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Singles Review April & May 2010

This month we review the latest singles from; Ariel Pink, Atari Teenage Riot, Biffy Clyro, The Big Pink, The Drums, Efterklang, Foals, Four Year Strong, F**k Buttons, MIA, Professor Green, Slow Club, Yacht & much, much more!

A little announcement for the singles/eps faithful – we’re suspending EP reviews temporarily – i’m afraid we need to cut back some of our sections that weren’t gaining the best of hits and focus on the stuff that you keep coming back each day for – we’re currently trying to see if a listening post would be better, so you the reader gets free music, the bands get some promotion – so more news to come, but in the meantime please don’t send EPs in for review – any editorial questions please email Jeremy@subba-cultcha.com

BAND NAME – TITLE – LABEL/BAND’S WEBSITE

A:
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
ALOE BLACC – I NEED A DOLLAR – STONES THROW
After the backwards looking cosmic-soul of Mayer Hawthorne’s stunning album, legendary hip-hop label Stones Throw release another fine slab of soul might – with a sound that is somewhere between the poppier side of Stax Records and Bill Withers, this is perfect made for a long hot summer, here’s hoping!

ANONYMOUS TIP – THE WEIRDER BRAVE – TRIUMPHANT SOUND
Shards of metallic riffage explode over a rhythm that makes you want to create your own circle pit in the lounge, AT certainly know how to throw down! With vocals that veer between Pennywise, Helmet & dare I say it, the southern dude in Kings Of Leon – Their sex isn’t on fire, but their guitar licks certainly are!

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
ARIEL PINK – ROUND AND ROUND – 4AD
Subba faves AP have signed to a label that seems Perfect-made for their ambitious ideas and off kilter musical style; and with it the band have sharpened their focus, and reigned in their million-ideas-a-minute fashion of their previous work and created something strikingly different and unbelievably enjoyable, recalling Elvis Costello, ABC, Pavement, Black Kids and even the Style Council at their most shapely. Sure, the front cover makes me wanna cough up a fur ball, but at least their music doesn’t!

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
ATARI TEENAGE RIOT – ACTIVATE – DIGITAL HARDCORE RECORDINGS
After the passing of Carl Crack and the current climate of reuniting even the most anti-commercial of bands, the thought of an ATR reunion did cross my mind, but I could never have envisaged the sheer power behind the band’s current line-up’s performance. Whether it be recording advances, the wealth of influences Empire has picked up over his solo work or the common goal of sharing this once inflammatory vision, but the band have never sounded so god damn vital – embrace the riot!

ATTACK ATTACK – NOT AFRAID – DEATH OR GLORY
Whilst the whole emo/post-hardcore scene seems to be suffering from the resurgence of Pop-Punk (Paramore et al), it’s good to see subba faves AA still firing on all cylinders, with a sublime pop edge to their anthemic choruses and a biting attack threaded through their stunning riffing. Catch the band on tour in May!

B:
THE BANG BANG CLUB – CHEMISTRY – BPM ENTERTAINMENT
With the squawked vocal delivery of MGMT, and the glitzy electro pop of prime A-Ha TBBC have created a slice of enjoyable pop, nothing more, nothing less...

BATUSIS – BLUES THEME – SMOG VEIL RECORDS
A fun combination of AC/DC’s crunchiness and some good ol’ fashioned boogie woogie – lots of fun!

BEING 747 – SHAKE YOUR BACKBONE – WRATH RECORDS
With verses that bring to mind the Halloween classic ‘monster mash’, and a chorus that’s like a ragged version of Pavement (when Malkmus was reliving his greatest Rolling Stone fantasy) – or if you’ve watched 30 Rock recently, it’s a bit like Tracy Jordan’s ‘Werewolf Bar Mitzvah’ – an enjoyable rush of rock riffage!

BIFFY CLYRO – BUBBLES - WARNERS
Hang on, Biffy Clyro AND Josh Homme, together??? Why are you still reading this, go, buy, listen, genius!!!

THE BIG PINK – TONIGHT – 4AD
A new version released ahead of their forthcoming headline tour (the forum, well done guys!) – making their sound slinkier and with a bounce that’s very hard to resist...

SARAH BLASKO – ALL I WANT - DRAMATICO
With a voice that could raise the dead with its blend that’s equal parts sultriness, coy and brimming with emotion, Sarah Blasko could deliver charm and wit to anything she puts her mind to, but with this stirring slice of Americana she’s created something so engaging and catchy to boot...

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
BLIGHTERS – HEARTBEAT – HUNGRY AUDIO
In awe of the 80’s Indie scene (when indie was indie and not just a codename for white boys with guitars and tight trousers), Blighters have taken the guitar work of Johnny Marr and married it to the new wave pop of Orange Juice, with that taut post-punk sound that Teardrop Explodes made their own – a striking single full of charm, warmth and a hook that’s just insatiable!

BODI BILL – I LIKE HOLDEN CAULFIELD – SINNBUS RECORDS
Dexterous electro pop with a dark sense of melancholy underpinning the clashing rhythms – with fans in the Gossip and Bloc Party, these boys will go far!

