I'm always game for art-pop that drenches in 90s alternative influence, especially with Stricken City vocalist Rebekah Raa. I think her voice alone commands the time-piece and style of my past playlists from when I was younger...definitely striking chords. I dig the huge wave of indie pop bands from the UK, but I dig Stricken City's slower approach to their sound. In early November, Kora Recs will be rollin' out their US debut, Songs About People I Know, with 2 bonus tracks! Check their myspace often for pre-order. In the meantime enjoy this track!

Pull The House Down

Also could this video possibly be any radder?

Labels: indie, UK

When exactly did the ukulele boom start? Was it Zach Condon and the charm of Beirut? Is it because it's like a guitar, but cuter? You can YouTube some of the most random ukulele madness these days - and I'm sure every swap meet ukulele salesperson is stoked over the youthful indie interest in these rad little strings. But who was doing it before all us kids thought about it? The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Since 1985! It's a group that started "as a bit of fun, but the first gig was an instant sell-out, and they've been performing ever since." Awesome - yet another rad thing that started in 1985.

Labels: UK, ukulele

What up y'all I just want to drop you guys a new mix that I got early this morning in an e-mail. Apparently this d00d DJ PopsicleStick Horse (no idea what that name means) is resident for a month on UK's Early Edition, London Radio. I couldn't find much info on him but his 37 minute mix has got the likes of Daft Punk, Justice, M.I.A., Cut Copy, Shinichi Osawa, etc. It's pretty rad stuff. You should host your own party tonight! Lob that mix in!

DJ PopsicleStick Horse - Early Edition Set 5.08.2008

Labels: dj, MIX, UK

5 Golden Years In The Wilderness is a special various artists compilation mix selected by Buzzin' Fly Records label owner Ben Watt. UK's Buzzin' Fly has established itself as one of the premiere labels rollin out crazy parties with their DJs, radio shows and of course spinnin' underground club, deephouse, electronica and techno wherever they're at. There's retro, lounge, groove, all mixed up in this beeezer. Up, Down, Foward, are the respective names of the CDs which each contain a unique blend of sounds and various artists of the past, present and future. This album will be droppin' in later June so be sure to get your copy! We're going to leave you with some promos so you can get ready for the release!

CD1 - UP
Ben Watt Ft Sananda Maitreya - A Stronger Man

CD2 - DOWN
Unity - I Love You

CD3 - FORWARD
Stimming - Kleine Nachtmusik

Labels: groove, house, lounge, UK

One of the best things about concerts is that if the music is pumping enough, everyone is moving, no one is worried about whether they look good. The music gets you moving, and keeping in time is effortless and fun. Does It Offend You, Yeah?, a crazy new UK electro outfit, brought fun to the stage in a pounding, mashed-up sound perfect for dancing.

Playing at the El Rey last night, the band took the stage just before 9 pm, the lead singer, a vision straight from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starting the crowd up quick, leading into a dance-happy and hardcore emo sound that blended perfectly. Devo-style beats met screaming, creating a sort of new wave hardcore. A cowbell was on stage by song 3, and the crowd screamed the lyrics back as a high school ballad of crushes turned synth-hardcore rocked the house. Synthesizers and drums kept the tempo up, the crowd on their toes, the drummer practically snarling in concentration, the keyboard/synthesizer trucking away. The second vocalist and lead guitar brought the emo, his beanie pulled down to his nose, swinging recklessly around and paying no mind to the mic stands that were falling into outstretched arms. Both vocalists played with giddy abandon, one shoeless, the other ending the set swinging his guitar over his head, each spending time on top of an amp to sing down to outstretched arms.

Dawn Of The Dead
Se7en

Followed by headliners Yo Majesty, the crowd waited in anticipation to see if one of the singers actually exposed herself, as one fan claimed was normal behavior for a show. Taking the stage close to 10:30, the women of Yo Majesty brought rap to the table at breakneck speeds, backed by a couple of very talented female break dancers who set the group apart.

Both at last week’s Coachella Festival, the fan base for each is growing, Yo Majesty solidifying a connection with their fans, and Does If Offend You backed by original songs and an obvious ability to charm a live audience, check out a couple songs from each and see what you think for yourself!



Epic Last Song (Lifelike Remix)
Muse - Map of the Problematique (DIOYY Remix)
Check out their YouTube page here.
Be part of their facebook crew!
Get You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into debut now!
Review+Photos by Laurel Robertson, Dasha

Labels: Dance, Electro, UK

David Skirving, founder of Camera Obscura left the band and was quick to start Scotland's California Snow Story, a more recent complete band including beautiful vox from Sandra Belda Martinez, Madoka Fukushima on the keys and Alan Skirving on the drums. The UK band's full length debut, Close to the Ocean, dropped last summer via Letterbox Records but I wanted to share some tunes cause I dig it's mega melo-dies very much. They also have an EP called One Good Summer that hit listeners ears in '02. One of my favorite songs is Future Perfect; it's just a very relaxing summery song. Get the album here. More on their myspace.

From Close to the Ocean
Future Perfect
My Life Is Only A Dream

From One Good Summer EP
The Only One That Matters

Labels: indie, UK

I finally got around to listening to this new album, and I uphold my feelings about how this is sweet summer indie rock. It's a pretty feel good album. Konks just dropped 2 days ago here in the U.S. and it's received some mixed reviews...come on why you gotta hate?! J/K! Everyone needs a little indie Brit pop here & there and it's pretty happy stuff! The Kooks, as you would have guessed, have a big "world" tour that's quickly selling out. You can pick the album up here. And we got two tracks for you, check them out!

Always Where I Need To Be
Down To The Market

Labels: indie, Pop, UK

More UK pop, it's non-stop! For some reason, more often than not, singers with accents, say from the UK, sing and it's as if their accents have temporarily disappeared. But I like the accents to be in the songs when they sing! I don't know particularly why. Okay enough about all that, we got new music from Letters From London! As mentioned before these guys play a dirty indie rock with catchy melodies. They're a good time, check it! They're also roaming around some shows in London

Little Vagabond
Sir Walter's Sunday Lemons

Labels: indie, Pop, UK

Estelle Swaray's new album Shine has some sweet tracks and of course American Boy has been stuck in my laptop on replay. This song is getting mad play and if you aren't sick of it yet, get it below! Estelle has been in the UK hip hop scene for a while now and runs her own label Stellar Ents. Her new album features biggies like Wyclef Jean, Will.I.Am, John Legend and Mark Ronson. Does anyone else feel like this UK thing is blowin up!? I dig it. English pop artists interest me for some reason. That Shine album will be out April 29th where ever dope records are sold. We also got an older track from 2004 called 1980. Enjoy!

American Boy ft. Kanye West
American Boy TS7 Remix
Wait Just A Minute (Just a Touch)

From the 1980 Ep
1980

Check out the videos!
I like Kanye with Estelle, just not with Daft Punk!

Labels: hiphop, UK

We got some more indie pop for you! For those who can't get enough, here's an awesome Brit pop, manchester rock london band. Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong is currently touring all over that U.K. land for 8 days straight nights with CSS and Kaiser Chiefs which show no signs of stopping; Beginning in mid January they'll be headlining towards the end of February which will include the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour. They're currently signed on with Vertigo Records who kindly boasts the likes of The Killers, Razorlight, The Rapture, etc. and it's definitely something to take note of. This band formed just last year as band former, Joe, decided to take his pop jams to the top! We're told their shows are nothing short of an intense hip shaking, limb flailing ordeal!

We've got two of their songs for you, and check out more here. Currently no full length yet, but it's coming!
Lucio States Fires
Tough Terrible

Labels: dream pop, indie, UK