New Music - Memory Tapes 'Today Is Our Life' (Car Park/Something In Construction, 2011) (mp3)

More new stuff from Memory Tapes and this one is a startling track that starts with drifting New Order indie synth moodiness and pattering Joy Division tom-toms, before exploding into a sunny, breakneck chorus.

Download Memory Tapes 'Today Is Our Life' (mp3) (Pitchfork)

Creep 'Days (featuring Remy Madley Croft of The xx)' (Young Turks, 2010) (Stream)

It would seem that the Young Turks label is on a spectacular roll at the moment. If I were them I would a lottery ticket. First The xx, then Glasser, SBTRKT and now Creep.

'Days' bursts into life with what, to be honest, is a pretty naff, curly synth sound that belongs in Blakes 7 (ask yer dad) before settling into a menancing synth bass groove and Remy Madley Croft's dulcet tones. It's cold wave-y and austere musically but the vocal is, in stark contrast, warm and intimate.

A swoonsome brush of shimmering guitar adds colour and the track shifts in intensity, creating a mood of late night, sodium-lit contemplation.

It's a real grower and a fine, fine track.

Available to buy with, like, money and shit direct from the Young Turks webshop.

YT053 - Creep - Days by Young Turks

Listening Post - Arctic Monkeys 'Suck It And See' (Domino, 2011)

Full stream of the new Arctic Monkeys album 'Suck It And See'. Crisp and less lumpy in its rocking-out than the previous album. Alex Turner's twisty wordsmithery is given a chance to shine and it's a songs like 'Black Treacle' show a return to indie roots.

Released on Domino on June 6th.

Kraftwerk 'Ruckzuck' (Philips, 1970) (mp3)

A lot has been written about the genius of Kraftwerk and the clean lines, hydraulic motion and pure melody of their music. For a long time I thought it remarkable that they hit straight upon their own brand of machine-tooled perfection with 1974's 'Autobahn' album and maintained a run of perfect albums for the next ten years or so. Little did I know...

One Friday, whilst enthralled by BBC4's superlative Krautrock documentary, some live footage of Kraftwerk appeared - and one of them was playing the flute! This wasn't the hermetically perfect, proto-trance, played-by-robots Kraftwerk that I was used to. It was a more Krautrock-styled, organic version of their motorik groove. And it was played on old-fashioned instruments - not via electrodes on the end of car aerials and hidden triggers in the lapels of their cold, grey suits.

A bit of research showed up three whole other albums from Kraftwerk which I'd never heard because, well, they weren't available. But one day I parted with a pretty ridiculous amount of money to pick up what I have to assume are bootlegs of these three rare albums.

'Ruckzuck' is the opening track of 'Kraftwerk I' and, lo, it's the track with the crazy, hyperventilating flute on it from the BBC4 documentary. Its organic delivery and peaks and troughs give it kinship with Can and Neu, a more improvised feel that the carefully architected soundscapes of 'Autobahn', 'Radioactivity' or 'Trans Europe Express'.

'Ruckzuck' somehow manages to communicate the same sensations as 'Autobahn' - unrelenting motion along a chrome-plated future-highway - but it's created not from electronics but from drums, bass, organ, flute and, I think, a piccolo.

It is a staggering, irresistable track and it's hard to see why they've kept it unavailable all these years. Maybe the pension pot will need topping up some time soon and they'll release them properly.

Download Kraftwerk 'Ruckzuck' (krautrock mp3) (Mediafire)

The Superimposers 'Would It Be Impossible' (Little League, 2005)

The Superimposers deal in mellow, 60s-influencers pop with hints of library music, lounge and Bacharach & David and even a treated folksy feel like Tunng.

Songs are clearly crafted and arranged carefully then embellished with samples and found sounds, layered over beats and live instruments such as luscious electric piano and bass. It has the same looped-up, breakbeat feel as early Saint Etienne or Lemon Jelly. The Superimposers, however, add hints of Ghost Box/Broadcast/hauntology through the use of sound samples and vaguely Radiophonic sounds.

