Huzzah!

...

In a flicker and a shimmer, Flashguns will become your favourite band; a band you'll treasure, a band you'll show off to your friends, a band you'll quietly absorb in your headphones while all around you is chaos.

They've played at Reading and at KOKO, but they've grown and vined their way up to a place where I'd like to think they might be able to have some more permanent and physical success. They're aiming big, with desires to fill the kind of places two of their contemporary idols, Killers and Biffy Clyro, could.

Their sound's a guitar-driven, soul-striven, synth-rhythm that won't offend the majority of ears.

have some acoustic:

This should please a few, and satisfy others.

.x.

all clapped out.

...

i love unknowing encounters.

(Name Drop) At the launch party for Mr. Hudson's album, 'Straight No Chaser', I sidled/bumped into an awesomely dressed girl, with an awesomely smiley dad. I was merry, she had a bag = conversation starter. This girl was Kitty, Kitty Durham, from the outfit Kitty Daisy & Lewis, which also comprises her brother, sister, mum and dad. A*.

Their trans-generation mixup harks of the 50s - good hand-clapping, closed eyes, head-nodding with a quiff, leather and frills; a time-warp. They're on the Rob Da Bank label Sunday Best, using analog recording equipment to produce rock 'n' roll the way the phrase is meant. They're multi-instrumentalists of banjo and ukelele, creating the sound the way it was meant totoooo.

example, maam : Kitty Daisy & Lewis - Mean Son of a Gun (y.s.i.)

not all's cup of tea, maybe it's a bit too Assam for some.

.x.

a cheat - to pass the time, comfort the heart.

You told me a secret, one that I knew,

and our embraces tightened; the truth was our glue.

I drew on your cheeks with my finger,

a note of love, which I hoped would linger.

The giggles and laughs,

stifled by the glass, echoed in sweet surrender;

who could have said it was not forever

when the kiss-stamps of possession

took a momentary digression -

the door broke open and the lights barged on

as the pretender to your heart,

stood there aghast.

out every night, to a different fight.

...

Kick, Jump; Stutter; Push, Shove; Flutter.

We opened this year's book with 'Something Good Can Work' from Two Door Cinema Club that seemed to scream from the rafters "have a cracking year!" and now, with the light dimming surprisingly early, they're popping up and about through the country on the Kitsune tour, along with Delphic - see here for details.

Without a drummer, but a machine, TDCC carve a refreshing sound, juicy with hooks and catching bass lines. The Northern Irish threesome do better than most could ever manage, mixing electro-pop and indie-rock, two great hyphenated genres; yet shying away from the typical stereotype of either.

Here's their soon-to-be-released song, 'I Can Talk', remixed:

Two Door Cinema Club - I Can Talk (French Horn Rebellion Remix)

you can see them in London on 31st October at Hearn Street Warehouse, and 12th November at The Lexington.

.x.

schtum.

...

there's been minimal music on Newfangled without a single use of electronic software stuuuff for a while, so here's a mug of tea-ful and a nice little fire of it: Heather Woods Broderick is just like the ideal camping trip in the woods; one where everything glitters, even the company, and clocks don't mean a thing.

Heather Woods Broderick - Old Son (y.s.i.)

Sister to Peter Broderick, there's a fair bit of sibling help, but that doesn't diminish the glare of her voice and the layers of it, which sparkle the lyrics off.

'From the Ground' is the debut album, out now on Preservation.

.x.

cheers to the dears.

...

The Rest is a cracking band from Canada who have flown over with a bunch of presents for us:

Firstly, TODAY Something In Construction (Loney Dear, Memory Tapes, Air France) is releasing their album 'Everyone All At Once' in Rough Trade shops, where the first fifty are selling for a shocking 50p, and only after that do they double with the next 50...and so on;

their second present is a little stream of gigs to partner it -

12 Oct 2009 @ The Old Blue Last W/ SEBASTIEN SCHULLER, 13 Oct 2009 @ The Lexington W/Kill It Kid and 14 Oct 2009 @ 229.

If that weren't enough, here's some colouring to the rainbow:

they're busy-beeing on a new EP, which will be accompanied by an illustrated novel - The Cried Wolf Book, adorned by MLXNDRSC. You can catch the first section and first song here; they will be releasing another section every month on Auteur Recordings, but for now enjoy their cover of Robyn's 'With Every Heartbeat'. The next section's out November 1st, check back for more details.

.x.

coco-pop stained sheets.

...

did I ever talk about Blind Man's Colour? - that band that Kanye "I ain't gay" West had a mini rave about: Chromatic Flights is the solo project of one key member, Kyle Wyss.

