Video: Kasabian - Underdog

So Kasabian are back again, after that pretty dodgy second album. I'd pretty much swore to myself that I would never bother with them again, but this track, having featured on so many TV shows and adverts, has re-kindled my curiousity.

The big riffs and empty, vaguely confrontational quasi-revolutionary lyrics take me all the way back to 2004, and buying their first album is WHSmiths (ouch).

Anyway, I've not heard anything too hot from the rest of the album but I'll definitely check it out now, because this song is amazing.

Oh Minnows + Cheatahs

Oh Minnows is the new band of Semifinalist Chris Steele-Nicholson, and produces ethereal atmospheric loveliness similar to the aforementioned band, continuing largely where their debut album left off (ignoring 2 completely).

Debut EP "Might" is out now on Young and Lost, with the lead track featuring simmering lead synth lines and a shoegaze sound of Deerhunter, track two "Second Version" featuring a funky rhythm alongside its soaring vocals. Final track "High Or Low" is an acoustic ballad that is closest to Semifinalists' signature sound.

Myspace

Might EP is out now on Young and Lost Club

Cheatahs is another shoegaze/lo-fi project, this time by the vocalist/guitarist in Little Death Nathan Hewitt. Also released by Young and Lost Club this week, is single "Warriors"/"Minotaur".

Sounding like an old Pavement recording that they did underwater into a dictaphone, with a voice like a somehow even more harrassed Eliott Smith, Cheatahs are also due to release an EP within the next couple of months.

Myspace

Warriors/Minotaur is out now on Young and Lost Club

REVIEW: Run Toto Run - Plastic Gold EP

This review is being written in the post-Glastonbury malaise of once again ogling hours of footage both on TV and online and still managing to miss millions of bands I wanted to see, and then promising myself that I'll definitely go next year.

So when I received a copy of Run Toto Run's self-produced EP, released by the lost and lonely singles club, I couldn't wait to hear something that wasn't introduced by Jo Whiley.

Lack of Whiley-ness aside, the EP is nothing short of fantastic, with every track capable of leading and not a bum note within its 17 minutes of wholesome Indie-pop goodness.

Opener and lead track "Plastic Gold" seems to cross paths with Australian twee-mongers Architecture in Helsinki without loosing touch with the listener, maintaining a hushed intimacy through lead singer Rachael's cautiously fun vocals, sitting just right in the mix to balance them with the upbeat music behind.

"Good Coat" is my personal favourite, sounding like Lemon Jelly's summery electronica made all the more accessible.

"Catch My Breath" brings together the softer side of Crystal Castles with the toytronica of Psapp, linking Xylophone and grimey chiptune beat in perfect harmony. A perfect example of the many layers within Run Toto Run's music, each instrument remaining distinct yet still producing a lush soundscape.

Their self-control is evident in the more stripped down "Breakdown", with instruments whispering alongside Rachael's vocals before the rest of the band join her in glorious harmony.

The ballad of "Alice" is the perfect closer to this thoughtful and enchanting EP, which leaves an impression far greater than its quarter hour length. Each song is as lovingly crafted as the last, beckoning the listener further and further in with their summery tunes and positive beats. Twee without overpowering, summery without being sickly sweet and positive without being preachy.

On top of this is the band's general good humour, taking the time to get in touch with this lowly reviewer and coupling the EP with a hand-written note despite the band themselves earning the attention of the national press and some radio airplay.

(Oh and the by the way guys, it wasn't me.)

9/10

Plastic Gold EP is out now and availiable via the band's website www.runtotorun.co.uk.

Video: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Live)

If we could pretend it's 2008, and that I am bang up to date rather than hopefully out of touch?

Thanks.

You might like: Arcade Eden

Signed to respected Indie label Ear Candy Music, Arcade Eden are built around brother and sister Clare and Lawrence, incorporating chiptune beats with solid basslines to produce music somewhere between a SNES game and rave in a field.