'Would It Be Impossible' opens with what makes me think of an old 70s TV ident then bowls along on a luscious groove of almost horizontally laidback bass, keys and percussion. There's loads going on in the sound, extra samples, counter-melodies, atmospheric recordings. The harmony vocals of Dan Warden and Miles Copeland weave through the track, suitably gentle and wistful.

I think The Superimposers are still around and whilst this created a stir at the time, I can also hear its influence in the likes of The Leisure Society.

The Superimposers' debut album (which features this track) is nigh on perfect and well worth a listen too.

Happy Sunday.

Download The Superimposers 'Would It Be Impossible' (mp3) (Mediafire)

The Beach Boys - Disney Girls (1957) (Brother Records, 1971) (mp3)

Just the most luscious piece of whimsical, melodic splendour from the 'Surf's Up' album.

The Beach Boys were on the slide, turning into a nostalgia act and they couldn't get arrested by 1971. However, I could get lost inside this record (and the 'Surf's Up' album) for days.

'Disney Girls (1957)' barrels gently along, guided by the piano and bass. Bruce Johnston's vocal is pure yearning and love, setting off the languid backing perfectly.

Typically lush Beach Boys harmonies drift into the track, setting off the restrained drumming and the break into the second section at 2:07 is pure heaven. The drifting, almost free-forming harmonies from 3:35 to end are simply beautiful.

Genius.

Download The Beach Boys 'Disney Girls (1957)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

New Music - SBTRKT 'Wildfire (featuring Little Dragon)' (Young Turks, 2011) (mp3 download)

Moody, squelchy and somehow managing to spartan yet soulful. 'Wildfire' is from the upcoming SBTRKT album on the red hot Young Turks label and it promises great things.

Where the recently posted live session cut 'Heatwave' was a flurry of loops and live drumming, 'Wildfire' is taut and programmed, a more conventional song but betraying a fascinating approach to structure and space, building tension without using an ounce more sound than is necessary. Props to Little Dragon for the perfectly judged vocals.

Download SBTRKT 'Wildfire (Featuring Little Dragon)' (mp3 download) (Stereogum)

Rough Trade is doing the album - out June 27th - with an exclusive bonus mix CD.

Espiritu 'Francisca (Junior House Style Dub)' (Heavenly, 1992) (mp3)

Chunky piece of dubby house business from Junior Boys Own maestros Heller and Farley.

It opens with a subtle attack of brass before adding a chunky drum pattern, some stabbed keys and a nice bassline. One of the few remaining elements from the original is the ba-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba vocal line and it's a sumptuous stew of deep, dubby house with a latin twist and one of my favourite Heller/Farley productions.

The original's not bad, one of a handful of singles that former Frazier Chorus man Chris Taplin made with singer Vanessa Quinones before she flew solo as Espiritu and had a hit with a cover of 'Always Something There To Remind Me'.

Being on Heavenly, they had access to some top remix talent. Andrew Weatherall turned in some mixes on their 'Conquistador' single and this extended mix is a dreamy swirl of influences. It sits comfortably alongside contemporaries like Flowered Up and Saint Etienne's forays onto the post-Second Summer of Love dancefloor.

Download Espiritu 'Francisca (Junior House Style Dub)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Naciente Quartet 'One Two Three Four' (2004) (mp3)

Naciente Quartet were a South London outfit based within the Utrophia art-music collective in Greenwich.

I managed to see them live on one spectacular occasion at 93 Feet East and also picked up a couple of their self-produced EPs. Alas, though, I think they are now no more with no activity to speak of for a couple of years.

'One Two Three Four' showcases their blend of thoughtful post-rock with elements of jazz, systems music and some gorgeous playing. It canters along on some solid but expressive drumming and a sweet flow of bass.

Expressive guitar work is entwined creating an evolving, moody instrumental upon which subtle Tortoise vibraphone is added and bright, almost hi-life, lead guitar can radiate without being showy.

A great lost band and definitely worth fans of Fridge, the more thoughtful, intricate side of Foals and Tortoise checking their shit out.

Download Naciente Quartet 'One Two Three Four' (mp3) (Mediafire)

More tracks available on the Naciente Quartet Myspace page (remember Myspace?)

