new: Four Tet & Daphni (Caribou)

New Four Tet tune dropped today, a few days after its debut on Gilles Peterson's wonderful radio show. It's being released on Keiran Hebden's own Text Records, and is backed with a track by Daphni aka Daniel Snaith aka Caribou. Two of the finest electronic music producers in the world. Two absolute ANTHEMS. Yes!

Pinnacles by Four Tet

Daphni - Ye Ye by Caribouband

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new: Manchester Orchestra, The Soft Moon, Kauf & Wake Up Lucid

Manchester Orchestra. Nothing groundbreaking, just good rocking indie music ...with beautiful powerful strings. I can see these guys "hitting the bigtime", if this track is any indication of the album to come. That album will be called Simple Math and will be released on May 10th on Favourite Gentlemen Records.






Simple Math by Manchester Orchestra

Dancefloor Magic Vol. 15

Here is it again folks, it's Saturday! You know the score at this stage, boogie choons for those of you hitting the town for a night on the tiles as they say.

So as ever, I pick out a few "choice cuts", you have a listen, if you like it, dance to it.

This evening I'm posting recent indie disco classics, a nostalgia trip on my part. Three tracks I've danced to like a bell-end over the years. Viva Buckfast.








Battles - Atlas


Buck 65 - Dang


Animal Collective - My Girls (Mexicans With Guns Remix)

If you are a Spotify user, I've made a dancefloor magic playlist, I'm happy with it, it's pretty damn good!

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Goodbye Nobody Wave

You hear a new band. You like this band a lot. You search for info on the band ...then you find out the band split up last Tuesday. You go to the fridge and get a beer

Nobody Wave were the band, I'm sure they'll be sadly missed.

Lo-fi indie garage pop. Brilliant stuff.



Fast Asleep by Nobody Wave

Excuse Me Miss by Nobody Wave

Lion in the Tide by Nobody Wave

Look in the Trees (Bedroom Mix) by Nobody Wave

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Calling London # 8 with Sheena from What's The Ruckus

What's The Ruckus is a worldwide blog run by a bunch of hip young girls and boys who know their music. From New York, L.A, Tampa, London and elsewhere they devour live music, taking pictures and writing about shows, interviewing bands, reviewing albums, standard blog stuff but done very very well. Check this out:

The Ruckus 2010 in under 60 seconds from melanie on Vimeo.

I contacted Sheena, a London based photographer who takes pictures for the blog. As ever with this feature, if you want to know about music in London, these are the people to ask. Sheena was most helpful, here's what she had to say:

- Favourite Venue?

Small venue ...would have been the Flowerpot until they got closed down. I love their new venue The Wheelbarrow too, but it doesn't quite feel like home yet. Also adored the Luminaire in Kilburn, but again that has been sadly closed (rubbish year for small music venues last year). So in terms of actually still open places, I am going to have to go with the Old Queens Head in Islington. Upstairs they often have great music, it's not too pricey, you can fairly easily get a seat if you want or get to the bar, and they do a stonker of a roast dinner.

- Clubs and Clubnights, where to go dancing?

Proper dancing gladrags west end clubbing stuff is something that scares me shitless, so doesn't tend to happen. So if I fancy a dance I head down to Soundtracks at the Monarch in Camden. They play music from movie soundtracks and it is wonderfully cheesy and always a good laugh. The boys who run it are about to start an even more cheesy pop based night at Underworld in Camden, and I am really excited for that.

In other musical genres, the club night I never miss is Communion at the Nottinghill Arts Club

- Best London bands/artists right now?

Oh jesus, what a question... there are just so many. I'll ignore the bigger bands like laura Marling, Mumford and Sons and all that... cause while they are London bands it feels like they are basically owned by everyone now. I love them but they aren't what you mean here I don't think.

So Ahab, Matthew and the Atlas, Andrew Davie, The Dufflefolks, Spark, Morning Parade (technically from Essex but meh), Kyla La Grange, Marcus Foster, Peggy Sue, Mariners Children.

- Best thing about music in London?

There is so much of it.

- Any downsides?

There is so much of it, haha.

