strings. The understated video that accompanies the song perfectly portrays the sentiment and mood within, it's absolutely bloody gorgeous.

The title-track from Layla's debut EP New Year is another that leaves me all tingly inside, a flawless, introspective beauty that could soften even the hardest of souls. That sound you hear is probably my heart skipping a beat.

VEYU - New Music "Introducing"

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Possibly being a guy myself and after spending the first quarter of a century pretty much exclusively listening to male singing voices - you may find that hard to believe - I think I'm a much tougher judge of 'boy' bands these days, the majority of which (perhaps harshly) I tend to think tread the over-worn path of cloning Oasis, Arctic Monkeys or Foals (or a combination of all), and the result is a pale imitation at best. It means male lead favourite acts are few and far between for me these days, here now though, I think I could be listening to a new band that could find themselves on that list, especially if they can continue the excellent showing of their debut track...

Liverpool quintet VEYU, yeah not a clue, released (or re-released perhaps) their debut track "Running" just yesterday and it instantly commands attention with shimmering 80's inspired guitarscapes, atmospheric layers of glistening guitars lay a perefct bed of melody amongst tight percussion and synths which shine brightly around the wonderful, melodramatic vocal, it simply swirls around your brain and commands you to press play again, you can't help but be impressed.

I don't know too much else for now, the band have a self-curated night in Liverpool next month... Anyway, I hope The Great Escape bookers are listening, Veyu are a band to keep an eye on, that much is obvious.

T.H.E.M - New Music "Introducing"

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I came across T.H.E.M on social media a couple of weeks back and was instantly compelled to listen because of one of the names I saw amongst the Brooklyn based trio, Tasmin Wilson whom may be better known to you as Wilsen, a band whom I'm extremely excited to here more from later this year (and whom, to my great excitement have been announced amongst the first wave of acts for The Great Escape - an unseen act to be ticked off my 'too see' list - I can't wait).

Concentrating on Them here though, not the most Google friendly of names is a harmony laden group made up of Tasmin, Megan Lui and Hannah Read whom both also have solo projects also (and have promptly been added to my 'to listen to list' - a list which shows no sign of decreasing any time soon!).

I haven't come across any studio records yet so you'll have to enjoy a couple of live video tracks below, you'll thank me after I promise. "Waterbound" (a cover) is recorded from a live gig with the wonderful people at Sofar Sounds and introduces the trio's sound perfectly, it effortlessly resurrects yesteryear with zero pomp, just an graceful simplicity with a guitar led melody and crystal clear harmonies sung beautifully

"John James" sees Tasmin on lead vocals and for the first couple of minutes you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a Wilsen track, haunting guitar circles compliment Tasmin's pure vocals but soon layers of harmonies and guitars join in perfectly, never feeling overworked or complemented you soon find yourself drifting off to somewhere more peaceful and tranquil, it's a moment of undeniable pleasure.

I can only assume the project will have to fit in around three others yet I'm instantly finding myself craving more, hopefully we'll get just that soon enough. For now, keep track of Them on Facebook (and other social media networks).

Neue York - New Music "Introducing"

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Neue York are a newly formed trio whom I believe are from the same county as me, Hertfordshire (I've also read London but then I saw I'm from London too). They only went live with this project last week and have already been picked up by a couple of good new band indicators blogs (Neu Magazine and Gold Flake Paint to name but two), after taking a listen to their debut tracks it's easy to see why...

"Silence" is stunning. Opening with repeating choral ooh's that add a haunting, melodramatic ambiance before buzzing synthline and restrained percussion enter amongst brooding dual vocals, the result is a darkly-tinged thing of real beauty. The other track "Older" is perhaps even better. A sparser, deeper affair that combines spacious, electronic textures, perfectly-placed horns and shimmering guitars with a gorgeously rich lead vocal that leaves you craving oh so much more. The early-days announcements calling Neue York this years' London Grammar may not be too far off the mark...

Illyin Pipes - New Music "Introducing"

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Delving into my inbox for a couple of lovely introducing posts now, firstly Toronto's Illyin Pipes, a quartet who've released two songs to date and are led by Jill Harris, Illyin Pipe sees her progressing from an early folk sound to more ambient, textured soundscapes adding to her luscious tones.

"Grasshopper" was the first songs released by the band last December, a track which instantly soothes with its smooth, languid melody of layered electronics and subtle percussion blending perfectly around Jill's cool vocals but it's the perfectly titled "Cold Season", a track which followed last week, that has me swooning all over...

