Rowland S. Howard (1959-2009)

Este fim de ano está a fechar tragicamente com a partida de nomes importantíssimos da música. Rowland S. Howard também se foi embora, hoje, vitima de cancro no figado.

Ele, guitarrista e compositor, foi o braço direito de Nick Cave, na Austrália e depois na Grã-Bretanha, nos The Boys Next Door e nos Birthday Party, para além de ter tido uma carreira a solo longa mas que resultou em apenas dois discos (lançou um este ano, "Pop Crimes). Rowland S. Howard colaborou com muitos dos nomes maiores da cena alternativa, de Lydya Lunch a Nikki Sudden, não esquecendo Fad Gadget, The Go Betweens, Einstürzende Neubauten,Barry Adamson, Henry Rollins, para além de ter sido membro dos Crime & City Solution(depois da dissolução dos Birthday Party) e depois dos These Immortal Souls. Ao longo dos anos, também colaborou com Nick Cave por diversas vezes. Um dos seus companheiros de jornada, tanto a solo como em bandas, foi Mick Harvey.

Rowland S. Howard - "Shivers" (tema que escreveu na adolescência)


The Boys Next Door (a primeira banda de Cave e Howard juntos) - "Shivers"


Lydia Lunch & Rowland S. Howard - Dead River


Crime & The City Solution - "I Have the Gun"


These Immortal Souls - "Marry Me"

Vídeos dos (meus) Melhores de 2009:: The Antlers

Vídeo de um fã, criado a partir da colagem de fotos que encontrou no Flicker, para o tema "Kettering", de "Hospice", disco dos The Antlers:

Vídeos dos (meus) Melhores de 2009:: Veils

De "Sun Gangs", o último disco dos The Veils, "The Letter":

Vídeos dos (meus) Melhores de 2009:: Big Pink

Do disco "A Brief History of Love", o single "Too Young To Love", dos Big Pink:

Vídeos dos (meus) Melhores de 2009:: Dan Auerbach

Tema de "Keep It Hid", disco de Dan Auerbach, que devem conhecer dos Black Keys:

Tim Hart (1948-2009)

O cantor folk e multi-instrumentista Tim Hart, membro fundador da banda britânica Steeleye Span, faleceu aos 61 anos devido a um cancro pulmonar. (Ler The Guardian)

Os (meus) Melhores de 2009

INTERNACIONAIS

Andrew Bird - "Noble Beast"

Animal Collective - "Merriweather Post Pavilion"

The Antlers - "Hospice"

Bon Iver - "Blood Bank"

Bear In Heaven - "Beast Rest Forth Mouth"

The Big Pink - "A Brief History of Love"

Cymbals Eat Guitars - "Why There Are Mountains"

Dan Auerbach - "Keep It Hid"

Fanfarlo - "Reservoir"

Florence + The Machine - "Lungs"

Girls - "Album"

Grizzly Bear - "Vexkatimest"

Health - "Get Color"

Kasabian - "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum"

Lilly Allen - "It´s Not Me, It´s You"

Miike Snow - "Miike Snow"

Neko Case - "Middle Cyclone"

Phoenix - "Wolfgang Amadeus"

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - "The Pains of Being Pure At Heart"

Prefab Sprout - "Let´s Change The World With Music"

Sonic Youth - "The Eternal"

The Veils - "Sun Gangs"

We Fell To Earth - "We Fell To Earth"

White Rabbits - "It´s Frightening"

Wild Beasts - "Two Dancers"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "It´s Blitz"

XX - "XX"

----------------------\\\\\\\

NACIONAIS

Andrew Thorn - "Brutes on the Quiet"

Doismileoito - "Doismileoito"

The Legendary Tigerman - "Femina"

Mazgani - "Tell The People"

Micro Audio Waves - "Zoetrope" (e melhor design de capa/disco)

Sean Riley & The Slow Riders - "Only Time Will Tell"

The Weatherman - "Jamboree Park at The Milky Way"

Vic Chesnutt (1964-2009)

Vic Chesnutt era um dos mais importantes compositores contemporâneos do pop-rock norte-americano, dado a conhecer ao mundo pelo melómano e "vizinho" de Athens, Georgia, Michael Stipe(Stipe lembra Vic Chesnutt na NPR). Foi o vocalista dos R.E.M. que produziu os seus primeiros dois discos, Little (1990) e West of Rome (1991). Michael Stipe ainda viria a emprestar a voz a um tema do quarto disco de Chesnutt, "Is The Actor Happy?" (1995) mas só após a segunda compilação "Sweet Relief II", feita de versões de temas de Chesnutt por diversos artistas, entre os quais Madonna com Joe Henry, os Cracker, os Sparklehorse, os REM, ou os Soul Asylum, é que Chesnutt se tornou um artista visível para além do circuito alternativo tendo isso sido reflectido na atenção que teve "About To Choke", lançado três meses depois de "Sweet Relief II". Dois anos depois, para a sua história musical, em disco, sobre um vendedor, "The Salesman and Bernardette", Vic Chesnutt convida os seus amigos Lambchop para gravarem consigo. Dois discos depois, em "Ghetto Bells" (2005), Vic Chesnutt tem a tocar consigo dois grandes, Bill Frisell e Van Dyke Parks. Em 2006 fez parte e andou em digressão com o projecto The Undertow Orchestra, do qal faziam parte, além de Chesnutt, David Bazan (Headphones e Pedro The Lion), Will Johnson (Centro-Matic), e Mark Eitzel (American Music Club). Em 2007, em "North Star Deserter", trabalhou com Bruce Cawdron (Godspeed! You Black Emperor), Guy Picciotto (Fugazi) e com a Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, que voltaria a acompanhá-lo no primeiro disco deste ano, "At The Cut". "Skitter on Take-Off", também de 2009, sucedeu a "At The Cut" e foi produzido por Jonathan Richman.

Vic Chesnutt, paraplégico desde os dezoito anos, devido a um acidente de viação, sofria de depressão e decidiu pôr termo à sua vida, com uma overdose de medicamentos, no dia 24 de Dezembro. Sobreviveram a Chesnutt a sua esposa, Tina, e uma talentosa obra de catorze discos reconhecida por alguns dos maiores e mais importantes músicos e compositores do actual pop/rock.

---------------------------------------------------

Vic Chesnutt para um programa de televisão canadiano de música ao vivo, "The Neighbors Dog", gravado em pequenos locais, e emitido em exclusivo para Saskatchewan, uma província canadiana que faz fronteira, a sul, com os estados, dos EUA, do Dakota do Norte e Montana.