THE BRUTE CHORUS – COULD THIS BE LOVE – TAPE RECS
Raw, devastatingly potent on impact and with an air of electricity running through each sleazy guitar lick – makes me wanna be a rocker and beat the crap out of some mods!!!

NELL BRYDEN – TONIGHT – COOKING VINYL
Uplifting singer songwriter with a jaunty rhythm and hooky delivery that reminds me of a less ecstatic Regina Spektor…

C:
CHAPEL CLUB – FIVE TREES – A&M RECORDS
With the epic quality of early U2 pieced with some guitars that would’ve made Marr blush, CC take the melancholy 80’s indie sound and create a harder, more solid version for the not-so-twee generation...

THE CHEEK – JUST ONE NIGHT – A&M
With a playful vocal delivery that takes Alex Turner’s attitude and gives it style and class a plenty, and music that shares the same ramshackle groove of say Hot Hot Heat and marries it to the indie pop luminescence of the Pigeon Detectives – it doesn’t get me to hit the repeat button, but neither do I want it to stop…

chILL – MADLUCK – TWISTED ENTERTAINMENT
Crunching riffs bustle up against some demonic screaming with a goth-tinged chorus, with obvious influence from In Flames– from Finland, and literally dripping with ideas…

D:
DANNY AND THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD – RESTLESS FEET – LOOSE MUSIC
Having loved local heroes Grand Drive since their debut album, it’s great to see that bewitching voice popping up again. Favouring a more rootsy sound, less Beach Boys more The Band, the band really find their feet well on this single, like Dylan jamming with the Flying Burrito Brothers.

DAMN VANDALS – COCAINE LOVE – MYSPACE.COM/DAMNVANDALS
Equal parts Chris Isaak and Nick Cave, DV bleed the blues whilst wrapping those course emotions over a guitar line that would make Peter Buck proud...

DIRTY WEEKEND – TIME – FROM TEESIDE WITH LOVE
Lush vocals float upon shimmering guitars and some interesting twists and turns – You sense someone’s been listening closely to James and Morrissey…

DRAKE – OVER – ISLAND
A bit of a Kanye clone (vocoder ‘n all), but bonus points for mentioning the language specialists Rosetta Stone...

THE DRUMS – FOREVER AND EVER AMEN – MOSHI MOSHI
This is the sound of summer dripping from the morning dew collected outside your tent a festival this year. Which is fortunate as I think the band are playing almost every single one of them!!!

DUKE SPECIAL – HUCKLEBERRY FINN – DUKESPECIAL.ORG
Having Released an ambitious 3 album set in one month, DS return with 5 Songs from Huckleberry Finn – with a romantic waltz driving it along, it’s like the song that plays in your head when you dance beside someone you long for, and wouldn’t be out of place on a Rufus Wainwright album…

E:
EFTERKLANG – I WAS PLAYING DRUMS – 4AD
Another amazing band who have found their natural home on the wondrously eccentric 4AD label, and become better since (if that’s believable). Subba cover-stars Efterklang create such poise and tenderness through their music it’s hard to resist that urge to get pulled under the waves by those luring memories and jittering rhythms, and submerge yourself in Efterklang’s murky and striking world. Brilliant, absolutely…

THE EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER – LOVE TURNS TO HATE – BLACK RECORDS
Still possessing the greatest band name in history, and creating darkly psychotic surf-inflicted whig-out music from a long gone era of Rockabilly and Zombie rock band trios – the music world would seem poorer without these maniacs!

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
EMIKA – DOUBLE EDGE – NINJA TUNE
With a voice and style that’s so cold, almost machine like, slithering between the electro-dub infected soundscape where eerie pianos and glitched beats are easy to lose oneself within – Emika is like an otherworldly presence that you won’t want to shake off...

ERLAND AND THE CARNIVAL – YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE THE LONELY – FULL TIME HOBBY
I think we’ve found the perfect band to support The Coral on their forthcoming tour – both possessing a skewed mix of folk, beat pop, Liverpool guitar bands and sea shanty music whilst creating something fun until you scratch a little further beneath the surface...

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
EX-LIBRAS – UNDERACHIEVER - WIREBIRD
With the other worldly beauty of Wild Beasts at their most emotive, fused to the rhythmical dexterity of latter-day Radiohead, all combined over the poise and grace of Jeff Buckley at his most striking – EL Have created a wondrous sound that can fill any cavernous space, and recalls the inventiveness of Post-Rock at its most devastating!

F:
THE FALL – BURY! PTS. 2+4 - DOMINO
A well welcomed return from Mr Mark E. Smith – certainly more fun than listening to the Pavement greatest Hits set from start to finish!

FELDBERG – DON’T BE A STRANGER - ?
With a playful jazz chanteuse singer back by some dreamy guitars and a melody that floats upon a cloud of lushness, Feldberg are the perfect soundtrack for a day in the park mid-spring…

FIGHTING FICTION – WE WILL NOT FORGET – XTRA MILE
Inspired mix of The Clash, The Pogues (minus the fiddle) and Frank Turner – Street Punk’s resurgence is to your benefit!