- Recommend a record store:

Without a doubt, Rough Trade East (west is good too but much smaller)

- Where's best to find out what's going on?

The Ruckus? Haha. There are some great blogs like My Band's Better Than Your Band and The Camden Store which have good listings sections. Or bigger ones like TLOBF, Gigwise, and rockfeedback are always good.

Here are a few of my favourites from Sheena's selection.

Dark, gritty folk. Beautiful.

The Mariner's Children - It Carved Your Name Into The Ground by brokensoundmusic

I hear he's so hot right now. I'm kinda liking this folky take on sincere American rock.

Marcus Foster - Shadows Of The City by Stayloose

Beats, riddim, synth, indie vocals. It's very now sounding or something.

The Dufflefolks - Two Hands Clapping


Thanks to Sheena and everyone who's contributed so far. I've loads more on the way, but am always open to suggestions. If you'd like to get involved or even suggest a good venue, clubnight, gig, band/artist/DJ, promoter etc. mail me MAILJOSHCLARKE@GMAIL.COM

(Remember to include MAIL at the start of it cos my poor namesake in the U.S keeps getting my mail)

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new: And So I Watch You From Afar

It's HERE! In yesterdays post I noted my excitement at the prospect of hearing a new track from And So I Watch You From Afar which debuted last night on BBC NI and Today FM ...of course I missed it cos I was making a sandwich but I got to hear it this morning and now, so do you.

Search:Party:Animal is the single. It's out February 28th with remix stems available for you to take it apart and put it back together. Like musical Lego.

Their second album is called Gangs. It's out May 2nd on The Richter Collective.

And So I Watch From Afar - Search:Party:Animal by Nialler9

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New ...Gruff Rhys video, TV On The Radio & Elbow cover Sabbath

Yesterday I posted some new Gruff Rhys music. A reader commented on the post about a video Gruff had made to go along with the album where he makes a hotel out of shampoo bottles and other assorted bits he's stolen from hotels over the years. Here it is.

New TV On The Radio! Is it any good? It's every good! Nine Types of Light is out April 8th.





TV on the Radio - Will Do by 1077 The End

N-E-W: Rubberbandits video

After the Christmas number 1 attempt, the Joe Duffy affair, the Late Late appearance and a whole plethora of other events associated with their Horse Outside video going viral and becoming the talking point for weeks amoung the Irish public, Rubberbandits are back with a new video for their new single, Roisin I Wanna Fight Your Father. One may need a crash course in Limerick culture to fully appreciate the wit and genius of this pair.



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N-E-W Mountain Goats, Gruff Rhys & J. Mascis

The Moutain Goats new album is out March 29th, it's called All Eternals Deck and was produced by death-metal hero, Erik Rutan of Morbid Angel and Hate Eternal.

The Mountain Goats - Damn These Vampires by Indiespot

Gruff Rhys' new album Hotel Shampoo is out now. Though I haven't yet gotten into Super Furry Animals yet I reckon this album will be the catalyst to my getting into them.

GRUFF RHYS - Vitamin K by Pias France

J. Mascis, another singer from a well known band is set to release a new solo album. The Dinosaur Jr. frontman's new offering Several Shades of Why is out March 15th.

J Mascis - Is It Done by subpop

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While my ukulele gently weeps

I don't generally post videos of well known songs being covered by unknown musicians, but this is spectacular.



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London Band of the Week no. 5: Brassroots

Brassroots is a nine-piece horns and percussion ensemble from England, Israel, France, Greece and America, based in London. Starting out playing interesting versions of songs by Bowie, Radiohead and Beyonce, they have garnered support from Rob Da Bank and Gilles Peterson on Radio 1, slots at Glastonbury, Bestival and Lovebox, while Mr. Scruff has played them in mixes. With the growth in popularity of brass pop bands, on the back of the Hot 8 Brass Band and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, over the past few years there's definitely a space in the music world for these guys. You'll be hearing a lot more about them.

For the moment you can pick up their 7 track debut E.P through iTunes or by mailing payment and address to brassrootsmusic@gmail.com.

Check their myspace for details on Irish shows over the 4th, 5th and 6th of March.

