Feeling Bookish

An unpredictable and dramatic “big band song cycle about science and information”, Everything/ Everything, the 3rd album from Simon Bookish and his first worldwide release on Tomlab, represents a new departure for London-based composer Leo Chadburn. Though previous Simon Bookish releases have been informed by the sounds of digital synthesizers, Everything/Everything does away with them entirely to focus on live instruments.

Scored for an ensemble dominated by saxophones, brass, piano, harp and Farfisa organ, the album features luminaries from both the jazz and experimental classical music scenes. While this is almost certainly his most pop-oriented release to date, Everything/Everything, as its name suggests, finds room for moments of racing Philip Glass minimalism, lop-sided disco, expressionist cabaret, and even an eerie ambient interlude.

Think of Simon Bookish as the Tindersticks on acid or the Divine Comedy gone psycho. In any case, Simon Bookish is great left of centre pop that's utterly enjoyable and crazy. There hasn't been a good theatrical pop album like this in a while.

Download: Dumb Terminal

Woven Into the Fabric

A furious space-rock album of serpentine electronics and heavy atmospherics, Woven's new album, Designer Codes, marks a new chapter in the band's existence, as they head out into the new musical landscape an unsigned and independent band.

It's heavy stuff, similar to the Notwist or Deerhunter, and it's a great achievement for a band that's shaking off major label involvement. You can kind of think of it as Kid A in a not-really Radiohead sort of way. It's dark, eerie, filled with atmospherics and dark beats. It's not stuff to listen to in the dark especially if you're depressed.

Designer Codes will be released on September 23rd and is not the feel good hit of the fall.

Download: She Blows My Amplifier
Download: Prickly Pear

Victim of Friendly Fires

Friendly Fires, born of commuter belt boredom, are now one of the most exciting new bands coming from the UK. Last year, a super limited seven-inch, Paris, was judged to be the single of the week in both the NME and The Guardian.

Ed Macfarlane (vocals, synths, bass), Edd Gibson (guitar) and Jack Savidge (drums) met at school and formed their first band when they were 14.

Some facts about St Albans: the Campaign For Real Ale started there in 1972; it's home to the Royal National Rose Society; and a number of episodes of Inspector Morse were filmed there. In other words, it's suburbia writ large. Ed Macfarlane, Edd Gibson and Jack Savidge didn't really have much choice but to form a band.

Their song "On Board" is currently featured in a national TV ad for Wiiand the band recently played to packed houses in NYC and LA earlier this summer.They are just now confirming dates for an October/November tour supporting Lykke Li. Woo Hoo...

Download: Jump In The Pool

We Are The Sam Champions

September 2nd! September 2nd! September 2nd!

By now you’ve probably read the release date for Sam Champion’s sophomore bash, Heavenly Bender, a few hundred times or at least three. But the Brooklyn indie rockers threw us all a big curveball this morning. Effective immediately, the band’s North Street debut – in all of its skuzzy garage pop glory – is available for pre-release purchase exclusively at AmieStreet.com.

And better yet, for the next three days, you can snag it for just three bucks. Yes, that’s right, three measly dollars. And then, when Friday rolls around, the price inches up to four greenbacks until (one more time with feeling!) September 2nd, the album’s wide release.

So, yeah, long story short, Heavenly Bender costs sixty nickles for the next three days!

Download: Be Mine Everyone

What's That? More Twee?

Soda Fountain Rag fits in amongst the true spirit of indie pop; they are uplifting and write joyous music with sublimely subversive lyrics.

Soda Fountain Rag is 25 year-old subversive genius Ragnhild Hogstad Jordahl, a one-woman indie-pop phenomenon from Bergen in Norway. In 2007, Soda Fountain Rag released a number of sold-out DIY EPs in the US (Cloudberry Records) and Europe, which quite charmingly introduced her unique take on 21st century pop.

An anti-folk Nico fronting a garage Belle and Sebastian hybrid, she established herself as a compelling indie-pop heroine. In a sense imagine if Isobel was a bit less twee and a bit more angry and you kind of have what Soda Fountain Rag is all about

Her latest LP, It’s Rag Time, is released September 30th on Yesboyicecream!

Download: Angry Girl
Download: Don't Kill The Clowns

Hitchhikers Guide to Kino's Universe

Born in 1980 Ankara, Turkey at the same hospital as Joe Strummer to English and Turk parents, KiNo grew up in North London, where he was eventually educated in film studies in college. He moved to New York in 2001.

Map of the Universe is comprised of an album, a book and a future feature film. It is centered around the iconographic character "9" who discovers the ancient map of the universe.
The fusion of cinema, music and literature through anarchism form the riches of KiNo's inspiration that accounts for the epic, extravagant and innovative stature of the Map of the Universe as an album.

In this musical project, KiNo's collaborator is the highly respected sonic wizard/producer Jeff Blenkinsopp; the inventor of cutting-edge analog equipment. He has developed his unique production techniques while working with the world's leading artists over the years including; Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, The Clash, Kate Bush, T-Rex, Ian Dury and Vangelis among many others.

The album features 11 songs written, performed and engineered by KiNo. He plays all instruments (except drums, percussion, and horns) and sings. Produced by Jeff Blenkinsopp & KiNo.

It's pretty good British pop in a grand and sort of epic way. There's a tunefulness to the songs but it's still got enough of an indie pop punch to make you think Kino is the British Apples In Stereo if Guy Garvey was their singer or the other way around.

Download: Won't Do
Download: Vainglorious

Liz Durrett Is Outside Our Gates

Outside Our Gates represents a sonic leap forward for Liz Durrett. With Bachmann on board, Durrett’s once spare, acoustic downbeats have been supplanted by a more textured and diverse orchestra of sounds.

A virtual cornucopia of instruments are here, including (but not limited to) tiny nylon-string guitars, backwards electric feedback loops, pizzicato violins, plucky cellos, upright bass, wurlitzers, accordions, grand space pianos and marching drums.

Bachmann’s score somehow harmonizes these elements seamlessly to provide the perfect setting for Durrett’s near dream-state writings and softly unsettling voice. Additional performances by Vic Chesnutt, Brian Causey (Man or Astro-man?), Amanda Kapousouz (Tin Cup Phrophette) and members of Ham1.

Download: Wild As Them