My Favourite Records of 2010

So it begins. Having had my rather hefty list of 100 records knocked down to a mere 25 by Playmusic Pickup, I thought I'd reveal my list here. Deciding on whether to do a slow, seductive strip tease or go the full monty from the start probably depends on how many people care and, of those who care, how much they care. Either way has its merits. Maybe I'll do both. Routine is overrated.

In alphabetical order, and more for my own weird gratification than anyone else's, here begins my odyssey into 2010's musical canon. This now accounts for late entries and those I've had more time to listen to since compiling the original longlist. All of these are worth a listen, so please do.

The 'A's.

Actress 'Splazsh'
Adebisi Shank 'This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank'
Aidan Baker 'Liminoid / Lifeforms'
Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté - 'Ali & Toure'
Aloe Blacc 'Good Things'
Anais Mitchell 'Hadestown'
And So I Watch You From Afar 'The Letters EP'
Animal Collective 'ODDSAC'
Arcade Fire 'The Suburbs'
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti 'Before Today'
Autolux 'Transit Transit'
Avey Tare 'Down There'
Avi Buffalo 'S/T'

Conclusion

There's some incredible records just in the first letter of the alphabet. For me 'Ali & Toumani' stands out as a breathtaking work of considerable technicality and beauty. 'Splazsh' was one of a multitude of electronic records worth spending time with, though it's arguably overshadowed by others later in the list. 'ODDSAC' remains unique in the entire 2010 list for being a visual album, something that needs to be absorbed in one high-intensity sitting. Avey Tare's 'Down There' sneaks in after its release a week ago after a few listens thanks to the surprisingly soulful delivery on the vocal led songs. Similarly, 'Good Things' comes courtesy of a recent listen, a real soulful collection of tracks from the always-reliable Stones Throw label.
Of course, while 'The Suburbs' was too long and flawed tro be truly an album of the year, some of the best Arcade Fire songs so far were included on it, rising it well above the standard of their previous longplayer. 'Liminoid/Lifeforms' is a sparse, avant-garde masterwork, Ariel Pink's 'Before Today' took 9 months of listening to make any sense and Adebisi Shank's excellently titled effort is shock treatment utilising unbelievable displays of rock virtuosity. Anais Mitchell's concept record 'Hadestown' is a brave country-tinged network of haunting songs, ably aided by Justin Vernon whose voice continues to resonate far from his Bon Iver alter-ego. Finally 'The Letters EP' is my nod to one of the plentiful short player records released this year. This Irish instrumental rock troupe have got a savage handle on dynamics and it's a thrilling, four track blast. I'm still of the opinion that Avi Buffalo's self titled album is the weakest here, though just for 'What's In It For?', one of my favourite songs of the year, it must be included. There are some lovely moments dotted about. I would probably choose 'Ali & Toumani' as my favourite from this short list, but all of the rest are either excellent or contain unavoidably evocative moments.

Next: The 'B's

Braid

Ah dear, neglected blog, how I've missed you. Unfortunately life has gotten in the way again. It is not that I don't love you too, it's just that....well, perhaps I had less to say than I used to. Love B.

As ever, whenever I feel myself falling into a stupor of writing incompetence, it's a medium other than music which pulls me back from the brink. In this case it's the 2008 award-winning videogame Braid.

How to explain its effect on me? Well perhaps I'll try a leaf out of its book.

"And so it clicks. The melancholy irridescence that shimmers across not only the backgrounds and the domineering strings that have severed the bright and sparkling outset, but the snippets of longing and obsession that cloud this simple characters journey. Having been chased from your goal and the object of Tim's obsession snatched away by a perceived rival, you have a chance to reflect upon Braid's time-warping escapades. Only a few minutes before, time was running backwards and Tim was being eagerly helped by his princess to reach her - foiling traps and sprinting away from the evil knight who would snatch her away as well as the horrifying onset of flame, burning and destroying everything in its path. But as we draw back from that moment we get further away from the goal. Back into musing upon whatever invention Tim has been plotting - his princess - and how reversing mistakes have caused everything. #

Each world draws strength from a single mechanical concept that alters it completely from what you played before. The art direction and musical score absorbs this change and distributes it.

The ring, an object that weighs Tim down just like Frodo and Bilbo's counterpart, has an inexorable draw that slows progress of anything within its circumference. It seems that Tim's obsession draws other people into it, eagerly eating away their time. Lonely shadows who can only imitate Tim's actions until they fade away, despondent, into nothing represent the repetition of past mistakes. Their sad, shoe-gazing expression break hearts. World 4 sees Tim's every step manipulating the flow of time. Your actions affect everything around you apart from the very few. Consequences of whatever Tim is planning will inevitably have a huge impact on his world. By the time we've reached the beginning of the game - we are innocently traipsing into Tim's darkened world, his house full of memories and realising that we are able to, gloriously, rewind time so as to never have to worry about making a mistake again. Progress is unstoppable, even time - the one thing we all have - cannot prevent human folly.

And so it is that two legendary quotes from scientists resonate strongly. Ploughing through the game to its ultimate end, by collecting the hidden stars, reveals a new beginning with which to end the game, this one fatal. Tim, more determined than ever, manages to grasp the princess in her escape. A bright white explosion engulfs the screen. The atomic bomb has been dropped."

