The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 235

One more week, one more heatwave... and one more TOP TEN JUKEBOX, ready to knock you out with ten amazing tunes prepared for your ears only. With long time favourites such as The Popguns (they never disappoint), more recent finds such as Whitney (really looking forward for their sophomore album, since we saw them at Primavera Club three years ago, they became a mandatory act to follow), and our trademark rush of discoveries, ranging from that indiepop touch of Flying Fish Cove, to guitar-driven stunners by the likes of Purling Hiss or Daydream. A very diverse compilation to meet all tastes. Have fun and remember, all the songs are available at our Soundcloud. (Join Us!)

Direct links to 2019 Jukebox playlists

Week 214  Week 215 Week 216  Week 217 Week 218 Week 219 Week 220 Week 221 

Week 222 Week 223  Week 224  Week 225 Week 226  Week 227 Week 228 Week 229

Week 230 Week 231  Week 232  Week 233  Week 234

Discoverer 159: new indie findings

What a trio of wonders we have prepared for you in our discoverer series! New incarnations of a most-beloved band, a heavyweight promise and some fake music news hiding a masterpiece! Plenty to discover, so let's go!

Last Leaves. The Lucksmiths rank high, very high within this Blogger's janglepop heart, so just knowing about the existence of this band, with three quarters of the much-longed Australian wonder reassembled together (songwriter & guitarist Marty Donald, who assumes vocal duties, Louis Richter on guitar and Mark Monnone on bass, joined by drummer Noah Symons), was enough to make this humble virtual space collapse with anticipation and excitement. Now the waiting is over. Recorded over the course of nearly three years, debut album ‘Other Towns Than Ours’, out since late October via Matinee Recordings and Lost and Lonesome Records, is all we could expect from the Aussies. Perfect jangle-pop, open country roads, melancholic melodies, instant-crush guitar lines, fading satellite towns...plus new hints of fuzz and darker corners that announces (we hope so) Last Leaves are here to stay and explore new pop territories. With us.

Spinning Coin. Happily discovered at the last & wonderful Wales Goes Pop Fest, we jump to Glasgow to meet this quintet that formed in 2014 as a four-piece, leaded by Sean Armstrong and Jack Mellin. With members heavily involved into music community and a DIY collective approach-idiosyncrasy in their way of creating music, the band released some tapes in 2015, but really began to make some buzz with the 2016 7" 'Albany/Sides'. followed at the beginning of this year by 7" 'Raining on Hope Street/Tin', both released by Geographic Music, The Pastels’ Domino imprint. Now the five-piece has just put out debut album 'Permo', confirming all the promise anticipated in previous releases. Like a rejuvenated & slightly experimental reincarnation of Teenage Fanclub, Spinning Coin is a beast of several heads and bold statements (check the lyrics), Armstrong's tunes bringing the pop brightness and Mellin's the fury and roughness, Spinning Coin is a breadth of fresh air and hope. Not to miss. 

Mick Trouble. This is crazy, ridiculous, more than apt for the era in we are living (this Trump-fake-age), fun and genius at the same time. The available info says Londoner Mick Trouble was a kind of lost legend of pop-pub-punk who, in the early 80's was coveted by John Peel and part of the inner circle of Swell Maps and Television Personalities, surely about to break it big. But as many other promises, Trouble vanished... or maybe not? Seems the truth send us to New York, where Jed Smith (you might remember that power-pop blast that was My Teenage Stride) has just delivered a stunning EP entitled 'It’s The Mick Trouble EP', out since September via Emotional Response. The story tells us this four tunes are a find cut directly from a master reel discovered under Trouble's basement (there's another Trouble jam, unheard & possibly, alongside The Glitter Band, Lemmy Kilmister, and Damo Suzuki, if you are making-up something, do it big) but who cares about reality when the tale sounds so amazing?. Summoning the spirits of Dan Tracey, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, The Jam, Stiff Records... this is a mind-blowing exhumation of a certain riotous, instant-catching pub rock tunes and one of the EPs of the year... Whether the year is 1981 or 2017 is up to you.  

The Indie Anthology 79: essential songs

This section has suffered another unfortunate, unwanted hiatus (hard for me to find the time to write) but that's about to change today! So, in order to return to form in our Anthology I just have chosen a blissfully gorgeous tune from a very dear band of mine, and connected (or at least I'd like to think so) with this humble Blog. Let´s go to back to Scotland with The Hermit Crabs!

