DATE ARCHIVES : September 2011

Download: The Narcoleptic Dancers – Rastakraut

The Narcoleptic Dancers captured the imagination last year with the release of their EP, Not Evident.

The half brother and sister duo, Anton Louis Jr and Melody Van Kappers return with new single ‘Rastakraut’ and album, Never Sleep. The single sees them continue to compose sweet melodic songs that are that are gentle, fresh and light. It is easy to see how their catchy indie folk hybrid has already been compared to Slow Club, Nouvelle Vague and The Moldy Peaches.

Their debut album Never Sleep is out today (September 26th) via Bleepmachine & Capitaine Plouf. I’m looking forward to giving it a proper spin.

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Download: The Narcoleptic Dancers – Rastakraut

 The Narcoleptic Dancers – Not Evident

Video: Kai Fish – My Anima

Best known for his bass playing duties with Mystery Jets, Kai Fish, has written and recorded a debut solo LP called Life In Monochrome.

‘My Anima’ is the second track taken from his forthcoming solo album. It is a brooding track with a real emotional undercurrent of romantic yearning and the beautifully shot video warmly compliments the songs sentiments. Previous number, ‘Cobalt Cheeks’, is and emotion choked pop song which opens slowly (almost Coldplay-esque) but comes to thrashing crescendo.

It is a lot different to the Mystery Jets and signals the arrival of a new songwriter and performer in his own right

The debut album, ‘Life in Monochrome’ is released 26th September

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 Kai Fish – My Anima

Kai Fish – Cobalt Cheeks

The Strange Boys – ‘Me And You’

The Strange Boys will release their third album, Live Music, on October 25th via Rough Trade.

The Austin band have made their name on timeless and refreshing blues influenced rock n’ roll fuzz. However, the first single and video from the new album, ‘Me and You’, sees a move toward a more upbeat ditsy piano direction. It’s a decidedly more polished sound from 2010′s Be Brave but no less engrossing.

You can make up your own mind on the new (‘Me and You’) and the old (‘Be Brave’) below.

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 The Strange Boys – Be Brave via Ribbon Music

Mp3: The Strange Boys – Me and You via Friends With Both Arms

Video: Toddla T – ‘Streets So Warm’ feat. Wayne Marshall & Skream

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If you been reading this blog for a while you’ll know I’m a massive fan of the prodigious talent that is Toddla T.

The Sheffield producer’s second album, Watch Me Dance is one of the finest records this year, so it’s hardly surprising that news of one of it’s standout tracks, ‘Streets So Warm’, being released a single is greeted with jubilation.

‘Streets So Warm’ features Wayne Marshall and Skream and is out 17 October w/ remixes from Zed Bias, Ross Orton & Pipes and Serial Killerz.

Introducing: Keith Top Of The Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band

Right, well if Keith Top Of The Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band isn’t the longest name in music it is certainly one of the wackiest.

While the name runs the risk of putting off some more ‘serious’ music fans, it would be such a shame if they were overlooked for such a trivial matter. Falling somewhere between Art Brut and Half Man Half Biscuit, the music reveals Keith Top to be as competent at songwriting as subverting band name protocol. More over they are infectious endearing and likable indie tunes; simple, catchy, honest, occasionally acerbic but always clever. 

No surprise then that the band formed by chance when the support act for Art Brut pulled out at the last minute, and Keith and two members of Art Brut joined forces to play.

Debut album ‘Fuck You! I’m Keith Top Of The Pops’ is released via Corporate Records on 26th September 2011.

 Keith Top Of The Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band – I Hate Your Band

Mp3: Keith Top of the Pops – Two of The Beatles Are Dead via Pop Matters

We Cut Corners – Leopard

We Cut Corners have teamed up with The Danger Is to release a split 7″ with The Danger which is out this Friday, September 23, with both bands playing The Grand Social, Dublin on Saturday 24th.

‘Leopard’ is a fine piece of indie rock from the Dublin duo. It is also the first single to be taken from We Cut Corners forthcoming debut album Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards, out in November.

You can watch the Eoghan Kidney shot video below or pop over to Nialler9 and download both songs.

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Video: Manic Street Preachers – This Is The Day

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Manic Street Preachers have unveiled the video of their new single ‘This Is The Day’, a cover of the 1983 track by The The.

The single is taken from the Manics’ forthcoming best of album, National Treasures, which features 37 of the bands previous single releases from a career spanning the past 21 years. The video includes wonderful footage of the band from the early 1990s right up to the present day.

This video pretty much sums up the reasons that make The Manics such a special band; combining boisterous rock and roll with often flagrant pretension and left-wing politics.

The band will perform all 38 singles at a special one off not to be missed show at London’s O2 Arena on December 17. It seems this will be their last activity for at least two years too.

Villagers – Cecilia & Her Selfhood

Villagers‘ 2010 debut album Becoming A Jackal was very much a firm favourite here and elsewhere.

So, it goes without saying, it is great to have new (or not so new) material from O’Brien in the shape of  long-standing live favourite, ‘Cecelia & Her Selfhood’.

It’s the first time the track has been properly recorded, not only is it a beautiful song but the animated video by Adrien Merigeau is simply stunning. The amount of work that must have gone into making this is ridiculous but it was totally worthwhile.

Watch the video and grab the track below.

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Download: Villagers – Cecilia & Her Selfhood

Gross Relations – ‘Come Clean’ EP

Brooklyn quartet Gross Relations‘ super garage rock jams have already come in for plenty of praise on the blog. Now they are set to release their (proper) debut EP on the recently launched ‘Raven Sings the Blues’ label.

From the opening riff of ‘Blame The Records’ things have been taken up a notch. The production improved and the sound pumped, they channel inspiration from a host of indie and punk stalwarts into their very own muddied sound through a haze of distorted vocals, guitar riffs, crashing drums and sing-a-long choruses. By far the catchiest of all, ‘When You Go Down’, even channels the ghost of The Stone Roses classic ‘Sally Cinnamon’ into distorted rock oblivion.

Gross Relations are relatively new, but the Brooklyn-based foursome appear to finding something of a groove for this niche. Infectious garage rock will always find a home here.

Their six-track Come Clean EP can be ordered from Insound.

Mp3: Gross Relations – When You Go Down [audio http://www.ravensingstheblues.com/mp3/When_You_Go_Down.mp3]

Gross Relations – Blame The Records

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Download: Tracksuit Warrior – Grungers, get into the rave mix

In July former Super Extra Bonus Party beat maker Tracksuit Warrior astonished us with his spectacular Naff Naff Jack It EP.

How he’s only gone and made a super 30 minute mix, ‘Grungers, get into the rave mix’. It includes a raft of great tunes from Adultrock, Flying Lotus, Gil Scott Heron and more.

Another fine piece of work from the ‘Warrior’, I wonder is there any chance of some live shows at some stage?

You can stream/download it below and the tracklisting is after the jump.

Download: Tracksuit Warrior – Grungers, get into the rave mix

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