Quite apart from the incredible storytelling device of rewinding time to turn the storyline on its head, gaming convention has also been twisted. The princess did not want to be saved, she wanted to be rescued from you. The countless homages to gaming past - "The princess is in another castle", flagpoles, Jumpman - are merely utilised to ease you into a world where an innocent 2D platformer can become a strategic puzzle game whose plot is an allegory for the creation of the most deadly weapon known to man. Every little touch - the shadow that becomes your companion but whom is being used for your own benefit, the amazingly deft conclusion to the world where running forwards keeps time going in the right direction which results in a poignant comment on progress both in life and in virtual life, even down to the simple beauty of slotting the puzzle pieces together to form a picture whose image relates to the themes inherent in that world - is a delight. Every moment not spent tackling the brain-taxing methods to capture those puzzle pieces is spent pondering the philosophical questions constantly prodding at you. It's a 2D platform game, one of the oldest forms of videogaming available, that has more depth than the average technologically advanced-3D shooter, and even some RPGs. Its open-ended nature is a call to imagine, something severely lacking in film, literature and videogames today.
It's a game I don't feel guilty extolling the virtues of nor spending some time thinking about, because it's clearly art as well as a challenging game requiring lateral thinking. There's the simple pleasure of warping time into your own shape for linear ends, but its a wonderful - nay - powerful feeling. It must've felt the same once science had reached its logical conclusion and formed a doomsday weapon. Unlike that discovery though, Braid enables the player to reflect on how far videogames have come and yet how perfect they were from the very start.

SxSW Beginner's Guide #8 - Eye, Jay and Kay

I think this is my first SxSW related post since I booked my (bargain) flights to Austin, so there's definitely no backing out now. Not long til I go either so these posts need to step up a gear.

So below are the highlights of the I, J and K pile winging their way to Texas state in March. Let's dig in and find some excellence shall we?

Inhabitants (www.myspace.com/theinhabitants)

Trumpet guitar bass drums all colliding in a spectacular array of sparks and fissures; this improvising quartet make a glorious racket, of that we can be sure. Go listen.

Instrumenti (www.myspace.com/instrumenti)

Not even sure I like them - which is often a good sign - but their audacious pop tang and glorious piano or fuzz synth accompaniments are undeniably fiery and fun. Could be glorious to watch.

The Intelligence (www.myspace.com/theworldisadrag)

This is going well. The Intelligence are noisy, lo-fi monotony in the same way The Fall are repetitive, lo-fi monotony - in other words pretty addictive and pretty brilliant.

The Intimate Stranger (www.myspace.com/theintimatestranger)

Chilean fuzzy pop from a quartet surely aware of the UK and Canada's indie-pop scene. Pretty good.

The Invisible (www.myspace.com/theinvisiblethree)
Already favourites of mine, plus lovely chaps to boot, their new material is sounding amazing right now, having seen them at The Borderline a week or so back. A definite shout for anyone from foreign climes who hasn't seen them yet. Londoners, you have no excuse not to see them when you get back.

Japandroids (www.myspace.com/japandroids)

Noisy lo-fi pop rush, a driving fuzzy edge that recalls No Age and suchlike. Good stuff though not as great as the aforementioned LA duo.

The Jazzus Lizard (www.myspace.com/jazzuslizard)

Yes. A jazz trio covering Jesus Lizard songs. What a wonderful time to be alive.

Jern Eye (www.myspace.com/jerneye)

Some great cuts on myspace, mainly embellished with epic backing tracks - looped vocals, strings and a generally escalating vibe - so may well be worth a shot.

Jinnyoops! (www.myspace.com/jinnyoops)

Brass and overdriven guitars never sounded like a good idea until Blur wrote Popsong. That was and still is ace, so these Japanese ladies sound like tremendous fun too. They also cheekily steal Orange amps logo, but I'm sure they'll let this pass.

Joan of Arc (www.myspace.com/joanfrc)

Tim Kinsella's long running effort should be a must see for all ex-emo kids.

The John Steel Singers (www.myspace.com/thejohnsteelsingers)

Light airy pop which embraces layers of instruments and colours.

Jookabox (www.myspace.com/jookabox)

Formerly under the even-less-managable moniker of Jookabox Grampall, this group filter disparate ideas through a very kaleidoscopic filter that allows funk, hip hop, rock, soul, jazz and all sorts of sub-genres to amalgamate into a very wholesome soup. Brilliant.

J. Rocc (www.myspace.com/funkypresident)

J. Rocc's excellent funk breaks are exquisite and laid back grooves, set to that internal fuzzy metronome you have which forces dancing on you when you least expect it.

kasms (www.myspace.com/kasms)

I've seen them enough times, but always great value - energetic, noisy and eye-catching.

Zoe Keating (www.myspace.com/zoecello)

Bored of all those streamlined rock acts, dowdy folk rubbish and mainstream Mr Sheen hip-hop? Try some ambient, moody classical yeah?

Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds (www.myspace.com/kidcongoandthepinkmonkeybirds)

Obviously - playing in the Bad Seeds means you automatically get an awesome pass.

Kill It Kid (www.myspace.com/killitkid)

You know how despicable Mumford & Sons are? Yeah? Well Kill It Kid are a bit like them, but with heart, passion, soul and even a pinch of excitement. Brilliant.


