Aleks and the Ramps myspace/aleksandtheramps
Midnight Believer (Rhymemethod)

Featured tracks: Destroy the Universe with Jazz Hands, Whiplash

Australia’s been responsible for some pretty embarrassing musical exploits, but then a band arrives from across the tasman that blows your mind in such a cutely experimental way that you have to give those kangaroos some credit. Aleks and the Ramps is one such group, and having been told by everyone that they rocked the party at CALH 2009 which I sadly didn’t attend, I was none surprised to discover tracks like ‘Destroy the Universe with Jazz Hands’ (amazing title) rode waves of delicately constructed time signatures and acoustically based instrumentation, only to have beautifully melancholic lyrics sit atop. And you get a poster with the album (the artwork for this album rules)! And maybe you can sing such things like “there’s nothing cute about a girl that sits cross legged at the local book store” right back at them when they tour here again, ’cause they’re just from Australia right?
COURTNEY FLURO

The Family Cactus myspace/familycactus
Come Howling (Sony)

Featured tracks: In Transit, A Giant Flash in the Pan

To be honest I didn’t know what to expect from this album. Not to say that this was a pleasant surprise, but it really did impress me when I heard it the first time. One day recently whilst browsing through Real Groovy, like there always is there was a band on the stereo playing. “Aw choice this is pretty polished and good,” I thought to myself (one doesn’t have to edit ones thoughts as they come to them – yes, it was as uncomplicated as that). Low and behold – it was the Cactus! It was a fortunate experience with their music because they seem to sound better in a space like that which gives the music breathing space. There are some definite Neil Finn moments scattered throughout the album, but it’s obvious that this music isn’t trying to push the musical boundaries and is very competent in its genre.

Would go best: In an epic space – maybe a field where you can run around with 6 of your friends, or as a present for your Dad to keep him up with what’s new but not scare him too much.
MINTY FRESH

Cass McCombs myspace/cassmccombs
Catacombs (Domino/EMI)

Featured tracks: Prima Donna, Lionkiller Got Married

Cass McCombs is a singer-songwriter who spends his time between Chicago & New York. What I
first liked about the new album Catacombs was the drums, percussion loops & tempo shifts that creep up on you. Cass is obviously a man with something to say as the subject matter delves into the personal but is also likely to speak something relevant to everyone. Lush production, an amazing band and great songs make this a stand-out Indie release for 09.
DJ LOTION

Mos Def myspace/mosdef
The Ecstatic (Downtown Records / Rhymemethod)

Featured tracks: Quiet Dog Bite Hard, Auditorium feat. Slick Rick

Mos Def is on the top of my Hip-Hop MC list and since the first taste of this – Quiet Dog 2 months ago I have been eagerly awaiting the new release – ‘The Ecstatic’. This album is another chapter in the impressive career of Mr Def. Not a concept album as such but it definitely follows a theme of anti-Bush America. References to terrorism on planes, the war in Iraq and the breakdown of the US financial system. Featuring guests such as Slick Rick & long-time partner in rhyme Talib Kweli.
DJ LOTION

Bibio myspace/mrbibio
Ambivalence Avenue (Warp)

Featured tracks: Lover’s Carving, Fire Ant

I think this album should be called Schitzo Street. It goes from singer/songwriter type stuff to this hip hop type business – and that change freaked me out at first. Even the production quality varies between the styles. The songs range from traditional folky songs to tracks that use sampling and Mr Hayday-esque sounds. The more you listen to the folk songs, the more you can feel the warmth in them – a physicality in the recordings. In regards to electronic tracks – I feel rather unsophisticated in the area due to the fact that I have to listen to them in the context of this album.

Would go best: when you want to spice up your day with a bit of musical variety that is still pretty cool stuff to listen to… cool.
MINTY FRESH

Wildbirds and Peacedrums myspace/wildbirdsandpeacedrums
The Snake (The Leaf Label)

Featured tracks: There is No Light, Great Lines

This is the money for me this LP, you must buy this album. Swedish duo Mariam Wallentin and Andreas Werliin play minimalist drum-vocal indie-folk to eachother while discussing various world events, performing at jazz festivals and creating beautiful cover art and video clips. ‘There is no light’ in particular – you have to check out this clip – directed by Andreas Nilsson is this rapturously haunting jaunt through the extremes of female vocals and the ability for drumming to carry an entirely pop worthy track, all the while clad in burka’s with an equally minimalist camera style going down. They’re signed to a minor called The Leaf Label which is responsible for a couple of other great exploits (you can check them out and I think download a sampler if you sign up here). Do it!
COURTNEY FLURO

1995 myspace/1995band
Guilt EP (Isaac / Independent)

Featured tracks: Red Forest, Getting’ Brainz
There seems to be an overload of bands using numerals as monikers or track titles at the moment. 1995 hail from Auckland and despite the numeral thing, they have a unique sound & manage to pull off an original 5 track EP release. Imagine The Horrors mixed with Bailter Space and you might be close. 1995 have gathered quite a following in the City of Sails, which looks set to grow to other regions and then who knows? A long-player is promised before too long also.
DJ LOTION

Bachelorette myspace/bachelorettepop
My Electric Family (Drag City)

Featured tracks: Mind Warp, The National Grid

Vocally, Bachelorette sounds like an android angel who has smoked too much. The music drifts in and out of dream sequences, and sometimes THE MUSIC SWIRLS AROUND INSIDE YOUR HEAD (try listening to Mind Warp in headphones). The album ranges from simpler acoustic-y songs like ‘Mercurial Man’ which forefront the traditional guitar, drums and bass (although towards the end it sounds like a swarm of keyboard bees) through to the more epic songs like ‘The National Grid’ that use almost completely sampled sounds.