A perfect tapestry of intoxicating harmonies and ethereal bliss sees theme switching from green grass and nature to the more intimate and familiar of relationship breakdown, the result is a beautiful, hazy dream which makes me wish for me.

Both tracks can be downloaded on a pay-what-you-like basis via Bandcamp now.

Abbey Bowden #2 - Dust

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Earlier this month on my Introducing post to London based singer-songwriter Abbey Bowden I adhered to the fact it sounded like you were listening to the raw, beguiling beginnings of a future star, now with today's post I'd like to take the step up to say you definitely are...

The track I'm sharing today is a new track "Dust", recorded live for Basement Sessions, it sees Abbey sitting in a dimly lit room with pictures of singers hanging on the walls alone with her guitar. What comes to pass over the next four minutes is as cathartic experience as music can bring, a real send shivers down your spine moment as Abbey's soulful, emotive vocal purrs over delicate fingerplucked acoustic, utterly, utterly transfixing.

Abbey's next gig is on February 4th at Ronnie Scott's, I'm not sure if I can make it yet but it should go into your diary - further details.

The Sun Days - New Music "Introducing"

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Whilst I was listening to School's new track "Clouds Aside" last week I discovered this because it's released on the same label Luxury, "You Can't Make Up My Mind" by fellow Swede's The Sun Days, both the artist and song title might give you some insight in what to expect here, so if you are thinking summer laden melodies with bright, beautiful indie-pop and lovely vocals. You'd be about right.

"You Can't Make Up My Mind" is the Gothenburg quintet's debut track released last November and it instantly propels the band to the same territory as Just Handshakes and a number of other British indie-poppers, a get up out of your chair and dance track propelled by military drums, infectious jangle guitars and casio keys all wrapped around a uniquely gorgeous vocal, it immediately charms the pants of you with its smile-inducing bounce and vigour. More please.

The track is available to download via Bandcamp now.

I Break Horses #5 - You Burn

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I've been a little slow on the uptake with I Break Horses' second LP Chiaroscuro, released yesterday via Bella Union. The initial lead track "Faith" surprised me with a new-wave melody of spiralling beats that rivaled Crystal Castles more than the frozen synths and shogaze influences of the Swede's debut record Hearts. For me at least, it took a little adjusting to...

I return completely with the slow motion beauty of "You Burn", a track which has absorbed me fully into the album over the past 36 hours or so, exquisite throughout it's as seductive and haunting a moment as heard from Maria Lindén's project to-date, shadowy beats and chiming piano keys provide an equal measure of chills and seduction amongst a vocal which surprises with its clarity and an almost poppy chorus.

Immersive and powerful - it makes you want to delve deeper into Chiaroscuro, something you can now do - the record is available on CD/LP from all the usual places.

Farao #4 - The Hours

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There are a handful of tracks which I've heard and loved live that have yet / will never receive studio treatment, tracks which you always wish to hear in the comfort of your own home on quality listening equipment (if you are listening to music on tinny laptop speakers - stop!) but have to delve to generally poor quality youtube clups to re-live.

Apartment's "People" has long been my favourite track of such (and my favourite track by a much missed band), Embers' "Hollow Cage" is another such example (a track which faces an almost impossible task of living up to the live version's beauty) and until last week the track I'm blogging about today was another, originally heard when Kari Jahnsen still performed as Like Spinning, "The Hours"...

Now known as Farao "The Hours" has been updated with a gossamer sheen that exemplifies Kari's new project, merging her fingerpicking folk roots and organic voice with expansive instrumentation and tinkering electronics, the track remains as emotive and magnificent as I remember with a chorus that brings goosebumps all over with its pure, disarming beauty.

Farao's debut EP is due Feb 10th with a headline show following at London's The Waiting Room on Feb 25th - tickets.

FRED - New Music "Introducing"

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Out of the ashes of the sadly defunct Keebo (whom swept around blogs last summer with the wonderful "Native American" - a tape of which was released on my Beautiful Strange label) comes FRED, consisting of three of the former band Amy, Rhapsody and Sophie.

Fred announced their arrival late last week with a debut track "Cinnamon", a track that fans of old sound are sure to appreciate but switches the upbeat, Real Estate jangle of old for something altogether more understated, intricate layers of guitars shimmer amongst harmonic perfection in a track which is never in any hurry, instead it slowly wraps around you with a warming beauty and leaves you longing for more.

