Best Of SXSW A-Z: "F"

Foreign Born originally self-released their first album, On The Wing Now, while touring the US & UK with bands such as Cold War Kids and We Are Scientists. Now signed to Dim Mak Records, their album is described by the band as 'rhythmic and otherwordly, with lots of percussion'. Add to that all the chants handclaps, and wailing vocals, and you have a sound that comes up on the good-sounding side of the rock/folk fence.

MP3: Foreign Born - Union Hall

The Forms recorded their second album with the help of Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies). On his experience with the band, Albini quipped that he'd never worked with a band that had gone over the same piece of tape 58 times. On "Knowledge In Hand", the opening track to their 2nd album, it seems as though everything including every hi-hat hit were carefully mulled over for 2 weeks before being committed to record.

MP3: The Forms - Knowledge In Hand

Free The Robots make hip-hop beats filled with jazz samples and synthesizers. No matter how many times I hear this sort of stuff, if it's done well, it's golden - which is exactly what these guys have done on their EP. Have a listen to more of their stuff at their Myspace, and check out their blog for the latest on Robot Freedom.

MP3: Free The Robots - Jazzhole

Intimacy is out now!

Following the release of new single, 'Mercury', Bloc Party have performed a lightning release of their third studio album, Intimacy, in the vein of Radiohead/Nine Inch Nails/Raconteurs/Girl Talk et al.

The mp3 download is available right now for a small fee, while the album proper will be shipped from October 27 - both are available to order here

Meanwhile here are some first impressions on the album.

MGMT to tour Australia

It's been hinted at for a while, and now it's finally confirmed - MGMT will be touring Australia later this year. Here are the dates:

Sat 6 Dec – Perth (Belvoir Amphitheatre)
Tue 9 Dec – Sydney (Enmore Theatre)
Wed 10 Dec – Brisbane (The Tivoli)
Thu 11 Dec – Melbourne (The Palace)

All dates will be supported by Luke Steele and Tame Impala.

Here is a live video of MGMT performing Kids in a carpark:

Brand New Sigur Rós!

Rejoice! Icelandic Gods Sigur Rós revealed toady, on their newly revamped website, the details for their latest album - including a link to a free mp3 of the first track "Gobbledigook".

The album is called "með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" (which translates as 'with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly') and will be available from June 23.

For album details check here

MP3: Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook

Best Of SXSW A-Z: "E"

You may already know of Emmy The Great through her association with one Dev Hynes aka Lightspeed Champion. She's the cutting female vocal all over his debut album Falling Off The Lavender Bridge but enough but about him, the Hong Kong born Emma Lee-Moss has also collaborated with the likes of Fyfe Dangerfield (of Guillemots) and Jeremy Warmsley. So with Indie street cred in tow she's crafted a number of acoustic gems and various contributions to compilations, when she finds the time to knuckle down and make an album she'll have plenty of helping hands and eager anticipation from listeners.

MP3: Emmy The Great - Easter Parade

Eagle Seagull already sound a lot like The Arcade Fire, and if they got a few more girls in their ramshackle, art school squad - they'd look a lot like them too. Quick comparisons aside the Lincoln, Nebraska based six-piece have already garnered a bit of buzz on music press and blogs thanks to their punchy and accessible sound, smart pop nous and great song titles (see below).

MP3: Eagle Seagull - I'm Sorry But I'm Beginning To Hate Your Face

He may only be 20 years old, but Eldar has already been signed to record conglomerate Sony/BMG and been nominated for a Grammy. While his background may be in that most unfashionable of circles, 'contemporary jazz', you don't need an inside knowledge of scales or heady solos to appreciate his playing. Bright, catchy and slightly rocking, of course it'd take a fresh-faced Russian to make jazz 'cool with the kids' again.

MP3: Eldar - I Remember When

PIPPED TO THE POST: Edison Glass - All Our Memories
It might take a couple of listens to break through, but persevere with the whiny rock exteriorand you will be rewarded. Smarter than it initially sounds.

Best Of SXSW A-Z: "D"

TheDeathSet don't believe in songs longer than 2 minutes, which means that each track they make packs a whole lotta punch. Originally from Australia, but now based in Baltimore, and signed to the hip sister-label of Ninja Tune, Counter (also home to Pop Levi and The Heavy), this track is a great example of the Death Set sound.

MP3: TheDeathSet - Negative Thinking

The Dodos are an early call for my top track at SXSW this year - It's certainly the one that I've listened to the most, and anyone I've played it to I've caught humming the verse days after. The constant shuffle of the drums gives the track a great sense of momentum, and the short stabs of electric guitar are effective by not being there for the whole track.

MP3: The Dodos - Fools

Dr. Dog played last year's Meredith Music Festival, when I had no idea who they were, and didn't really care. Having now listened to them, I'm kicking myself for not heading down to seem them live. A psych-rock outfit from Philadelphia, they've been compared to both The Band and The Beach Boys, and while you can see elements of those bands in there, the sound of Dr. Dog is something else.

MP3: Dr. Dog - The Girl

New CSS: "Rat Is Dead (Rage)", Tracklisting

It's the month of free single downloads! This time, CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy to their friends) are offering up the first single from their upcoming album, 'Donkey'. It's only available for the next month, so make sure you relatively attempt to hurry to download soon!

MP3: CSS - "Rat Is Dead (Rage)"

'Donkey' Tracklisting:
Jager Yoga
Rat is Dead (Rage)
Reggae All Night
Give Up
Left Behind
Beautiful Song
How I Became Paranoid
Move
I Fly
Believe Achieve
Air Painter

'Donkey' will be out through Stomp / Sub Pop this July

Nintendo Vs. Sega: Winner = RAC

The fine folks over at the remix artist collective, who've previously given artists such as Bloc Party and Justice stellar dancefloor-ready remix treatments, have turned their analog synthesizers on to remixing classic video game themes. You can get a hold of the results online now; prepare to be swept up in a wave of nostalgia.

MP3: RAC - Nintendo VS Sega EP

The fine cover art of this EP was designed by French Akutou - check him out here.

Coldplay Single - Very New! Very Free!

Coldplay have announced via their sparkling new website that the first taste of their new album, Viva La Vida (or Death And All His Friends), will be available free for a whole week starting tomorrow (April 29th).

In a move that smacks more than a little of Radiohead, the new single Violet Hill will be available download for an entire week before it's paying version comes along.

Not only that, but the website details a free 7'' vinyl single that will be made exclusive to the weekly music rag, NME. The single will contain Violet Hill on the A side, and the B side will be A Spell A Rebel Yell

The single: Violet Hill
& more details here: www.coldplay.com

Benicàssim 2008

You can keep your Glastonbury, your Carling, your O2 festival - I still maintain that Benicàssim is the best festival in Europe, and the lineup just gets better and better every year.