Vic Chesnutt (ao vivo em Novembro a tocar um tema de "Chain" do seu recente disco "At The Cut")


Elf Power com Vic Chesnutt - "Everybody Hurts"


Vic Chesnutt - "Band Camp"


Undertow Orchestra

Vitaminas Para Ti

Os canadianos vitaminsforyou, um projecto de Bryce Kushnier, que começou apenas com ele, fizeram uma excelente versão de "Shelter", tema dos XX.

Um Local Para Enterrar Estranhos (Parte II)

Se não olharem para o vídeo de "Keep Slipping Away", dos A Place To Bury Strangers, trio de Brooklyn liderado por Oliver Ackermann, o som não vos recorda os The Mission? Este tema é de "Exploding Head", o seu mais recente trabalho.

I Blame Coco

I Blame Coco é o projecto de Coco Sumner (nome real: Eliot Pauline Sumner), filha de Sting. "Caesar" é o single de apresentação com a colaboração da sueca Robyn. O single terá versões misturadas pelos Miike Snow e Diplo. Talvez as misturas salvem o barco.

Silvia Sai em Janeiro

"Silvia" sai a 25 de Janeiro e é o novo single dos suecos Miike Snow.

Joe Strummer - 7 anos

Faz hoje 7 anos que Joe Strummer faleceu.

Há dez anos, Strummer com os Mescaleros tocam Clash:

4AD Oferece Presente de Natal

A famosa 4AD decidiu este Natal oferecer o seu 2009 Music Sampler a todas as almas que queiram. Só necessitam de indicar o vosso e-mail e descarregar a prenda.

Queda Montanha Abaixo

A 25 de Janeiro está por aí o novo dos Tindersticks, "Falling Down A Mountain". Este é o aperitivo.

Thom Yorke em Copenhaga

Ele também foi a Copenhaga, como membro da imprensa. Não declarou se foi de avião eléctrico.

Céu Branco

Os Vampire Weekend têm um novo tema no seu MySpace chama-se "White Sky". Ao vivo soa assim, na versão "desligado" e #ligado#.

"White Sky" (unplugged)


"White Sky" (plugged)

Natal Com Rapariga Optimista Perdida

Eu gosto do espírito de Natal. Gosto quando as pessoas dão sem esperarem nada em troca (pois!). É verdade, os New Young Pony Club estão a dar um tema do seu segundo disco, baptizado "Optimist", que é o primeiro na editora formada pela banda, sem esperarem nada em troca (pois!). Para o obterem, basta navegarem até ao seu site principal e agarrarem "Lost Girl" ou, se não quiserem caminhar, irem aqui. O vídeo deste tema, que abre as portas para o novo lançamento, tem um vídeo que podem ver já a seguir.

New Young Pony Club - "Lost A Girl"

Cuidado com o Mel

Thomas WP, Dede WP e Darren Bancroft, que dão pelo nome de We Have Band, vão ter o seu disco de estreia em 2010. Até agora a sua vida tem sido feita de singles, misturas e de uma participação, com "Time After Time", na compilação nº 7 da esitora francesa Kitsuné, apesar deles serem britânicos. Depois do vídeo para o desinteressante "We Came Out", há agora imagens para acompanharem o bem mais cativante "Honeytrap", tema que podem descarregar gratuitamente do MySpace do trio.

We Have Band - "Honey Trap"

Music Alliance Pact: Dezembro de 2009

O David Santos, mais conhecido por Noiserv, é mais um dos jovens músicos na área do pop-rock que nós, portugueses, não merecemos mas que merece estar na Music Alliance Pact e ser divulgado nos 34 países, de todos os continentes, que participam nesta aliança. Ele tem demasiado talento para um país que dá mais horas de "airplay" a um qualquer alternativo de Liverpool ou Manchester ou Brooklyn, porque toda a imprensa internacional fala, do que aos seus próprios músicos. Noiserv e tantos projectos de muito talento que por ai andam precisam de ter atenção para além dos programas dedicados à música portuguesa, como é, por exemplo, esse grande farol que é o "Portugália". Não podemos continuar a apostar apenas nas pessoas que são o hype do momento e tomam copos com os fazedores de opinião ou que têm financiamento próprio para embarcar em campanhas de promoção dos seus trabalhos. A maior homenagem que podemos fazer a nós próprios é passarmos a palavra do que por cá se faz mas sem esquecer o critério e a qualidade, o que, infelizmente, nem sempre acontece.

Noiserv é um exemplo de um projecto que foi aclamado pela crítica, que tem passado por algumas rádios mas que, infelizmente, como deveria ser, não mantem um lugar cativo nas playlists.

Fiquem com os Noiserv e com as sugestões dos 33 outros blogs que participam no MAP.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Coiffeur - Humedad
Coiffeur is not the name of a band, but the alias of a young folk singer and songwriter from Morón, a city in the greater Buenos Aires area). Humedad is one of the finest songs from his third album, El Tonel De Las Danaides, which was released this year by Estamos Felices (Argentina's coolest independent label, you should check them out).

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Toecutter - Best Party Ever (Jordan Lightyear & Jimmy2sox remix)
Best Party Ever pretty much sums up Toecutter, a man called David Harris from Milano, New South Wales who creates dancefloor-friendly progressive house music. Apparently, Toecutter has been sitting on this song since 1984 when he recorded the hook onto a cassette and then spent 25 years deliberating on its merits.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
The Property Line - The Start
The Property Line have only been around a few months but they've been building quite a local following with their brand of psychedelia-tinged country-rock. Their EP (which is available for free download on their site) is pretty strong, and nowhere is it stronger than on The Start, in which the band infuses a little Sufjan into their sound, with absolutely stunning results.

CHILE: Super 45
Gen - ¿Qué Le Pasó A Mi Rap
Es is the latest album by Gen (Freddy Olguin). Putting together amazing beats, social critique rhymes and sounds from another dimension, the Chilean rapper has taken the experience of listening to hip hop to a whole new level. An army of producers has helped him develop a very distinctive personality for his record, which can be compared to the sound of Flying Lotus, Subtle or even The RZA, with the result something nothing short of future-like music. It's refreshing, experimental and highly exciting.

CHINA: Wooozy
Today - Before Ending
Before Ending is taken from Today's debut album which was released last year. They are searching for hope and happiness by watching everyone's love life as a third person. You won't feel lonely after listening to their songs. The band's new album, Live The Life, will be out soon.

COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana
Miss Muffin - Bways 'n' Gyals
What happens if you put together Juan Valdez and Bob Marley? Well, the answer to this experiment can be given by Isabella Escobar aka Miss Muffin, the known name for this promising talent of Colombian reggae. Originating from Antioquia, with Caribbean blood, Miss Muffin has released Hear This, an album that explores in a curious manner the various possibilities of reggae.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
Eumig & Chinon - This Fang
The last Danish track of 2009 is also a MAP exclusive. Eumig & Chinon aka Christian Kastbjerg has kindly provided this kickass piece of funky housetronica titled This Fang, which will be on his debut EP coming out sometime next year. You've got to groove.

ENGLAND: The Daily Growl
Banjo Or Freakout - Upside Down
I'm bending the rules a little this month because Alessio Natalizia, who trades under the name Banjo Or Freakout, is Italian - but he's based in London so we can claim him as our own. Just as well because his awesome soundtracks, all wrapped up in a dreamy melodious electronic haze, are worth breaking down national boundaries for.

ESTONIA: Popop
Malcolm Lincoln - Me Iz Loaded With Zoul
Malcolm Lincoln has been active only for about a month so there's not much of a biography yet. The band is the brainchild of Robin Juhkental, who is joined by Madis Kubu aka Fretless Rämbu for live shows. Five more songs are downloadable here.

FINLAND: Glue
Rex Willer - My Girl
Rex Willer is a five-piece indie band who recorded the excellent Inner Moray Scenes EP at their home studio earlier this year. Influenced by My Morning Jacket, Steely Dan and Death Cab For Cutie, they are driven by groovy bass lines and old-school keyboard sounds, without forgetting good guitar licks. Let yourself be caught by the irresistible melody of My Girl while Rex Willer finishes some new material due out early next year.

FRANCE: ZikNation
Michael Wookey - Songs About Snow
At the age of 15, Michael Wookey was given a portable pump organ which belonged to his grandfather, who was an organist during World War II. This instrument inspired Michael to write some songs and start collecting obscure instruments. Now 26, he has released three albums and by using a portable studio, he has recorded in various sheds, basements and meat lockers. He now lives in the red light district of Paris. The French describe his music as folk baroque.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
Dobré - The Melody Is A Stranger
Sometimes you realise within minutes what creative potential a musician has, and Dobré comes into that category. Usually found playing eclectic indie-folk with his mates Sepp Kennedy, he just released a 'best of' solo record called Tools 'n' Toys which you can download here. The Melody Is A Stranger is a downtempo piece of indie which strongly reminds me of early Peter Gabriel.

GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
2-L8 - Excuse Me, But I Just Have To Explode (Part II)
2-L8's second release - He & She, Angry Enough To Keep Loving In The Dark Ages (download it for free here) - is a masterpiece of avant-garde music that truly haunts the mind. It's a passionate experience, leading the listener into excruciating catharsis - you look into the eyes of two lovers and see nothing but painful regret. It's exhilarating and rare to hear such florid arrangements based on sharp stringed instruments and theremin, trembling, frantically passionate vocals, desperate and bleak lyrics coupled with a sense of hope and all of them laced with uncompromising experimentation, true emotional resonance and weight. A total seductive triumph.

ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music
Morðingjarnir - Manvisa
Punk-rock trio Morðingjarnir ("The Murderers") play fast and sharp three-to-four chord songs, often with some dark humour. Atli, Haukur and Helgi are influenced by Dead Kennedys and local punk heroes Fræbbblarnir. Manvisa is a song featured on their third album, Flóttinn Mikli, with guest vocals from Kata of the band Mammút.

INDIA: Indiecision
The Mavyns - Greener Than The Sea
The Mavyns (pronounced "May-wins") are a rock act from Mumbai. Their music is a particularly refreshing take on the new British post-punk revival. Powered by piano-driven melodies and a charming disposition, the recently-formed quartet already look set for greater things. Greener Than The Sea makes no bones about its Beatles affectations culminating in a dizzying guitar romp. This live recording from an excellent recent set in the city is a definite sign of a career path that looks to be going only one way - up!

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Tika & The Dissidents - Waltz Muram
Known as the diva from the indie scene in Indonesia, Tika has a beautiful voice and smart lyrics with influences ranging from swing and lounge music mashed with eclectic orchestration. I chose her and her band this month because I also want to promote Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of the country.

IRELAND: Nialler9
O Emperor - Po
After an impressive appearance on Irish TV and some blog love from The Torture Garden, Cork band O Emperor are definitely on the 'ones to watch' list. Especially, though, after repeated plays of their debut single, Po, an unassuming number that reveals itself on multiple listens thanks to its snaking ephemeral guitar lick and a vocal that lodges in your brain for 24 hours at a time.

ITALY: Polaroid
The Calorifer Is Very Hot! - Evolution On Stand-By
Italy is well known for its Prime Minister's various conflicts of interest. For this month's MAP I decided to act in a diplomatic way and promote a band and record that I helped to release. I could tell you that I believe these guys play some of the best indie-pop in this country. I could tell you that their lo-fi punk attitude to songwriting deserves worldwide attention. I could beg you to go to see them live and promise that you will have fun. But these would be all lies. They're here just because I put my money in their new album - buy it!

JAPAN: JPOP Lover
Sonic Attack Blaster - 20000Volt
Sonic Attack Blaster, an alternative band from Tokyo's underground scene, call their music 'samurai rock'. Their songs actually have Japanese retro melody lines that give them an early-90s feel. Interesting and really rather weird. Their new album will be released in January.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
Rana Santacruz - Cajita De Barro
Rana Santacruz's richness lies deep in Mexican soil: a buried treasure of plundered Celtic tunes, ranchera-song lamentations and magical-realistic folktales that could have been part of a lost chapter from a rural cuento written by Juan Rulfo. Chicavasco is his debut album - a delicate collection of bohemian vignettes permeated by a true sensorial feel of rain, leather and mezcal. Watch him come up the hills and down the slopes as he slowly claims his place among one of our favourite singer-songwriters.

NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam Event Guide
The Very Sexuals - Bowie Eyes
Hallo from Holland! This is our first submission and we're happy to introduce The Very Sexuals. Starting out as a project between three or four other bands, this act have come together to produce an impressive, emotive and totally free album which has left listeners in dreamy shoegaze heaven since its release earlier this year. Be sure to download Bowie Eyes and look out for album number two in 2010.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
Signer - +Kicks And Kicks
Bevan Smith is the musician who records as Signer. Smith started out as an indie-guitar fan but gave that up for psychedelic electronica and synths. His latest album, Next We Bring You The Fire, has a more ambient sound than earlier records, toning down some of the more leftfield noise elements. +Kicks And Kicks isn't that typical of the album - it's poppier and more rhythmic - but gives a good introduction to Signer's ability to create music which is accessible but slightly unsettling.

