Same New Kelpe brilliance

LOUGHBOROUGH-spawned music maker Kelpe is set to release a new 7" single, Same New Era, next month.
But for those of you without a record player, you can enjoy the mind-bending video above.

Download Eve

TOMORROW sees Download Festival descend on Donington Park for 2011.
For anyone heading off tomorrow, or anyone there in spirit if not in body, here's the most comprehensive playlist of all the bands appearing that Spotify will allow.
Hail Satan, and have a lovely weekend.

Albums of the Almost-Half-Of-A-Year 2011

WITH 2011 barging recklessly into June already like a drunk in a moshpit, I thought I'd tentatively put out a longlist of possible contenders for Album Of The Year 2011 that have already been released.
Statistically, about half of them should be sitting in my rack or on my hard drive by now, surely?

• 40 Winks - It's The Trip
• And So I Watch You From Afar - Gangs
• Beastie Boys - Make Some Noise
• Fink - Perfect Darkness
  
• Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
• Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
• The Haunted - Unseen
• Icicle - Under The Ice
• Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
• The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
• Lower Than Atlantis - World Record
• Maybeshewill - I Was Here For A Moment, Then I Was Gone
• Max Raptor - Portraits
• Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
• Mr President - Number One
• PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
• Radiohead - The King Of Limbs
• Rival Schools - Pedals
• The Strokes - Angles
• Thursday - No Devolucion
• Times Of Grace - The Hymn Of A Broken Man
• Vessels - Helioscope
• Wagon Christ - Toomorrow (pictured)
  
• William Fitzsimmons - Gold In The Shadow

You can listen to samples of nearly all of these with a Spotify playlist I've compiled by clicking here.
And feel free to add your thoughts below - any corkers that I've missed? Are there any of the above you wouldn't touch with a barge pole?

Getting more for your money from Spotify

A LOT of you, like me, will have started paying for the privilege of using Spotify after they introduced limitations to the programme at the start of this month.
And I'm sure a lot of you, like me, want to make the most of the service now you've actually got your wallets out.
So here are some of the external sites you can use alongside Spotify to make the most - and of course, all of these work with the free version too, you skinflints...
FACEBOOK
Apologies if I'm running an egg-sucking course with this one, but hook up your Spotify account to your Facebook account and you can see what your friends and listening too, send and recieve tracks, and subscribe to their playlists. You can also add other users not connected to you on Facebook - feel free to add my profile to your player and drop a track or two into my inbox.
Also, while you're logged in to Facebook, join Sound Advice's Fan Page, cheers.
SHARE MY PLAYLISTS
If you want to find playlists, for any occasion, and fast, this site is also worth a visit - especially for things like Christmas and Hallowe'en compilations.
SPOTIMY
As well as compiling lists of lists of lists based on reviews of albums, the kind people at Spotimy spend each Monday putting together a playlist of all the week's new releases - an essential service in my humble opinion.
MORE TRACKS LIKE THIS
If you're on the hunt for new music, More Tracks Like This will take your song suggestions and find new songs based on the listening habits of Spotify and Last.FM users, and often throws up interesting suggestions.
LAST.FM
If recommendations are your thing however, you must, must, must be on Last.FM. Register for Last.FM, and the can then track your listening history in Spotify and other players and websites like Hype Machine, and provide you with personalised charts - see my page for examples - and more importantly recommend new music based on your preferences.
It's a goldmine, people, a goldmine.

Download top up line-up with new names

MORE new names have been shoe-horned onto this year’s epic Download Festival line-up.

The line-up has been released for the Jagermeister Rock Truck acoustic stage - including acts like Bowling For Soup, Skin and more in an intimate setting.

And elsewhere new bands have been revealed, including Slaves to Gravity, Obsessive Compulsive, Verses, Heaven’s Basement, Million Dollar Reload, Maiden United, Voodoo Johnson, Red White And Blues, Modestep, Don Broco, Kill 21, Fighting Wolves, H.E.A.T and You And What Army.

You can listen to a playlist of nearly all confirmed acts here.

