Ruby sins prove frustrating

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NEW Zealanders The Ruby Suns may have written some gems for their third album, Fight Softly, but then they've gone and polished them so much there's practically nothing left.
The group could be the greatest indie pop band to walk the face of the earth, but so much plodding electronica and computerised psychedelia and world music ornamentation is piled on top of tracks like Haunted House and Mingus And Pike, the listener hasn't a chance of knowing.
The results end up more like a poor Pet Shop Boys than a padded-out Peter Bjorn And John - with the rare chances that songs are given to establish themselves, such as the simple groove of Dusty Fruit, being the only glimmers of The Ruby Suns' previous promise.

Recommended Daily Allowance recommended

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ORCHESTRAL indie band Recommended Daily Allowance, whose line-up hits double figures with all their cellists and trumpeters etc. taken into account, have worked extra hard on this, their self-titled debut album.
This is because they recorded it, lost it, and then had to record it again - and I imagine they don't recommend doing that.
Lucky for us they did, because Recommended Daily Allowance is sublime morning music, which sounds like Gomez waking up.
In fact the Londoners have crafted a tasty effort well worth sampling.

Blog hog

THIS is just a quick post to say that if this site just isn't enough for you, the Not Pop Jukebox has kindly let me guest post over at their blog today.
Click here to read my musings on cover versions, such as John Lydon's Dark Side Of The Moon masterplan, and have a listen to my jukebox recommendations.
And if anyone else out there is brave or foolish enough to let me guest post at their site, please drop me an e-mail or comment below - I dare you...

Tinashe can

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SOUL newcomer Tinashe's Mayday EP, a prelude to a full album later this year, shows a lot of flair.
Sure, there's some faintly cheesy production here which brings to mind the computerised over-enthusiam of Frankmusik's music and the vocoder vocals of Mr Hudson, which means that the So Shifty Remix of the lead track ends up better than the original.
But the raw songwriting and vocal talents from Zimbabwe-born Londoner Tinashe on the likes of Mayday and Miss You mean the full-length may be well worth a look.

Featuring The Features

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IT ALWAYS helps to have friends in high places - the Kings Of Leon's own Jared Followill said of The Features: "They’re one of the best undiscovered bands in the world."
Crikey!
Now I can't possibly comment on that, as knowing what undiscovered bands sound like is rather like knowing what the sound of one hand clapping is, but I can say Some Kind Of Salvation isn't bad.
The Tennessee band are a poppier proposition than Kings Of Leon, who are releasing their second LP as the first release from their new label, and I would expect some of these songs to feature in a chart near you.
Because while they are muscling into a crowded marketplace, alongside acts like Local Natives and Cold War Kids, and while the album may not blow you away, there's a selection of singles in the likes of Lions and Wooden Heart to stake their claim as Princes Of Leon at the very least.

Tunng get lost in music

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EXPERIMENTAL folk band Tunng's new album is out on Monday - and you should be licking your lips in anticipation.
The folktronica on ...And Then We Saw Land, their fourth studio album, is rich with warm trad folk tinkerings and vocals skewed by subtle, thoughtful production and a wealth of unexpected instrumentation throughout.
And this exploratory streak is also shown in the group's disdain for traditional song structures.
As a result, despite the traditional basis of the sounds, the album is a meandering voyage of a listen, with the London-based band an intrepid guide to take you exploring down unexpected musical paths.

Here be Call Me Dragon

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IF CALL Me Dragon is the name of These Monsters' debut album, then my god you call it dragon.
Because the group is a snarling beast which roars out of the speakers with a thunderously huge prog punk sound and goes straight for the jugular, and no arguments.
Forget convention - the Leeds outfit are a largely instrumental act, with the tunes on Call Me Dragon led instead by a dogfight of riffing guitars and growling saxophone lines, which jockey for position over a brutal rhythm section which delivers extended pounding soundscapes.
It's an intimidating sound and totally compelling - in fact, These Monsters will blow you away like you're downtown Tokyo.