NORWAY: Eardrums
Moddi - A Sense Of Grey
Moddi is a unique artist from the northern parts of Norway who will release his debut album Floriography on February 8. His music is poetic and dreamy, but at the same time there is a roughness in his sound. I often think of the rugged northern nature when I listen to his music, which is full of beauty but also darkness and sudden changes.

PERU: SoTB
El Hombre Misterioso - 80 Veces 80
The four members of El Hombre Misterioso are so versatile they would sound completely different if separated. They are always willing to experiment with rock and their second album, Inside The Corporation, narrates national historical stories. 80 Veces 80 remembers the worst days of Peruvian history, when the 1980s crisis was worsened by car bombs in a civil war that nearly destroyed the country.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Noiserv - Melody Pops
Noiserv is one-man band David Santos, a very talented multi-instrumentalist from Lisbon. His self-released 2008 debut LP, One Hundred Miles From Thoughtlessness, was highly acclaimed by the mainstream Portuguese press. In May, Noiserv released a single through the Scottish label Autumn Ferment Records.

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Byron - King Of Clowns
Releasing their third album this year (A Kind Of Alchemy), alternative rock act Byron has already developed a unique sound, an alchemy of Jeff Buckley's lyricism and Porcupine Tree's neo-prog escapism. Dan's voice goes from soft and warm to almost tormented, all the way spiced with wild-on-the-verge-of-insanity harmonies. The keyboard work shines with brilliant prog-inspired interventions, the guitar-playing is rock-solid (pun intended) and the use of flute on several tracks also works miracles, bringing a certain distinctness to the whole. Did I say Jethro Tull? Well, you get the picture.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
The Kays Lavelle - Aftermath
If any film directors are reading, do yourself a favour and download this song. With its eerily mesmeric piano refrain and increasingly intense, impassioned vocals, Aftermath is just begging to be played during an emotionally-wrought scene or at the end of the movie as the credits run. A studio version of Aftermath featuring the full band will appear on The Kays Lavelle's debut album due out early next year.

SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...
For This Cycle - For What It's Worth
Sixteen-year-old Weiwen Seah has a lot to be proud of. Performing under the persona For This Cycle, he has released a five-track EP this year and is currently recording his full-length album due next year. Weiwen brings a welcome breath of pop goodness in a music scene better known for its underground subculture with shades of Jason Mraz and Dashboard Confessional. In fact, it's easy to forget that someone so young sings with as much conviction on this month's selection, For What It's Worth.

SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
Van Coke Kartel - Voor Ons Stof Word
Van Coke Kartel is an Afrikaans rock band. Francois Van Coke and Wynand Myburgh were previously in Fokofpolisiekar, who revolutionised Afrikaans rock music by challenging and shifting rigid mindsets. Van Coke Kartel proceeded to explode onto the SA music scene with sold-out shows and rave reviews. The group has been busy working on their new album, Skop, Skiet En Donner, which will be out in early 2010. Look out for it, it's sure to blow your mind.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Oh My Melodies - I Like It All
Oh My Melodies is the US-based solo project of Jiyoung Lee, vocalist of I Love JH. She now offers home-recorded electronic pop with sweet lyrics on the recently released EP So Lazy, which can be downloaded here. I Like It All is a catchy tune with a bit of synth that makes doing the chores seem like the most delightful task.

SWEDEN: Swedesplease
Symfoniorkestern - Tänd Eld På Dig Själv (För Det Du Tror På)
Wow, it was a no-brainer this month. Symfoniorkestern are a uniquely Swedish group. They are like an indie-rock band but with a grab-bag of unusual orchestration, lyrics in Swedish and lovely harmonies. The new EP, Tänd Eld På Dig Själv (För Det Du Tror På), is available here for free in its awesome, spellbinding entirety. The band spent a year and a half recording it - I only wish I could somehow give this review the same amount of care.

UNITED STATES: I Guess I'm Floating
Chll Pll - Dick Moves
Sacramento, CA's Zach Hill has a new project, Chll Pll - a slice of the rather raucous, noisy, blunt force corner of the electro-pop world. Dick Moves is from the upcoming debut Aggressively Humble, out now on Porter Records.

VENEZUELA: Barquisimento
Fordelucs - No Queda Mas
Alternative rock band Fordelucs have been winning over fans and critics alike and building up a name for themselves in Venezuela's music scene. Now the boys are about to start a tour that will take them beyond the borders of their country. No Queda Mas is taken from their first release, Mundo.

Para descarregar as 33 canções em apenas um ficheiro, carregue aqui

Weird Stones

Em termos de visual, penso que os californianos We Are The World, conseguem chegar muito perto à estranheza dos distantes Fields of the Nephilim. A música que os primeiros e os segundos criam/criavam não se toca em parte alguma, no entanto. Este é o vídeo para o single, "Clay Stones", que sairá em Janeiro acompanhado de diversas misturas (Planning To Rock, Drums of Death, Turbotito, eVan Rivers & The Subliminal Kid (Fever Ray)).

Trilogia de Dois

Os suecos Fredrik, que têm como núcleo da banda Fredrik e Lindefelt, que passaram por aqui há um ano, têm um novo vídeo para o single de apresentação "Vinterbarn" ("Crianças do Inverno"), do segundo disco "Trilogi", que será lançado em Janeiro e que é uma compilação de três EPs: "Holm", "Ava" e "Ner".

Fredrik - "Vinterbarn"

Brand New Chip

Pois, eu sei que muitos de vocês gostam destes rapazes que têm um periquito a cantar. PAra vocês, aqui vai um favorzinho. Vá, saltem lá. Ai está, o NOVO ( ou "brand new no seu timing", falando como um verdadeiro intelectual português) vídeo dos Hot Chip.

Hot Chip - "One Life Stand"

Reprodução Canadiana Sagrada

De uns quartetos mais excitantes da pop-elcetrónica-experimental da actualidade, há um novo vídeo para o seu tema "Royal Gregory" lembrando o s melhores dias dos jogos num ZX-Spectrum. Senhores e Senhoras, Meninos e Meninas, de Toronto, Canadá, os Holy Fuck.