PS Bachelorette are probably one of the best live acts I’ve seen – she is currently touring with Pikelet in her backing band too – CUTE.

Would go best: in headphones to get the amazing swirly effect in Mind Warp, or whilst watching the iTunes visualiser.
MINTY FRESH

Discovery myspace/discoverdiscovery
LP (XL Recordings / Rhymemethod)

Featured tracks: Osaka Loop Line, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

So apparently this band was named so after Daft Punk and there are some obvious references and similarities, but really these guys are so fucking weirdly eclectic and all-over-the-place referentially that I don’t know if it’s a fair statement. The side project of one of the dudes from Vampire Weekend, it’s an ADD romp through the check points of both of his major outing, plus some overt use of auto-tune plus some at times cringe-worthy funk and regaee referencing, but at the end of the day you pull some tracks out of it going, wow, that was really fun, and yep, I could party to that. And I think that’s the point – pull what you like out of it and discard the rest, ‘cause there’s definitely some well produced, eclectic dance shit in there for everyone.
COURTNEY FLURO

MSTRKRFT myspace/mstrkrft
Fist of God (Dim Mak / Universal)

Featured tracks: Vuvuvu, Click Click feat. E-40

MSTRKRFT (said Master Craft) are monsters in the Electro realm. Formed in Toronto, Canada in 2005, the duo are known mainly for their HUGE remixes of every big name under the sun including Justice, Daft Punk, Chromeo, CSS, The Kills, Bloc Party & more. Their new album ‘Fist of God’ has not only a fantastic cover, but features an array of interesting guest vocals from the likes of Nore, E-40, Ghostface Killah, & Lil Mo. The MSTRKRFT production is in full effect and as you’d expect it’s subtle as a sledgehammer to the face. FAT!
DJ LOTION

Pie Warmer myspace/pyewarmer
The Fearsome Feeling (Lil Chief)

Featured tracks: The Motorway, I Broke All the Rules

I used to feel all weird about calling things ‘kooky’, but this album has it in bucket loads – in the best possible way! I mean just look at the cover – it’s not out to tell you anything in a straightforward way. It’s an endearing little album released on New Zealand’s charming Lil’ Chief records, and will satisfy your need for pop songs without the cringy ‘oh no she doesn’t love me anymore waaah’ type lyrics. A totally refreshing listen that has been lovingly constructed, with lyrics that might throw you but will still charm you silly.

Would go best: in a car ride to Auckland, or with a whole bunch of your friends at your flat who like to geek out about transgressive pop music.
MINTY FRESH

Jarvis Cocker myspace/jarvspace
Further Complications (Rough Trade / Rhymemethod)

Featured tracks: I Never Said I Was Deep, Homewrecker

Isn’t Jarvis Cocker just so god-damn cool and amazing. It kind of doesn’t matter what he does it’s always going to be awesome because he was in Pulp and he wrote ‘Common People’ and he now lives in France writing poetry and gangling around with his model wife and hangin’ at café’s and just generally being ‘arty’ but it’s not clichéd at all because, you know, he’s ‘Jarvis’. Luckily to top things off this album is full of musical gems too, in appropriately eclectic fashion, like ‘I never said I was deep’ which belongs in some divey-yet-classy (“I met her in a museum of paleontology / but I make no bones about it” – geddit?”) Las Vegas strip club, while ‘Pilchard’ and ‘Angela’ are off kilter equally as witty anthem-esque rock tracks. Swoon *Jarvis* Swoon.
COURTNEY FLURO

Who Made Who myspace/whomadewhomusic
The Plot (Gomma / Rhymemethod)

Featured tracks: Small Town City, Office Clerk
Who Made Who hail from Copenhagen, Denmark. They have toured with Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, Late Of the Pier & The Juan MacLean. With that in mind, the sound is not that dissimiliar to those bands. Electro-Punk, Post-Disco what ever you wanna term it. In any case WMW wear great one-piece suits on stage, maybe on their downtime too? The Plot is a collection of well-crafted Electro-Pop tunes with a slant to the wierd side. Wierd being great.
DJ LOTION

Speech Debelle myspace/speechdebellemusic
Speech Therapy

Featured tracks: The Key, Spinnin’

Speech Debelle talks to you like a spoken-word soul sister, although she ain’t no diva. Her music puts you in a really introspective mood, making you want to be able to approach new situations with an ability to be retrospective… So yeah, it seems like it helps put things in her life in perspective as well… SPECTIVE. This is an album about personal development – about dealing with people and hopefully growing from it with an ultimately positive and mature outlook. Musically, it drives along on the vocals, with rather traditional instruments (everything from violin to guitar to trumpet etc etc) in the sparse arrangement. Production wise the instruments are treated to a Hip-Hopification.