Song: Correspondence Course
Artist: The Hermit Crabs
Year: 2008

Time flies! Almost a decade since Mel Whittle and Co. penned this melancholic indiepop gem (ten years since the band appeared with the lovely 'Feel Good Factor' EP. Can't lie the Belle and Sebastian and Camera Obscura comparisons drove me to them... but these shy & melancholic crustaceans were about to make their own space in this blogger heart. A close call between 'About You Before', the glorious, infinite guitar work of 'On the Spectrum', I finally opted for 'Correspondence Course'. I guess it's because of the lush arrangements, leaded by the mesmerizing violin and the tricky distorted, warped, fragmented guitar. Or, the knockout chorus. Or the quirky and, let´s face it, considering Mel's honeyed voice, pretty adorable lyrics including band name-dropping and flirtation around playing music, and yet a hint of reflection, dare I say disappointment towards the end. Like my dear The Very Most (the connection between Mel and Jeremy has provided us many amazing tunes) or Monkey Swallows the Universe (sadly extinct, but Nat Johnson keeps doing music wonders quite regularly) to just name three, The Hermit Crabs (or Melanie Whittle) are one of these modest, not putting any airs on them whatsoever, even unfairly sidestepped bands, that you can always rely on.

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 151

After our best of the year so far lists, here we are again, bringing you a new round of our weekly TOP TEN Jukebox! A playlist full of new discoveries and eclectic rhythms to cheer you up this last weekend of June (yeas, this means that summer holidays are getting closer!). From the punk feminist proposal of Babe Punch, to the 'Antipopdean' sound of Boys going through the dream pop of Widowspeak, you have plenty to enjoy! And remember, all songs are available at our Soundcloud. (Join Us!)

Direct links to 2017 Jukebox playlists

Week 126  Week 127  Week 128  Week 129  Week 130  Week 131 Week 132  Week 133
Week 134  Week 135  Week 136  Week 137  Week 138  Week 139 Week 140  Week 141
Week 142  Week 143  Week 144  Week 145  Week 146  Week 147  Week 148 Week 149
Week 150

Discoverer 77: new indie findings

More fantastic new indie discoveries selected for your listening pleasure, enjoy!

Wild Ones. Hailing from Portland, OR, they formed in 2010, a slowly transition from the ashes of local band Eskimo & Sons. They debuted with as Wild Ones (you can track down for a combo named Congratulations if you are into music speleology) "You're a Winner" EP in late 2010, but a year later the band was close to collapse due to a line-up change, serious illnesses, and pretty dramatic economic constraints on the record making process, which took almost two years to complete. But "Keep It Safe" finally saw the light of day this summer, being released by Party Damage Records, and it's something we should celebrate. A natural blend of dream pop with touches of delicate electronics, a flawless and inviting melodic talent and the stunning, disarming voice of Danielle Sullivan. Truly gorgeous music. Thanks for not giving up, Wild Ones.  
Charlie Big Time. Let's meet Matthew Pendlebury, Beth Arzy and Chris Tiplady in Bolton, England. Originally a duo, Matthew and Chris released its debut EP, "A Bit of Charlie", on Cloudberry Records in 2007, followed by the album "The Tall Storeys Of Charlie Big Time" on Series Two in 2008, plus appearances on several indie compilations. Then came a hiatus from releasing new music, until June 2012, after meeting former Trembling Blue Stars singer Beth Arzy, who joined the band on the EP “Dishevelled Revellers”, out on our beloved Matinée Recordings. Also as a trio, their 3rd EP “Sale Or Return”, arrived this past October on Jigsaw Records, with another new tune, “One Step Closer To Enemies”, included on Matinée’s 15th anniversary album. With that kind of outstanding labels and history behind I'm pretty sure you guess what are we talking about here. Soothing and instantly lovable indiepop tunes. Melancholic jangling guitars, irresistible harmonies... This is simply timeless music. Big time indeed.  