Trophy Wife 'Microlite (Acoustic Live)' (Moshi Moshi, 2011) (mp3)

A live acoustic version of last year's single 'Microlite' from the very promising Trophy Wife - not to be confused with the US metal band Trophy Wives.

Trophy Wife combine winsome shoegaze-y Pale Saints-like vocals with driving rhythms and intricately constructed but highly melodic and dynamic soundscapes. A bit Foals-y though with less muscularity and less focus on the dancefloor.

Expecting big things of them.

Download Trophy Wife 'Microlite' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Lemonheads 'Hospital (Live)' (1997) (mp3 download)

'Hospital' is from the Lemonheads' 1996 album 'Car Button Cloth' which was the start the downslide which saw him/them disappear for years.

The trademark melodic indie pop is still there but there's a slightly darker edge to many of the songs.

'Hospital' is a perfect illustration of this. The album version opens with atonal piano tinkling before breaking into catchy indie rock/pop but with lyrics suggesting time spent in rehab. This live version from 1997 is more straightforward but still has an edginess to it.

Download Lemonheads 'Hospital (Live at Rockpalast 1997)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Big Deal 'Talk' (Moshi Moshi, 2011)

Big Deal are a relatively new duo and 'Talk' is their, I believe, second single after 'Homework' which is also rather nice with a cover of Big Star's 'Thirteen' on the back. But I digress...

'Talk' is an edgy with a guitar and vocal setting. The guitar is slightly twisted and the vocal is yearning. It's a nice combination with echoes of PJ Harvey and a nice line in dynamics even with such a small instrumental palette.

Big Deal - Talk by moshi moshi music

New Music - Beige 'Folds' (Unsigned, 2011) (mp3 download)

Despite a gentle aroma of hype (sulphur, if you must know), I have to pass on the message about Beige. There's an almost forensic lack of information about them on their Myspace and Tumblr pages - lots of pictures but no real content - and the claim that they're "unsigned" (my arse).

Beige are another band to emerge from Brooklyn (one day it will surely sink into the Atlantic under the weight of heavy-rimmed glasses and satchels) and are not to be confused with the Leaf label artist from a few years back. They deal in crisp, clean motorik grooves with hypnotic vocals, not unlike Fujiya and Miyagi or a less funky !!!, maybe even a bit like My Disco.

'Folds' builds nicely with subtle touches and a hypnotic sweep. It's sleek, chrome-plated, autobahn Krautrock like Neu rather than dirty grooving like Can or Silver Apples.

Download Beige 'Folds' (mp3) (Stereogum)

Connan Mockasin 'Forever Dolphin Love' (Because, 2010) (mp3)

Very much the mysterious Mr. Mockasin's Krautrock-tinged Jazz Oddyssey.

'Forever Dolphin Love' starts with a gently oscillating pulse-groove - a la Miles Davis circa 'Bitches Brew' - before drifting into a more song-based section that rides on deft bass and guitar interplay, tides of dolphin sonar rising as the track progresses into a locked-groove Can-athon.

His recently reissued album includes a spellbinding live version of the track that extemporises on the theme, busting out to over twelve-minutes of madness.

It opens straight into a Can-at-Der-Schloss-in-1969 late-night groove lock-in before receding in intensity to usher in the song section and those vaguely disturbing (presumably treated) vocals.

By the eight minute mark, it's mutated further into a dubby monster, each rotation increasing the tempo until it's as giddy as a village idiot chasing a cheese down a hillside. Having just huffed a load of lighter fuel.

By the time the track collapses in an exhausted heap, only able to loop through its vinegar strokes in half-time, it's created staggering momentum - the guitars spinning out shards of skronk, the bassist pounding away and the drummer flinging his cymbals round your ears.

Astounding.

Download Connan Mockasin 'Forever Dolphin Love (Live)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Available on the Forever Dolphin Love (Double CD reissue) of Connan Mockasin's album.

Listening Post - Death Cab For Cutie 'Codes and Keys' (Atlantic, 2011) (Full Album Stream)

Death Cab For Cutie's album is now available via NPR to stream in its entirety.

There aren't the suprises - sonic or otherwise - that there might once have been but it's a sweet and melodic listen with some gorgeous textures - opening track 'Home Is A Fire' being a case in point.