Brassroots - 'Good Life' by Do Right! Music

06 Karma Police by BRASSROOTS

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N-E-W: Charles Bradley

This track is from Graham Dolan via Jonny White. Graham runs Shack Up, what I hear is a damn fine night of hip hop, funk, b-boy breaks and soul. If you ever find yourself in Galway on a Friday night, get down to Kellys.

This is fantastic, as good as many soul classics.

His album, No Time For Dreaming is out now.



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Dancefloor Magic Vol. 14

Happy Saturday to all you cool cats! As ever, a handful of songs to hum for the day and then plague the DJ to play later on when you're out on the floor, spinning, jiving and indeed getting on down.





Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen


I posted the Leroy Sibbles version of this song before but listened to Straight Outta Compton again this week and decided to post N.W.A's Express Yourself, as well as the original that it samples.

N.W.A - Express Yourself


Charles Wright & the 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself


The Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump


I've mentioned how I feel about mashups before but sometimes they just work so perfectly you've got to let them shine. This one's a keeper.

The Hood Internet - Good Ol Fashioned Rump Shaker (Beastie Boys vs. Matt & Kim)


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N-E-W: Big Monster Love video

Great new video from Dublin's Big Monster Love to accompany the lead single from his debut album Game Over. Brilliant song, brilliant video.



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N-E-W: Of Monsters & Men, Little Majorette & MEN

Family sounding bands, boy-girl vocals, lots of traditional instruments, shouting and celebrations. Where was this when everyone was listening to indie lad rock? Of Monsters And Men are the band, they're from Iceland and were picked up by KEXP back in December.


Of Men And Monsters - Little Talks

N-E-W: Retarded Cop ...again

Ok, ok, put down the Radiohead record for a few minutes and listen to some other music. As you may know at 9:30 this morning the new Radiohead album, The King Of Limbs was released, 24 hours earlier than expected. By the time I’d awoken twitter had almost exploded under the weight of music fans trying to get their reviews and opinions as quickly as possible. My favourite comment on the matter was "I'm sure Radiohead is depressed about these reviews, since they obviously make albums for people to listen to once at 9:20 am on a laptop."

But I’ve listened to it. It’s very good. Anyway, time for a band that isn't Radiohead.


...in fact kind of the opposite of Radiohead. It's the profane, piss taking, punk poet ...Retarded Cop!

One of my favourite bands of the past few months, I've blogged about him/them (he's got a band together now) before. It's the perfect antidote to listening to Radiohead for the day. Other suggestions would be the bands I blogged about an hour ago. Here are a few things he's thrown up on his facebook over the past while.

RETARDED COP - I'm going back in time by RETARDED COP

N-E-W: Benoit & Sergio, Mi Ami, Dum Dum Girls, Alpines

The New Gay is a great blog. Their single of the day comes from Benoit & Sergio. As they say it's a disaffected vocal feel, but is catchy as hell. It's out now on DFA Records.



Sergio & Benoit - Boy Trouble

N-E-W: Radiohead

New Radiohead. King of Limbs release has been forwarded to today. Excited.



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N-E-W: Girls Names, tUnE yArDs & Siriusmo

The Guardian have a couple of things up on their website today worth checking out. Firstly an article about Richard Russell, head of XL Records and how this label is bucking the trend on music sales and the ethos behind the independent label. Secondly, a guide to this years SXSW festival. You don't need me anymore. Just run off and get lost with great bands you've never listened to.

Girls Names are another fine example of lo-fi/DIY/dirty sounding pop music coming out of Ireland at the moment. Dead To Me is out April 26th on Slumberland Records in the US.

Falling (Twin Peaks Theme) by Girls Names from claire miskimmin on Vimeo.

Girls Names - Seánce on a Wet Afternoon by Slumberland Records

Also worth checking out is Sea Pinks, Neil, Girls Names singers side project. Good listen!

Japanese Knotweed from Sea Pinks on Vimeo.

tUnE-yArDs new single is magic. It has an afro-beat feel to it, wailing vocals, infectious beats, it's an absolute winner. w h o k i l l is out April 19th on 4AD.