Well now the alphabetical list has become the tentative schedule with venues and times for the full five days. So, the next SxSW blog post will involve dates, times and artists. This is gonna be fun.

Sidestep The Hype #4 - Débruit (Xavier Thomas)

It's pretty impossible for me to pick out particular producers for special attention, especially as - unlike guitar bands and suchlike - I have less scope for explaining and referencing how they craft their music. It's something I always attempt to correct every year but it feels impossible to keep on top of the amount of amazing electronically-designed music out there.

Anyway, Debruit - or Xavier Thomas to his friends and family - caught my attention with his Spatioin Temporel EP. It's a blustery cluster of disparate rhythms, slinky spring sounds and cutting samples that all bring to mind a clash between exotic street parties and underground club ambience. Generally the filtering of ideas ends up sputtering unforseen and unimaginable cultural splicing, down to the finest warped bass register and vocoder voice patch.

Certainly the most refreshing thing I've heard from France for a long time, the exciting thing is just how he's tamed about 50 ideas, lashed them into four tracks and still it feels like he's bursting with incredible energy. All this energy is destined to burst onto a second full-length platter soon.

Here have this youtube feed of Nigeria What? from this very EP. It's ace.

Sidestep The Hype #3 - Rinoa

Pic by www.avangelistphotography.com

It's no secret that I love the heavy stuff. So - thanks to Ben Patashnik, formerly NME now Features Editor at Rock Sound, reminding me about them - it's my pleasure to introduce you to Rinoa.

Their Offset performance in the hardcore tent last September was a top three highlight (along with fellow aggressors Kong and Rolo Tomassi). Their slabs of impenetrable tonal sculpture flow viscously and vocalist Perry Bryan spits blood across the whole operation, architects of thundering sonic menace.

Having released a debut EP back in '08 on Eyes of Sound and a split 12" with Bossk(RIP), they're in good stead to release their recently recorded debut. No doubt this strangely serene violence will capture who it needs to ensnare and everyone else will wonder what the fuss is about. Those people are missing out.

Sidestep The Hype #2 - Talons

Ripping asunder the very sky in some biblical approximation of a very natural disaster, duelling violins rip, shred and tear at the onslaught of guitar violence that's being committed kamikaze-style upon the rumbling drums.

If you were to dissect and wrench the most dramatic elements of Sigur Rós' instrumental assault, cure them and then throw them to lions you'd be hearing what Talons are trying to imitate. With nary a calm moment to draw breath, their live spectacle is adrenaline upon adrenaline splashed onto a Jackson Pollock canvas.

Yes this is breathless hyperbole - the best kind - and it only trims the fun value if I tell you it's nothing original, nothing earth-shattering or axis-snapping. But it certainly SOUNDS like all of those things and when ensnared in the grips of their most fervent ripples, you're likely to be reminiscent of wide-eyed rabbits about to be crushed under some enormous other-worldly weight. Apart from the 'hilarious' aggressive rapping a trio of punters thought it would be amusing to shout over these ferocious compositions, the Vice-owned Old Blue Last was left rapt last night and it's easy to imagine other audiences caught short in exactly the same way.

As well as announcing a tour with superb thrash-popstersJohnny Foreigner and having released a split EP on BSM with the similarly excellent And So I Watch You From Afar, they have a whole year planned with releases and support slots. This from a bunch of Hereford kids who couldn't support the mighty Cursive last year because they were still doing their GCSE exams. The youth of today sicken me.

Here's a Beatcast.co.uk video to prove all this is true.

SxSW Beginner's Guide #7 - acH

Last week was fairly exciting what with Micachu and the Shapes giving it their all at Proud in Camden for a Haiti benefit gig, The Invisible performing excellent new material to those at the Borderline and an Audra Mae showcase at Gibson Guitars Studios, not to mention the extra curricular activities (okay drinking) involved at those shows. Now settling down for the next installment of SxSW's showcasing bands, we begin with a charming Americana-countryesque band...

Ha Ha Tonka (www.myspace.com/hahatonka)

Blending reliable strum with a rawer electric stamp, Ha Ha Tonka deliver that country-tinged Neil Young sound with added harmonies and a harder attack. Authentic.

Halves (www.myspace.com/ahomeforhalves)

Continuing the tried-and-tested theme of weaving the traditional with the refined, cybernetic strands of the modern, Halves from Dublin sacrifice a pastoral folk sound to the itching electronics and elongated structures of ambient post-rock. With great results.

Grant Hart (www.granthart.com)

Just out of respect as much as his song really - founder member of the amazing Hüsker Dü. ENUFF SAID.

Hauschka (www.myspace.com/hauschka)

Beautiful piano compositions with cello and other orchestration. Fluctuating embellishments and stripped-away virtuosity. Really lovely.

Hey Colossus (www.myspace.com/heycolossus)

Doom-addled ferocity. Basically the only music anyone ever needs...if they live in Hades. Definitely go listen as it'll probably be the last thing you'll ever hear again. Luckily their songs go on for an eternity.

Home Blitz (www.myspace.com/homeblitz)

Borderline genius amateurish shit - but in an amazing way. Ramshackle, badly recorded, unnecessarily atonal in places making it fantastically vital and refreshing. Solo pop thrash that cares less about musical technique and more about squeezing every inch of energy and half-tune into each second the song exists.