Park up and listen to Driver Drive Faster

I KNOW this blog is pretty void of posts these days, but as reward for coming back just in case, here's a free mp3 for you all to enjoy.
Up-and-coming band Driver Drive Faster, of Manchester, are set to release It’s All Over It’s Everywhere ahead of their album Open House.
And they've been kind enough to offer up a free download of b-side Gravel Dents.
Grab it here.

A downpouring of bands for Download

WITH a career spanning over two-decades, New York’s hardcore rockers BioHazard are now confirmed to take to the stage at this year’s Download.
The band influenced generations as one of the initiators of ‘metal rap’, and will bring their New York cult metal sound to Donington.
After the success of their debut album All Our Kings Are Dead, and fresh from sell-out headline dates and touring with Bon Jovi and Lostprophets, UK rockers Young Guns are also ready to rock out at this year’s festival. They are joined by the mighty Skindred, known for their ‘ragga metal’ style mixing metal, punk rock and reggae.
Finnish death metal five-piece Children Of Bodom have also been added to the bill, who return to the UK to blast out some thrashing metal at Donington, and US punk rockers Anti-Flag, who are back on the cooler side of the Atlantic to heat it up at Download. Returning to Download for the second time is comedian Al Murray’s band T-34, as well as ex-Chiodos frontman Craig Owens’ hot new band Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (D.R.U.G.S.).
The hotly tipped LA heavy rockers Letlive, who Metal Hammer proclaimed as “one of the most important bands to hit heavy music in recent years” will jet in fresh from their US tour to get the mosh pit really jumping at Download. American metal heads Sevendust have also been added, joined by British melodic-hardcore five-piece Lower Than Atlantis and fellow UK metal quartet Deaf Havana.
In tribute to the legendary Ronnie James Dio, the Dio Disciples are also confirmed to take to the stage. Featuring members of Dio, as well as former Judas Priest vocalist Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens and former Little Angels vocalist Toby Jepson, the supergroup will pay tribute to the legendary rocker’s dynasty.
Other additions include US alt rockers CKY, German country & western band Boss Hoss, funk-rocker Dan Reed and internationally acclaimed Taiwanese rockers Chthonic. Instrumental desert rockers Karma To Burn also join the bill, accompanied by gutter rock’n’ rollers Dear Superstar, British heavy rockers Malefice and Scottish post hardcore six-piece Yashin.
Roadrunner Records’ thrash rockers Baptized in Blood will make a UK stop straight from the US to play selected dates including Download ahead of their European tour. They’re joined by the Canadian Nickelback protégé My Darkest Days, pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal Sweet Savage, Swedish rockers Royal Republic, US post-hardcore rockers Silverstein, the Metallica / Killswitch Engage influenced Skeletal Damage and indie pop punkers The Dangerous Summer.
Also announced are former Static-X frontman Wayne Static, heavy metal trio The Rods, electronic goth-metallers Houston, Belligerence, who will be performing material from their new self-titled EP, UK-rockers The Dead Lay Waiting, melodic metallers The Morning After, off-the-wall punk rockers Oaf and post-apocalypse style heavy rockers October File. Bringing their soaring melodies and epic energy to crowds at Donington are Starseed, joined by heavy rockers TRC and Envy of the State who return to the UK from a triumphant tour in the US. Returning to Donington for the second time are LA-metallers Rock Sugar, Brit punk rockers Blitz Kids and the fantastic Heights. Finally, the truly international Illuminatus bring their Anathema-likened progressive rock to Download, as well as Danish rockers Kellermensch.
As always, a full-ish Spotify playlist of all confirmed Download bands is here for your listening pleasure.

The Darkness to fall on Castle Donington

THE Darkness, Funeral For A Friend, Plain White T’s, Kvelertak, Framing Hanley and Hyro Da Hero are all more heading to Donington this summer!
“The idea of playing Download terrifies us,” Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins said. “We played in an early slot on the main stage in 2003 and we were frightened then.
"It's reassuring to know that nothing has changed”
“On a serious note it's the most rockest of festivals and the perfect place for us to begin the next phase of our journey.”