Listen to Death Cab For Cutie 'Codes And Keys' (Stream) (NPR)

Suede 'The Living Dead / My Dark Star (Acoustic Live 1994)' (mp3)

Appended to the performance of 'Dog Man Star' in its entirety at Brixton Academeny on Friday (20th May), were a handful of b-sides as well as the rather stunning trio of 'Animal Nitrate', 'Metal Mickey' and 'So Young'.

However, it's this subtle, moody pairing (and the performance of 'Stay Together') that topped-off a great gig for me. 'The Living Dead' and 'My Dark Star' were the b-sides of 'Stay Together' and form a thematically and sonically complementary pairing, almost like two movements of the same piece.

'The Living Dead' is subtly and almost mournfully picked on acoustic guitar, the lyric poring over faded dreams and heroin addiction. 'My Dark Star' is a hymn to a mysterious lover and decidedly more upbeat, its chorus soaring beautifully over Bernie's animated playing.

These versions were recorded by Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler for MTV in 1994.

Download Suede 'The Living Dead/My Dark Star (Acoustic Live 1994)' (mp3 download) (Mediafire)

New Music - Patrick Wolf 'House' (Hideout, 2011)

Patrick Wolf continues his sequence of fine pop singles with upcoming release 'House'.

Following on from the sumptuous 'The City', 'House' is a swooning track graced with strings and his rich, gorgeous voice. There's a little bit of A-ha, a little bit My Life Story (anyone remember them?) in the orchestral flourishes and it's very catchy.

The video is a curio, casting Wolf as an F Scott Fitzgerald character hanging around his house waiting for luscious tracking shots to bring him into view. He appears to be dressed as Buttons though. Quirky.

'House' is out physically on Hideout on June 6th but is available as an mp3 download at 7digital and the like.

The album 'Lupercalia' follows on June 20th.

Patrick Wolf - House by alienhits

Plone 'Press A Key' (Wurlitzer Jukebox, 1997) (mp3 download)

The mysterious Plone were a short-lived Birmingham experimental audio lab that released one album on Warp as well as a handful of singles and this, their debut 7" for Wurlitzer Jukebox in 1997.

Obviously in thrall to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and peers of Broadcast, Pram and Stereolab, Plone set the ground for the Ghost Box label to deal in their quirkily-synthed hauntology.

'Press A Key' is a mellow piece of library music that is based on a rolling groove of synth bass and analogue-sounding drum machine. The melody is pure Radiophonic oscillation, suggesting a public information film about the dangers of larking about on trains late at night.

Or maybe it sounds like the entry into the Music 2000 competition on Look Around You of Stanford Torpedo a computer programmer from Milton Keynes who has managed to make music by converting the brain activity of toads into machine code.

Download Plone 'Press A Key' (mp3) (Mediafire)

New Order 'Everything's Gone Green (Cicada Remix)' (London, 2005) (mp3)

Respectful dancefloor tweaking of 'Everything's Gone Green' by Cicada from the 7" set of 'Waiting For The Siren's Call' singles.

Certainly more respectful than the latest compilation, 'Total', which features unreleased track 'Hellbent'.

Cicada add a tight, propulsive tech house groove to underpin the New Order original. A little reverb on the guitar and bass lines helps them add edge to the metronomic groove and the synths sit nicely against the track.

Towards the end the synths adopt a melody line that apes 'Blue Monday'. Not sure what that's about but it's a decent remix.

Download New Order 'Everything's Gone Green (Cicada Remix)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

New - New Order/Joy Division 'Hellbent' (Rhino, 2011) (stream)

A new New Order track unearthed to help shift the latest version of their greatest hits. This time a single CD compilation across both Joy Division and New Order. Quite how you summarise the best of those two bands on one CD is beyond me.

From the sound of it, it's an outtake from 'Waiting For The Siren's Call' but it's nice to hear something new from them. I don't think it'll happen again.