TUnE-yArDs - Bizness by 3nipples

James from Scottish Friction was ranting today about bands blatantly ripping other bands sounds off. Hope he doesn't mind bloggers doing it cos I've lifted this from his post. Siriusmo is new to me. He's a German producer, making colourful bips and bleeps dance music. This track is from Mosaik, his new album.

Siriusmo - Goldene Kugel by Scottish Friction

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N-E-W: Bing Ji Ling, Tommy Guerrero & Asobi Seksu

Bing Ji Ling aka Luke Quinn is a member of the excellent Phenomenal Handclap Band. His new album, Shadow To Shine is out March 21st. This is a cracking soul tune.

Funnily enough Luke plays in Tommy Geurrero's band. I hadn't heard about Tommy since my skateboarding days years ago, then yesterday I downloaded his new album, and now I come across this guy who's in his band. When it rains, it pours I suppose.

Bing Ji Ling - Move On (Stream)

So Tommy's new album. Well it has lots of instruments in it. It's jazzy, funky and fun. I'm not in a position to describe this kind of music or compare it to anyone else, but I'm glad I checked it out. It's going to be blasting out the speakers here in Pop Goes HQ for the foreseeable future.

Here's a video of Tommy's skating. I miss skating sometimes but growing up in a cold, wet country it's a tough pastime to maintain enthusiasm for.



And here's a short little day in the life kind of video. He seems like he's having fun. It's a nice little pick me up to watch and an inspiration that growing up doesn't have to be shit, you just need to figure out a way to make a living out of doing what you love.


Syndicate - Tommy Guerrero from Off The Wall TV on Vimeo.

Tommy Guerrero - Que S-est Il-Passe

I listened to the new Asobi Seksu album last night. Apart from a noodly psychadelic dip in the middle it's a delight of pounding alt-rock energy, soaring vocals and warm electronic sounds. Flourescence is out now. This single Trails has been doing the rounds for a while, but it's a good indicator of the albums sound.

Asobi Seksu - Trails by flogase

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N-E-W: Alex Winston

Before we go any further, I assume you're here to waste some time. Find out about new music of course, but it's a leisurely pursuit. I hope you're not treating it as work. Good. Well here's some fun to be had along side listening to some new music, it's a Lego album covers quiz in todays Telegraph. I shit you not. Awesome much?

Ok, here goes. Alex Winston, where did you come from? I seem to be late to this party but it's a good party. This is infectiously catchy music. Last week I was writing about Foster The People. I said that I understand why I can't hear Squarepusher and Slayer on daytime radio, but why not play good pop music, instead of the usual tawdry shit? With commercial radio stuck in the past, in bed with that sinking ship that is the traditional music industry, I can't see this happening. For the foreseeable future radio play will be dictated by the major labels and that will be that. Although I suppose if you're snooping around independent music blogs you could give a rats ass about Warner and commercial radio. But yes, Alex Winston's Sister Wife is out now digitally, with the physical side of things touching down March 7th. Fun fact: She does vocals for The Knocks.


Sister Wife by Alex Winston

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London Band of the Week no. 4: Dry The River

This folk rock thing isn't going away is it? Ah, more of it I say! A band who could soon enjoy the fame and status of the likes of Bon Iver, Mumford and Sons & Fleet Foxes are Dry The River. From sweet, crisp, autumn's evenings melodies to gentle crescendos, building to rousing sing-alongs, it's an infectious sound.



History Book by Dry the River

Family Tree by Dry the River

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N-E-W: The Depravations

I'd been meaning to blog about The Depravations ever since some-time PGTR blogger, long-time buddy Brian text me on Christmas Day to tell me that his family were listening to them over Christmas dinner. He did this to piss me off as I was listening to some sort of pan-pipe Christmas CD. I would rather have been listening to The Depravations, based purely on one show I'd seen. But in fairness, pan-pipes ain't much competition. So over Christmas I mailed Jay from the and he sent on some mp3's.

David Boland, Otis Liddy, Eoghan McGinley, Hob Junker & Mosey Byrne are their names.
According to them "the general sounds we like come from the 1950s and 1960s, surf music, really old country and blues and 1990s dance music". I'd been waiting to muster up sufficient praise for what is up with the best music I've heard in months. But there I've said it.