Kelpe a webslinger

LOUGHBOROUGH electronica act Kelpe has revamped his website.
He said: "My new website is now up and running. The old one was kind of hard to keep up to date but the new one will be maintained regularly-ish with news of some importance.
"If you like my music I'd appreciate if you'd sign up for the mailing list so I can let you know when there's something new coming out. Don't worry it won't be an overload of spam.
"There's a lot of free downloads there so I recommend you head there."

Sambass-a-bore

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SAMBASSADEUR, with these albums, you are really boring us.
Okay, maybe a bit harsh on European, the Swedish group's third LP, but hey, once I thought about that Ferrero Rocher advert I couldn't not write it - I'll try and be a bit more diplomatic from here on.
Because their twee pop sound does have some fantastic elements to it - such as the glorious production, with bathes the whole album with lush, dreamy orchestral arrangements and tinkling pianos.
The problem is this sheen is stacked on the foundation of the below-par trio of their over-enthusiastic drummer, their under-enthusiastic singer, and the relentless strumming of their rhythm guitarist who sounds like he's been salvaged from some '90s indie band like Lightning Seeds or Dodgy.
The result is that while Europe is a pleasant experience, it's doesn't even border on being interesting enough to be anything other than background music.

Tamikrest assured

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SAHARAN sensations Tamikrest, much like the successful Tinariwen, have made it their aim of bringing the Tamasheq culture of countries such as Mali, Algeria and Niger to the world.
And I have to say, it's a pretty new sound to me - with only the aforementioned Tinariwen to compare and contrast with.
And in juxtaposition, Tamikrest's mixture of Tamasheq music is a more youthful, more traditional take on the music of Saharan Africa, with less blues and rock influence than trailblazers Tinariwen, and more energy to the rhythms, as well as those distinctive throat calls - which I really wish I knew how to do.
As a result, to my Western ears, it's the more bluesy section in the middle of the album, the pick of which is the foreboding Aratane N'Adagh, I found the easiest to connect with, sitting here in snowy Leicestershire.
Thta's not to say I wouldn't like to become more familiar with these sounds - and now with a two pronged attack on Western ears, Tamasheq music could be poised for a boom over the next few years.

Knives are out

NEW material from the Young Knives will be showcased at new gigs announced today.
The local group will preview tracks from the forthcoming album Royal Sunlight at three gigs in Keele on May 6, Aldershot on May 7 and Leicester on May 8.
A band spokesman said: "I bet you have missed us, we have definitely missed you.
"We have been keeping our heads down and our noses clean in our Oxford studio and the next album is well underway.
"We can't wait to play you some new songs - these are the only dates we have planned for 2010 so if you like the idea of an intimate setting and a special preview of our new smash hit songs before anyone else then get some tickets fast."

Free Donut for every reader

NOISE merchants Castrovalva are set to release a new album We Are A Unit this April - and the album sees a new sound for the group.
The raucous grinding experimental sludge-punk of their previous self-titled release Castrovalva has been cranked up, with thunderous junglist drums and primal chanting thrown into the mix.
And you can sample the delights here with a tasty taster in the form of non-album track Donut.

Rabbit on form

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THE Winter Of Mixed Drinks sees Frightened Rabbit as emotional as ever - although perhaps anguished rabbit or tormented rabbit might be a more appropriate moniker.
Because every ounce of the Scottish indie band's third album is drenched in sweat and tears and feeling.
And since their breakthrough The Midnight Organ Fight the group's rock, with its subtle tinges of folk and even subtler hooks, has grown so big that I'm unsure whether the CD will fit in my rack.
As a result there's no room for any acoustic interludes here, bar the Man/Bag Of Sand reprise of the awesome Swim Until You Can't See Land - just draining epic after draining epic, with mournful vocals, marching rhythms and thrumming guitars, strings and organs.
So I'll raise a toast to The Winter Of Mixed Drinks, which sounds like a band in season - just lay off the spirits while listening to it or it'll end in tears.