'Total: From Joy Division to New Order' tracklist:
01 Joy Division: Transmission
02 Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart
03 Joy Division: Isolation
04 Joy Division: She's Lost Control
05 Joy Division: Atmosphere
06 New Order: Ceremony
07 New Order: Temptation
08 New Order: Blue Monday
09 New Order: Thieves Like Us
10 New Order: The Perfect Kiss
11 New Order: Bizarre Love Triangle
12 New Order: True Faith
13 New Order: Fine Time
14 New Order: World in Motion
15 New Order: Regret
16 New Order: Crystal
17 New Order: Krafty
18 New Order: Hellbent

New Order - Hellbent (Previously Unreleased) by Rhino UK

New Music - Junior Boys 'Banana Ripple' (Domino, 2011)

Decidedly Friendly Fires-y return from Junior Boys.

Geek-euphoric vocals layered onto a splashing house track that thrusts and builds from bendy sequencer lines, breaks down and drifts away into the night over the course of nine minutes.

It switches effortlessly from minimal touches to wonderfully overblown, epic sections and is something of a journey (as they say).

Released on Domino on 6th June backed with a remix by icy tech genius The Field.

Junior Boys - Banana Ripple by DominoRecordCo

Richard Swift 'Paisley Park' (Secretly Canadian, 2006) (mp3)

Listen to his records and you'd think Richard Swift was/is a downtrodden, self-deprecating singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Oregon.

After a promising, critically lauded debut on Secretly Canadian, he defected to a major for his second album and it was choc-full of songs that told of his - self-professed - unsuitability for fame and/or success and his lack thereof.

His sound is a subdued but eloquent style of piano-led pop with echoes of Randy Newman and a neighbour of the sadly ignored Plush/Liam Hayes.

Swift's take on this single from Prince's career-high album 'Around The World The World In A Day' (see also Susanna's take on 'Condition Of The Heart') definitely sounds like Randy Newman or maybe Gilbert O'Sullivan somehow doing their 70s take on the purple master's psychedelic pop via the medium of time-travel.

Nice.

Download Richard Swift 'Paisley Park (Prince cover)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

New Music - Memory Tapes 'Wait In The Dark' (Car Park, 2011) (mp3)

Postal Service-style swirly pop goodness from formerly woozy shoegazer.

First hearing of new material from forthcoming the Memory Tapes album, 'Player Piano' and it's a sweet pop hit with curly synths of varying hues and textures. Bouncing along some rubbery bass and perky drum machines, it's a little bit classic OMD too.

Catchy as you like.

Download Memory Tapes 'Wait In The Dark' (mp3) (Stereogum)

Oval 'Photograph' (Icerink, 1992) (mp3)

More Saint Etienne-sponsored pop from the Icerink label, the short-lived experiment in A&R that probably dug a big hole in Messrs. Stanley and Wiggs' pension pot in the early 90s.

Icerink delivered some top quality pop in the shape of singles by Golden, Earl Brutus, Melody Dog, Shampoo and the peculiar vocoder pop of Supermarket amongst others.

Bizarrely, 'Photograph' is a Def Leppard cover. It throbs along on sequenced bass and puttering percussion, the breathless female vocal barely keeping up with the song. Rudimentary but thrilling guitar riffing gives way to an Italo House piano breakdown at the bridge before then giving way to a thrilling, ascending chorus.

An utter treat.

Download Oval 'Photograph' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Re-Post - Wah! 'The Story Of The Blues (Part One and Part Two)' (Eternal, 1982)

Managed to track down a 12" copy of this since I posted about it previously and posted an mp3 of the 7" version, 'The Story Of The Blues (Part One)'.

The full, seven minutes plus, version is glorious.

Download Wah! 'The Story Of The Blues (Part One and Part Two)' (mp3) (Box)

The Leisure Society 'This Phantom Life' (Full Time Hobby, 2011)

"If we only had the answers, we could print them up on some t-shirts" has to be one of the lyrics of the year so far.

'This Phantom Life' is a refreshingly cynical return to action from The Leisure Society. A rollicking, though still gentle rocker. It opens with a lovely brass and woodwind interlude before bursting into a crash of guitar and organ stabs.

Well fucking jaunty and worthy successors to Stephen Duffy's Lilac Time (who I will doubtless post about before long) whose catalogue was similarly stuffed with folksy, melodic pop genius.

The video is amusing too, especially if you like Mark Heap and the new Leisure Society 'Into the Murky Water' is also available now.

