I am here to share my musical loves with you all - all downloads are samples for your own personal delight
Name: Wendy Myers
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The Looper website doesn't give a lot of information about the band, which is a shame because I would certainly like to find out something about them. They could be described as a synthesiser band, focusing on gritty pop, but I reckon the band is more diverse than this. Having heard the six tracks on the two EP's they are offering for free on the site the synthesiser is evident. None of That and The Strangest Girl (which is available on blue 7" vinyl!) are basic pop tunes, and The Spider Man and Pale Blue E-Type are similar in style, a narrative in a lovely thick Scottish accent over a funky beat, which is a sort of cross between Arab Strap and Lemon Jelly, but I'd Fall at Her Feet is different altogether, a slow ballad-type of tune with a piano accompaniment, a cute tale of a besotted gent trying to summon up the courage to declare his love for his lady by consuming alcohol. None of That is perhaps the most commercial so I reckon I'll offer this as a sample.
The band name Buttercup brings to my mind an image of a mini-skirted bunch of bimbos in belly tops and lipgloss belting out inane trash for the commercial charts. How wrong I am ... and pleasantly so, for Buttercup is a foursome from San Antonio that produces an awesome sound that specialises in a variety of instruments combined with vocal harmonies. In Spain, for example, begins with a brief drum march sound, then in come the guitars, then slows down again, followed by the swirling guitars diving in once again ... this track surprises your ears a number of times during its five-minute entirety. Lovely stuff. The band's first CD Sick Yellow Flower is now available for your delight.
Yellow Stripe Nine is a Yorkshire band with a sound and a look that reminds me of 80s Spandau Ballet/New Romantic dandy-type flamboyancy. Yet despite all that ... their sound is awfully cool I reckon. One Look It's Love is a snatch of pop drama that I find refreshing, and I am definitely intrigued by a band who release a track entitled The Boy Who Desperately Wanted To Be Struck By Lightning ... Yellow Stripe Nine are playing at the Buffalo Bar at Highbury tomorrow 7.30.
Yellow Stripe Nine - One Look It's Love
Rock band The Magic Numbers walked out of an appearance on TV show Top of the Pops because they thought the presenter made a joke about their weight. [Full story here]
Okay, let's face it, a couple of the band members are not exactly in the slim category, I mean they would never be mistaken for garden rakes or drinking straws, and who am I to make such references anyway with a bum like mine, but ... were they right to walk out? Whatever, the audience were deprived of hearing their wonderful new single, so just for them here it is.
Magic Numbers - Love Me Like You
Biffy Clyro is a band from Glasgow, with a standard rock style, and this sample entitled Glitter and Trauma is apparently their highest chart placed track thus far. It begins slowly and quietly, before transforming into a splendid guitar-laden number with a strong ending. Check their site for tour dates, including the Leeds Festival on August 28.
Biffy Clyro - Glitter and Trauma
The Upskirts - no comment on the band name, you know what they say about not judging a book by its cover? This track is from their only release as far as I'm aware, the EP entitled Tube Top Tease. Swallow is a catchy pop tune with some great guitar work, let's hope we see more from this cool band.
Thanks to 7and7is for this super track from the Broken Family Band. A gorgeous tune indeed. The band can be seen at the Spitz in London in September, for details click HERE. See these alternative cowboys with their unholy matrimony of country and indie rock!
Broken Family Band - The Perfect Gentleman
Devendra Banhart played locally this week and upon reading the review I discovered that during the gig he invited any songwriter in the crowd to come up on stage and play a tune. This went down really well, I've never heard of that happening anywhere before. Also when the gig had ended Devendra went out into the street and continued the performance out there for around fifteen minutes. This man is a cool artist, with an individual style and voice. Enjoy this couple of tracks played at the gig.
Devendra Banhart - Little Yellow Spider
LA band the Bedroom Walls produce what they describe as 'romanticore' - soft gentle pop to soothe the mind rather than blow away your brains. It's pretty good too I reckon. The intriguingly titled Do the Buildings and Cops Make You Smile is a perfect example of romanticore, and was released as a single by Eenie Meenie Records. You can buy their debut album I Saw You Coming Back To Me by clicking HERE.
Bedroom Walls - Do the Buildings and Cops Make You Smile
You could say that Danish band Mew are romanticore, especially after listening to their haunting tune Like Paper Cuts. That continuous piano tinkle is quite mesmerising, and the video, which you can watch on their site, is definitely creepy. The following tracks are from their album Frengers (a mix of 'friends' and 'strangers').
Listen to the Cillit Bang Remix ... with thanks to Ron.
Listen to The JCB Song by Nizlopi. Okay, it isn't a cool and innovative indie sound nor a top-of-the-groove recording by a new M Ward or Daniel Johnston, it's a simple pop song with a background to it. Visit the site and find out what it is... and it's a really cool site too by the way. You can watch the video on the site or download it here:
Right On Right Now by the Mitchells is a snatch of pop not much longer than two minutes but which grabs you after a few listens if not right away. It's hard to pinpoint the influences here; apparently the band consists of four musicians from four different bands under the datawaslost label, described on the site as Michael, Gregory, Mike and Tim Mitchell. Whatever, it's a good sound. Not to be confused with these Mitchells.
The Mitchells - Right On Right Now
Despite the UK website Ampop is from Iceland. Their sound is soft and gentle and warm, slow melodies filled with atmosphere and the quiet sounds of the vocalist Biggi. Precious begins slowly and builds into something special which I reckon is worth a listen. Oh, and the song has nothing to do with this fellow, I assure you...
When I think of the name The Sundresses I think of summer flowery pop songs. Wrong! This three-piece band is loud and strong and produces a mixture of fine blues and rock. Universe Universe almost blew my head clean off when I first heard it, it is definitely in my top ten tracks that I've heard this year. It begins at a slow pace, then in comes a trumpet solo (yes, a trumpet solo!), then an energetic screaming vocal brings the song to a powerful crescendo. The Hate Song is a fine tune as well, with some cool lyrics and splendid guitar work. Please check this band out, their album The Only Tourist in Town is out right now.
The Sundresses - Universe Universe
The Sundresses - The Hate Song
By the way please let me know if anyone is having trouble downloading the files. Thanks.