Would go best: on headphones on a long walk wearing a big puffer jacket, or sitting in your room where you can read the lyrics in the booklet along with it.
MINTY FRESH

The Dead Weather
Horehound (Third Man Records / Sony)

Featured tracks: Cut Like a Buffalo, Treat Me Like Your Mother

Did Jack White need another blues rock side project with already side-projected out members of bands including QOTSA, The Raconteurs and The Kills? Probably not. Is this an intriguingly sinister example of a band knowing exactly what they are and what atmosphere they want to create, and arriving to the fold as a fully- fashioned explosively good package? For sure. While individual tracks by White (Cut Like a Buffalo in particular) are standouts, the co-operative tracks (Treat me like your mother, Bone house and 3 birds) provide cornerstones of sinister blues for the aforementioned, and Mosshart’s crooning sexiness to slot within. Glass of red + starkly cold winters eve = haunting Horehound experience.
COURTNEY FLURO

Bonus picks!

Team Doyobi myspace/teamdoyobi
Orch.V (Skam)

Picks: Plastic Vampires, Re-dimensioning Shape Battles

Skam built itself through not giving too much away. Couple that with an audience that thrived on ’secret knowledge’ and *kaboom*: just add instant rabid fan-base. Besides Boards of Canada and the influence key members had on Radiohead circa Kid A, Skam continues to eke out a solid but low-key style of extremely square beat-making (to be played AT VOLUME). They’re never really in fashion, instead choosing to exist in a slightly alternate dimension where dance music is more about texture than pumping beats.

Team Doyobi are nerd mages with AUDIO-GRAPHICS skillz, more Commodore Amiga than Apple IIe. Chiptune/8-bit music culture has generally been about nostalgic recreation of game-type soundtracks but Team Doyobi go for the more interesting layer, a few thousand lines of code beneath. It’s like gifting a soundpiece to the underlying logic – they’re more about the colour palette than how Mario looks on the game screen. Team Doyobi want you to lan-party like its Space 1999!
RIDICULOID

Black Pus myspace/theblackpus
Ultimate Beat Off (Diareaharama)

Picks: In The Temple Tantrum

Ok, so it’s not on this album but the first track I heard from Black Pus was Down Da Drain, and I thought it sounded like We Will Rock You squeezed through a tiny fuzzy tube into a heavily distorted mic – just you listen and you’ll agree.

There’s just the three tracks on here, all of them quite brutal dinner-sized bites of slow rolling DOOM. It’s hard not to factor in Brian Chippendale’s (Mindflayer, Lightning Bolt) reported hearing loss as a reason for everything being quite so full on – maybe we’re just not hearing what he thinks we’re hearing – but it’s most likely because, as a solo project, he’s now one man where once there was two. Black Pus forms like Voltron and Brian just happens to be the head (with a pair of oversized fists using tree trunks for sticks).
RIDICULOID

Nisennenmondai myspace/nisennenmondai
Fan (Bijin)

Picks: にせんねんもんだい

Don’t know how or why but somehow Japan retains mystique at least a decade after everyone became an internet information whore. The popular idea that there are (supposedly) tens of thousands of unsigned domestic-noise bands in Japan is possibly qualified by the quality of what does escape beyond Japan’s borders. For sheer energy it’s hard to fault Nisennenmondai, an all-women trio exploring basic fundamentals of song structure through simple repetition. RELENTLESS drumming seems to be the key here, keeping slowly changing loops from going too far too fast. If I was going to a desert island and could only take two words with me to describe Nisennenmondai, I’d take ‘dancey Hella’.
RIDICULOID

Debruit myspace/dbruit
Cle de Bras (Musique Large)

Picks: Pouls (Daedelus Remix), Congo Whoomp

Favourite track here is actually the Daedelus remix of Pouls, overwhelmingly (dare I say it) wondrous, like, if wide-eyed Marina from Stingray had a track she liked to swim to in the year 2009, this would be it. It also happens to undercut Debruit’s entire project (this time around) as a superior piece of production to the rest of the album.

Debruit quickly hits a lot of similar notes to Flying Lotus or a less chopped-up Prefuse, and it’s only in the closing track that you get an indication of where his strength lies. Congo Whoomp is the best indication of what Debruit is going for, managing to put a little of the spotlight back onto himself with a great bouncy beat, squelchy keys burping all over the top – it’s super-friendly, smile-inducing stuff. Even then, the fact I hear the same stumbling snare from another Daedelus track Hours Seconds Minutes means I have either listened to too much Daedelus or Debruit just can’t keep himself away from such well-cornered territory. Still, recommended.
RIDICULOID