This Phantom Life (Edit) by The Leisure Society

Gruff Rhys 'Colossal Smile' (Rough Trade, 2006) (mp3)

Cute b-side action from Super Furry Animals' singer in his solo guise.

'Colossal Smile' is the flip to the aces 'Candylion' single. It's a simple, acoustic guitar and vocal, ramble with amusing lyrics. Shaker and whistling make for a nice instrumental break and make way for the immortal line "you changed my mind about Guns 'N' Roses".

Download Gruff Rhys 'Colossal Smile' (mp3) (Mediafire)

My Bloody Valentine 'We Have The Time In The World' (Island, 1994) (mp3 download)

The only thing My Bloody Valentine ever released after signing to Island Records.

It must be some kind of record that MBV signed for Island and then delivered nothing other than this track which turned up on this free cover-mount CD from Vox magazine (and also on the 'Peace Together' charity CD).

Mind you, given the delay in releasing the remastered versions of 'Loveless' and 'Isn't Anything', perhaps I shouldn't be surprised at all. In fact, it has just occurred to me that maybe the choice of song here was a message to their new label...?

It's a relatively straight cover of the Louis Armstrong classic with nothing of the 'Loveless' sturm und drang.

There are woozy but relatively upfront vocals but apart from that it's a straight cover with synth strings, gently strummed and picked guitars and percussive tambourine flourishes embellishing the drumming. Quite delightful.

Download My Bloody Valentine 'We Have All The Time In The World' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Listen to Tinderstick's version of 'We Have All The Time In The World'

Harry South 'The Sweeney (Closing Theme)' (1975) (mp3)

The opening music of The Sweeney is a classic TV theme tune, a blaring alert to the arrival of the slag-busting, hard-drinking, bare knuckle boxing, shooter-toting officers of the Flying Squad.

The closing music, however, has always held a fascination for me. It's an almost pastoral, downbeat take on the theme, reflecting a different side to the series - Regan and Carter drinking themselves into an early grave, the contents of an innocent pensioner's shopping bag strewn across the precinct after a bungled blag, their frustration at the 'establishment' power-brokers pulling the strings to nix a conviction they've worked months (well, all episode) to secure...

The full version of the closing theme - included on 'Shut It: The Music Of The Sweeney' - lets the meandering melody play out to its full extent with electric piano breakdown, radiant brass, sax and trumpet solos, just the occasional chikka-chikka guitar subtly referencing the all-action nature of the opening theme.

What's also nice about the album (sadly currently out-of-print) is that, alongside the seventies library music funk there's dialogue snatches from the series so you can practice your Regan impression, you slag.

Download Harry South 'The Sweeney (Closing Theme)' (Sweeney mp3) (box.net)

The Darling Buds 'Sure Thing' (Epic, 1992) (mp3)

Fizzy, heady swirl of shoegazey pop from The Darling Buds. 'Sure Thing' was from their swansong third album, 'Erotica'.

I picked it up as a bargain bin 7" and fell in love with it's sweet vocal and irresistible surge of guitars. The Darling Buds were often seen as owing a bit of a debt to The Primitives, it's nevertheless a worthy track that has stood the test of time.

Download The Darling Buds 'Sure Thing' (mp3) (Mediafire)

New Music - Bon Iver 'Calgary' (4AD/Jagjaguwar, 2011) (mp3 download)

New Bon Iver track has been released and after a few listens it's safe to say it's lovely.

Just for a moment at the beginning I worried that it might be heading into Coldplay territory. 'Calgary' is maybe less bitter, more sweet than the 'vibe' of first album, 'For Emma, Forever Ago' but it's still gentle, poised and winsome.

'Bon Iver' tracklist:
01 Perth
02 Minnesota, WI
03 Holocene
04 Towers
05 Michicant
06 Hinnom, TX
07 Wash.
08 Calgary
09 Lisbon, OH
10 Beth/Rest

The new album is self-titled and release on 4AD/Jagjaguwar on June 20th/21st and you can download 'Calgury' below in exchange for the customary email address.