BLACK FRANCIS – SIX LEGGED MAN – COOKING VINYL
Finding himself stuck between early-Frank Black and the Pixies ragged glory, you do find yourself wondering if this was one of the rejected come back tracks for the Pixies, and if so, why did they reject it, fabulous!

FOALS – THIS ORIENT - WARNERS
Having disappeared for what seems like an age, Foals return from recording their Sophomore album, and to tease us who’ve been waiting so patiently they release this stupendously brilliant track – harnessing a more emotive side to their teutonic sound, the band have opened themselves up for a Bloc Party-styled promotion from promising Indie band to a Stadium filling proposition, let’s just hope they can handle the attention this time around…

FOREIGN OFFICE – LEAVING THE HOUSE – THIS PLAYGROUND RECORDS
Jittering electro pop with a disco/Indie edge to it’s sound – FO certainly know how to harness a hook and push it as far as they can, sounding like the Klaxons but missing that vital spark to turn it from a good song into a great one, but they certainly have the elements needed to turn things around in the near future, so we suggest you keep listening intently!

FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS – WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME – ISLAND
Having been hyped as emo/pop-punk’s great white hopes for the last 2 years, it’s good to see the band actually realise their potential and release something a bit better thought through than their previous efforts. Gone are the lopsided riffing and wayward harmonies, and instead a studio-manipulated sheen has been added and FTSK can finally back up the hype…

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
FOUR YEAR STRONG – WASTING TIME (ETERNAL SUMMER) – DECAYDANCE/ISLAND
…But, when it comes to creating a defining shift in the Pop-Punk underbelly – FYS piss all over FTSK, literally the band fire on all cylinders throughout, with nothing left for waste. With 2 main vocalists who harmonise so brilliantly, and bring a smooth and raw edged presence to those unforgettable melodies, a guitarist who has been jamming to Van Halen in his head, synths that actually add to the sound rather than just replace another guitarist (a la motion city soundtrack) and one hell of a drummer – they take the best moments of The Get Up Kids, Fall Out Boy, Finch and New Found Glory and create something utterly faultless – you can’t even use the saccharine excuse that most Pop-Punk bands get labelled with cos there’s genuine edge, and with an album out in May that has already knocked my favourite Pop-Punk album off of my personal ultimate top 10 albums, you really better be paying attention…

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
FRIENDSHIP / DIE! DIE! DIE! – WE BUILT OUR OWN OPPRESSORS – TOO PURE SINGLES CLUB
A somewhat one-sided contest, this split single provides ample evidence of two bands on the cusp of something special, but Friendship edge it with those jubilant vibes escaping from every pore, and those afro-influenced guitar lines leading up to one of the greatest breakdowns of all time, you’d be foolish to miss out on these guys – D!D!D! Offer a darker, grittier affair – though it brings to mind a few 80’s indie bands I’d rather forget about…

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
FUCK BUTTONS – OLYMPIANS – ATP RECORDS
…Sonic brilliance doesn’t even begin to explain the aural delights of seeing FUCK BUTTONS live, but even with your headphones on at home you can’t escape that feeling that someone’s knocked a hole in the back of someone’s head and everything is gushing out at once, and it’s an exhilarating experience that can become addictive quite rapidly – fortunately you can also give yourself a sensory overload by looking at the 3D cover!

FUN – WALKING THE DOG – FRIENDS VS RECORDS
With a summery lilt and some overactive vocals, Fun have create a delightful pastiche of surf music, reggae and indie pop masterfulness – bursting with ideas and pretty darn good with a tune, you definitely need to check them out soon!

G:
GANGLIANS – CANDY GIRL – SOUTERRAIN TRANSMISSIONS
Starting like a long lost Pet Sounds track, Ganglians add some esoteric wonkiness to the reverb-drenched sound and create something playful and haunting simultaneously!

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM – AMERICAN SLANG – SIDEONEDUMMY
After one hell of a roller coaster year (becoming a hit record selling band with Bruce Springsteen shouting your praises) TGA have finally found some time between their never ending tours and penned a ragged, powerful slice of Street-Poet-led Punk rock that puts The Replacements to shame... Genius!

THE GHOST – CITY LIGHTS – SUNDAY BEST
A sprightly femme-led blast of Indie Pop all the way from the Faroe Islands...

DAVID GIBB – THIS YOUNG BOY - FUSE
Mixing Celtic-flavoured folk with a skiffling pop-laden jauntiness, Kind of like The Kooks or Jack Penate tackling some Dubliners songs…

GLORIA CYCLES – RELIGIOUS – A&G RECORDS
A more pop-orientated sound for GC, with a film soundtrack spot in the offing, but I can’t help but think it sounds a bit too much like Jack Penate circa 2008…

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
GRASSCUT – THE DOOR IN THE WALL – NINJA TUNE
Mesmerising electronica with an emotion-ridden heart beating all the way through – Grasscut fuse ghostly but enveloping melodies around choppy rhythms and sharp synth work, but underpin it all with one of the least cynical pop minds i’ve encountered in a long time, great stuff...