Hella Better Dancer. If Leigh Ecclestone (Beautiful Strange Records & Just Music that I Like blog) sends you an e-mail suggesting you a band, what do you do? You immediately go listen. 99'9% chances you'll love them. Latest case is this quartet from Camden, London. Formed in 2009, a year later signed with Roundhouse Records, releasing debut EP "Please Stay Here" followed by "Swimming" EP in 2011. Another EP, "Living Room", self-recorded at home, arrived in 2012, with some Spring demos made available later on. Again self-produced, finally this year arrives "Sleeptalking", backed with "Sleep" on the physical 7" on Beautiful Strange. Shifting from previous lo-fi, folkier tunes, this are spacey and darkly brooding sounds, with striking guitar lines and echoing harmonies. Haze, night and fire. A blast. Thanks Leigh! 

"Pretty Decent Swimmers", Northern Portrait, jangle-pop champions

Pretty Decent Swimmers EP

Understatements or modesty are frequently virtues when we are talking about music (usually musicians or critics have serious problems of incontinence, delusions of grandeur or extra-huge ambitions). But I do have to complain here. Our favourite Danish band (along with The Raveonettes), Northern Portrait, is happily back with a new EP (a new record on the horizon too) entitled "Pretty Decent Swimmers", already available on the amazing Matinée Recordings. What an inappropriate, bad title this is!
 
Because if we are using the swimming reference with indiepop, they are nothing but Olympic Swimmers, not just pretty decent ones. They are the responsible of an incredible, mind-blowing debut album, "Criminal Art Lovers", plus a little collection of delicious EPs. And after hearing their new gorgeous four songs, they should be nicknamed the "Michael Phelps of jangle-pop"!

Come on, how many bands could return to action after three years with such a shimmering, joyful tune like opener "Happy Nice Day"? It starts unremarkable, but after 30 seconds the real song unleashes into n irresistible jangle-pop "beast". Stefan Larsen romantic voice, guitars ringing, a pulse that slows and rises like your heartbeat, a disarming chorus... all the essence of Northern Portrait summarized and perfected into a pop gem. Sure it will be up there among the best songs of the year (and I know we haven't finished January yet).

With such a great initial song, “Greetings From Paris”, pales by comparison on first listening. But that's a very unfair judgement for a subtler, more oblique and intimate number. Give the tune it's time and space, and it will show all its wonders: Larsen's graceful vocals, that guitar breaking in its middle section before the singer strikes back, that ridiculously simple end turning into a ridiculously affecting climax...

“Bon Voyage!” accelerates the tempo a bit, helped by ever-present guitars (this is jangle-pop folks) and looks, smells and of course sounds like a pop classic. What made The Smiths so immortal was that passion they brought to all of his parts: Morrissey's drama, melodies so unforgettable, guitars chiming or evoking known situations. Northern Portrait are capable of injecting that sort of magic to their tunes. Hear how they close the song. That piano...

We reach the end of the EP with “I Feel Even Better”, on which Larsen seems to step back a bit to let the music be on the forefront of the tune. Melody, together with the delicate arrangements are the guide here. With lyrics that are somewhere in between melancholy and the "first day of a new era", it might be the less the surprising of the lot, but it leaves the listener longing for me. Which is exactly what the best bands do. Northern Portrait add another unmissable reference to an immaculate career so far, could we be in front of the champions of jangle-pop? Have to see them live at the Madrid PopFest!!

SCORE: 7,75/10

Discoverer 46: new indie findings

We're back with our Sunday dose of new bands proposals for you, enjoy!

The Holiday Crowd. Our first band comes from Toronto, but judging for how they sound, you would say they hail from a grey and rainy British borough, not very far from London, in the 80s. The foursome formed in 2010, describing themselves as "minimal and stripped-down" which is an incredibly wrong definition. Because if you listen to their debut mini-album "Over the Bluffs", out in Shelflife since January, or the forthcoming (next week) 7" "Sick Days" you won't find anything "minimal". On the contrary, this is an impressively beautiful, expansive and touching collection of tunes. A heartwarming, epic (the Morrisseysque voice, the chiming guitars) and vital dose of the best jangle-pop.
The Holiday Crowd - Over The Bluffs sampler

Sleeping Policemen. German bands are not very usual on this blog, sadly. That's why I'm specially happy introducing you to this Hamburg quintet. Discovered thanks to the infinite good taste of EardrumsPop, with whom they have just released a very nice EPop single. But I wasn't "that" convinced. I needed more songs. Something that I have found after checking their self-titled debut album, out since March. Gentle indie-pop, sometimes beautifully embellished and melancholic, others upbeat and straightforward, but always shiny, welcoming and full of irresistible melodies.