I'm not one (maybe I'm two) to make band-wagon assumptions, but this COULD be one of those solo projects that are a flash of beauty and not much more, or who knows - isn't that more beautiful? who cares?

Wyss released an EP called 'Favourite Cat' back in May, and here's a little toasting to it:

Chromatic Flights - Sunset Bell

acoustic-experimental electronic beats.

there's more to come, I think I'm just jumping the gun.

love is easy to write -

if your heart is full/empty enough,

it will bleed onto paper.

life is easy, enough, to write –

if your eyes are wide/closed enough,

they will guide the pen.

but,

when the two co-mingle,

and feelings float – heavy and empty,

pencil-lead snaps and clouds brow-furrow.

.x.

I'll give you a catch, if you'll give me a slide.

...

Olly Murphy. - his blog is http://warehouse-music.blogspot.com/

the name sounds like a bad 80s children's programme, but their sound is typical 80s revival; Penguin Prison is Genesis/Wham rolled into the 21st Century.

The NYC producer Chris Glover has remixed a variety of top-dollar tunes including Marina and The Diamonds and Golden Silvers, but his very own one could easily be worthy [paradoxical] of a remix too:

Penguin Prison - Animal, Animal (y.s.i.)

.x.

we're being watched.

Flora Cadzow.

...

when I was once ushered along to The Social back in April, to support a friend's friend, Giovanna, singing backing vocals for, previously gummed-up on Newfangled, King Charles, I spied a talent - Alan Pownall.

Now, wham, bam, thank-you Maam, he seems to be peering his head and guitar out more and more with his single, Clara, gaining fast attention from all directions. I once heard him described as an English Jack Johnson, but I think that carries an unfortunate stigma, so I'm going to dub him a...you know what, his sound is not a blob but an ongoing ribbon; maybe you'll just have to keep your ears pricked for a new likeness.

Alan Pownall - Clara (Melechtric Remix)

Melechtric is deejaying at The Den Wednesday night, if you fancy getting your shuffle-kerfuffle shoes on.

I've been hiding this cover of Kanye for a near-year now:

Alan Pownall - Love Lockdown (cover) (y.s.i.)

.x.

a wealth of choice in a time of poverty.

...

Swedish xylophone-tamperers, with harmonising heterogenous whispery voices, electronic drums and dreamy synths, Lake Heartbeat tinker similarly to Au Revoir Simone. However, there are similarities to bands such as, mildly weirdly, The Lighthouse Family and The Beach Boys.

this is for dew-touching walks in the blinding dawn light; or a moment-encapturing seaside drive with the roof down :

Lake Heartbeat - Mystery (y.s.i.)

It's far more commercial sounding than the rest, feebly 1990s boy band; but you overlook that and have a little inside dance anyhow - it's their head-lining single.

This is their debut album, 'Trust in Numbers', and every track is filled with an unenthusiastic optimism, making the songs emotionally self-fulfilling.

I don't think I sold that song too well, so here's another taste:

Lake Heartbeat - Pipedream (y.s.i.)

My favourite track is, however, Blue Planet, which I, unfortunately, can't show you...sorry.

On another strain, I'm trying to start up a magazine [I don't want to give too much away here], if anyone's interested in any way - getting involved or just general support, leave a comment.

.x.

i'm fresh enough.

...

This Wednesday is the Fear of Sleep launch party - my first freshers night, of any note [tonight I'm going to Punk for a Bite!]

Headlining is Hot Club de Paris who you may most probably have heard whispered in the wind a little - signed by Moshi Moshi Records in 2005, they've released two albums and have been touring with names like Maximo Park and Jamie T ever since.

Hot Club de Paris - Hey! House Brick (y.s.i.)

But, the band I didn't know, but might tickle my sides, was Heebie Jeebies, sounding a little like Pete Doherty and The View without the inconsistency and freaking annoying mainstream riffs. Oh I don't know, they might shake my pepper and salt.

Heebie Jeebies - Winter's Gone (y.s.i.)

.x.

fragmented tales, pt. 1.

"a shop in an alley led me to a frozen glass window - i looked through to see the other side and, catching the shimmer of a secret staring back, a cold realisation of a future found me. the shiver that told me so much about its importance left a stain on my skin and refused to sink in. i knew i was meant to be there, that moment, there. i shoe-gazed a while and let the wind curve around my figure, brushing over the bristling hairs that betook it all.

A noise shook me into a new frame and I gave in to the available tip-toed sight above, gazing into the shop. An establishment of cobwebs; there was darkness in all the rightly-wrong places, disguising the true nature of its custom. A few steps back and a look to the left, right and top told little else. I doubted my instincts, existence and time; I doubted my very self. why was I there?"

navel-gazing.