Video: The Courteeners' "Take Over the World"

The brand new video for The Courtneers' brilliant, latest single "Take Over the World"...




The Courteeners' Official Site

(the alternative video for) Marina and the Diamonds "I am not a robot"

Marina & The Diamonds track "I Am Not a Robot" has been recieving overwhelming amount of UK radio play. The video also seems to be everywhere at the moment.

However, while I think the above video is creative....this lesser-known version of the video, made in Los Angeles by Marina herself, is soooo much better.




Marina will be on XFM Wednesday, April 28th for "An Evening with Marina and the Diamonds" during the Steve Harris show.

Hannah Peel

English singer/songwriter Hannah Peel somehow creates the most beautiful melodies. Her song "Sugar Hiccup" sounds like a soundtrack to a modern-day fairy tale, while "The Almond Tree" could be an old European folk song. Also check out her cover of "Tainted Love" (watch below)which twists the original into a magical soundscape.



Her next gig is at the Electric Elephant festival launch party in Manchester on 2 May, followed by more UK dates listed on her myspace.

Current loves.

Sorry for the lack of updates - I'm in the middle of finals and it's taking over my life! So bear with me. In the meantime, here are a few of my current favourite tunes. Hope you enjoy them half as much as I do. ♥

Courtney Jaye - Box Wine.mp3

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Mama Taught Me Better.mp3

The December Sound - No Heaven Like Hell.mp3

Hole - Best Sunday Dress.mp3

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Camera Obscura meets Richard Hawley

Scottish indie darlings Camera Obscura have announced their release of a collaborative single with Richard Hawley. Camera Obscura cover Hawley's "The Nights Are Cold" and Hawley returns the favour by covering Camera Obscura's "The Sweetest Thing".

Honestly, I haven't heard Hawley's cover of "The Sweetest Thing". However, I heard Camera Obscura's "The Nights Are Cold" tonight on X-posure with John Kennedy, and it is absolutely beautiful.

Here are the originals of the tracks:





The single will be released on 17 May on 4AD Records. You can pre-order the single on hmv.com

The Meek

photo: Carlos Colon

One of my favourite bands are The Meek. Hailing from Los Angeles, their music is dirty, droning rock'n'roll with an evil edge, combining the perfect elements of the Velvet Underground, The Jesus & Mary Chain and their friends Singapore Sling.

My favourite tracks of theirs include "I Wanna Live Again" (video for it below) and "Kill The Lights", an energetic tune that you can imagine would be best performed live at a Warhol Factory party in the 60s.



The Meek are playing Austin Psych Fest on April 24th.

New Factory Kids' EP, "One"

The new Factory Kids EP, entitled "One", is out today on Edinburgh label 17 Seconds. The EP has already gotten praise from popmatters.com, with their writer Maria Schurr describing it better than I ever could. For those who don't click, a couple things she says include the title track "One" being a clattery ode with '60s undertones and that Factory Kids create music perfect for headphones, not earbuds.

Here is a free download of one of the tracks:
Factory Kids - Holiday Crease.mp3

The EP is the 2nd of our two EPs released this year. The first one was "They Used To Call Me Baby".

You can purchase both EPs on iTunes

Courtney Jaye

I was first introduced to the lovely Courtney Jaye from her collaboration with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, providing vocals for "The Toll" off of their recent album Beat the Devil's Tattoo. Courtney's own music is classified as "Tropical country", and her music graces the best of this unique genre. Today I got her album, The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye and it's brilliant. Below is a free download of one of my favourite tracks, enjoy!

Download:
Courtney Jaye - Maru Maru.mp3

Watch: Courtney Jaye - Don't Tell a Girl (music video)
Courtney Jaye on myspace

It's been a sad time around here as my grandmother passed away yesterday. She helped raise me, so we were quite close. She had a long, productive and content life, which is more than most people can ask for. Below is her and my grandfather's "song". It was always playing in their house. Hopefully they're now together again.



Usual posts will start up again shortly...

Video: A Place to Bury Stranger's "Ego Death"

The new video from the loudest band in New York:



Taken from the album Exploding Head, out now.

A Place to Bury Strangers on myspace

Split Release by Rainbow Bridge Recordings

Experimental label, Rainbow Bridge Recordings, has just released a split release by some of their best acts. They include the white noise antics of Sensible Nectar, the haunting industrial Inappropriate King Live well as the droning murmur of Luminous.

Full tracklisting:

Luminous
1. Opera Lunch (5:07)
2. Bus (2:34)
3. Gotta Lite (1:17)
4. Wooden Metal (3:34)
5. U Need Form (2:48)

The Human Exucse
6. Friend (2:14)
7. You'll Meet Some Real Whackjobs On Youtube [Live @ Stay Young House in Pittsburgh, PA 7/23/09] (2:45)
8. Piano (2:46)

Sensible Nectar
9. I Am No Man's Slave (15:15)

Inappropriate King Live
10. Moon Practice (4:07)
11. Large Balloons (2:46)
12. Small Balloons (3:10)
13. Woodrow Wilson Was A Raging Racist (3:26)

Redroot
14. Rabbit Hole (2:07)
15. Untitled (2:02)
16. Shanendoah (4:53)
17. Lady And Water (5:12)
18. Shadow Eyes (3:13)
19. Distraught Prescot (3:07)

Not for everyone's taste, but if you are into industrial experimental music, this album is a real treat. Limited to 35 copies. Buy your copy here.

Rainbow Bridge Recordings on myspace

The Constellations' "Setback"

I've been digging the track, "Setback", by Atlanta band, The Constellations. It's pretty catchy, has some great synth hooks and is just a great tune so I thought I'd share it with you all...listen to the track on The Constellations' myspace