Fred play their debut show on January 31st (details).

School #2 - Clouds Aside

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Just last week I featured Göteborg four-piece School's exciting debut track "SoLong", they return this with their second "Clouds Aside" to continued plaudits.

This track is a steadier, more atmospheric affair which similarly broods around bass-heavy chords, twanging guitars and romantic vocals, dusky and expressive, it reminds me of the less mainstream moments of fellow Swede's The Cardigans, now that wouldn't be a bad career to follow....

"Clouds Aside" is available to download via label Luxury now.

Smoke Fairies #4 - Eclipse Them All

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Yesterday when I posted about Russian Red's new track "Casper" I was talking about a new, evolved sound and today here's an even more startling departure. Smoke Fairies made their name with blues-laden guitars and the entwined melodies of Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies blending traditional English folk influences with a distinctive Americana sound.

In a move sure to be divisive Smoke Fairies return with the first track taken from their forthcoming third, self-titled LP, "Eclipse Them All" (their first album via Full Time Hobby and is due for release 14th April).

Gone are the gritty guitars and vast soundscapes and instead the track floats along with minimalist Au Revior Simone style arrangements, casio synth drones and languid percussion with a distinctive unforced touch mould around the vocals which are dark and simpler and with the accompanying sci-fi esque video also hinting at unsettling tones it leaves me interested to hear more. Will guitars make an appearance on the album or not? We'll find out soon enough I guess.

Yumi Zouma - New Music "Introducing"

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Seemingly the act to set the first 'buzz' of 2014 is New Zealand group Yumi Zouma, their track "The Brae" was released on Monday and has already amassed in advance of 25 thousand plays. Not bad for a track from a band few had heard of whilst the BBC was releasing their extremely mundane Sound of 2014 list...

The track is a lovely extension of the wistful, dreamy, 80's inspired romantic pop that seemingly shows no signs of slowing down in popularity at the moment and why would it when the result is tracks like this, soft, graceful instrumentation shimmers around sweet, laid-back vocal harmonies and it is quite simply delicious.

A four track, self-titled 10″ EP follows and is due February 4th via Cascine.

Russian Red #4 - Casper

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I've long been a fan of Russian Red, featuring her on this blog a few times previously over the past three years and attending her only London show to date a couple of years back at Union Chapel, a delicious performance that highlighted the perfect marriage of Lourdes' rich, luxurious voice and exquisite songcraft. Armed with songs such as "Fuerteventura" and "I Hate You But I Love You" combining bright and breezy pop hooks with beautiful, wistful balladry, it's a sound that still hasn't quite reached the audience it deserves here.

The good news is Russian Red is back and back with a track which I think might just be her best yet, "Casper" (stream below) is taken from her third album Agent Cooper (due February 25th) and it's immediately a different beast from the Lourdes' earlier work. Highlighting a fuller, expanded sound that sets the pulse racing with runaway guitar and driving percussion swirling around a hushed vocal before breaking for the most swoonsome chorus full of syrupy vocals and nostalgic melody.

The album goes straight onto the must buy list.

Adrianne Lenker - New Music "Introducing"

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Adrianne Lenker in a New York based singer-songwriter whom sounds like she could have existed at any point over the last fifty years, armed with an honey-toned voice which sounds as timeless as her organic finger-plucked acoustic guitar and tender, versatile song-craft.

Her debut album Hours Were The Birds was released digitally last week and is available to buy via Bandcamp now. Focusing on the tracks available on Soundcloud, "Lighthouse" is fabulous and melodic with strong, rambling guitar forming driving the track along with foot-tappingly upbeat mood which at the same time is both deeply emotive and dramatic, it reminds me (and as mentioned as comparisons in the email I received which formed as my introduction to Adrianne) of the style of Dylan and a I Speak Because I Can era Laura Marling, exhibiting worldly experience and intensity rarely heard today.

"Indiana" is perhaps my favourite of the tracks, flowing with a breadth of wistful poetry and a sparkling tapestry of acoustic guitar, Adrianne's beautiful fingerpicking and sweet voice is an absolute joy whilst "Steamboat" combines the passionate, intricate nature of songwriting heard throughout with gorgeous harmonies guaranteed to make you glow just a little bit brighter than before you heard it.

Fresh, intimate and captivating Hours Were The Birds promises to be the best $7 you'll spend this week... Bandcamp.