H:
HADOUKEN! – MIC CHECK – SURFACE NOISE RECORDINGS
Some liken the band to a Prodigy for the burgeoning indie/dance generation, and whilst over a whole album the band can be a little one dimensional, their singles always shine with inventiveness and a rock solid sound that combines so many different elements seamlessly.

HAUNTED STEREO – ON A PIN - SOTONES
Like a more folk-influenced Fiery Furnaces, without the stop-start nature of their songs – a little too fey for me, but brimming with ideas nonetheless…

HERVE – ZOMBIES – CHEAP THRILLS RECORDS
King of the throb, and another pretender to the crown of Justice/Sebastian – Herve returns with this spook-fest of a single, synth throbbing is cut n spliced into wondrous shapes whilst dialogue loops over the top of it, well, if it ain’t broke… you get the picture!

HIND EAR – ORIGAMI – NOUNS
With the dark, often sparsely pieced together sounds and feelings of Tusk-era Fleetwood Mac (dragged through a class in synthesizers and studio wizardry), Hind Ear have created something that’s catchy, but instead of the melody, you’ll be tapping the beat out loud...

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
JESCA HOOP – WHISPERING LIGHT – LAST LAUGH RECORDS
How does she make her voice do that, like the most laid back Yoddle I’ve ever heard, Hoop creates these otherworldly, skewed and twisted soundscapes where she picks the oddest, but most affecting melodies she can – equally cutesy and odd, it’s a winning combination with Hoop in charge!

I:
ICE BLACK BIRDS – AS BIRDS WE’D BE FINE – THE PLAYGROUND
Spiralling guitar lines give way to yelping, passionate vocals whilst chiming Indie guitars usher in comparisons to Vampire Weekend – an impressive start from a band you should definitely keep your eye/ears on!

J:
JIMMY & THE SOUNDS – SOUNDS – NEW BLOOD
Joyful Indie Pop with some great melodies, not the sort of music to really rock the boat, but enjoyable nonetheless…

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
THE JOY FORMIDABLE – POPINJAY – WWW.THEJOYFORMIDABLE.COM
Creating one hell of a reputation for themselves live, TJF possess a sound that isn’t easy to pigeonhole, full of surprises and always epic in scope – Popinjay doesn’t disappoint, in fact it shows the band are able to tackle something a little poppier, whilst keeping their sound intact and not crossing any lines they can never come back from – one’s to watch, genius in fact!

JUROJIN – THE SCARS – MAJESTIC ELDER RECORDINGS
Mixing elements of Tool (minus the prog-ery) and Kyuss into something Dark, full of spiked intent and some great riffs (courtesy of talismanic guitarist Nic Rizzi) – Jurojin are a tantalising proposition, and no doubt absolutely phenomenal live!

K:
K-OS – I WISH I KNEW NATALIE PORTMAN – LAST GANG RECORDS
Taking the theme tune to The OC and creating a slamming Hip-Hop track around it is genius in itself, but add to that the fluid and crunching rap style of K-OS and some awesome chanting ideas and you’ve got yourself an awesome single!

KASSIDY – STRAY CAT – VERTIGO RECORDS
Bluesy mix of guitars and harmonies with a slight Grunge twist (albeit lacking the dirge guitars or distortion you’d expect) which is enjoyable, if slightly reminiscent of Toploader in places...

KATATONIA – THE LONGEST YEAR - PEACEVILLE
Epic mix of Vast-styled metal melancholy with electronic-elements making it more than a sum of its parts, taking the bare bones of Paradise Lost’s classic albums and creating something that rivals In Flames…

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
KAVINSKY – NIGHTCALL – RECORD MAKERS
Sounding like the sum of its part, but wondrously so, Kavinsky takes members from CSS, Daft Punk and Sebastian and creates an electro pop song that’s low on throbbing thrills, but instead glows with a subtle, slinky pop undercurrent that is impossible to resist, nor should you want to!

THE KILLER METERS – RAINBOW OF LOVE – BREAKIN BREAD
An awesome mix of Funk and R n B with modern electronic flourishes perfectly blended within – Imagine if The Gossip dropped all those synths and became a great funk band, they’d sound as amazing as this...

KINEMA – RECREATION – HOT POCKETS
A laid back, summery mix of the glittery electro pop of Hot Chip via Phoenix’s inbuilt melancholy..

L:
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
LA SHARK – A WEAPON – SO DARN SO
This is how I’d imagine Pavement would sound if they were raised on Talking Heads albums and LCD Soundsystem, brilliant, wonky and explosively catchy – genius!

LETHAL BIZZLE & NICK BRIDGES Feat: LUCIANA – GO GO GO – SEARCH & DESTROY
Having been a Bizzle fan for a couple of years now, it’s been hard watching him create a patchy follow-up album and then suffer the ignominy of being forgotten about 2 singles into the album release cycle, but fortunately he’s learnt that perhaps collaborating can yield a Wiley-sized crossover, and with the stunning talents of Yeah-Yeah-singing Luciana guesting, i can’t see how he can fail with the grime-littered club hit in the making!