The Hits and the pits

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IN MY last encounter with Lemar, 2008’s The Reason, I drew comparisons with the South American beast of burden the llama, because they’ve got similar names.
I know, I know, brilliant, wasn't it.
And judging by his greatest hits package The Hits, Lemar can still carry a tune with the best of them - he’s just been not given them enough.
Lemar’s vocals are impossibly good, with a husky tone and a diva-like ability to showboat - perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay Lemar is that he’s almost never referred to as a product of reality TV, he's grown into an artist.
The problem is that for every soulful It’s Not That Easy or If There’s Any Justice, there's a The Way Of The World or a Time To Grow - resulting in a patchy listen, about 50/50 you might say.

Classy video

THE video to Castle Donington's finest Late Of The Pier's new single has been released.
Check out Best In Class using your eyes below -

Eyeing up Polar Bear

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YOU really should keep 'em peeled for Peepers release next week - because post-jazz band Polar Bear's sound should have 'em out on stalks once more.
After their expansive, experimental and eponymous Polar Bear in 2008, the London group have put their blinkers on and crafted as honed a collection as their breakthrough Held On The Tips Of Fingers, which earned a Mercury Music Prize nomination in 2005.
Gone are the spacey sound effects and ten-minute inpenetrable freak-outs - replaced by tight grooves on Peepers and Hope Every Day Is A Happy New Year, frantic interludes like Bump and Scream, and evocative explorations like Finding Our Feel and A New Morning Will Come.
As a result, whether you're a purist or more experimental in your vision of jazz, Peepers is an LP that's worth a look.

Barrowman all on show

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DO YOU like musicals?
Are you a fan of John Barrowman?
No, I'm not questioning anybody's sexuality, the reason I ask is 'entertainer' John Barrowman's self-titled new album sees the 'personality' covering a selection of songs from the shows.
There are covers of tracks from Copacabana, Cats, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia! and more - although the only cover I'd like to see here is the final curtain fall.
Because these overproduced, pointless recordings are so cheesy they should come with a warning for the lactose intolerent - you can visualise Barrowman's smug face churning these out in the studio as you listen.
So basically, if you like musical theatre and Barrowman's smug face, this is the album for you.

Brian Dronestown

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THE Brian Jonestown Massacre, although led by one man, Anton Newcombe, have had more than 40 members in their 20 year run - so as you can imagine there's no shortage of ideas here.
In fact it's rare on Who Killed Sgt Pepper? to find two similar songs back to back.
Opener Tempo 116.7 (reaching for dangerous levels of sobriety) is bongo-led primal dance, followed by Tunger Hnifur's psyche rock, ambient in White Music, the soiled jangle pop of This Is The First Of Your Last Warning (Icelandic), and so on.
The problem with Who Killed Sgt Pepper? is that despite this inventive streak, most tracks have one thing in common - they all start off promisingly but become a dirge very quickly, adding up to a monotonous feeling overall.
As a result despite the album being a killer on paper, Brian Jonestown Massacre's latest just ends up poking and prodding you a bit.

Krystle shines

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ON THE evidence of Circles, up-and-coming act Krystle Warren deserves to be around for some time.
Because her laid-back singer-songwriter soul, which has parallels with artists like Ani DiFranco and Jason Mraz, is as assured as they come, if missing that killer hook.
But as confident as Circles is musically, the star of the show is without a doubt Missouri-born Warren's unbelievable voice - I defy anyone not to be shocked the first time they see her warm, fulsome Stevie Wonder-meets-Fink tones coming from her mouth.
From that point on, it's obvious to the listener that Krystle is a 24 carat talent.

Toro so so

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WITH Causers Of This, experimental pop group Toro Y Moi have been compared to Animal Collective and their critic-slaying Merriweather Post Pavilion.
I would say that's an unfair comparison - Causers Of This is far more enjoyable a listen than what was last year's most overrated release.
The LP, the first of two this year from the Carolina-based act, is a swirling, hazy psychedelic dreamscape of cut-up snippets.
There's hints of electronica, indie, psychedelia and more here, all swirled round to create something that, although difficult to get a grasp on, is original and intriguing and no doubt a taste of many things to come in 2010.