MINT - New Music "Introducing"

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Music from Scandinavia should come with a pretty simple tag-line, we do it better. Here's another casing point. MINT is a brand new artist from Sweden who has little more than a very recently formed Facebook page, a tumblr and two videos on Vimeo to go on so far but has already picked up some nice coverage from established blogs such as ynyvyl and Nordic by Nature.

Both "Sounds" and "Bored" are minimalist synth-pop beauties that draw you in with hypnotic soundscapes full of atmosphere and just a hint of darkness. Sounds" is the most complete, a luscious blend of bass and skittering electronics that blend around a soft, dreamy vocal. The result has already penned the usual Knife comparisons and it's going to be interesting to see exactly what Mint comes up with next.

Rae Morris #3 - Skin

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Rae Morris is an artist that has been on my radar for a while now, my Introducing post on her was way back in June 2011 and that was followed by another blog in December of the same year, her captivating, majestic voice has never been in doubt and her way around a piano has brought many a crowd to silence. I've only seen Rae the once so far, way back in 2012 and I can recall the soothing, spine-tingling sensation of her music.

Since then there have been two similarly lovely EP's Grow and From Above and I really am not sure why I've not waffled on about them before, subtle, intimate and beautiful are just three of the words that can easily be used to describe them. After some impressive support slots and a guest vocal spot on the new Bombay Bicycle Club album Rae returns to make 2014 her own with a new track "Skin", easily her finest to date and as devastating a moment as the year has offered us to date.

"Skin", and please excuse the pun, gets under exactly that as metronomic piano chords chime with elegant simplicity amongst delicate vocals and luscious string instrumentation. It's all beautifully timed and Rae's lyrics possess a dark, haunting edge, the result is sure to bring goose-bumps to listeners all over. "Skin" can be downloaded for free via a trip to Rae's website now and doing so will be the best decision you've made today.

Natasha Miren #2 - Darkness

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I got a little bit excited during my "Introducing" post on Natasha Miren late late year after falling smitten with her first two solo tracks "Scarlet" and "Overdose", the former full of delicious, bright guitar shimmers and the latter a brooding, intimate beauty both highlighting Natasha's soft, breathy vocal, the sort of voice you can easily lose yourself in.

Both styles set the tone for Natasha's third track "Darkness", a track which also happens to be her most complete to date. Intricate layers of guitar weave around skittering beats and Natasha's luscious tones, the resulting sound is rich, dynamic and quite unlike anything she’s done before, hypnotising you as the track progresses to a climax full of swarming guitar and synth noise. I like it. I like it a lot.

Jenny Mayhem - TV Waltz

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Jenny Mayhem is a Toronto based singer-songwriter originally from Barbados whom came to my attention through her latest track, the mysterious "TV Waltz". The track combines traditional acoustic-folk arrangements with a dream-like voice and restrained guitarscapes which creep increasingly to the fore as shimmering textures bring out the hypnotic beauty of it all. The result envelops you in a warming embrace and is truly quite magical.

Earlier track "Shifter" similarly catches the eye, a fuller sound aided by a fine percussive heart-beat which flutters around the tracks soft, mellow atmosphere and a sumptuously smooth melody which progresses in strength and power amongst Jenny's repeated calls of "you can follow me when I fly". I can't think of anything not to like. Both tracks are available now on a pay what you like basis via Bandcamp.

Angel Olsen #2 - Hi-Five

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Another of my recent favourites today, Angel Olsen came fully to my attention at End of the Road festival last summer (as I've previously mentioned) and I'm excited to have both her latest album and London gig (at Dingwalls on March 25th) coming within the first quarter of 2014.

Following from the rollocking and perhaps unexpected rock style of "Forgiven/Forgotten" is "Hi-Five", a track which finds the halfway house between the aforementioned heaviness and the mellower, stirring emotion in which Angel made her name, here her luxurious vocal melts glaciers amongst a fine full band sound as kicking percussion and distorted guitars are later met by driving piano in a melody sure to have you tapping along in agreement, the star of course remains that voice, a voice that deserve the breakthrough I think it will get this year.

Burn Your Fire for No Witness is due February 17th via Jagjaguwar.

Abbey Bowden - New Music "Introducing"

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Easily the place where I'm finding the most new acts these days is through twitter, my latest discovery via the social network is Abbey Bowden whom I found via a re-tweet from an act I've covered here before Oh Sister.