Even Rob Da Bank agrees, having awarded them a mainstage slot at his beloved Bestival out of a number of other IOW-based acts, propelling them further into the limelight

Obvious touchpoints are Crystal Castles and the electro triumvirate of Digitalism, Justice and Simian Mobile Disco, combining their stripped down beats with relentless energy and enthusiasm. Live Lawrence's darkly rumbling bass somewhat recalls Death From Above 1979's Jesse F. Keeler, coupled with Liam's danceable drums.

From the samples on display from their as-yet-untitled upcoming album, "One Night In Town" and "Know Your Enemies" are going to be early favourites.

Definitely worth checking out live, Arcade Eden are also due to play the unfortunately named Brownstock Festival in Chelmsford on July 11th, London Club Night We Don't Understand You on 6th August, and the aforementioned Bestival main stage set on the 11th September.

Myspace

Image shamelessly stolen from Myspace page without permission. Will be removed upon request.

The B of the Bang and Run Toto Run @ The Fat Fox 11th June 2009

This somewhat late review is testament to the fact that I've not been in a very musical frame of mind of late, but had a quick chance to go to my first (and thanks to the end of university, last) gig at the Fat Fox's live music night the Hong Kong Gardeners Club.

First up to an audience somewhere around eight, and almost begging them to come closer, was Lonely Joe Parker, whose solo acoustic set while entertaining, was largely forgettable. (This may also have been because it was about 2 weeks ago.)

Myspace

Next up were The B Of The Bang, launching their album at the show, and showcasing it at length. Amongst the folk-tinged tracks performed by the collective, they also held a meat raffle and had a full unplugged singalong in the front row. Decked out looking like Miami Vice, frontman Wit has the crowd in his hands for the entire set, stopping short of inviting the entire venue onstage.

Myspace

Eventually, to an unfortunately emptier room, Manchester's Run Toto Run commence their hastily re-scheduled gig. Their stripped down folktronica and determination to avoid anything largely resembling traditional rock instrumentation has found a fan in this reviewer. Where some bands use this multi-instrumentalsim as a pure gimmick, the violin and flute are used sparingly, almost leaving you begging for more. The only downside being new track "Full Stop", which largely sounds a like the soundtrack to a drunk clown falling down some stairs in a Chuckle Brothers' show. Apart from this there is more than enough here to sell me their EP, and expect a review of that here soon.

Myspace

ALBUM: British Sea Power - Man of Aran

After the flurry of interest surrounding BSP after their Mercury-nominated third album Do You Like Rock Music?, a veritable Arena-sized barnstormer, it seems odd that this release is so low-key and under-billed. But of course, this isn't your regular BSP album.

74 minutes in length, it is meant as a "re-imagined" soundtrack to 1934 documentary film Man of Aran that was performed live at the BFI accompanying the film. Despite containing some re-imagined favourites, this is about as Hollywood as these guys get.

So of course, like most soundtracks, devoid of visuals this is unfortunately pedestrian at best, and is a demonstration instead of their own seld-constructed scene of the cultured and the twee. To my mind, the only band to have been nominated for a Mercury Prize and have appeared on Countryfile. Twice.

So for those of these seeking their follow-up, this isn't it. This is a record for the fans, the completists and the curious.

6/10

Man of Aran is out now on Rough Trade.

Recent Solo projects

Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter

Despite the (surely unknown to Lytle) uncomfortable association between this and the Kaiser Chief's sophomore, this solo album reminds you that Lytle definitely was the brains behind Grandaddy and has certainly yet to lose his magic touch. Its a shame they couldn't all get along, but as long as Lytle is still making great indie music, I'm not worried.

8/10

Nickel Eye - The Time Of The Assassins

The reviews I read were along the lines of "Oh no, not another Strokes side-project", which I generally thought were pretty harsh. Then I listened to the album, and realised they weren't harsh enough.

4/1o

Graham Coxon - The Spinning Top

Although the idea of a Coxon solo album is pretty redundant now Blur are back together, most of this was still written and recorded in the "wilderness years" which produced his last two, most successful albums. This harks further back to the albums he worked on while still in Blur already, with Drakesque autumnal tracks and a pensieve feeling of well-being. Curiously, every track feels like a great closer to a great album, but this one unfortunately suffers for it.

7/10