Hopewell (www.myspace.com/hopewell)

The excellent Hopewell provide us with a bewildering spray of serene grooves and utter chaos. It all borders on gospel-tinged glimmers with adrenaline rush endings. Brilliant.

Hyperpotamus (www.myspace.com/hyperpotamus)

One of the worst names for a musical project ever, but this acapella ONE MAN group (listen and see why this had to be written in shouty capitals) is like Battles without any instruments. Thrilling stuff, and exceptionally composed, this should be a riot to be a part of.

That was fun but took longer than usual. I've booked my flights though so there's no going back now...or stopping me either. Motherfuckers.

Sidestep The Hype #1- Fiction

Hello and good day to you. After my unhappiness caused by the repetitive and arbitrary nature of every publication's "tips for 2010" lists, I've decided to fill the gaping vacuum left by them all huddling up to a fistful of acts with lots of exciting new bands. Hopefully.

The first up is the unoriginally titled Fiction. You can find them here: www.myspace.com/fictionlondon

I caught them at the Buffalo Bar, that excellent ex-home for Artrocker club situated a few steps from Highbury & Islington tube station, for a Fistful of Fandango Festival opening night. Thinking nothing of spreading the drum kit like a police line dividing the centre of the stage, while two members play it perhaps while teasing out a synth embellishment and doing duelling-harmony vocals as well, it's a sight to behold as well as a treat for the ears. With guitar-glitch trickery not seen since the demise of KaitO, this band have all the post-punk elements necessary to inspire new approaches to making brilliant pop music. Percussive, illuminating, fluorescent and utterly accessible within inaccessibility, Fiction are both a dream and a fantasy. The recordings don't capture the excitement and off-kilter nature of the band's live force. Best get yourself to a show quick sharpish, like.

SxSW Beginner's Guide #6 - Gee

If you've been following my progress through SxSW's alphabet you'll know what I'm aiming for here. Rather than write about each band - which is how I started and quickly realised was time-sapping folly - I'm picking out the ones worth mentioning either because they have potential to give good show, sound great on recordings or have to be deftly avoided lest you suffer their awful, amateurish shtick. Behold then, G - the seventh letter of the alphabet and the artists that ride within her.

Gadarene (www.myspace.com/gadarenemusic)

Elegant folk-strewn and fiddle led instrumentals.

Gay Witch Abortion (www.myspace.com/gaywitchabortion)

LISTEN JUST FOR THE NAME. Noisy two piece intent on doing lo-fi Lightning Bolt with less skillz and more controversy.

Geeks (www.myspace.com/thexgeeks)

Probably isn't these guys but Korean hardcore punk is brilliant, even if it is generic.

Get Back Guinozzi! (www.myspace.com/getbackguinozzi)

Female fronted duo that get round cutsey by spewing velvet pop adorned with velcro - it attaches itself to your ears while listening through its odd soaring nature.

The problem with beginning-of-year lists

As everyone gets whipped into that incredulous frenzy involving the musical picks of the new year - with the NME giving us an entire issue of new-ish bands - it's very easy for us all to criticise. Yet, at the risk of being both hypocritical and surplus to requirements, I feel the need to spill forth some garbled words motivated by anger, frustration and a wish to shake off this malaise.

It all starts, of course, with the BBC Sound of 2010 poll. Immediately anyone who knows anything about music 'buzz' and the way these things work knew that Ellie Goulding would emerge as the winner. Who comes after that first placing doesn't really matter. They'll do okay out of it anyway. Why will they do okay? Well because once the BBC has raised the baton, it's snatched by every publication going, fighting over it - pushing, pulling, gnashing teeth - trying to go one further in attempting to grasp that vital advertising money from the record companies.

So it is that we see Ellie Goulding splashed everywhere like a bucket of blood thrown onto printing presses throughout the land. Not just her of course. Here's a definitive list of who will appear in your magazines and on your websites for the next 12 months: Marina and the Diamonds, Hurts, Giggs, Everything Everything, Gold Panda, Joy Orbison, Frankie & the Heartstrings, The Drums...do I go on? Is this really worth my time? It's going to happen anyway so why not just let those who feast on this sort of activity go ahead and fill their boots?

Well, perhaps it's motivated by the next exercise in pushing samecore. The MAMMA group/HMV sponsored music festival The Next Big Thing (perhaps the most hilarious and hopefully unaware moniker for any music related event ever)has just announced the majority of its draws for the lineup. Naturally I had to check out every act on there. Two tracks each for as long as I can stand or feel necessary to grasp what the act is trying to convey and this includes music I had already dismissed previously. Hey, they may have changed direction (read: improved) in the last six months!
So this is what I learnt from my time sifting through this aural pig swill.

Basically, each time I heard something from the list of acts playing, I wanted to do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPsXRiV6yo4

There were a few exceptions, most of which I was already aware of. Hail the survivors: First Aid Kit, Jesca Hoop, Krystal Warren, Ellie Goulding (yeah I know), Sweet Billy Pilgrim....and none of them are particularly great. That's out of sixty possible acts. Isn't that depressing?

