HYPE

Cosmonaut Grechko utilises a very "Late '08" Electro sound and a great Madonna sample to create something rather refreshing in these Lo-Fi times we're living in. Give it a listen.

You're Ready! - Cosmonaut Grechko

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Dan Whitford (Cut Copy) and one the dudes from now defunct Riot In Belgium have a new side project called Voltage. It sounds like a natural extension of their current style, no surprises and it certainly won't change your life, but it's nice to see some new stuff from both of them.


All Night - Voltage

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Mystery Jets' new album, Serotonin, is certainly a grower. It's definitely not as good as the mindblowing Twenty One, but it'd be damn near supernatural for lightning to strike twice. Do yourself a favour and listen to it at least a few times before you make your mind up. Here's the title track.


Serotonin - Mystery Jets

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Memory Tapes remixed a track from Crystal Castles' new album. I find that most of his remixes sound roughly the same, but this one ends up sounding like an alternate version rather than a remix. Certainly not a bad thing though, it just means if you loved the original you'll likely enjoy this rework as well.

Suffocation (Memory Tapes Remix) - Crystal Castles

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Cloud Nothings have this cool Lo-Fi Surf-Rock sound that I'm really liking. They are a bit more upbeat and poppy than the other artists that are operating in the same genre description right now. Really happy vibes to this one, even though it's about break-up.

Even If It Worked Out - Cloud Nothings

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The Drums' album was a fairly predictable affair. While there's not a single bad track on it, it all just felt a bit too "safe" for my liking. However, one could argue that this is far worse than the album being completely rubbish, and in some ways, it might be. Regardless, here's a bonus track from the album.


When I Come Home - The Drums

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Jamaica are already generating enough hype right now as it is, but in case you haven't heard them already, here's some tracks by them. They have a very "Next Big Thing" vibe to them, which means it'll only be so long before teenage girls and meatheads butcher them for you.


Cross The Fader - Jamaica
I Think I Like U 2 (Breakbot Remix) - Jamaica

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HYPE

Here's a few cool dancey numbers, all feature really interesting vocal aspects to them. The Aston Shuffle track may at first sound a bit middle of the road but the second half is the saving grace of the song; it changes up completely.


Take My Hand (Justin Faust Deep Mix) - Nightriders
Do You Want More - The Aston Shuffle (Feat. Danimal Kingdom)
Lies (Alex Metric Remix) - Fenech-Soler

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Some really quality covers have been released this year. Mystery Jets & Esser teamed up to cover The Cure's In Between Days and added a cool electronic backdrop over the relatively faithful vocal rendition. It's good that it remains pretty much very close to the path the original took because there's not a whole heap more you can do to this song to make it any better.

Fascination Street, which appeared on one of The Cure's most popular albums; Disintegration, has been basically warped into a completely different creature by Metronomy. Not only does this not sound like The Cure, it also sounds nothing like Metronomy. No, the closest comparison I could probably make is that it sounds like Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release-era Simian Mobile Disco. It's going to either be a song you love, or despise. I personally love it. Either way you have to admire the audacity associated with such a huge departure from the original sound.

Also, Sky Ferreira recently covered Miike Snow's massive blog-universe hit, Animal. Her version is a stripped down acoustic number, just her and her piano. It's got a completely different feel, but it's easily as good as the original. I also included another track of hers, Lolita. This girl is going to be HUGE very soon.


In Between Days - Mystery Jets & Esser
Fascination Street - Metronomy
Animal - Sky Ferreira
Lolita - Sky Ferreira


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Danimal Kingdom is the solo project from Dan The Carnivore, the former lead singer of now defunct band, Bolt Action Five. It doesn't sound like Bolt Action Five really, it's more like Lightspeed Champion than anything else I think. Interesting quasi-electronic indie pop gems.


Girl Boy Girl - Danimal Kingdom
Through The Ice - Danimal Kingdom


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HYPE

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Post War Times are a band from the UK bearing more than just a passing resemblance to Foals with tinges of Friendly Fires. Of course too much of a good thing is still a good thing, and these guys have some really solid tracks on their recently released LP; The Greats And The Happenings. While Foals are the closest comparison I can make, that's not to say that the whole album sounds the same. Heaps of changes in tempo and style throughout and well worth a look.

Den - Post War Times
Whole World On Its Head - Post War Times
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From Mystery Jets' Making Dens US re-release; (renamed Zootime), Crosswords is a more dancey number than the rest of the album, and a few years on is still really rather unique against their body of work. I had a mixed copy of this song for so long that was only two minutes long and spent the better part of 2 years trying to track it down. I then gave up for a while, only to finally acquire it recently.

Crosswords - Mystery Jets
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Little Red have shifted their sound from an Indie Rock identity to a more 50's/60's Surf Rock sound. Think Beach Boys and you'll have an idea what to expect. This track is from their Coca Cola EP, which sports a striking bright red cover and the iconic Coke typography. Really cool.

It's Alright - Little Red
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Laura Marling is one of the closest sounds that i've found to that impossible quality that Kate Nash possesses. In fact, New Romantic could easily masquerade as one of Nash's songs due to the subject matter and sound. This one is from her My Manic And I EP.

New Romantic - Laura Marling
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Alphabeat have a new single, called The Spell. It's very 90's in sound; think of the poppy Dance music of the era and you'll know what to expect.

The Spell - Alphabeat
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From Metronomy's first album, a far cry from the band you may or may not know now, is an instrumental track called This Could Be Beautiful (It Is). I'll also throw in a new song of theirs, the title track from the Not Made For Love EP. Not Made For Love is vastly different from This Could Be Beautiful (It Is) so if instrumental songs aren't your thing don't let that stop you from grabbing this one, it's a tragic song about two people wanting very different things from each other.

This Could Be Beautiful (It Is) - Metronomy
Not Made For Love - Metronomy
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That's all folks.

AFTER ALL THIS TIME...

So I'm rediscovering my love for British Indie and British Indie-esque bands lately. This is due in no small part to the recent release of Jamie T's sophomore album, my belated but inevitable acquisition of Mystery Jets' Twenty One, and re-watching Skins Season 3 yet again.

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Half In Love With Elizabeth (Delorean Remix) - Mystery Jets
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Percussion Gun - White Rabbits

Actually from New York though.
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So Tomorrow - Official Secrets Act
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Conductor - We Were Promised Jetpacks

Take note Glasvegas, cause there's a way to sing with a Scottish accent and not be serious contenders for the "Most Unpleasant Sound In The Universe" award.
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My Turn - Basement Jaxx

Makes it in because it features Lightspeed Champion, and for all intents and purposes is a Lightspeed Champion song. I actually prefer when they don't fuck around with guest vocalists' pre-established style in songs; another example of this below.
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5 Verses - Jeremy Warmsley
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It's Not The Things You Say - Tiësto

One word; Kele Okereke.
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As always, these songs are for sample purposes, buy the music or delete it.