Facts: Kid Karate are a two-piece band from Dublin comprising of Kevin Breen (guitar/synth/vocals) and Steven Gannon (drums/percussion/backing vocals). Breen is the descendant of a long line of talented musicians, he spent his school years neglecting homework and practicing on guitar for eight hours a day, every day; his demonic guitar-work and commanding vocals have been compared to that of Jack White (The White Stripes) and among others, the late Kurt Cobain. Gannon has carved out a niche for himself as the loudest drummer in Dublin. His furious drumming style and dance-driven beats compliment Breen’s frantic musicianship and ballsy vocals, thus the pair creates music that is intoxicating and catchy.
The Hundred In The Hands - The Hundred In The Hands
From: Brooklyn, New York
Members: Eleanore Everdell and Jason Friedman
Facts:The Hundred in the Hands is Eleanore Everdell and Jason Friedman. The two live in Brooklyn and discovered their shared sensibility for early hip hop, French house and disco, ska and dub, post-punk, British invasion-mod and girl pop from the 60’s through the 80’s and decided to form a band. The duo’s debut album is a product of DIY home-recording plus a series of studio sessions in London and New York with contributions by producer friends including Jacques Renault, Richard X, Eric Broucek and Chris Zane.
Time Out New York says “The Hundred in the Hands’ music springs from that sliver of the early ‘80s in which pop was personal, arty and potentially angry,”.
Sounds Like: Indie / Dance / Disco / Pop
The Album: The Hundred In The Hands
Out Now: The Hundred In The Hands is out on September 21st on Warp Records.
- Steven
Maximum Balloon - Maximum Balloon
From: Los Angeles, California
Members: David Sitek (TV on the Radio)
Facts: TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek has been working hard recently on his Maximum Balloon project. The album sees Sitek take a step towards more accesible, poppier ground but still retains the intelligence and appeal of TVOTR. The debut album comes packed with guest vocalists such as David Byrne, Dragons of Zynth, Karen O, Little Dragon, Theophilus London, and his TVOTR bandmates Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone. If this doesn’t get your head bobbing, nothing will.
Sounds Like: Indie / Rock / Electro / Pop / Axl Foley in 2010
Facts: Crocodiles 2009 release Summer Of Hate was one of my favourite LPs of last year. Sleep Forever sees Rowell and Welchez hitting the studio again, this time with Simian Mobile Disco member James Ford at the production desk, to pick up where Summer Of Hate left off. Noise noise and more noise. Lovely.
Coolrunnings - Buffalo EP / Babes Forever EP / I AM YOU
From: Knoxville, Tennessee
Members: Forrest Ferguson, Brandon Biondo, Elliott White, Dan Quirand, Thomas Finn, David Thomasson, Will Farner
Facts: Coolrunnings are six guys from Knoxville, Tennessee. They are signed to Arcade Sound, home of such artists as Blackbird Blackbird, Memoryhouse and Millionyoung, to name a few. They have so far given away two EPs and a single as free downloads via their bandcamp page. Finally, they claim to have never seen the movie of the same name*.
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota and Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Members: Justin Vernon and Mike Noyce (Bon Iver), P.O.S (Rhymesayers), Ivan Howard (The Rosebuds), Ryan Olson (Building Better Bombs, Digitata), Zach Coulter, Adam Hurlburt, and Shön Troth (Solid Gold), Joe Westerlund, Brad Cook, and Phil Cook (Megafaun), Maggie Morrison (Lookbook, Digitata), Jake Luck and Nick Ryan (Leisure Birds), Channy Moon-Casselle (Roma di Luna), Katy Morley andDanny Krzykowski
Facts: Gayngs is made up of no less than 23 prominent American musicians, led by producer Ryan Olson. They make 80s-inspired soft-rock and their album was described by The Guardian as “a triumph” and was listed by the publication as “the album of the year”. I can’t stop listening to it. I dare you not to like it!
Members: Randy Randall (Guitars), Dean Spunt (Drums, Vocals)
Facts:Everything in Between is a bold step in No Age’s creative evolution. They’ve pushed themselves in challenging and different directions, deconstructing their weird-out pop songs while still maintaining their original aesthetic and intent.Everything in Between sees No Age expand on the emotional force at the core of their catchy song-writing through tone, structure, noise, and samples. And, it’s their best record yet. Check it out…
Sounds Like: Punk Rock / Garage / Lo-Fi / Indie
The Album: Everything In Between
Out Now: Everything In Between is out on September 28th on Sub Pop.
Members: Roxanne (vocals, guitar), Marion (bass), Patrick (drums), James (guitar).
Facts: Veronica Falls are two boys and two girls from Glasgow that make music sometimes.The Guardiansays… “Veronica Falls are a ramshackle four-piece (bassist Marion learned to play in a month) offering garage band versions of 1960s pop romance.” This band’s music won’t change your life but they have no problem writing a catchy tune. Beachy Head has been stuck in my head of late. See what you think for yourself…
Sounds Like: Indie / Rock / Garage / Dum Dum Girls Eating A Deep Fried Mars Bar
The 7”: Beachy Head
Out Now: Beachy Head 7” is out now on Captured Tracks.
- Steven
Miniature Tigers - Fortress
From: Brooklyn, New York
Members: Charlie (Vocals, Guitar), Rick (Drums, Vocals, Keys), Algernon (Guitar, Keys, Drums), Alex - Bass, Rainstick
Facts:Fortress is Miniature Tigers’ second full-length album, the follow-up to 2008’s Tell It To The Volcano. The band are gifted at creating upbeat pop songs with catchy lyrics, one should expect Fortress’s hooks to stay floating around inside your head long after the album’s 40 minute playtime.
Adebisi Shank - This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank
From: Wexford, Ireland
Members: Vin, Lar, Mick
Facts: Three things to know: Adebisi Shank are one of the most blogged about bands in the world, according to The Hype Machine. They have just released their second album which has been described as, “The 40-minute album certainly is steeped in Japanese influence from the band’s three tours there. It’s a dizzying album of mostly instrumental music, not really a rock album as such, as the first album was. It’s more varied and sounds like nothing anybody else is doing anywhere. Vocoders, synths, marimbas, guitar riffs that would be comfortable soundtracking a level on a vintage platform game, big drums and even some ’80s basslines. Guests include Conor O’ Brien from Villagers who provides vocals on ‘Europa’ and Jape plays synths on the last track ‘Century City’.” And finally, they’re fucking awesome!
Sounds Like: Experimental / Instrumental / Math Rock
The Album: This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank
Out Now: This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank is out now on Richter Collective.
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