How about the NME Radar mixtape? I'm listening to this now and DELETING the tracks which anger me the most. 1st to go - Frankie & The Heartstrings lacklustre boring indie jangle. Time to burn your guitars lads and get some synths.
2nd - Kindness. You made me laugh lots. Your music is hilarious.
3rd - Hurts: you haven't played a gig or released anything. You're the weakest link you cunts.
4th - Music Go Music, went.
5th - Sharks. You are pretty generic and boring.
6th - Chapel Club. Are you taking the piss? Hold your heads up and speed up a bit then you won't sound like you're walking on a featureless landscape.
7th - Delphic. You aren't completely useless but you are completely mediocre.
8th - The Drums. Thought they'd be first. It was the second listen though that made me realise just how fucking shit they are. Don't think I fully grasped it at first. I was too shocked.
The survivors then.
Egyptian Hip Hop - like the lofi party vibe going on and the weird minimalism on the verses where hardly anything is going on. The voices are mismatched and awkward. They also said in an interview that they have no idea what they'll sound like at the end of the year. Brilliant news.
Ellie Goulding - coz she's far better than La Roux even if her Bon Iver cover is horrible.
Everything Everything - because I've been tipping them for a while now and this is unashamed yet complex party-pop. Rather confusingly brilliant. Think Talking Heads versus Battles. I can't believe I just wrote that. *punches self*
Joy Orbison - a name that's been banded about for a while, his mixtapes are great and this track is pretty gritty yet floaty. Yum.
Darwin Deez - inoffensive, and actually a bit more than that. Quite lovely to listen to, without much pretense. I like stars and constellations too.
Giggs - COZ HE SCARES ME. Nah, I think it's got something about it which transcends the usual uk hip-hop bollocks.
Marina and the Diamonds - deep voice which is pretty striking and actually reminds me of Amanda Palmer, which is a great thing. Bit more subversive than the 'new diva' type female acts we had last year.
Washed Out - like the anti-Salem; the same treacle like feel, but on clouds instead of hanging from the back of a taxi.
Avett Brothers - What?! They've been around for AGES! Still they're ace americana type stuff with a real violent delivery. Excellent.
Magnetic Man - menacing electro sounds which only really gives a snippet of the trio's individual genius. They will get better.
Theophilus London - ambient-beat led rap. It's just good feelin's innit.
Surfer Blood - that huge echo sound is still addictive and the chorus to this song has been ringing around my head for a while even though I fear it's just jock rock in a cave.

Not bad NME. Not bad. Though none of these bands are what I'd call essential, barring Everything Everything who are pretty special.

You'll have to wait a bit before I tell you exactly who I think is essential. It'll be fun.

SxSW Beginner's Guide #5 - E(zer Good) & F

The sun is now shining, gleaming off the quilt of white snow over everything outside. I still have very little reason to go outside so onwards with the next alphabetical characters in SxSW's list of showcasing bands....except I've changed my mind. This is actually insane and I have far more important things to do. So, I'm only going to recommend bands, and forget about the ones who are plain terrible.


Ear Pwr (www.myspace.com/earpwr)

Manic, lofi twee-tronica. Female vocals alight upon beats and synth breaks in an ADHD style sure to annoy and excite in equal measure.

Efterklang (www.myspace.com/efterklang)

Expansive orchestral light and shade. Their follow up to the excellent Parades is out in a few months time.

El Tule (www.myspace.com/eltule)

Party latino music. Ace.

Everybody Was In The French Resistance (www.myspace.com/fixingthecharts)

Eddie Argos in a new band! Sounds like a synth-driven Art Brut. Ace.

Everything Everything (www.myspace.com/everythingeverythinguk)

Already waxed lyrical about these lads somewhere. Pretty original hyper synth prog-pop. Nice.

Explode Into Colors (www.myspace.com/explodeintocolors)

Obtuse drone-fi with at times frenetic percussion and spacious bass lines - occasional female vocals top off this eerie, punchy, swampy Portland band.

Eyeris (www.myspace.com/eyeris)

Original, warped hip-hop. Lack of flow is a problem but the musical background is definitely far more interesting than the majority of hip-hop at SxSW this year. Synths, dubstep darkness, folktronica...it's all here in varying amounts.

Fanfarlo (www.myspace.com/fanfarlo)

Certainly one of the better British folk-fantasy bands around, admittedly it's more of the same, but non-UK people may well be interested regardless.

Julie Feeney (www.myspace.com/juliefeeney)

Intriguing symphonic folk pop from Dublin. Julie's resonance within her contained orchestral music makes for compelling listening at times.

Fenech-Soler (www.myspace.com/fenechsoler)

A band me and colleagues have championed since 2006 their Friendly Fires-esque sound is very much the sound of now, as much as I hate that idea.

The Ferocious Few (www.myspace.com/theferociousfew)

Lo-fi southern rock duo ploughing garage rock up with their accents and their frantic pace.

Floating Action (www.myspace.com/floatingaction)

Minimal, almost soulful sample-led songcraft that lies lazily upon itself, quite happy to sound laid back while still layering sounds upon sounds and creating a funky mass to vibe to.

David Fonseca (www.myspace.com/davidfonseca)

HE IS BRILLIANT.

Fool's Gold (www.myspace.com/foolsgold)

Not totally sure of this lot, but the tropical-esque, latino chiming is fun and plus Micachu has done a remix of one of their songs, meaning they have to be a bit good, if only for that remix.

