In an effort to continually seduce your ears, Clash has rounded up the cream of the music that is spoken about in this issue and slapped it on a download album.
Take a gander through our pages… See all those bands what are there? You can have their songs on your pod in minutes. No more staring at the pictures for hours trying to guess what they sound like – we can reveal it instantly!
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global $user;
$link = ‘http://media.clashmusic.com/music/cross-section/ClashMagazine-CrossSectionAlbum-Feb.zip’;
$text = ‘Click here to Download the Cross Section Album’;
if($user->uid != 0){
print l($text, $link);
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else{
print l (‘You Must be a registered user to download this album – Click to login or join’, ‘user/register’);
}
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May68 ‘The Duke Is Dead’ (Self released)
Bleepy disco-pop with a political edge and another Manchester band (there’s definitely something in the water). Grabbing the old scene by the balls and giving it a kick up the booty, this track is a spangly floor filler with a front woman to rival the likes of Chew Lips and La Roux (thankfully). Let’s hope they’ve got what it takes to last the distance.
Los Campesinos! ‘There Are Listed Buildings’ (Wichita)
The happy clappy collective are back and they’re more saccharine than ever before. This is the first single from second album ‘Romance Is Boring’ and it shows their male-female vocal dichotomy at its very best, nicely complemented by the group’s multi-instrumental expertise. Los Campesinos! once again champion the guilty pleasure phenomenon with this great piece of twee powerpop.
Detroit Social Club ‘Black And White’ (Fiction)
Channelling a big beat, blues-esque sound with their converse still firmly glued to the floor, Detroit Social Club could be next in line to the Kasabian throne. Fresh from last year’s Oasis support slot, they’ve already had a taste of success and now the wheels are set in motion: Geordie indie boys Detroit Social Club are tipped for big things this year, let’s just hope it doesn’t go to their heads.
Shield Your Eyes ‘Oranges’ (Gravid Hands/Saddam Hussein)
Sink your teeth into this juicy track from London three-piece Shield your Eyes. This is the first track from the boys’ second album ‘Shield ’Em’, a record laden with time-signatures and angst aplenty. Post-rock pin-up boys for the London DIY scene, the trio are a shining example to any musicians out there who dream of going it alone, but are just too scared to try.
Colourmusic ‘Yes!’ (Memphis Industries)
With enough facial hair to send a beard fetishist into a state of apoplexy, Colourmusic are a close knit collective of psych-folk sounds and textured beats. It’s as if Tony Hart (RIP) gave The Polyphonic Spree a lick of paint and a splash of colour with his giant paintbrush (and killed off a few members in the process). And the band all share a mutual fascination with Isaac Newton’s colour theory, which is said to influence their music. So they’ve got looks as well as brains, which is nice to know.
Field Music ‘Each Time Is A New Time’ (Memphis Industries)
This is the first single taken from the band’s eagerly awaited third album, ‘Measure’, and is, as to be expected, a strange brew of quirky indie and funked up guitars. Shrill Americana-esque vocals and effeminate gasps softly hover in the background as the brothers Brewis work their magic. Keep your eyes peeled for the album release early this year.
Yeasayer ‘Ambling Amp’ (Mute)
Psychedelically tripping their way into your psyche this month are Brooklyn troupe yeasayer. Camped up falsetto moans take on wobbly keyboards and twisted loops, with a load of nattering horns thrown in for shits and giggles. Caught somewhere between Animal Collective and Caribou, the band are difficult to pigeonhole. Taken from latest album ‘Odd Blood’, gluttons for warped mind-altering punishment should check out the video for this track, which may just send you ambling up the walls…
Errors ‘Beards’ (Rock Action)
for those of you who may not already be familiar with Glaswegian quartet Errors, they are a self-proclaimed ‘post-electro’ outfit with a penchant for naming their albums after Tv shows. Currently signed to Mogwai’s Rock Action label and taken from latest album ‘Come Down With Me’, the radiophonic-esque soundscapes make for a chilled out instrumental track that is more post-rock then post-electro.
Innercity Pirates ‘Love’s Over’ (Unsigned)
The ‘Pirates smashed up their party rock’n’roll at our Clash stage at SXSW proving that their plundering of hearts are not only confined to inner cities but also sun bleached rock epicentres of Texas. Here songwriter Russell Toomey toys with that age old subject of love and his playfully cynical ode to both sides of romance. Mainly the more depressing facets though to be fair. He’s got a tongue sharper than a cutlass as their debut ‘Cutting Noses, Chasing Tales’ testifies, but then everybody hurts – just ask Michel Stipe.
Lonelady ‘Immaterial’ (Warp)
It’s a girl! And she’s from Manchester! Another femme fatale takes the reigns. Guaranteed to whip ’em all into shape with her rhythmic, post-punk influenced folk, Julie Campbell is a fiery redhead with a love of all things Manc. Unclassifiable, Julie’s tastes range from Wire to Salt ‘N’ Pepa. And Warp Records’ newest recruit releases her debut ‘Nerve Up’ on February 22nd. Expect great things from the Guy Fixsen produced album.
Midlake ‘Acts Of Man’ (Matador)
Midlake have got wintery folk sussed and there’s definitely no one out there quite like them. And hardcore fans of the Bella Union greats will be pleased with latest record ‘The Courage Of Others’. ‘Acts Of Man’ is a spanking new effort but could easily have been lifted from ‘Banman And Silver Cork’ or ‘The Trials Of Van Occupanther’. The band are sticking to what they know best and we like it.
Washed Out ‘Feel It All Around’ (Self-released)
Washed Out is a loner with a bedroom and a laptop. But it looks like he’s about to reap the benefits of all his hard work, drumming up interest from label bosses and critics alike with his modest beachy sound. Working under the moniker of Washed Out, Ernest Greene plans to venture over to Blighty this year and is bringing his lo-fi electronica with him. Breathy vocals, and methodically throbbing beats, ‘Feel It All Around’ is a carnal rush of pure euphoric bliss.
Beach House ‘Norway’ (Sub Pop)
A sublime and audacious return from the Baltimore duo. And they have already whipped up quite a frenzy with latest offering ‘Teen dream’, a mature record which is fast becoming a fierce contender for the 2010 album of the year crown. With the band’s signature whooshing instrumentation and muffled reverb, this is slumber music. So, let your senses collapse and fall back into the pillow soft vocals of Victoria Legrand. It doesn’t get any dreamier than this.
The Laurel Collective ‘Jelly Face’ (Domino)
One of the UK’s most promising acts, The Laurel Collective swerve away from the middle path. There used to be 19 of them all bringing loves as wide ranging from dancehall to US alt -country. Now there are a more manageable six, all of which defecate in journalistic pigeon holes every time they play. Exuberant, dextrous and strolling through their confident talents in their own time marks them out for great things. Don’t rest too long on your talents hough chaps …
/* Change the text in text for the link title */
global $user;
$link = ‘http://media.clashmusic.com/music/cross-section/ClashMagazine-CrossSectionAlbum-Feb.zip’;
$text = ‘Click here to Download the Cross Section Album’;
if($user->uid != 0){
print l($text, $link);
}
else{
print l (‘You Must be a registered user to download this album – Click to login or join’, ‘user/register’);
}
?>
