Hot Chip cover Shakira

This cover is from last weeks BBC Radio 1 live lounge sessions. There are subtle differences between this and the original and it's not so much that Hot Chip make it their own, but it sounds like it could actually be one of their own. On another note, this photo of them from the recording looks pretty awkward.

Download:

Hot Chip - She Wolf

The Return of NYPC

It's been a long 3 years since the release of Fantastic Playroom, but thankfully New Young Pony Club decided to get back in the studio and record a new album. The Optimist was released on the 8th of this month, and though it may not be as consistent as their debut, it still warrants a listen, especially if you're a fan of the quartet.

I went to see them play in Newcastle last night, and though I probably say this about every band, but this bunch of guys and gals put on an immense display. They are playing the following dates in Ireland:

Cork - Cyprus Avenue - May 28th
Dublin - Button Factory - May 29th
Belfast - Stiff Kitten - May 31st

Please go see them, you won't regret it.

Myspace here, Official site here, Buy The Optimist here

The following is my fave from the new album:

New Young Pony Club - We Want To

Delphic

A bit late off the mark, but I've been listening to Delphic's debut long player over the last couple of weeks and am beginning to understand why it has been tipped to make many critics 'Albums of 2010' list. From start the end, this 10 track wonder reeks of electronica not far off Leftfield, with catchy choruses and riffs not far off Klaxons (except these Mancunians are actually talented). Catch them while on tour and at many a summer festival this year.

Buy their album here, myspace here, official site here

Delphic - Halcyon

Delphic - Remain

Casiokids

This Norwegian outfit have been knocking about for the last year or so and are on the books at London based Moshi Moshi records (which boasts an impressive roster of Florence + The Machine, Hot Chip, Bloc Party and Friendly Fires). They're currently touring with Hot Chip so if you have tickets for any of their dates, make sure you get there early to catch the warm-up act. Their live show is extremely infectious, with each member rotating and doing the rounds on each others instruments. Expect twinkles, synth progressions and lots and lots of cowbells.

Below is by far my favourite, and like some of their other non-instrumental tracks, it's sung in Norwegian. Fantastiske ting!

Casiokids - Verdens Storste Land

Check out their myspace here, their official blog here and buy their music here

Introducing... Javelin

If you've been enjoying the feel-good, lo-fi sounds of Neon Indian or Memory Tapes or even The Avalanches (any sign of a comeback, lads?) then you'll surely dig this. Javelin tick all the right boxes for success in 2010. Obsessive record diggers? Tick. Signed to a cool label? Tick. Collage-style artwork? Tick. From Brooklyn? Tick. They're currently supporting Yeasayer on their UK tour and finally get round to dropping their debut album No Mas on the 20th of April.
Opening track 'Vibrationz' is 2 minutes of wobbly electro-funk that gives a small hint of Javelin's eclectic sound.

Download: Javelin - Vibrationz

Missing Mylo

It's hard to believe that it's now nearly 6 years since Mylo released one of the albums of the decade. Last January, he sent the following track into Radio 1 as a taster of what was to come. Over a year has drifted by and it still sounds amazing but no sign of any official releases.
After popping up for a few DJ dates here and there over the last while and compiling the cover CD for this month’s edition of Mixmag, maybe this year will mark the return of Myles MacInnes.

Check out this tumble dryer of chopped pianos, hi-hats and gulping bassline which irons out into an absolute stomper. Unfortunately Annie Macs voiceover slightly ruins the ending so hopefully it will feature in its entirety on the album, whenever, if ever, it gets released.

Download below.

Mylo - I'm Back

View his myspace here and buy his music here.

Miike Snow & Ali Love

I went to see the awesome Miike Snow last Friday night in Newcastle. If you are a fan of their album in any shape or form, definitely try catch them while they are on tour at the moment. Below is a short video from Fridays show (apologies for the poor sound quality)...



Supporting Miike Snow was Ali Love. This is another act who had fallen off the radar since his first release back in 2006. I checked out some of his new material before hitting the concert, but there was a lot to be desired. It's mediocre, whiney electro-pop that really only has something to offer when played live. So if I were you, don't bother checking out his new stuff unless you are planning on catching him live.

So why mention him? Well, before being dropped by Columbia Records and resorting to these self-pity ditties, Ali produced some very slick pop tunes that would have given Calvin Harris a run for his money. Unfortunately they didn't perform too well on the charts, which resulted in him losing his record deal and subsequently, his way.

However don't let the bland aftertaste of his latter work stop you from appreciating some his more sumptuous produce from two years back.

Download below:

Ali Love - Secret Sunday Lover

Ali Love - Late Night Session (The Phones Filter Fromage Edit)

Two Door Cinema Club

Every now and again, an Irish act emerges outside of the boring and generic singer/songwriter scene that Irish music has been synonymous with over the past decade. Unfortunately, a lot of them fail to live up to the hype and fade into oblivion (Humanzi, Director and Star Little Thing to name a few).
Two Door Cinema Club are a bunch of Bangor boys hoping to break the mould in 2010. From what I’ve heard, their sound is a cross between Foals and early Bloc Party, combined with the amicable and candid nature of Vampire Weekend.
The French have certainly taken a shine to them; they are currently signed to Kitsune, Philippe Zdar of Cassius is part of their album's production team and they have already remixed Phoenix’s ‘Lasoo’ and are due to support them on some of their European dates.

Checkout their myspace here

Downloads removed.