LIARS – OVERACHIEVERS – MUTE
No one can beat Liars, No one wants to, i fear i’d fail in an arm wrestle with the band...

LIGHTS - ICE -WARNERS
Oh dear, it’s like Gwen Stefani without the personality…

LOSERS (Feat RIZ MC & ENVY) – FLUSH – DISTILLER RECORDS
Less Rock-orientated than say Hadouken!, but both bands mix crunching electronica with the added aesthetics of Grime and Indie – Losers though rhyme better, and that synth sample is addictive!

M:
THE MAJNOONS – MONO MONO – DLC RECORDS
Formed of one man from Wales, and the other from New Zealand – this coming together bridges nationalities, focusing purely on the music, which is a loose, dare I say baggy-influenced mix of funk licks, Mighty Boosh-styled lyrical dexterity and an air of cool that you just can’t shift. The song doesn’t really have a chorus, per se, but the mix of sounds and how some are ever so slightly disjointed just reaffirms that you’re in the presence of something special!

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
MALACHAI – SNOWFLAKE – DOMINO
Having loved him long before the name change from Malakai, there’s no way I’d miss out on praising this re-release (finally on a label that can accept another genius to its already stuffed roster) – mixing the spiky riffs of the Kinks, the ragged glory of Grand Funk Railroad and giving it a wonky aesthetics of someone who clearly listens to too much Hip-Hop, this can only be described as mass-genre-genii, and I LOVE IT – the remix by Herve though is equally brilliant, sounding like the greatest Rave track you’ve never danced to whilst off yer tits on something amphetamine based!

MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS – TO THE NORTH - COMMUNION
Like a folkier Ray La Montagne, MATA possess a singer with a voice that sounds like it’s older than its years, and music that is lively and upbeat, but can still motivate an emotive response or even release whilst listening…

MAY68 – MY WAYS – HIT CLUB
Harbouring aspirations to pulverise Chromeo’s synth heavy, 80’s indebted sound with ‘My Ways’, MAY68 possess a harder edge, a more driving sound and have created one hell of a T-U-N-E. Glow sticks at the ready people...

MIA – BORN FREE – XL RECORDINGS: http://vimeo.com/11219730

MIRRORKICKS – PODIUM – FRUIT PIE
I’m guessing this is the lighters in the air moment at Mirrorkicks shows, a tad cliched and slipping into falsetto like that repeatedly only makes me think of the million or so bad Jeff Buckley rip offs i’ve had to endure since the poor bastard died... I could imagine Lenny Kravitz playing this song, and that’s not a good thing...

MOCK & TOOF – SUPPRESS YOUR FEELINGS - TINY STICKS
Minimalist mix of electronic drums, rapturous bass and the frenetic vocals lure you in, before that chorus comes in, sounding ever so slightly wonky, but with each listen you get caught in the rip tide that little bit more...

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
MOTHER MOTHER – HAY LOFT – LAST GANG RECORDS
Frighteningly good single from new comers Mother Mother; Spiralling guitars build over a indie disco beat, whilst the playful male v female vocals bring the repeated riff to life, with a warped sensibility which reminds me of the Pixies at their most visceral via a funk rock band mentality...

MUDMOWTH & METABEATS – MAAAD TIGHT – ASSOCIATED MINDS
Cardiff based Hip-Hop producer & MC team M&M deliver a suitably fried hip-hop tune with a rhythm that is on the verge of falling apart at every corner, whilst the rhymes flow through the piano/brass sample looping in the background – can’t wait to hear the album later this year!

N:
NAIVE NEW BEATERS – LIVE GOOD – KITCHENWARE RECORDS
An intriguing, albeit flawed mix of electronic sounds, guitars and rapping – There’s just something a bit too throwaway about it all, the breathy chorus just flattens all creativity from the stark verses, and the rappers style is a little one dimensional...

THE NATIONAL – BLOODBUZZ – 4AD
Taking the darker influences of Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen & Joy Division and creating something akin to a drunken vagrant looking back on his life and singing through the tears as he basks in the utter failure of his own life, before smiling whilst visualising the moment it all ends, just as he takes one more step closer to the edge of the wall and... Dark, majestic, and always painting a picture!

NERO – INNOCENCE – MTA RECORDS
Awesome mix of D n B riddums, Rave samples, Dub Step electronics and that throbbing that gets me stiff in all the right place...

THE NEW CITIES – DEAD END COUNTDOWN – MYSPACE.COM/THENEWCITIES
Hmm, not sure i agree with the New Order of DFA1979 references on the press release – instead this sounds more like the electro-tinged pop punk styles of Boys Like Girls, which isn’t necessarily bad, but perhaps they could try harder to create a hook rather than play to type...

NNEKA – WALKING – YO MAMA’S RECORDING COMPANY
Taken from her rapid growing second album, ‘No Longer At Ease’, Nneka has enough of a grasp of modern production methods and hooks to create something that requires repeated listens to fully understand the depth of her talents – very impressive!