September Girls. And our third band comes from the haunting Dublin, thanks to another referential label, Matinee Recordings. The all-female five-piece band formed in September 2011, debuting with a limited cassette single on Soft Power Records in April 2012 (sold out within a week). More recording and touring followed, releasing a trio of 7 inch EPs this autumn. Eps that you should check out, as this band play the most absorbing and infectious garage pop tunes I have heard in a long while. Fuzzy and noisy yet harmonic (these girl group vocals are disarming) and melodic. Their music make no prisoners, comes like a rush of blood to your head and affects all your senses. You have been warned.  

September Girls sampler 

"Time Relentless EP", pop feast with The Hermit Crabs

Time Relentless EP
Each time there's an email from Matinée Recordings reaching my inbox I smile. I assume, and it's almost infallible, their music proposal is going to be great. But this time the announcement was the long awaited comeback from beloved Glaswegian band The Hermit Crabs, so I yelled (I was at work at the office, luckily quite alone, as my colleagues are still on holidays). A yelling of happiness an excitement, that is.

It had been a long time indeed, although Melanie Whittle offered a dose of her talents thanks to Baffin Island, joining forces with members of another favourite band on this site, The Very Most. But three years had passed since the glorious "Correspondence Course EP" without new songs from The Hermits, so there were questions about how the band will sound after these hiatus.

But they quickly showed there was no reason to panic. This band has always showed their cards from the very beginning, without chances for "second thoughts". With them, beauty comes straightforwardly to the ears of the listener. And their new work is no different. "On the Spectrum" is a stunning opener, a strong statement saying the world "we are back", with a mesmerizing GUITAR work (written on capital letters because they deserve it, it's that big) and a killer chorus. Mel might be talking about the blues, but the feeling the song produces are the very opposite. A jangle-pop feast. 

"Time Relentless" slows the tempo with the band's trademark orchestrations and the addition of subtle keyboards. The visual lyrics are taken from a poem, suiting the contemplative mood of the piece. All seems to flow towards the wonderful chorus were Mel's adorable voice shines, acquiring an epic nuance while guitars arise in the mix, providing the tune a fantastic climax.

"Stop This Now" is a much more joyous affair in terms of melody, upbeat and contagious. Drums splashes and guitars flourishes, sparking the tune. After the instrumental section, vocal harmonies appear and you are expecting a longer-than-life finale. But it ends abruptly, leaving you wonder for me. A perfect pop pill of two minutes!

And finally "So Blue" concludes the EP with a mid-tempo that recalls their previous releases and their similarities with Camera Obscura (will you return soon too, Tracyanne?). Fortunately, the instrumentation steps up, helping the song to grow and closing the release on a high note.

If you didn't know The Hermit Crabs (very soon we'll have a band's retrospective on the blog), this EP is a great introduction into their music. And for us, fans, is a wonderful return to form. Jangle-pop, twee-pop and indiepop lovers, we are in luck. Welcome back Hermits!

SCORE: 8/10

Discoverer 36: new indie findings

Back with new bands for your listening pleasure!

ExLovers. "Moth", the debut album of this London band, formed in 2008, is quickly becoming a recurrent part of the soundtrack of my summer. And with a reason. Cute boy-girl harmonies, jangly guitars, an incomparable talent for finding perfect melodies, and a ton of catchy hooks. Evocative, bittersweet, and instantly addictive, their graceful dreampop/indiepop merges the best from both sides of the Atlantic (think on Teenage Fanclub meeting Pavement, or Stars with hints of Belle and Sebastian). Out since May, "Moth" confirms the expectations of previous EP and singles (2009-2011), being a pure indie delight. 
This Love Will Lead You On by exlovers You Forget So Easily by exlovers Just A Silhouette by exlovers

Pale Sunday. Matinée Recordings strikes back! Another amazing band discovered from their great catalogue. They say they are from Brazil, but I bet you'll think this is a forgotten band from Scottish finest hour, or Sarah Records, the first time you hear their music. This is pluperfect jangly indiepop that will immediately make you nostalgic or euphoric. Its shiny, warm and addictive. "The Fake Stories About You and Me" is their latest EP, just out now, but like me, I'm sure four gorgeous tunes won't be enough,. So I have more good news for you. Check here and here. The band has been active since 2003! So many songs to enjoy!
Summertime? (2005) by palesunday

Picnic. From sunny Brazil to cold Estonia (wished trip for ages)! This trio formed in 2006 and debuted in 2010 with "Winter Honey", gathering critical praise and recognition from Shelflife records, who is (very limitedly) releasing now a wonderful double-sided single with versions of classics "We've Only Just Begun" and "Say a Little Prayer", in anticipation of their sophomore release. Unlike the covers, their music blends shoegaze and dreampop with traces of unconventional instrumentation and electronics without losing pop, melodic structures. Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star, Mum or Sigur Ros come to mind, but their sound, remains mysterious and haunting as Marjus Taukar's ethereal voice.