Abbey treads a similar path of finger-plucked acoustic beauty with tender guitar strumming the solitary backing to a devastating voice but Abbey's vocal is quite different, possessing a breathy and organic voice with a soulful range akin to Tracy Chapman or Cold Specks. The track that made me stop in my tracks last week "Still" (available as a free download below) is an absolute beauty, full of raw, poetic strength which stems from Abbey's arresting delivery and lyrics written straight from the heart, the result is quite simply majestic.

Early viewers of this post may notice I pressed publish a little premature as a visit to Abbey's soundcloud page discovers another demo "Changing Boats", a softer, contemplative track which slowly introduces piano twinkles amongst darkly intimate songcraft that breathes full of haunting emotion. Shiver inducing moments await below.

Lyla Foy #5 - Feather Tongue

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I've mentioned Lyla Foy a lot recently, in November with the first track after a Sub Pop signing "Easy" and shortly after as one of my 'Tips for 2014' and as one of my three votes in the 'Blog Sound of 2014. There's a quick return to this blog again after yesterday's announcement of her debut album Mirrors The Sky and the second track to be taken from it "Feather Tongue".

It confirms what I'd adhered to previously, both understated and beautiful, "Feather Tongue" highlights Lyla's perfect way with melody and heart-melting vocals full of intimacy and emotion. Here they lie on top of a bed of gentle percussion and a bubbling synth undercurrent that is never more than a restrained accompaniment to the tracks gorgeous, dreamy atmosphere; it's guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat or two.

Mirrors The Sky is due for release March 17th via Sub Pop and can be pre-ordered now on special edition coloured vinyl with a free tote bag here.

School - New Music "Introducing"

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I discovered this song over Christmas and it definitely deserves its belated exposure here, the debut track by Sweden's (Gothenburg's to be precise) School (with apologies to my introducer, I do like to reference my source but I never had a link saved this time).

"SoLong" (one word) bristles with excitable drums patterns, New Order inspired bass-lines and shimmering guitars textures which is a paragraph likely enough to have interested all by itself but when you factor in lead-vocalist Alice Botéus' sweetly compelling way with words and a brilliantly addictive melody, you'll be even more excited after pressing play.

The track is available via Bandcamp now. My one's to watch list grows a name.

St Vincent #7 - Digital Witness

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Just before Christmas I featured the first track from St Vincent's forthcoming fourth (and self-titled) LP "Birth In Reverse", a release which promises to be one of the musical highlights of February (the album is due for release Feb 24th).

To add to the excitement we've been treated to the album's second track, the wonderful "Digital Witness", an ode/lament to the digital age and it instantly seems that the time spent with David Byrne on the side-project album Love This Giant has washed off on Annie's solo work too for "Digital Witness" is a brass-laden funk stomp with billowing horns creating a deep, infectious rhythm amongst Annie's art-rock guitar and synth patterns.

The result sounds like something Prince would be proud of, as I devote purple follower I can't pay a much bigger complement than that. Listen below and order St Vincent here.

Liza Anne - New Music "Introducing"

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I get a lot (and I mean a lot) of group mailers with album links and pr for more acts and artists than I could ever feature here and I'm honest to say at least 90% of them get deleted without me ever listening to them (that's not the same with 'personal' submissions which I'll always try and at least listen to). One such submission perked my curiosity the other day because it mentioned Daughter and First Aid Kit as references and comes from an artist from Nashville, fickle difference can make the difference it seems...

So I headed to 19 year old Liza Anne's soundcloud and soon fell in love with a beautiful track that also happens to be the title track to her debut album The Colder Months (which is due next month). Daughter is actually the perfect starting point, the track is restrained, atmospheric and haunting from the outset, slowly building from a calming opening with the emphasis firmly placed on Liza's ethereal vocal, her soft voice bleeds with devastating emotion as the song swells with increasing percussion and widescreen guitar textures to an intimate, heart-felt climax. "The Colder Months" be-lie's Liza's years, an age-old tale about love and loss that seem to linger longer over winter, however you want to look at it, it also happens to be the best track that 2014 offered us in its first week.

The Colder Months is due February 4th, more details.

Lizard Kisses #3 - Little Things

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Lizard Kisses have been on my radar for some time now and never fail to bring both sunshine and melancholy to mind with their tracks, last year's Loving Creatures EP (which I wrote briefly about last March) a near-perfect example of the Brooklyn duo's soothing dream-pop where woozy guitar melodies blend with sweetly-sung lullabies and slow motion drums, if you missed out on it, do get a copy via Bandcamp.