Skunk Anansie for Download Festival

GIMME some Skin! Another monster of rock has been added to the bill for Download Festival.
Skunk Anansie wil be gracing the Castle Donington stages with their presence, it was announced today.
A Festival spokesman said: "Right then campers - we’ve just gone and added Brit rockers Skunk Anansie to the Download line up – result!"

Seven more bands for Download

SEVEN more acts have been added to the line up for this year’s Download festival at the ‘home of rock’, Donington Park.
A spokesman said: "New kids on the block VersaEmerge, tipped to be the next Paramore (whom they share a label with) will be making their Download Festival debut, hot off the heels from the Alternative Presstour in America where they share the bill with Black Veil Brides, who are also playing this year’s Download.
"Gossip Girl and Hollywood actress Taylor Momsen will be bringing her rock outfit The Pretty Reckless to Download, following a Top Ten album in the UK charts (for 2010’s Light Me Up). Multi million selling US rockers Puddle Of Mudd, will return to the UK for the first time since 2002 to play Download for the very first time in their 19 year career, which hasseen hit singles such as ‘Blurry’ and ‘She Hates Me’.
"Roadrunner signings Times Of Grace, featuring Killswitch Engage guitarists Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel, and formerKillswitch vocalist Jesse Leach will perform, along with West Yorkshire heavy metal outfit Evile, who are now writing their third album following North American dates with the likes of Kreator, Overkill and Voivod.
"Having already played the Download Festival, plus toured with metal legends such as Slipknot, Slayer and Megadeth, Suicide Silence are to hit Download once again to showcase the new material currently being written for their third full length album, with UK hardcorepunk rockers Your Demise also returning to the fray to raise hell with this year’s Download crowds."
You can listen to all of the confirmed acts at Download with this Spotify playlist.

Let's Get Rocked! Def Leppard for Download

ORGANISERS of Download Festival have poured some sugar on this year’s event, confirming legendary rockers Def Leppard as third headliner.
The British band will line-up at the top of the bill alongside Linkin Park and System Of A Down.
A spokesman for the event at Donington Park from June 10-12 said: “Def Leppard are a global rock phenomenon with hit singles spanning an incredible three decades such as Animal, Love Bites, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Lets Get Rocked and When Love And Hate Collide.”
A further 20 artists have also been confirmed. These include Bring Me The Horizon, Disturbed, Down, Madina Lake, Black Stone Cherry, The King Blues, Bowling For Soup, Frank Turner, Trash Talk, Turisas, Loaded, Twisted Sister, Cheap Trick, All That Remains, Sacred Mother Tongue, Asking Alexandria, The Devil Wears Prada, Straight Line Stitch, Jameson Raid and Ghost.
You can listen to all of the confirmed acts at Download with this Spotify playlist.

Unholy smoke! It's the Anti-Chris Mix vol 1

HERE it is, the most fun you can have for an hour with your clothes on.
Hell, take them off if you want, I know what you internet surfers are like.
Anyway, whatever you choose to do for the next 60 minutes, let the superb Anti Chris Mix vol 1 be the soundtrack, a mash-up from London-based DJ Anti-Chris who was on the Kissy Sell Out tour last year.
You can listen below, or download and check out the full track list at Soundcloud here.
Anti Chris - Anti Mix vol 1 by djantichris

Wave Pictures return

WYMESWOLD'S Wave Pictures are set to return with a new album, Beer In the Breakers, on April 18.
The album has been produced by their friend and frequent collaborator Darren Hayman of Hefner and was recorded entirely live in one day at Hayman’s house in Walthamstow.
Singer David Tattersal said of the recording “We’d been enjoying playing together live more than ever on recent tours and simply wanted to record the band the way it sounds these days.
"When you do things live, you obviously sacrifice perfection in the hope that instead you will capture these kind of strange and glorious spontaneous moments that musicians create together, that no one could do on their own, and that you can only get with live performance.
"It was probably the happiest record experience we have ever had.”