Discoverer 34: new indie findings

Back with our weekly findings. It wasn't done on purpose, but it's going to be a very poppie post this time. Hope you enjoy but the three proposals are stunning!

Allo Darlin'. I didn't pay too much attention to their self-titled debut back in 2009. My bad, because their sophomore album, "Europe" is going to be among the records of the year for me. I'm completely abducted by this four-piece band based in London, led by the incredible Elizabeth Morris and her ukelele. The album is so full of indie-pop perfection I'm completely incapable of highlighting a song in particular, each day is a different one since the first time I heard "Europe". Let's admit it, I think I'm in love with Allo Darlin'.
Allo Darlin' - Capricornia
Allo Darlin'
Baby Grand. As announced, more wonderful and joyous indie-pop, now from this Californian band with more than 10 years behind their backs, in which they seem to have evolved from "a more darker side" to this "Arts & Leisure", their fourth album, a lush, infectious and diverse compendium of twee-pop. Beautifully orchestrated, with the absolutely adorable voice of Gerri White presiding each tune, Baby Grand's music might recall you to all our indie-pop heroes (from Belle & Sebastian to Rose Melberg with a full-band, from Sambassadeur to Lush), but in just two words: delicious music.
Baby Grand - Arts & Leisure

Cats on Fire. And of course, if we talk about indie-pop, the nordic scene has to show up, this time thanks to an e-mail from the great Matinee Recordings suggesting me to listen this Finnish band and its latest release, "All Blackshirts to Me". And what a fantastic recommendation it has been! Pure romantic melodies, between the melodrama of The Smiths, the genuine charming of The Ocean Blue or Butcher Boy, with the peculiar additions of synths or unusual instrumentations. And this is their third record, meaning I have much more music to discover from Cats on Fire!
Cats On Fire : A Few Empty Waves
Cats On Fire - The Sea Within You Cats On Fire : My Sense Of Pride

Discoverer 32: new indie findings

Strawberry Wiplash. Honestly, I discovered this Glaswegian duo in 2008, after releasing their debut EP "Who's in Your Dreams" in the essential label Matinee Recordings. But I admit I had lost track of them since then. Luckily this digital era always give you second chances, so after hearing "Stop, Look and Listen" the hyper-addictive, fuzzed twee-pop pill I'm back following songwriter and guitarist Lawrence McClusky and the charming vocals of Sandra. The single announces the arrival of "Hits in the Car" their first album, out on 27 March 2012. Won't be missed this time!
Stop, Look And Listen by Strawberry Whiplash
In The Blink Of An Eye by Strawberry Whiplash
Strawberry Whiplash - Now I Know It's You by Strawberry Whiplash

Fountains. The most exciting band to reach my inbox lately is this five-piece based in London. Only three songs available (run to their bandcamp, download freely and get the ultra-limited tapes!), but what an impressive debut is this "No Sleep" EP, out since February (review coming soon). The Wild Swans meeting Joy Division? The combination sounds too great to believe it, but this tunes are THAT BIG. They define themselves as shoegazers, but I dare to say this is "just" astonishing indie music. They've told me they are looking for the right label now. If there's hope in this planet they should have their phone collapsed by calls.    

Maple Leaves. Still in Glasgow (with a bit Northern England) for our third proposal. Maple Leaves formed at an open mic night in 2008 by Anna Miles and Julian Corrie, quickly evolving into a trio. They made quite a buzz, receiving the praise of Stuart Murdoch from Belle and Sebastian, who selected Miles as a singer on his "God Help the Girl" project. They debuted in 2010 with the EP "Golden Ether", and now as four-piece, they will release "Robots" EP this spring. Skilled but dreamy and compelling indie-pop, infused by a folkie and lush instrumentation (that flute). Lovable band.