Frightened Rabbit (www.myspace.ocm/frightenedrabbit)

Not content with making one of the best records of 2008 with The Midnight Organ Fight, they've also made a pretty good follow-up with The Winter of Mixed Drinks. Poppier but still excellent.

The Funeral Pyre (www.myspace.com.com/thefuneralpyre)

Don't be a wimp. This is fucking excellent. Pummelling atmospherics, perhaps a little too Cradle of Filth in places, but it's still great stuff.

SxSW Beginner's Guide Additions #2 - C-D

While the snow softens everyone's will to work, I continue - with no excuse about transport or avalanches to get me out of it - to plug away at this gargantuan task of listening to and approving of/dismissing the acts playing SxSW in March this year. Here we go again...

CALLmeKAT (www.myspace.com/thisiscallmekat)

Slow, ponderous, scratchy samples, silken female vocal breaking upon the minimal synth lines or picked guitar; CALLmeKAT makes an achingly bare maudlin pop (including a diseased version of Toxic) which is as soothing as it is compelling.

Tom Cary (www.myspace.com/tomtomcary)

Taking a bluesy approach, Tom Cary seems to stick to the softer side, slowing everything down to a studious level. One track bursts upon a bed of distortion, sounding hellish and thrilling. The span of tempos doesn't really change the mood. Not really something exciting but definitely competent.

Casino (...)

You know that gliding shifting riff with clashing open strings that seems to infiltrate every BIG rock anthem? That's the basis for this band.

Caspian (www.myspace.com/caspiantheband)

Heavy instrumental riff-rock that couples the sledgehammer nuances of Pelican with the extended and melodic passages associated with the instrumental rock genre. They've been around since 2003 and have done a split 7" with the excellent Constants too. A must see if you like this stuff, like me.

Ceeplus Bad Knives (www.myspace.com/ceeplusbadknives)

Hi synth pop bands! Do you know why the synth is such an excellent instrument? Because it revolutionised pop and you can still make it sound utterly insane with a catchy tune. So why do you act as if nothing has changed since the pure pop tunes of the 80s? You are a joke.

The Chicharones (www.myspace.com/thechicharones)

A combination of comedy hip-hop covers and real dark breakbeats and catchy wordplay, The Chicharones are an unexpected treat and by all accounts, they sound like they'd put on an excellent live show. Definitely worth a look.

CHIEF (www.myspace.com/chieftheband)

Steady harmonies (no falsetto nonsense), pretty basic chord structures, yet nonetheless catchy, mellow, blues-baked rock. Nowt special but good vocal chops.

Children Collide (www.myspace.com/childrencollide)

It gets harder and harder to express indifference. It feels as if I should really like CC. Explosions of distorted guitars, driving rhythms underneath, semi-memorable choruses - but it all feels so formulaic, simplistic and uneventful. While I can't cite an obviously imitated band, all the elements are recycled making for an unappealing hybrid.

Ora Cogan (www.myspace.com/oracogan)

Sparse folk picking, maudlin female vocal - standard misery music.

Cosmo Jarvis (www.myspace.com/cosmojarvis)

One of our lovely singer songwriters who puts his heart on his sleeve, strums some guitars, plays a simple Korg, puts a drum machine on - that sort of thing. His lyrics are occasionally brilliant, occasionally hilarious. It's all quite light hearted and fun, but doesn't have the incisiveness or originality of The Streets or the social conscience of Get CApe. Wear Cape. Fly. Which leaves him where?

Courtyard Hounds (...)

WHERE ARE YOU COURTYARD HOUNDS FROM AUSTIN??!

Crayon Fields (www.myspace.com/thecrayonfields)

Great name. Boring band. Simply slightly aloof indie pop (yes it makes no sense but you still know what I mean when I use that term) with delusions of low-key grandeur.
Or perhaps just reluctant surf pop.

Crew54 (www.myspace.com/crew54)

They have a reality show. Fuck off.

The Dandies (www.myspace.com/thedandies)

I may just have to start being REALLY dismissive soon. Pub band.

Dark Room Notes (www.myspace.com/darkroomnotesireland)

Synth shit.

Dash Rip Rock (www.myspace.com/dashkicksass)

I like semi naked women as much as the next heterosexual male, but this doesn't disguise this awful southern state country rock enough. More than awful.

Das Racist (www.myspace.com/dasracist)

Slippery, watery, hazy hip hop with dark humour at its heart and intelligence seeping untapped from the source. It's edgy and warped, which makes it instantly brilliant.
Definitely worth some of your time.

D Black (www.myspace.com/dblackmuzik)

Standard hip-hop with female backing and hyperactive string samples.

dd/mm/yyyy (www.myspace.com/ddmmyyyy)

IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS. All within the safe confines of rock time signatures and artillery. Which is fine because it's where they obviously fit best in this case. Not much point trying to explain - frenetic, ambient, savage, quiet, petulant...it's exciting but not necessarily unexpected.

Dead Letter Circus (www.myspace.com/deadlettercircus)

Highly strung, faux-emotive rock. Terrible yet stingingly reminiscent of past guilt and shit music taste.