NOWHERE AGAIN – PLANS – CAPTAIN OBVIOUS RECORDS
Taking the epic soundscapes of Oceansize and Godspeed You... and marrying them to the emotive yearnings of Amplifier, Nowhere Again have created an epic soundscape of their own, and you should definitely check them out if you like your songs to build, and build, and build, and build, and build, and...

P:
PARTY HORSE – LAZER BEAM - DYNATRON
Mixing the throbbing disco-led bass of DFA 1979 via the rocking electro fusion of LCD soundsystem – throw in the raucous, sexed up vocals and you’ve got a slice of promise here...

PLANK! – LA LUNA – AKOUSTIK ANARKHY
Driving sounds from a post-rock/instrumental prospective, but focused more on the groove than the never ending build up. Some fine guitar and organ work peppers up the twisting beats, but with no real theme or hook to sink your teeth into, it’s hard to get uber excited over this?

PROFESSOR GREEN – I NEED YOU FOR TONIGHT – VIRGIN RECORDS
Ah, i’m sure you can hear the spirit of Michael Hutchence dangling in the wind, still this makes a better tune than he does a door stopper, that’s for sure – Mash up or sample-heavy new tuneage – it’s hard to tell these days, love the bratty UK grime styled rapping though, but where’s the chorus?

Q:
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
THE QEMISTS – YOUR REVOLUTION – NINJA TUNE
Another step forward in the D n B revolution from TQ, a band who are master at creating a melodic but dramatic splash in the world of Breakbeats – and they’re right, this will be a smash at festivals this summer – go MENTAL!!!

R:
ROGUE STATES – LIGHTS – HALF CHAPTER RECORDS
Birmingham based epic Indie rock with one eye firmly eying up a Stadium tour in the near future – from the same school of emoting as U2 and White Lies attended, there’s a grandiose vision but it’s not blunted by its own pomp. I certainly wouldn’t feel ashamed to be thrusting my lighter in the air at one of their shows...

RUBICKS – GIDDY UP – SHARP ATTACK RECORDS
Taking the cathartic blues-rock of PJ Harvey and giving it a synthed-up edge works so well on Rubicks new single i’m now hoping for a PJ Harvey v Goldfrapp meeting of minds soon!

S:
SHOOTING STAR POETS – CAMPAIGN TIME - STRUMMERVILLE
Grime with a Dub-Step feel that literally explodes with violent promise and feelings that the apocalypse is soon arriving...

SHOUT OUT OUT OUT OUT – GUILT TRIPS SINK SHIPS - NRMLSWLCM
A big ball of fun, vocoder-ed to the hilt and full of cosmic promise and good vibes – a tad repetitive after a while, but up there with Discovery and their multi-coloured, sensoround musical vision!

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
SIGNALS – SILVERFISH – MOSHI MOSHI
Frenetic indie rock with an electronically manipulated backbone – taut, abrasive, and following in the fabulous footsteps of their previous band, The much missed Mae Shi – There’s the inventiveness, the otherworldliness, and the ability to cram so much fun into two minutes and thirty odd seconds... Genius!

SINDEN & SBTRKT – MIDNIGHT MARAUDER - GRIZZLY
With Sinden’s Kiss FM show and column in DJ Magazine, he could be called the leading voice in the modern dance culture – but ultimately it’s his tuneage that causes the most delight, something that doesn’t sit on its laurels for long, embraces world-influences and some far out synth noises – and we LOVE that!

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
SIXTY WATT BAYONETS – I WISH I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND – BROKEN TAIL RECORDS
An awesome mix of the raucous, passionate bluster of Florence & The Machine and Be Your Own Pets fun-filled rock n roll rifferama-the real feel good hit of the summer!

SLOW CLUB – GIVING UP ON LOVE – MOSHI MOSHI
http://www.subba-cultcha.com/news/article.php?contentID=19083

SOLDIER – LIFELINE - PUTITONRECORDS
Anthemic indie rock with a guitar line that feels like Summer’s coming... There’s definitely the odd 80’s influence, but with something so uplifting, you don’t mind revisiting somewhere you’ve been before. Brings back memories of Cast, Three Colours Red and U2.

SORRY AND THE SINATRAS – HATED HEART – SEVEN INCH RECORDS
Raucous punk rock with a melodic bent, recalling Rancid, numerous Hellcat Records bands and even the much Missed The Draft – nothing new, but fun none the less!

SOUND OF GUNS – ALCATRAZ – DISTILLER RECORDS
Mixing the Verve, U2 and the Killers into an anthemic cluster bomb of a single seems to be a neat trick SOG have picked up since their debut single (of which we favourably reviewed), catchy, interestingly played and full of passion throughout!

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
SPARROW AND THE WORKSHOP – I WILL BREAK YOU – DISTILLER RECORDS
That voice alone grabs you from the get go – with the rich depth of Florence via Loretta Lynn – but the mix of Countrified soul and Pixies circa-Surfer Rosa sparseness wins me over also – a bright and provocative package!