Shonen Knife 'On Top Of The World' (A&M, 1994) (mp3)

Japanese Indie Poppers Shonen Knife deliver a beguiling take on The Carpenters' peace-and-love classic for the 'If I Was A Carpenter' covers album.

A bog-standard boom-tish drum pattern and resolutely-root-note bass guitar line are overlaid with slashy guitar. It's cute and straightforward and a strangely appropriate setting for the re-scanning of the lyric which is reworked so that it sounds like the words were written for a different song.

Shonen Knife were on Creation in the mid-nineties and seemed to release an endless stream of this upbeat, naive rock. For me, it doesn't bear repeat listening but this track always makes me smile.

Download Shonen Knife 'On Top Of The World' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Long Fin Killie 'A Man Ray' (Too Pure, 1995) (mp3)

More magic from Too Pure's 'imperial' phase.

Long Fin Killie were a Scottish band who fused a post-rock sound of the same ilk as Ganger, Tortoise and Laika with the narrative genius of songwriter Luke Sutherland who has since contributed to a number of Mogwai records.

'A Man Ray' rides on an immense raft of dubby bass with gentle cymbal percussion. Damped guitar harmonics form the melodic framework for the gently intoned vocals to sit amongst with just an occasional drift of sodium-light trumpet adding a little smear of extra colour.

It's a warm and enticing soundscape and the low-key vocal style - it's like someone talking quietly in your ear at a gig - draws you in to the lyric.

Download Long Fin Killie 'A Man Ray' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Rachel's 'Those Pearls...' (Touch & Go, 1996) (mp3)

A complex piece by the much-missed Rachel's, at times sun-dappled and beatific, at others overcast and moody.

Rachel's were a band from Louisville, Kentucky who established the intersesction between post-rock and modern classical. This track was from the 'Lounge Ax: Defence and Relocation' fundraiser to support the aforementioned Chicago venue.

'Those Pearls...' opens with an almost breezily positive piano section before strings and clarinet are added, creating moments of unease and building tension. Touches of percussion are added as the piece ascends to a plateau of calm, dissipating into brushed cymbals and then silence.

Gorgeous.

Download Rachel's 'Those Pearls...' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Low 'Africa (Toto Cover)' (2011) (mp3)

Warm, breathy cover of the Toto classic.

Driven by a wheezy organ sound, Alan and Mimi's vocal ring out clearly and intertwine in that gorgeous way they usually do. Bizarrely, Alan Sparhawk (on drums here) makes it sound like they're kicking into Mungo Jerry's 'In The Summertime' as he starts the track off with "tush-ti-tush - aah" vocal percussion.

It drifts along very nicely, the current 'C'mon' line-up of Low melding nicely, with some round, warm bass action and a herculean effort to get their tongues around Toto's occasionally verbose lyric. "I know that I must do what's right, As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti" indeed.

Happy Sunday.

Download Low 'Africa (Toto Cover)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Listening Post - Three Trapped Tigers 'Route One Or Die' (Blood And Biscuits, 2011) (Stream)

You can now stream the whole of the Three Trapped Tigers album - 'Route One Or Die' - ahead of its much-anticipated (by me, anyway) release on May 30th.

An bright, seamless fusion of electronics and live band post-rock/math-rock stylings that delivers on the promise of their first three EPs and maintains some spectacular intensity.

It embraces electronic sound in the same was as the likes of Fridge and Oval but has a more organic, full-band feel like Foals with the aggression of 65DaysofStatic or Shellac.

The closest marker for the Three Trapped Tigers album is probably US math-rock genii Battles who oddly enough have their second album 'Gloss Drop' - their first without Tyondai Braxton - out the following week on Warp.

'Route One Or Die' is available to pre-order over at the Blood And Biscuits website.

New Music - SBTRKT 'Heatwave (Live at Abbey Road)' (2011) (mp3)

Awesome hybrid of electronics, loops, soulful vocals and some very tidy live drumming from producer/artist/whatever SBTRKT.

Somewhere between dubstep, postrock, Emeralds looped-up electronica and house - I'm liking this a lot.

Download SBTRKT 'Heatwave (Live at Abbey Road)' (mp3) (Mediafire) (Removed by request - which is a shame as this is a great version and a great advert for the SBTRKT album. It doesn't seem to be available anywhere now, legal or otherwise. Which is stupid IMHO.)