Dengue Fever (www.myspace.com/denguefevermusic)

You probably know their music without even knowing you've heard it. Especially if you've watched True Blood. To those who don't watch rubbish, they're essentially that lounge-tropical-afrobeat stuff that is pretty forgettable most of the time.

The Dollyrots (www.myspace.com/thedollyrots)

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?! Terrible terrible female fronted pop punk bollocks.

Luke Doucet (www.myspace.com/lukedoucet)

Probably wants to be Ryan Adams. Inoffensive country-blues rock, but inoffensive to me means anaesthesia.

Rose Elinor Dougall (www.myspace.com/roseelinordougallmusic)

Slightly elegaic pop, wistful and harpsichord laden. It's nice but not particularly striking. Still the ambition is glinting underneath the concrete construction and perhaps Rose is biding her time, developing into an amazing songwriter. Or maybe not. We may never know.

DP (www.myspace.com/dpmetalheads)

Processed metal. Unappetising results.

Drive Like Maria (www.myspace.com/drivelikemaria)

Can't we talk about this? Slightly funked up stoner rock basically cribbing Josh Homme's vocal style, and hamming up his guitar technique good and proper. OVER AND OUT.


Well that was a mission. Let's hope SxSW don't add anyone else too soon...

SxSW Beginner's Guide Additions #1 - A-B

As expected, SxSW decided to sprinkle their already well-populated list of artists with a few more undesirables, and therefore I've had to trudge all the way back to A and add my thoughts to these newcomers. *sigh* It's gonna be a long journey.

Akina Adderly & The Vintage Playboys (www.myspace.com/akinaadderlyandthevintageplayboys)

When did soul and funk become processed, straight-laced plods with energy and excitement drained out of it like the rosy blush on a shocked face? This is truly terminal, heart rate stabilising dullness.

Allo Darlin' (www.myspace.com/allodarlin)

Fey fey fey fey fey female vocals, bland, repetitive guitar picking, chimes that simply slide away than ring out. Sure they're using a uke too but that pens you down to one type of song. This whispered female vocal style is drawn out, like a death rattle. They aren't terrible but they inspire nothing but shoulder shrugging.

Alvarez Kings (www.myspace.com/alvarezkings)

I was once tricked into thinking Alvarez Kings were really good. I'm not sure who I was watching but it's not who this band has become. Taking the abrasive spank of The Sunshine Underground (remember them?), they have added very little to a formula that was actually invented to push subversive agendas. Now it sounds like the prelude to a punch up over a woman, and not in a good way.

An Horse (www.myspace.com/anhorse)

The less members, the better band - a hard and fast rule which makes as much sense as forcing bands into a one album shot at the big time. Nevertheless, I love duos and some of my favourite bands of late have been male/female duos. An Horse aren't one of them, seemingly happy to write half-decent songs without utilising the extreme dynamics a dual personality can provide. A missed opportunity.

Arborea (www.myspace.com/arborea2)

No theatrics, no facade of uncertainty, Arborea make sure you know they're all about gentile, pastoral, banjo plucked serenity. Sticking to woodland scenery and contrasting sunlit and moonlit ideas, they are consciously beautiful in delivery, if a little light on thrills. You can either bathe in this or switch off before sleep takes hold.

Bomani Armah & Project Mayhem (www.myspace.com/knotarapper)

Light-hearted rap, including the rather cute Peek a Boo about his child, mixed with slightly heavier joints like Go Get It and The Hustle, the overall effect is of simply wringing the last drops of creativity from hip-hop while still attempting an individual flow. It's lacking identity, so until that's found I'm giving Bomani a miss.

Astra (www.myspace.com/astrasound)

Astra occupy that massive prog-rock space where pomp and stumbling obviousness reside. Sheets of synth sound, endless guitar solos, some ramped up tempos then slowed to excruciatingly pedestrian levels - Astra have their moments among the plodding. These moments tend to sound like Dungen. I wish Dungen were playing.

Atash (www.myspace.com/atash)

Because my knowledge of music outside the western sphere is growing at the rate of an primordial amoeba, I'm always fascinated by anything avoiding pentatonic blues scales and the like. Atash sound hemmed in with tradition yet open to spontaneity. Gruff, shivering vocals, pirouetting Turkish violins, Asian twang and an overall dramatic air. It's good, I just wish I knew why.

Attack Attack! (PRETTY MUCH FUCK OFF)

Have fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQVpITyOdc8

AV Okubo (official blog page: http://avokubo.ycool.com/)

Seemingly blending choppy guitars with yelping, screaming vocals, occasional pharmaceutically driven solo breakdowns, keyboard breaks and a sense of fun, these Chinese tykes look as if they may well provide a heavy dose of enjoyment. Nothing special but I bet the crowd loves every second.

Ayah (www.myspace.com/ayahmusic)

The only Ayah I could find, and quite apart from eschewing the R & B stereotypical skinny girl format, her cliched music is still entertaining, still moving in it's own way and is helped by a hard working, hard living attitude. While not something I'd listen to much, it'd be nice to see Ayah fed onto MTV Base and kicking up a fuss instead of those dominating it.

Elle Bandita (www.myspace.com/ellebandita)

Light weight synth expeditions into severely decrepit pop-orientated rock. PO(o)R if you like. Reminds me of some horrendous Twilight/Lost Boys mutated teen-vampire soundtrack.