Young Knives return

THE best ever band to have two-thirds come from Belton near Loughborough, Young Knives, are back with a new single and album.
The three-piece will releasing their third album on April 4.
Ornaments From The Silver Arcade, the follow-up to 2008’s Superabundance, was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Nick Launay, who has worked with The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Cribs.
And a new track, I Love My Name, was aired for the first time this week.
Check it out below -
Love My Name (radio edit) by helpmedarling

Albums of the Year 2010 revealed

NEWS just in - okay, three days ago - is that this year's Sound Advice Album of the Year vote has ended in a three way tie.

So this year's plaudits are shared between Bonobo's Black Sands, Four Tet's There Is Love In You and Kvelertak's Kvelertak.

All very worthy LPs, and all worth checking out, though for my money Bonobo just edges it.

To see the full shortlist you picked from, click here, and let's hope 2011 is an equally diverse and interesting year for music.

Let's All Dance with Barbie

CHRISTMAS, as you may have noticed by now, is coming.
And anyone struggling for presents for the pop princess in their life should check out the Barbie Let's All Dance compilation - I've already had a word with Santa and I can confirm my eldest daughter will have a copy of this stuffed in her stocking on Christmas Day.
As we all know, Barbie is one trendy lady, and her latest collection features tracks by some of the biggest names in pop - Alexandra Burke, JLS, Cheryl Cole, Girls Aloud, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and many more - and a bonus poster to boot.
'Tis the season to party, and Barbie's Let's All Dance will provide the perfect soundtrack until the kids have gone to bed.

Xmas Is Awesome playlist

'TIS finally the Season for decked halls, fattened geese and other such festivities.
So Sound Advice has put together a selection of Christmas crackers - a fine selection of cheese and altrernative Christmas choons - on Spotify to soundtrack the holidays.
Click here to have a listen.

Download Festival unveils Linkin Park as headliner

MORE monsters of rock have been lined up for next year’s Download Festival in Castle Donington.
Nu metal figureheads Linkin Park will headline at the festival, on at Donington Park from June 10-12, 2011.
Musician and film producer Rob Zombie will also be performing, organisers have announced, alongside System Of A Down and Avenged Sevenfold, who were both revealed last week.
Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington said: “We are very excited to be playing Download again next year.
“It’s one of the best festivals in the world and it’s always an honour to play in front of such a great crowd. We can’t wait!”
You can listen to all of the confirmed acts at Download with this Spotify playlist.

System Of A Down return to Download

HERE’S an early Christmas present for metalheads - the first acts heading to Download Festival in Castle Donington next year have been unveiled.
Armenian-American rock goliaths System Of A Down will be returning to headline one night of the festival, while metalcore legends Avenged Sevenfold will also be appearing.
A festival spokesman said: “You said it would never happen – well you were wrong, pal!
“The rumours are true – pinch yourself Download fans, because you ain’t dreaming – System of a Down are reforming, and are going to be headlining Download in June 2011.
“Result!
“This is now the third time that System of a Down have played at the legendary Donington Park site.
“SOAD’s heavily politicised brand of rock has seen them sell in excess of 20million albums worldwide, and the band are known worldwide for their tremendous live performances and unique sound.
“The band released five albums between 1998 and 2005, which spawned the singles and rock club staples Suite-Pee, Chop Suey, Toxicity, B.Y.O.B. and Hypnotize.
“Having been away for five years, this reunion at Download will be one of the most talked about events of the rock and metal calendar.”
A band spokesman said: “We are excited to announce that System will be playing some dates together in 2011.
“We have no master plan of sorts – we are playing these shows simply because we want to play together again as a band and for you, our amazing fans. We look forward to seeing all of you!”
You can listen to all of the confirmed acts at Download with this Spotify playlist.

Tasty offering from Simian Mobile Disco

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A NEW album from Simian Mobile Disco is a mouth-watering prospect at the best of times, but this first taster of their own record label Delicatessan will have you smacking your lips.
This is no slur on their exceptional oeuvre to date - I am a massive fan - but Delicacies steps away from the gimmicky, guest vocalist side of the duo.
Instead - much like the Chemical Brother's 2010 album Further - intense, heads-down, dark dance is on the menu.
Nom nom nom.
Pounding, engrossing, extended electronica pervades, making a sound more akin to Deadmau5 or even Autechre in style.
It's well worth getting your teeth into, and chewing until your jaws ache.