THE STANDARDS – OUT OF THE FIRE – SCHNAPPS HOUSE
Like one of the Arctic Monkeys’ slower tracks via Damon Albarn – it’s ragged glory from start to finish with the standards!

STATES OF EMOTION – FIGHT THEM ON THE BEACHES – PERFECTLY BLUE RECORDS
Indie pop with a malevolent edge, like a sedated Kasabian via prime Ian Brown and the Charlatans...

STEELWING – LORD OF THE WASTELAND – NUCLEAR BLAST
With an intro that even Iron Maiden would’ve been proud of, Steel Wing have harnessed the pomp and spectacle of early 80’s metal and created something fresh with the bare bones. Twiddling guitars, Dio-esque vocals and some fine break downs make this more than a lesson in Metal histrionics...

STIMMING, BEN WATT & JULIA BIEL – BRIGHT STAR – BUZZIN’ FLY RECORDS
With its subtle glitch loops, shuffling rhythmical sounds and those jazz tones over enlightening horns – Bright Star is infectious without having to rub your nose in it, once the layers reveal the song underneath you find yourself embracing it even more...

STRANGE WAYS – VIOLENCE & VIRTUE – MYSPACE/ILOVESTRANGEWAYS
Uplifting mix of surf guitars, the raucous delivery of The Libertines and an energetic lilt that is totally infectious...

SUB FOCUS – SPLASH – RAM RECORDS
Nervy, emotive rock given an electro reworking – some fine sounds and enough energy to hopefully overtake the less palatable Enter Shikari.

SUBVERSION - TREASON - NO INFO ON THE CD
An ace mix of Misery Index and In Flames at their most brutal...

T:
CHRIS T-T – NINTENDO – XTRA MILE RECORDINGS
Such poise and grace gives way to such brilliant lyrics, it could only be Chris T-T, with this song sounding like Squeeze fronting Grand Drive...

TEENAGERSINTOKYO – PETER PAN - BACKYARD
Mixing the soulful minimalism of The Gossip with the dark synth melodies of the Fryars into a modernistic Hymn for the Indie Dancefloor...

TEMPER TRAP – SCIENCE OF FEAR - INFECTIOUS
Not the band’s most inspired moment, and definitely recalling a milder Bloc Party with those glitched rhythms and cutting guitar lines, but an intriguing choice of single none the less...

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
TEN BEARS – BRACES – EAST CITY RECORDS
Ten Bears: An intriguing mix of ideas, fronted by a Brian Molko soundalike? The jittery verses lead onto the hook laden chorus perfectly, allowing the sugary pop rush of that chorus wash over you before the breakdown further pushes those delicious melodies into your subconscious!

TENDER TRAP – GIRLS WITH GUNS – FORTUNA POP!
Jaunty Indie pop with some nice surf guitars backing up those carefree vocals from ex-Talulah Gosh member Amelia Fletcher. With fellow up n coming Allo Darlin’ guitarist Elizabeth More on lead, it’s a winning combination for those wishing that Indie was a style of music rather than a new line of Top Shop clothes and accessories...

THIS CITY – BLACK AND BLUE - EPITAPH
Somewhat light-sounding single from Brighton’s premier Screamo mob (produced by the legendary Matt Bayles) who have harnessed a punkier edge on their latest single B&B, there’s enough going on to keep you interested, but it’s hard to really hear the band’s own identity through the obvious influences (Blood Brothers)...

THYRD EYE – SAY SOMETHING – LEVEL SOUND MUSIC
An intriguing mix of Goth-tinged melodies, ghostly harmonies, dark/moody build ups and some angst-driven thrashing of the guitar – i’m not fully convinced just yet, but it certainly excelled my expectations after reading them admit to a goth influence in their Press Release...

TIN SOLDIERS – 24 HOURS – MYSPACE.COM/TINSOLDIERSBAND
Mixing many Brit Rock influences (‘A’, Three Colours Red, Wilt) into a sharply delivered explosion of riffs and angst-ridden melodies

TRAIL – CITY - TWISTID
Dark undertones shoot through those lysergic guitar lines and melancholic vocals – and whilst they’ve captured the broody and epic arcs well, it just lacks some edge to make it really have an impact – the vocals need some conviction and a beefier production wouldn’t go amiss either!

TUNNG – SASHIMI – FULL TIME HOBBY
Hazy folktronica ensemble Tunng return after what seems like an eternity with more glitch-aided folk rock melancholy – more upbeat than usual, the female backing vocals really bring the melodies to the fore, i can also hear some latter-day Flaming Lips amongst the summery chords...

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
THE TWILIGHT SAD – THE ROOM – FAT CAT RECORDS
With those Scottish tones breaking through the brooding guitars, arcing the epic sonic brilliance the band can muster whilst seemingly playing just one note with syncopation, you realise there’s something a bit special about TWS-grandiose visions with sentiment perfectly intertwined throughout-you really should let them into your life...

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
TWIN ATLANTIC – LIGHTSPEED – RED BULL RECORDS
Another UK rock band who exist in the post-Biffy world – contorting shapes out of angular riffs, emotive vocals and a sense of never resting on your laurels and constantly evolving their sound into something more exciting – I bet their next album will have a crossover potential that’ll mean the band can reach more people, cos you need bands like this in your life!