Keep an eye out for this band, they're bloody brilliant and if there's any justice in music (though let's face it there's really not) they'll reach some manner of recognition at some stage in the not too distant future. If you like rich sounds, stories, harmonies or in fact anything that makes music pleasant to listen to you'll head on down here, download these mp3's, put on a cup of tea, stick on those big headphones and lie back on the couch soaking up these sounds.

Anyway, Jay sent on a load of mp3's, saying I could use what I like and fook the rest away. I couldn't bring myself to throwing them away. Too good. Here's the lot. It's called the Mosey E.P.

Boys Can Be So Cruel

Not Forgotten

Oh My Love

To The Sea

Tonight

In The Garden

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N-E-W: The Knux, Elbow

The other day I wrote about New York band Hunters and how I'm afraid people might bypass their tunes as they're being hailed as some sort of Nu-Grunge. Whatever about the bad name grunge earned after its heyday, rap-rock has always been a murky musical soup, with the few notable exceptions drowning in a world of the worst kind of music known to man, woman and child.

But again, I feel I need to say (as much for myself and anyone else) that rap rock needn't mean Fred Durst, it could be Anthrax & Public Enemy, Run DMC & Aerosmith, Beastie Boys, Faith No More ...in fact, check out the Judgement Night Soundtrack. Teenage Fanclub with De La Soul, Slayer & Ice T, Mudhoney & Sir Mix-A-Lot. Amazing.

...when you're finished reading and listening head on up to the Music Television section, I'll have added in a few choice rap/rock cuts from over the years.

Anyway, hope I haven't smothered my point but The Knux' new single is a whopper. Guitar based, groovy as you like, certainly one of the highlights of the year so far and indeed a "rap/rock" song if ever there were one. New album not yet titled, suppose we can only wait and see. The Fuck You E.P was one of my favourite releases of last year so expectations are riding high.

The Knux - She's So Up (Explicit!) by Consequence of Sound
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Also new music from Elbow, the band that can do no wrong. Before Christmas they premiered Lippy Kids, now they've released a second nugget from their forthcoming 5th, Build A Rocket Boys!, due out March 11th. What a band.



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N-E-W: Cloud Castle Lake

They came ever so highly recommended by anyone who has seen them live, and they didn't disappoint. Cloud Castle Lake are the band, and this is possibly the best tune I've heard all year.

A Wolf Howling by cloudcastlelake

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N-E-W: No Monster Club, Wye Oak, James V. McMorrow, The Babies & Vancans

One eye on blogging, one eye on Ireland v. France in Rugby. Apologies for any poor spelling/bad grammar/sentences that make little sense etc.

I love Sundays so I do.

I'm waiting for it. Some day, it's bound to happen. Ireland's run of a few years of consistently good music will grind to a halt and Glen Hansard will unleash a new breed of misery demons with battered guitars to bore us into oblivion. I don't mean to rip into Glen but like it or not he is seen as the father figure to that slew of singer songwriters who defined Irish music a few years ago. Anyway, let us not dwell on music famines of old but appreciate some more great music, this time some infectiously positive jingle-jangle pop from No Monster Club. NMC is headed up by Bobby Ahern, formerly of Dublin Duck Dispensary. From the website I can't make out where one bands starts and the other begins but all I can say is these new tracks are a cracking listen and should make you smile. Give them a go!



Wish Me Well by No Monster Club

The Last Bottle In The World by No Monster Club

Calling London # 7 with Real Horrorshow Tunes

Real Horrorshow Tunes is a blog run by Nathan, and written for by Lewi, Rose and Matt. They like their music. They know their music. And they write well about it. Best thing you can do is head straight over there after you read this, I guarantee you'll find something good. 

For example, I've just heard the best British hip-hop I've heard in years. Ghostpoet aka Obaro Ejimiwe is a rapper from Coventry who released his debut E.P last year on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood label. The E.P is down below, downloadable for free, and here is a track from his recently released debut album Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jams. 

