'Sunshine On My Back' Easter with The National

Out of the blue, coming from nowhere, here's a new The National tune! It's called 'Sunshine On My Back' and it comes from free if you grab a copy of Mistaken from Strangers, their genious music documentary (or should I say mockumentary) that is available worldwide today from their website.

The tune, a discarded song from 'Trouble Will Find Me' sessions, counts with the collaboration of our beloved Sharon Van Etten, and the result is another great, quintessential Matt & Co's piece, warm, melancholic, enduring. How nice are gifts that come as a surprise! Listen below!

Camera Obscura + The Very Most: double feature

Of indiepop giants! Isn't a wonderful coincidence that Camera Obscura and The Very Most have chosen the same day to unveil their new songs? Today is a legitimate indiepop day!

"Fifth In Line to the Throne" is the second tune revealed from the "Desire Lines", the new album from our beloved Glaswegian band and a radical change in style from the cheerful, immediate first single ‘Do It Again’. A gentle and magnificent ballad featuring backing vocals from Neko Case, and precisely the sort of song that proves how much the world needs to have Tracyanne Campbell back. And I just bought tickets to see them live in San Francisco, yessss!
 

And our beloved The Very Most just came out with the title track of their forthcoming EP "Just A Pup", available on Manic Pop Records this June. You can accuse me of favouritism, but folks, this song has indiepop C-L-A-S-S-I-C written all over. What an elegant and charming tune. Jeremy Jensen and co (hear the wonderful female vocals by Gia Trotter joining him please!) are just perfecting their craftsmanship, each new song seems to be more enduring and rich. Can't wait for the rest!

Quick round of new & unmissable music!

A quick post on some of the most exciting comebacks/ music news happening right now. Hope you enjoy!

Swedish craftsmanships Turn Off Your Television are back with "Blanket of Shame", first single in anticipation of their forthcoming album, "Humble Waves", out in October 8th, and again available for download freely. They seem to openly embrace indiepop territory in the song, which fits the band extremely well. They have been gifted with a talent for melody and warmth, amplified to masterly levels here. What a terrific advance of the album, can't wait for it!

Without moving from the gorgeous Sweden we meet again Kristian Matsson, famously known as The Tallest Man on Earth. "There's No Leaving Now" is his new record, out since June, on which you can find folk gems like this "Revelation Blues", here on a quite special performance (courtesy of City of Music).


Another ace tune from my beloved Paolo and Claire, aka Young Romance. "Lines" tries a bit to take off, resembling too much to a Tennis song (which is not bad per se, but not very original). But the spark, that fire the couple have injected to all their songs to date, arrives, and when it does, its unstoppable. Their music enlightens any room, shimmers. Oops, they did it again!
Lines by Young Romance

And finally, the great Amelia Fletcher has returned. The new Tender Trap album, "Ten Songs About Girls", out on Fortuna Pop! " is full of amazing tunes (as expected). Just hear the upbeat, lush and effervescent opener "King's Cross Station" and tell me you don't like it (if so, sorry, but you are probably deaf then).
Tender Trap-Train from King's Cross station

Many more (a Baffin Island EP, Beth Orton, Seapony, Parlours) coming very soon!

Record Store Day with The Walkmen, The Very Most & Beach House!

It's Record Store Day today, so you should be hunting for your desired vinyls, cds or music collectibles. Among today's releases, I haven't found any song that has impressed me yet (few exceptions), but that doesn't mean there aren't new tunes you should be checking, and isn't the Day an occasion to celebrate great tunes? So here you have, three personal favourites, adding cracking new songs to their already incredible catalogue!

The Walkmen is back! "Heaven", their new album will be released the 4 of June, so is just a matter of a couple of months... but the wait is going to be tough, because judging by the first tunes we have been able to hear, the stunning, amazing "Heaven"  and "Heartbreaker", it promises nothing but greatness. Have your say below! And please The Walkmen, include Barcelona in the tour!
The Walkmen - Heaven by Bella Union

The Very Most and the Irish national football team? When Bloodbuzzed's dearest friend Jeremy Jensen told me about it, I was really shocked. Well, seems the band got involved into an Indiecater project celebrating the team made it to UEFA EURO 2012, contributing with the song "Sing Up for the Boys in Green", also the title of the album. Quintaessential TVM' sound, full of hooks, gorgeous backing vocals, a killer chorus (I hear The Housemartins!) and a joyous vibe, the tune, with all due respect for Irish players, is so precious that should be reserved to homage the most gifted team on Earth: Barça, of course. 
And the third proposal is Beach House, who is offering another glimpse of their (believe me) superb forthcoming album, "Bloom", on a special release for the Record Store Day, with a blue, very limited 7" for vinyl collectors, including the non-album track "Equal Mind". "Lazuli" is, again, haunting. What a band!

The Shins, Veronica Falls, Nat Johnson= great songs!

Three favourite bands of mine have showed new songs today. What a wonderful afternoon!

We were lucky to hear it first at the Primavera Club past November, but today London's Veronica Falls have "officially" showed the world a new tune: "My Heart Beats". Melody and rhythm, essential trademarks of the band, for another indie-pop perfection clocking in less than three minutes!


I told you before, we absolutely love Nat Johnson's music, and we are counting down the days to grab "I'm Across, I'm Asshore" their awaited new record. Here's another taste of the album, with a youtube video of "Your Majesty". Wonderful song. We salute you Queen Nat!


And finally, another music genius, James Mercer, coming back as The Shins with a highly anticipated new album, "Port of Morrow". After haunting us with the great new single "Simple Song", now he offers the video of its b-side, "September".

The Shins: “September” (b-side of “Simple Song” 7”

Two New Songs from The National!

Waking up a Friday morning feeling a bit sick is not the most exciting thing in the world. But the day is quickly shaping into something far more stimulating as just after opening my computer I discover there are two new songs from The National floating around the internet!! The two new tunes are works in progress, something that makes me even more excited because that means the band keeps working on new material, that were premiered yesterday on CBC Q program with Jian Ghomeshi. The names of the songs are "Rylan" and "I Need My Girl" (click on their names below to stream or download them)

Rylan stream
Rylan download

I Need My Girl stream
I Need My Girl download

And if that were not enough, the night had a spectacular climax with a rendition of their masterpiece's "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks", alongside with Justin Vernon, Bon Iver. Heavenly. Mind-blowing.