The Band of Heathens (www.myspace.com/thebandofheathens)

Didn't country rock have an outlaw origin to it? This sounds like country rock delightedly laying down in the dirt for the "man" to trample upon its corpse.

Jill Barber (www.myspace.com/jillbarbermusic)

Didn't love songs used to have substance, wit, pathos and more importantly, sens/sex-uality? This sounds like a love song laying down in the dirt for the "man" to fuck its corpse.

Bastard Child Death Cult (www.myspace.com/bastardchilddeathcult)

Ah glorious feedback! Stampeding rhythms, gritty guitars, a fierce vocal. In the end though, I think it's just my excitement of hearing something that sounds like effort was required to make it which upped my heart rate. It's pretty mediocre hardcore-fuelled stuff. Still, probably a good show to attend nonetheless.

Beans On Toast (www.myspace.com/sexdrugspolitics)

Everyone knows Jay in London. He's just released a double record with 50 songs on it, and the artwork is his name written in felt tip pen on a white piece of paper. Home recordings of rough as hell songs with a rough as sandpaper voice. Brilliant. Definitely see him if you're not from the UK.

The Belle Brigade (www.myspace.com/barbarasongs)

A sibling duo who make glorious pop. My favourite is probably the most joyous (Geraldine), the rest being a bit lackadaisical for me. When they drag it back to slowly strummed acoustic and snail drums, it's pretty boring. Needs more sugar.

Berri Txarrak (www.myspace.com/berritxarrak)

Maravillas begins suitably doomy, massive power chords with drone notes attached to them, but it soon slips fatally into almost hilariously earnest pop-rock. A shame. They know how to riff out but not out to follow such promises. Such a shit voice.

The Black and White Years (www.myspace.com/theblackandwhiteyears)

My heart sinks as soon as that familiar reverbed chord stab clangs into existence. It gets worse when I hear fake handclap drums in the next song. A voice like The Bravery meets Hot Hot Heat emits from my speakers and the case is closed. Go away.

The Black Box Revelation (www.myspace.com/theblackboxrevelation)

See The Stooges. Dismiss anything without the same conviction, sweat, blood, tears and drugs.

Black Feelings (www.myspace.com/bfeelings)

Black Feelings sound like contenders for the title of best unfashionable band. Melding eerie atmospherics and thrumming thrashing climaxes, they also throw in hollering echo vocals and psychadelic ideas like the aforementioned (AND UTTERLY BRILLIANT) Dungen. A hotch potch of moods and ideas, but probably excellent.

Blacklisted Individuals (www.myspace.com/blacklistedindividuals)

Highly charged, rabble rousing and minimal, Blacklisted Individuals bring the party for sure. Although I only heard one track, it's enough to expect this show to be one of the better hip-hop ones on offer this year.

Black Spiders (www.myspace.com/theblackspiders)

This is probably ok, but to me it's heavily affected garage rock, with the weak UK equivalent of 'desert rock' plastered across it. To me this is nothing but boredom in aural form. Rock and roll was never for me really.

The Blow Waves (www.myspace.com/theblowwaves)

It's probably a joke. I wouldn't worry about it. Music like this doesn't deserve any considered criticism. Just forget it's here.

Blue Roses (www.myspace.com/musicofblueroses)

Blue Roses is unfairly underrated - by myself initially - in the UK. A lovely voice and a multi instrumental gospel-like approach leaves a disarmingly huge gap once the the music has desparted. Should hopefully get the same plaudits the massively hyped and under-delivering Florence, La Roux and Bat For Lashes got last year.

Helen Boulding (www.myspace.com/helenboulding)

Lyrically trite, musically soulless, vocally mundane.

Shannon Bourne (www.myspace.com/shannonbourne)

Blatantly inspired by the silver lungs of Justin Vernon, it also appears Shannon has taken on the oblique musical soundscapes of the Bon Iver man too. Machines for instance, uses radio frequency warping via theremin. The intro to Dark Things allows sparse picking from a guitar. His fluid playing allows both space and melody. Though without a massive emotional impact, his musicality is tellingly bracing and impressive.

Brainstorm (...)

Third in the Eurovision song contest 2000. Enough.

Brasstronaut (www.myspace.com/brasstronaut)

With trumpets and piano and a lost little voice in the middle, this is fairly captivating, slow burning songwriting. It's the kind that whips up the flames around you with anticipation before arriving, fully formed just inches from your face. An ensemble with enough suss to grow on you, not hit you in the mouth.

Breakestra (www.myspace.com/breakestra)

This is more like it. Soul as it should be - roots tangled, bellowing brass, voices stained and soaked in good vibes. Breakestra sound like they come from somewhere and belong somewhere too. It's funky, it's gritty and it's wonderful. Excellent.

Tom Brosseau (www.myspace.com/tombrosseau)

Running out of steam. Tom Brosseau expresses himself with a variety of different acoustic techniques, orchestral flourishes and a voice which doesn't do enough to embellish the music underneath. Which seems a shame. It's all a bit doldrum bound.

Butterfly Explosion (www.myspace.com/butterflyexplosion)
"Epic" Irish rock, which builds on guitars and synths with the intention of gargling shoegaze. The result is lightweight, fuzzy rock with little of interest but the slight oscillations between tones and layers...which really isn't their intention.