Ghostpoet - Survive It by Brownswood

Dancefloor Magic Vol. 13

This evening it's business as usual with some beautiful grooves. However do consider what you're getting yourself in for as you hit the dancefloors of the world this evening. Do you trust your DJ not to play up to the loved up celebrating the ridiculous holiday that is St. Valentines Day? Do you trust him/her not to ruin a perfectly good energy with some schmaltzy nonsense? If you're satisfied that your DJ will avoid this trap, then go ahead and dance to your shoes discontent.



...unless you can suggest me some love songs that will tear the floor a new one? Since V-Day is Monday I may do a holiday special of love songs that you can listen to without feeling nauseous.

Zongamin - Bongo Song

Caribou - Melody Day

J.C. Davis - A New Day

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Mogwai - Mexican Grand Prix video

From their new album, Hardcore Will Never Die but you will. Galway cats, catch them in the Roisin this coming Monday. High five to all of you whose other halves like Mogwai. Enjoy it!



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Joy Division ...in plastic

Cheers to Barry Gruff for finding this nugget of fun. It's a recreation of Joy Divisions only national TV appearance on on BBC2's "Something Else" made with Playmobil. The words at the start are from their Granada TV appearance on Tony Wilson's "So It Goes" in September 1978.



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N-E-W: Hunters, Strokes, Okkervil River, Foster The People & The Raveonettes

New music over the past few days ...and me talking nonsense. If you like my ranting please let me know, I can't help myself, so it's not going to stop, but I reckon people get a line of two in and go back to facebook while they listen to the songs ...don't blame them either, but here goes!

Grunge is a funny term. As a teen I was all about Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Screaming Trees, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam etc. and while I'll dip back every now and again, I'd never say I like grunge. Which is silly, cos if you think about it, there was a lot of really good "grunge" music. Also, it was never really a genre, just a catch all for punk, lo-fi, hardcore, metal influenced music, probably based in Seattle. I heard Pearl Jam on the radio the other day which reminded me of how much I liked them. The angst and emotion of the lyrics and vocals does nothing for me any more, the slick guitar solos sound dated and grown up millionaires dressing like homeless teenagers is a tad laughable in hindsite. But at the end of the day, late 80's, early 90's college rock/lo-fi/moshpit whatever you want to call it is damn fine music.

The reason I say all of this is that the term grunge is being hoisted upon Hunters, a Brooklyn band who've recently entered my radar. In reality what they play is rather similar to a lot of lo-fi pop stuff that's been about for a while but the guitars are a tad fuller, more over-driven. Some of it isn't far of Nirvana's better stuff, but do understand it's no 90's throwback. Also, James Iha, guitar genius formerly of Smashing Pumpkins is their producer. My point is, if (understandably) you avoid the term grunge: Firstly, rethink your stance, not all grunge bands are as bad as Creed, much like not all indie bands are as bad as Hard-Fi. Secondly, this ain't grunge per se, in fact it's nothing if not good rock n' roll. And that's all you can ask for at the end of the day ...all that and I forgot to mention Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs mixed it.

Anyway, when was the last time Pearl Jam released tunes as a pay what you want on bandcamp?



Brat Mouth by huntersny

Book & Movie club # Beardyman

Charming, funny and incredibly talented.

If you're looking for insight into the technicalities behind his setup you're in the wrong place. You will however want to go for a pint with him.

Beardyman! Let's do pints.

Also, Galway people aren't all morons. Just the ones in this video.



And here's the video to the new single. It's gonna be on I Done A Album which is out March 21st. For any more info have a look at his damn fine website



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London Band of the Week no. 3: Zoo Kid

Zoo Kid aka Archy Marshall is spectacular. He's got a sad voice that really gets into your head. I hope this in no way detracts from how anyone appreciates this music is but he's 16 years old. He's got a damn unique way of constructing a tune.

Brian reckons he sounds like a drunk teenage Leonard Cohen. Thanks Brian. Spot on.

Not much more to say, cept watch this space. This guy is super talented, makes lovely music and should be a more permanent fixture in your music world rather soon.

Here are three of his tracks in three different formats.

Zoo Kid - Out Getting Ribs

Zoo Kid - Ocean Bed by Nialler9



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