Holy Fuck - "Royal Gregory"

Novamente Juntos (para um vídeo)

O duo Glen Hansard e Marketa Irglova, mais conhecido por Swell Season, que ganharam um Oscar na categoria de Best Origianl Song com a canção "Falling Slowly", têm um novo vídeo para um tema, "Low Rising", do seu último disco, "Strictly Joy".

Portishead Associa-se Hoje à Amnesty International

Geoff Barrow enviou os BEAK>, o seu outro projecto musical, de férias de Natal e voltou aos Portishead para dar à luz "Chase The Tear", um tema oferecido pela banda à Amnesty International hoje que é Dia dos Direitos Humanos. As vendas do tema serão a favor desta organização e podem obtê-lo aqui.

Novo Puritanismo

Os These New Puritans têm um disco novo no forno, "Hidden", que sairá a 10 de Janeiro. "We Want War" é o single de apresentação.

O vídeo foi realizado por Daniel Askill.

Submarines Voltam a Emergir

Os Submarines regressam com mais um vídeo mas ainda de um tema de "Honeysuckle Weeks". Parece que o que levou a produzirem um vídeo para este tema, "Submarine Symphonika", foi a integração de um sedgmento do mesmo num anúncio norte-americano ao IPhone.

Podem ler o que escrevi por aqui sobre eles há mais de um ano.

Coração com Música

O Super Rock em Stock (sei que é outro nome) é uma dádiva a Lisboa por não ir pelo caminho fácil. Além da dificuldade óbvia de um festival com estas características, é preciso coragem para apostar em bandas/nomes, como os Voxtrot, os Piano Magic ou os Wild Beasts, que muito poucas pessoas ouviram falar em Portugal e que passam quase exclusivamente na Radar e, aqui e ali, em programas de autor da Antena3.

Destaques também obrigatórios para os espectáculos de Patrick Watson, Ebony Bones, e Little Joy (levem discos dos Strokes para o Fabrizio autografar ;-).

Este é um grande fim-de-semana para aqueles que lhes apetece algo diferente mas sem açucar. Se não gostarem, vão até ao Cascais Jazz, vão ouvir o Carlos do Carmo a cantar as canções de Ary, ou partam para longe, muito longe.

Wild Beasts


Ebony Bones


Voxtrot


Little Joy

Queijo Bad

Os norte-americanos The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt decidiram, na sua passagem por terras nórdicas, que deveriam melhorar a qualidade do queijo de determinadas paragens. Para tal, cantaram "The Way You Make Me Feel" para algumas ovelhas. Diz-se que estas ovelhas passaram a produzir um leite tão bom para queijo que é "bad".

Depois Veio A Zebra E Comeu-o

Os Zebra & Snake são dois finlandeses, Matti(baixo e caixa de ritmos) e Tapio (voz e sintetizadores) e o seu som é um macarrão de tudo do melhor e pior que foi deixado pelos anos 80. Tantos podem ouvir no seu som um pouco de Prince como de Baltimora, apenas depende do segundo em que está o tema. Não esperem muito. Não esperem nada. Ouçam ou dancem.

Zebra & Snake - "The Colours"

Os Efterklang Quando Tocarão em Portugal?

Será que os Efterklang têm que ser capa da Rolling Stone, nos EUA, para chegarem aos jornais e às rádios portuguesas? Efterklang passaram por aqui. (Perdoem-me as rádios universitárias e outras que já os passam mas que não chegam aos meus ouvidos.)

Ursinho do Céu

A propósito do novo disco dos Bear in Heaven, "Beast Rest Forth Mouth", fica aqui o impressionante vídeo de "Shinning and Free", tema incluido no primeiro disco (do qual podem fazer o download de "Bag of Gags", a partir do site da editora da banda), "Red Bloom of the Boom", em que vemos Jon Philpot, o mentor da banda, como protagonista. O vídeo seguinte é do tema "For Beauty", do mesmo disco. Ambos os brilhantes vídeos foram realizados por David Merten. Do novo disco não há, infelizmente, nenhum vídeo, por isso ouça-se um tema, "Lovesick Teenagers".


Bear In Heaven - "Shinning and Free"


Bear In Heaven - "For Beauty"


Bear in Heaven - "Lovesick Teenagers"

Tudo o Meu Amor

O tema já tem quatro anos mas só agora é que os Valley Lodge devem ter juntado dinheiro para um vídeo de "All Of My Loving". Um mega tema para uma mega rádio.

We Fell To Earth em Vídeo (Finalmente)

Os We Fell To Earth de quem aqui tanto falei, desde o primeiro momento, têm um vídeo para "deaf", que parece-me ser o primeiro vídeo oficial que eles têm para um tema.

Florence & The Machine ao vivo

Sem rede...Ao vivo...F é de Florence e de Fantástico!

Florence & The Machine na Máquina do Tempo

Florence & The Machine apanhou uma máquinda do tempo e o resultado foi este:

Will You Love Me Tomorrow

Gosto mais das Shirelles mas a tentativa da Lykke Li a cantar "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" deu isto:

"No Distance Left To Run" O Filme

A 19 de Janeiro, na Grã-Bretanha, há, nos cinemas, um documentário sobre os Blur e chama-se, é claro, "No Distance Left To Run".

Samuel e o Dragão

Samuel & The Dragon são um duo de Belfast, a viver em Londres, composto por Samuel Chase e o produtor James Cameron. Lançaram o seu primeiro single, "Diamonds on a Boat", a 16 de Novembro, pela Moshi Moshi Records.

Ambling Alp - O Vídeo do Ano?

Os YEASAYER, de Brooklyn, têm uma das experiências do ano, em termos de vídeos musicais, fazendo uso de possibilidades ao alcance das ferramentas de software a serem utilizadas hoje.

O single chama-se "Ambling Alp", que podem fazer o download gratuito na página do vídeo, e podem ver (controlar) o vídeo aqui. No entanto, caso possam chocar-se com pessoas nuas, não o vejam.

Um Magnus de...

De regresso à Suécia, desta vez com Magnus Sätterström ou, melhor, Little Big Adventure (sim, o nome vem do jogo mas já existe desde 1994), pela mão da já inevitável editora sueca Labrador.
Antes do mais recente EP dos Radio Dept., "David", a Labrador editou, em Maio, um EP, "The Hateful Eye", de Little Big Adventure ou do rapaz que começou a sua aventura, com apenas um Casio, há cinco anos mas que, ainda assim, sente-se insatisfeito .