Sonic Youth 'Superstar' (A&M, 1994) (mp3)

A strung-out take on The Carpenters melancholy tale of rockstar fame from the viewpoint of a fan/groupie.

Released as a single from the 'If I Was A Carpenter' covers album, it's worth hunting down a copy just for this track.

Thurston takes lead vocal, delivering a breathy, broken drawl through distortion and set against a gently alt take on the song, drills fizzing quietly into pick-ups in the background and subtle stabs of piano moving the song on.

Wonderful stuff.

Download Sonic Youth 'Superstar'(mp3) (Mediafire)

Stephen Duffy 'She Wants To Share Her Magic' (Parlophone, 1993) (mp3)

In a career characterised by unrecognised genius and spectacular albums that failed spectacularly to sell, it really takes something out-of-the-ordinary to stand out as being an overlooked classic. Sadly, with 'Music In Colors' Stephen Duffy reached something of a pinnacle/nadir in terms of crafting a forgotten gem.

It's a gently psychedelic mix of folk-edged pop/rock that wears a paisley tie and it's all segued together by transitional pieces composed by Nigel Kennedy. What's not to like!

'She Wants To Share Her Magic' itself is a strung out folk-rocker that frollicks along on a pneumatic bassline and spacious drums that have a baggy tinge. The guitars are paisley-hued, airy, ornate and spangly and Duffy sings gorgeously. A gently wistful classic.

Download Stephen Duffy 'She Wants To Share Her Magic' (mp3) (Mediafire)

This highly recommended album is available in remastered form.

Mona 'Listen To Your Love (Live At Koko)' (2011) (mp3)

Live outing for much-hyped Princes Of Leon.

However cynical I am I can't deny that the searing riff of 'Mona' and boundless energy makes for a gorgeous piece of indie rock.

Download Mona 'Listen To Your Love' (mp3) (Mediafire)

The Shipping News 'The March Song' (Quarterstick, 2001) (mp3)

Poised post-rock songsmithery from The Shipping News.

Clipped guitar and airy, martial drumming leads the way with curly bass action in the verses. Tension and volume builds through the bridge, leading to a burst of colourful guitar action.

The Shipping News and this album in particular generate some distinctly lovely soundscapes, marrying the Slint type spoken word wig-outs with the poise and elegant classicism of Rachel's (bassist Jason Noble's other band). The tension-release builds over and over until we reach the climactic finale and escalating guitar fireworks.

Download The Shipping News 'The March Song' (mp3) (TouchandGoRecords.com)

Five Thirty 'Abstain' (East West, 1990) (mp3)

Another "under-rated" band. Maybe that should be the name of this blog. Anyway, Five Thirty were short-lived purveyors of explosive mod-flavoured, gently baggy pop in the early 1990s.

I saw them live in a small venue supporting someone (long since forgotten who) and they were pure energy. Frontman Tara Milton was a Bolan-esque androgynous tart spitting out the songs and massaging his bass frantically.

Song-writing and lead vocal duties in Five Thirty were shared with guitarist Paul Bassett who was decidedly more straightforward. 'You' is one of Bassett's songs and it's a super-charged and highly melodic pop song with a strident groove, some John Squire guitar frills and a tip of the hat to The Who and The Small Faces. It hurtles towards a explosion of pedal abusing noise and disintegrates into squall. Did I mentioned The Who?

Five Thirty worked hard to break-through but it never quite happened. 'You' was re-released as an a-side but still failed to make headway. After one fine album - 'Bed' - they split.

Download Five Thirty 'You' (mp3) (Mediafire)

The New Sins 'It Doesn't Work Like That' (Elastic, 2007) (mp3)

One-off single from the keyboard player in New Young Pony Club. Doesn't sound promising put like that but 'It Doesn't Work Like That' is a laid-back little pop gem.

Set against a gently stomping beat, Lou Hayter semi-raps in a Pet Shop Boys-meets-Cool For Cats kind of way.

Lovely piece of new-wave-y pop.

Download The New Sins 'It Doesn't Work Like That' (mp3) (Mediafire)