This post though focuses on a new track that Lizard Kisses contributed to a Zine from one of my favourite blogs, The Le Sigh, "Little Things", a languid, natural beauty that will cause nothing but butterflies all over with a nostalgic blend of heart-ache and laid-back daydreams. If you are new to the band, the feeling you are experiences right now is probably that of you falling in love all over again.

The Zine is now sold out but you can grab "Little Things" on a pay-what-you-like basis here.

Curxes #6 - Avant-Guarded

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After a series of terrifying electro-pop tracks in 2012 Curxes were relatively quiet in 2013, their sole release (until the track I'm talking about today) being a track which took the Brighton/Portsmouth duo in altogether new direction, the hauntingly beautiful "Further Still".

That was until just before Christmas when the band returned with "Avant-Guarded", a more typically assault of noise propelled by aggressive mechanical synths  and accompanied by a slightly bonkers video. If you've a phobia of Budgie's, you may want to close your eyes...

Roberta's vocals are as commanding and ferocious as ever around hard driving rhythms, a wall of distorted guitars and wave after wave of industrial noise, creepy and intense throughout "Avant-Guarded" is a breathless return from this boundary pushing duo.

Dios Mio #2 - Cat's Cradle / Proto

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I got pretty excited writing about "Tough Crowd", the debut single by London quartet Dios Mio last September, a track that saw the perfect marriage of luscious guitars, rigorous percussion and a beautiful, ethereal vocal. "Proto" is the bands next release and it's safe to say it confirms that I was right on the money (not for the first or last time of course)...

Showcasing a more expansive side to the band the track is full of vast, shimmering melody and rich, expressive vocals, fully immersing you within its guitarscapes as the track builds with emotion and tension. Fellow new track "Cat's Cradle" puts more of the emphasis on Helena's ethereal, sepia-tinged vocals, they warm like a winter blanket floating wistfully around ringing layers of guitars that simmer on the edge with brooding menace before taking over for a finale full of intoxicating atmosphere.

The band look set to be one of those you need to keep a firm eye on in 2014.

Life Model #2 - Come Round

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Glasgow's Life Model return after last springs debut EP with "Come Round", a heavenly track which immediately highlights a progression in the quintet's ambient, dream-pop soundscapes and one which is undoubtedly their finest yet.

Clocking in at almost six minutes in length, a sign in itself that "Come Round" is never in any rush to hurry you along (and it's all the better for that), it slowly drifts around a languid, weightless melody of gauzy guitar shimmers and pared-down beats in which Sophie Evans' beautiful, ethereal vocals glide effortlessly towards a space-out finale of grungy guitar noise. The result takes you straight back to the sweeter side of 1990's shoegaze and is utterly delicious.

The single is released on limited cassette / digital download on January 20th via Viscerality Records and is available to pre-order now.

First Aid Kit #5 - On The Road Again

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Another song I should have picked up on before Christmas (I might be saying that a lot this week so forgive me) but was on full festive wind-down when this track popped up in my soundcloud feed, a cover of Willie Nelson's "On The Road Again" by the wonderful First Aid Kit.

Johanna & Klara Söderberg stay faithful to the country classic with Klara leading the vocal duties, entwining around her sister's backing harmonies and a crystal clear melody that bristles with the originals toe-tapping excitement and optimism that hints at extremely good news for 2014.

I doubt I'm the only one who cannot wait to have First Aid Kit back on the road again soon...

Mountain Man #7 - Around and Around

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I somehow managed to miss this before Christmas... The return of Mountain Man has been a long, long, long time coming. So much so that I wondered if it were to happen at all. The trio were one of my favourite things way back in 2010 after I literally stumbled across them playing in the Crow's Nest at Glastonbury festival (I wrote about that as one of my end of year highlights here). Their debut album Made the Harbour was one of the same years real treats and a series of live dates towards the back end of the year were shiver inducing moments. Then silence (besides one show at End of the Road last year).

That ended with a seasonal (of sorts) posting and a new track, a cover of John Denver's "Around and Around". It re-introduces their spellbinding harmonies and beautiful, entwining vocals, as tender as any moment you are likely to hear, it's the perfect way to kick off a brand new year.

Here's hoping for much more from the band soon.