"Happiest Times" é o novo vídeo de Magnus e o tema de abertura do seu ep.


Depois de verem o vídeo, podem descarregar gratuitamente, através do site da editora, dois temas de Little Big Adventure:

1 - Happiest Times;

2- The Hateful Eye

Brandt Brauer Frick sem Associados

Como uma sociedade de advogados, foi assim que Daniel Brandt, Jan Brauer e Paul Frick deram o nome ao seu projecto musical: Brandt Brauer Frick.

Eles são uma espécie de "nerds" e estudiosos da música clássica e ligeira que foram agarrados pela vida das discotecas (clubs, se preferirem). Daniel Brandt e Jan Brauer já tinham trabalho juntos, como produtores, antes deste projecto. No entanto, podem ler toda a sua interessante história aqui.


O seu primeiro EP, "Iron Man", foi lançado em Agosto mas espera-se novo disco no início do ano de 2010.


Brandt Brauer Frick - "Bop"

Sidewalking

Há um novo vídeo, do seu novo single, para os britânicos Hatcham Social, que me lembram, por vezes, os Orange Juice. "Sidewalk" será editado em 10" e, entre outros temas da banda, uma versão de "Surfin Safari" dos Beach Boys.

Os Hatcham Social, que passaram por aqui no blog pela primeira vez há um ano, são dois irmãos, Finningan (bateria) e Tobias Kidd (voz), e Dave Fineberg (bateria) e Jerome Watson (teclas). O seu primeiro disco, "You Dig the Tunnel, I´ll hide the soil" foi produzido por Tim Burgess (Charlatans). Além desse disco, editaram diversos singles e EPs, um deles apenas no Japão. Um dos EPs, "Party", foi oferecido apenas online.

Neste momento estão a acabar um digressão nos EUA, onde abriram para os Echo & the Bunnymen.

"Sidewalk"

Recordação para "Crocodile", que já tinha passado por aqui:

Nine Inch Nails e Gary Numan

Este vídeo, ou algo de semelhante, já tinha passado por aqui mas na perspectiva de um membro da audiência em que se via, curiosamente, o cameraman que fez este trabalho.

Serviço Comunitário por Jonathan Boulet

Jonathan Boulet é de Sydney, tem 21 anos e passa os dias a andar de skate. Talvez o seu disco de estreia, lançado a 4 de Dezembro, venha a mudar completamente a sua vida, a julgar pelo talento que apresenta no seu single "Community Service Announcement" e no sucesso que já tem no circuito alternativo do seu país.

Jonathan Boulet - "Community Service Announcement"

40 Anos de Sesame Street: R.E.M.

R.E.M. - "Furry Happy Monsters"

40 Anos de Sesame Street: Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder - "Superstition" (Ao vivo na "Sesame Street" norte-americana em 1973)

Equinócio no Jimmy Kimmel

Os Death Cab For Cutie tocam, ao vivo, no Jimmy Kimmel, o seu tema, "Meet Me on The Equinox", integrado na banda sonora de "New Moon" ("Lua Nova")

Ex-Copuladores de Estrelas

josh...ryan...shawn...keil é como eles se apresentam no MySpace (mas Josh Hodges é que manda e todos eles pertencem a outras bandas), são de Portland, Oregon mas não são shoegazers nem devotos do grunge mas podiam, sem dificuldade, ser confundidos por djs londrinos que fazem música de dança, sem ser de dança. Confusos? É melhor verem o vídeo de "Medicine", tema de "Jupiter", do seu disco deste ano, da banda que já se chamou STARFUCKER mas que agora dá pelo nome de PYRAMIDDD.

Se passarem por Londres, nos próximos dias, eles estão por lá um dia a abrirem para os Passion Pit, outro para os Flithy Dukes, outro para os Golden Silver...

Club É TROPICALia

Dos IS TROPICAL sabe-se que são três, que usam máscara e que o primeiro single sai a 18 de Janeiro com o tema do vídeo, "When O´ When" e "Seasick Mutiny". Podem ouvir no MySpace temas e demos. Gosto!!!

Não serão os Is Tropical um alter ego dos Two Door Cinema Club?

Bye You Me & Iowa

Eles existem há seis anos, vivem em Los Angeles, são cinco, lançaram dois Eps e um disco, e já acabaram. "Aquarium", o seu mais recente disco, está disponível gratuitamente ou ao preço que desejarem pagar. O vídeo que se segue é do tema "Margaret Mourning", do disco anterior, "The Adventures of You & Iowa".

Primos YouTubados

Depois de ontem ter colcoado aqui o vídeo vai MTV, aqui estão, os primos dos vampiros de fim-de-semana, no formato YouTube.

Primos de Lua Nova

Novo vídeo para "Cousins" dos Vampire Weekend.

Alegria Formidável

Parece que está para breve um disco de estreia dos Joy Formidable. Já há um ao vivo mas há um ano que esperamos um disco inteirinho de originais.

The Joy Formidable - "Greyhounds in the Slips" (vídeo mais recente de um tema com a participação do ex-Mansun, Paul Draper)


The Joy Formidable - "Whirring" (single lançado em Maio)


The Joy Formidable - "Cradle" (single lançado em Fevereiro)

Transmission

Os Miike Snow passaram pelas sessões ao vivo do MySpace Transmissions e "Animal" foi um dos temas inevitáveis. Deram também uma entrevista. Podem ver e ouvir tudo aqui.

One dubStep Beyond

Lena Cullen e Maya Jane Coles são as duas faz-tudo (composição, produção, execução) do projecto de dub-step She is Danger. O vídeo é do tema "Hurt You".

Music Alliance Pact: Novembro 2009

Dia 15 é o dia de Santa Aliança em que damos a volta ao mundo com tantos temas como os blogs aliados a esta Music Alliance Pact. Este mês, os representantes de Portugal são da Figueira da Foz e exigem roupa formal e disposição para gin tónico, dando preferência a quem domine o poker. É claro que nada disto é necessário mas a sua música leva-nos para os ambientes de um Casino. De um Casino Royal.


ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Entre Ríos - Frontera
Finally we get the chance to showcase this great indie-pop band from Buenos Aires on MAP. Entre Ríos is a musical project led by Sebastian Carreras (vocals, keyboards, guitar) that has been around since 1998. Their first albums were recorded with Isol as the main singer, but since her departure in 2005 they've featured different guest vocalists live and in the studio. Frontera is a MAP-exclusive premiere from their brand new EP that will be released in a couple of weeks, with Josefina Mac Loughlin on vocals.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Boy & Bear - Mexican Mavis
Sydney singer-songwriter Dave Hosking has taken a slight change of direction with his new outfit Boy & Bear. Releasing his first EP Marmalade Hill late last year, Hosking has decided to abandon the songs from the album (which I was still rather fond of) and start fresh, writing towards a more mature and original sound. Producer of the first EP, Andrew Macken, has proven to be a great collaborator with his intricate and almost narrative-based approach to the arrangement and production.

BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
The Name - Come Out Tonite
If I had to bet which Brazilian band could repeat the success of CSS on foreign lands it would be The Name. Assonance, their new well-produced EP, presents songs that could put them side by side with some of the greatest names of the post-punk revival of the 00s or the major bands of nu-rave scene. Come Out Tonite is here to prove it.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
Magneta Lane - Love And Greed
Magneta Lane were on the verge of world (well, Canadian) domination a few years ago, and then they suddenly vanished. They're back now with a new album, Gambling With God, but you wouldn't know it from the total lack of support the album is getting from both the band and their label. Nonetheless, it's a pretty outstanding release, and as songs like Love And Greed show, Magneta Lane could still conquer the world... assuming, that is, they want to.

CHILE: Super 45
Astro - Raifilter
Alongside electro-poppers Moustache, Astro (Andrés Nusser and Octavio Cavieres) is one of those noble bands cultivating the sound of acts such as MGMT or The Knife - just on the verge of the night spectrum of pop - acquiring a good combination of simplicity and a good dose of highly contagious fun for their debut album Le Disc Du Astrou. Following this trail, Raifilter is a song with a very special melody, the result of very intense arrangements as well excellent vocals courtesy of Nusser, who shapes a beach-like tune to give us a perfect excuse to have a neverending sound party.

CHINA: Wooozy
Loudspeaker - I Will Be Back
Established in 1999, Loudspeaker is the hardcore pioneer in Shanghai. This song is from the I Will Be Back EP released in September. You can download the whole EP here. Loudspeaker's new album will be ready at the beginning of 2010.

COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana
Hety And Zambo - Proud
Hety And Zambo are a duo with the capacity to get you on your feet and dance. The Kings of Creole, as everyone knows them in the dancehall underground scene, came together six years ago in the island of San Andres with one objective - to create good music with their own rhythms, writings and language.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
The Kites - Play
I stumbled across these guys on a MySpace cruise recently and was immediately charmed by their quite British-sounding pop-rock. The Kites may not be revolutionizing music, but less has been known to do it. Not least when it's this infectious. Get Play exclusively via MAP and then head to their MySpace page and check out the equally excellent Balloons.

ENGLAND: The Daily Growl
Jeremy Warmsley - Dancing With The Enemy
Rather than something new this month, here's an old favourite from one of my favourite British singer-songwriters, Jeremy Warmsley. It's from his How We Became album of last year. If you like this, he's got a free acoustic EP available via his MySpace and he's also fronting a new band Acres, Acres. Watch out for them.

ESTONIA: Popop
Antonina - Itsuyorimo
When Helene Vetik started to write music, she played on the streets to get some pocket money, started a high school punk-band that didn't last long and sang at cheesy corporate parties. However, it was when she began to record her old songs into lo-fi electro-pop that she teamed up with Zanduro (keyboard) and Mihkel Masso (guitar) to form Antonina.

FINLAND: Glue
Cleaning Women - Across The Void
From planet Clinus 1 robots CW01, CW03 and CW04 (subbing for CW02 who was lost in action) create industrial avant garde music using a wide array of instruments, some rock lines, a few jazzy beats and a lot of funky grooves. The trio has just released its third album, U, which includes some futuristic tracks that could form the soundtrack of a Philip K Dick novel. One of them is the instrumental Across The Void, a good example of the spooky atmospheric music these hygienic robots make.

FRANCE: ZikNation
Kitsch Device - Is This Home Now?
Kitsch Device is a group straight out of the Parisian scene who take us on a high. They first started playing as a hobby but they now scour concert rooms in Paris and are always a blast to watch for their style and professionalism. Is This Home Now? carries a folk-rock melody which will make you shake your head and tap the floor with your foot to the beat.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
Candelilla - #13
Candelilla is a female four-piece based in Munich. Their impulsive sound fits into no existing scheme - it varies from Dresden Dolls to Sonic Youth, from punky grunge to vanguard indie. Straight drums accompany the piano, a whetted guitar accents murky basslines, all highlighted by the staccato voices. #13 is the first single from their debut reasonreasonreasonreason.

GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
Giannis Aggelakas - Volta Sto Dasos
Psyhi Vathia is the soundtrack for a movie directed by Pantelis Voulgaris. It takes place in 1949 and tells the story of two brothers who fight in two different camps during the Greek civil war. Giannis Aggelakas, who was singer and songwriter of the legendary rock band Trypes, composes an emotionally compelling score drawing on traditional musical heritage. Sad, evocative instrumental melodies rich with contemporary elements coalesce with ethnic nuance that depict the era and echo the film's mood. Volta Sto Dasos ("Walk In The Woods") is a marvelous track that reflects the two elements of the movie - pain and hope - through the lament of violin and the serenity of the guitar.

ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music
Kimono - Black
Kimono is an experimental rock trio hailing from Reykjavik and Halifax, Canada. They have released three full-length albums, the last one in collaboration with Icelandic producer Curver (of Ghostigital). Black will be on their upcoming fourth album, Easy Music For Difficult People.

INDIA: Indiecision
Pinknoise - Dream Dream
Pinknoise is an experimental rock act from Kolkata that takes nu-jazz sensibilities and combines them with angular, guitar-driven rock. Dream Dream comes from a soon-to-be-released live DVD. It's the quintessential spacious, open jam that frontlady Jayashree Singh orchestrates with this band. With mid-song tempo changes and lazy atmospherics, it's a fun five minutes through slacker town.

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Santamonica - Bobsessed
Santamonica's album Curiouser And Curiouser was praised by the media as an eclectic mixture of pop, bossa nova, electronic and classic waltz drawing influences from Astrud Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and My Bloody Valentine to classic Disney soundtracks.

IRELAND: Nialler9
Band On An Island - Back Disco
The debut release from Kildare's Band On An Island, The Sound Sweep, revels in the details of hometown life, taking in nights by the campfire, love, drinking, getting into trouble, picking yourself up again and this cute nightclub-themed song featuring the vocals of Claire Prendergast. Combine these myriad of issues with the music - a mix of country, folk, raucous guitar music and heartfelt ballads - and you've got the essence of Band On An Island.