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB – SOMETHING GOOD CAN WORK – KITSUNE
Electro/indie pop perfection – taking the best moments of Passion Pit, Air & Everything Everything...

U:
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
UFFIE – MC’S CAN KISS – ED BANGER RECORDS
Like a modern retelling of Blondie’s ‘Rapture’, Uffie oozes cool, intellect and style-a-plenty. Fusing old skool breakbeats (oddly reminiscent of Go! Team), a liquid groove and some fine rhymes – One to keep an ear on, very closely!!!

THE UNKINDNESS OF RAVENS – DEAD AIR – SONIC FIRE RECORDS
Taking the fuzzed up blues-boogie of The Kills and making something darker with a gothic twist...

V:
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
VICTORIA AND JACOB – WITH NO CERTAINTY – VOGA PAROCHIA
Taking the burning embers of early Bjork and letting that visionary light loose in a playful world of pop chops and some inspired electro pop-V&J have created an aural delight that caters to so many of my needs, it’s as if they were listening in on my subconscious...

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
VILLAGERS – BECOMING A JACKAL - DOMINO
A great mix of rockabilly rhythms and lilting folk, with vocals that soar through the reverb and really capture the imagination – one’s to keep an ear on!!!

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CREAMED MYSELF (Formerly Single of the Month)
VOLTAGE BLACK – MECCANO ROSES – MYSPACE.COM/VOLTAGEBLACK
An inspiring mix of 65DaysOfStatic and Three Trapped Tigers – fusing Post-Rock ideas and dimensions with electronic instruments and some phenomenal drumming – if you like your brain to be stretched and can live without vocals, then these guys might just change your life!

W:
AMY WADGE – HOLD ME – CHOICE MUSIC
Soulful singer songwriter, nothing special but not terrible either...

WAY PRISTINE – INVERTED/CONVERTED – FRIENDS OF MUSIC
Oh god, sorry this is awful, the most lame of choruses, a weak, gravelly voice and all played with as much passion as a Tory MP...

WE HAVE BAND – DIVISIVE - NAIVE
Subba favs WHB return with another elastic-like slice of electro pop brilliance – jaunty vocals, minimal synth work and a coolness that just glides over each sentence like it was their last!

WE’LL ALL BE HEROES – EVERYTHING MUST GO – MYSPACE.COM/ALLBEHEROES
A tasty nugget of Post-hardcore dynamics and Screamo intensity from the North Eastern trio, a little derivative and the vocals are of the ‘oh-where’d-my-balls-go’ variety...

WHITE BELT YELLOW TAG – ALWAYS & ECHOES – DISTILLER RECORDS
Dreamy Indie Melancholy with an Epic reach from the former Cooper Temple Clause/Yourcodenameis:milo men, for fans of the Doves...

WHITE RABBITS – THEY DONE WRONG WE DONE WRONG - MUTE
A dreamy song from the ever so magnificent WR, playing on the band’s subtleties and creating something that only reveals itself after you’ve listened several times and picked through those wondrous layers... Like all things, the best comes to those who wait!

WILD PALMS – DEEP DIVE – ONE LITTLE INDIAN
Somewhat transcendental indie, nothing to really sink my teeth into...

TOM WILLIAMS & THE BOAT – CONCERNTRATE – WIRE BOAT RECORDINGS
If you buy this just for the lyrics alone, you’ll have made a worthwhile purchase – delicate folk rock driven by fluttering guitar links, dead pan vocal delivery and some fine fiddle work...

THE WIND-UP BIRDS – TYRE FIRE – STURDY RECORDS
Stark, intense and with lyrics that’ll bring you to your knees before clobbering you over the head repeatedly...

WITH KNIVES – COWBOYS’ GIRLS AND SAILORS’ WIVES – FOR THE KITTENS
Spazzcore with jittering guitars and explosive vocals recalling a more manic mixture of Some girls and dananankroyd-mightily impressive!

PATRICK WOLF – DAMARIS - BANDSTOCKS
More Darkly Malevolent chamber music from the dramatic Mr Wolf...

Y:
YACHT – PSYCHIC CITY – DFA/CO-OP
Like Kim Gordon being even cooler than she actually is, Yacht’s laid back groove is infectious, so rub yourself against it to get a damn good dose!

YOU ME AT SIX – LIQUID CONFIDENCE – VIRGIN RECORDS
Ah, the ballad... guess these guys are crossing over big style then?

YOUNG BRITISH ARTISTS – LIVED IN SKIN – RED DEER CLUB RECORDINGS
A tightly delivered mix of Gang Of Four and Wire, delivered with so much venom and passion it’s impossible not to get swept along with it’s longing melodies and driving rhythms...

YOUNG GUNS – WINTER KISS - ?
Epic Post-Hardcore with a penchant for catchy choruses – like the sonic clout of latter day Thrice mixed with their earlier melodic leanings...
 

Jeremy Chick