ITALY: Polaroid
Annie Hall - Morning News
It would be too easy to describe the sound of the Annie Hall as a Beatles influence revised through a folk sensibility. But this way you would overlook the simple fact that these songs are truly touching in such an immediate way. Annie Hall just released their second album and are now ready to spend the next months touring the country non-stop, as they usually do.

JAPAN: JPOP Lover
Sebastian X - Tour Star People
Sebastian X are an impressive Tokyo-based outfit with indie-pop and punkish leanings. Their brilliant debut album Wonderful World was finally released last week. The band, who don't use guitars, have catchy melodies driven by the cute pop vocal of Manatsu Nagahara.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
Pepepe (feat. Cyane) - Sleep With You
Here is a track from Pepepe's latest album, Roba Orgón de Plantas y Animales, released on the Poni Republic label. Pepepe is one of the monikers of Pesina Siller, a 21-year-old electronic musician and visual artist who was ranked among the top 50 in Radiohead's Reckoner remix contest. He's the kid behind various projects that show the multiple faces to his mystic persona, with sounds that go from dubstep to psychedelic folk. This song is full of clicks, cuts, lots of aleatory processing and a beautiful collaboration with Guadalajara's vocalist Cyane.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
Psychic Powers - Wellington
Psychic Powers are an international duo - Nik Brinkman is a New Zealander and Alejandro Cohen is from Los Angeles. The two collaborate on songwriting from opposite sides of the world via the internet. This piece of very 80s sounding synth-pop is about Nik's home town, New Zealand's capital city, Wellington - bringing together the local and the global in a way that seems purpose made for the Music Alliance Pact. The song has been released on 7" vinyl by US label Geographic North.

NORWAY: Eardrums
Kråkesølv - Privat Regn
Kråkesølv is a quartet from Bodø, a town in the north of Norway. They sing in their dialect and their music can be put somewhere between pop, indie and post-rock. The band have received much acclaim for their lyrics and the reviews of their recently released debut, Trådnøsting, have been very positive.

PERU: SoTB
Los Protones - Swinging Lima
Los Protones are an instrumental band formed in Lima in 2007 who play in a style that combines psychedelia, surf and garage-rock. Their self-titled debut CD was released in February 2009 by the Peruvian label Discos Gordos. It is an album where there are no words, although they're not necessary - the guitar solos are the universal language and the titles of songs such as El Desvío paint pictures that could easily relate to the soundtrack of our experiences.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Casino Royal - Casino Royal Deluxe
Led by Pedro Janela, Casino Royal are a quintet from Figueira da Foz, a town known for its sandy beaches and its casino built in the 19th century. Casino Royal create music that takes us back to a certain living by the post-war European jetset. Would you like your cocktail shaken or stirred?

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Silent Strike - 27
Silent Strike (Ioan Titu) is a 27-year-old electronic music composer and sound designer from Bacau. He is influenced by Aphex Twin, Future Sound Of London, Orbital and opened for Faithless and Bonobo. 27 is a little gem of electronic sounds arranged in an acoustic manner and it was released for his birthday.

SCOTLAND: The Pop CopThe Unwinding Hours - Knut The Unwinding Hours have quietly risen from the ashes of the much-loved Aerogramme and the early evidence suggests they're going to be every bit as wondrous as their former guise. All the ingredients are there - the gorgeously gentle pacing, the elegant orchestration, Craig B's yearning vocals. Knut, taken from their self-titled debut album due out early next year on Chemikal Underground, is a MAP exclusive sanctioned by the band and their record label.

SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...
Lunarin - Ariel (File Under Easy Listening remix)
Singapore is a small country, so we've formed a rather close-knit bunch of musicians and friends. One such collaboration between friends happens to be The Lard Brothers' remix of Lunarin's Ariel. While a relatively new group, The Lard Brothers have been busy making waves spinning as a DJ group and religiously reworking many classic songs by Singaporean bands. Their efforts don't go unrecognised with this trip-hop laced remix of Ariel by the melodic rock band, Lunarin, perfect for the monsoon season that's hitting our shores just about now.

SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
Die Heuwels Fantasties - Our Heritage
Die Heuwels Fantasties are an Afrikaans group, incorporating elements of many genres, from hip-hop beats, flat out dance beats, to rap and rock sounds. Die Heuwels Fantasties teamed up with The Soweto Gospel Choir, HHP and JR to produce a song for Heritage Day. The song is called Our Heritage and features Pierre Greeff of Die Heuwels Fantasties singing in English. All in all, it's a song with the message to celebrate our heritage and our unity as South Africans - artfully combining the many different cultural spheres into a feelgood track.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Playgirl - Happy Mania
Female trio Playgirl emerged in September with a retro pop sound from a time when James Bond was still played by Sean Connery. Inspired by The Pipettes, equipped with identical outfits and cute dance moves, Playgirl is currently the most adorable act to come out of Korea.

SWEDEN: Swedesplease
Madamm - Örnen
There's very little info online about this mostly all-girl group from Gothenburg. I was struck by the band's wanton energy and the loose nature of their songs. Örnen is a demo so who knows what its final shape may be, but I hope they retain the song's raw energy.

TURKEY: Reset!
Bon Mod - Chocolate Cheesecake
Chemistry is all there is to a band. After meeting about a year ago, the duo started working together instantly as Bon Mod. They take their love of partying and a reckless attitude to make indie, electro and disco-flavored songs. They are possibly the most exciting new band for the season ahead.

UNITED STATES: I Guess I'm Floating
People Eating People - All The Hospitals
People Eating People is the solo work of Nouela Johnston, previously known for her work with Pacific Northwestern act Mon Frere. Her self-titled debut LP is a blending of Fiona Apple's emotion with Regina Spektor's penchant for melody. All The Hospitals is a catchy tune - we'll see if Johnston can separate herself from the crowded female pack.

VENEZUELA: Barquisimeto Musical
Amigos Invisibles - Mentiras
Amigos Invisibles ("Invisible Friends") has been around the alternative/funk/pop local scene for many years. Their groovy rhythms and funny lyrics, filled with Venezuelan pop culture, made them legends in their country and finally got the attention of music lovers worlwide, touring Latin America, USA and Australia. They signed with David Byrne's Luaka Pop label in 1996. To celebrate their Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album, I have selected a song from that record, Comercial, called Mentiras.

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