Sweden's top export MISTY MONO above 

Opening this great album we have the excellent MISTY MONO from Gothenburg in Sweden. This sonic and emotionally charged duo deliver the superb dreamy Indie rock masterpiece " Oxygen".  The music meanders and grows with beauty while the powerful and emotive vocals deliver a very melodic and melancholy message. " Stop pushing needles into my soul" screams " Zandro Ruskedal the enigmatic lead singer in a Yorke/Bellamy fashion.  Misty Mono began when Zandro approached friend Jimmy Peterson and suggested they record some musical masterpieces. Well the result is exceptional. Think Muse crossed with Radiohead going to bed with Interpol. Proper guitar music with a dreamy leftfield feel that lifts the soul. Stunning. 

Blasting their way at us next we have the stylish energetic leftfield guitar band TINROKIT. This hot Edinburgh based 3 piece license the sonic garage pop bopper " Knives". The guitars and rhythm section riff , pump and bash while the vocals deliver the best decadent lyrics we've heard in ages. " You took too much LSD when you were just 15 " sings the very talented Scott Longmuir. TINROKIT formed in the summer of 2000 through an advert in a local music shop. Singer/Guitarist Scott Longmuir (24) and Bassist Paul Barrett (23) are the only 2 remaining members of the original 4-piece line up. 22 year old Andy Pirrie joined them on drums in Feb of this year after a bust up with the original drummer involving flying lighters and sore heads. They describe their music like this " "screwing someone's bird whose fella is built like a brick shit house and is due home at any second, but it feels so good that you couldn't give a flying f..ck, you'll take the risk!". Well worth it, Tinrokit are about Rock N' Roll and they rule the underground scene ." Knives" was actually the result of a drink and drug fuelled party where a friend took a bad trip and decided he was starring in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. He started chasing the band with a kitchen knife convinced that the devil had told him they were his next victims! Surreal, decadent and bashful.....welcome to the world of Tinrokit. You will never look back. 

Tinrokit pictured above 

the wonderful and boppy RUSTY SPRINGFIELD feature next with the groovy punk pop track " She's Gone". This great 3 piece band come from bath in the UK and consist of: Chris Mitch ( Bass/ Vocals), Mike Barker ( Drums) and Dan Bird on guitar. The very witty Springfields specialise in explosive bursts of fast guitar fuelled garage pop punk energy. The vocals are catchy, melodic and full of attitude.  " She's the North and I'm the south, She's laid back and I'm all mouth" sings Chris Mitch in a very cheeky almost early ants fashion. Excellent. Think The Strokes and The Hives cross bred with early Adam and the ants and The Buzzcocks. A good mix of retro and modern sounds that would sound perfect on every Indie disco turntable across the globe. They were recently featured in Q Magazine after supporting the Foo Fighters at a kitchen gig. Very cool, groovy, gritty but loveable as hell. Check out www.rustyspringfield.com for more. " She's the Beatles and I'm the Stones".

Appearing next we have the fast, furious and spiky INDIGO from London. They license the fuzzy Indie punk anthem" Identity Crisis". This top track is packed with energy and literally bursts out of the speakers and fills the room with excitement. The bass is driving, the drums crash and the vocals are extremely well delivered with anger, emotion and melody. There are hints of The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and early Manics crossed with The Who, The Jam and Oasis. A good mix of old and new sounds but one thing stays in common. THIS IS PURE ROCK N ROLL. The adrenalin fuelled Indigo are not just your average punk band. They have already appeared on ITV's Young, Gifted and broke and have had a song commissioned for a Mirador Films remake of Henry V. The full line up is: Rob West ( Lead Guitar) , Paul Offord ( Bass/ vocals), Dan Dare ( Drums) and Thom Pounds ( guitar/Vocals). Top sounds. Check out their website 

INDIGO in action below 

Appearing next we have new Salisbury based leftfield pop outfit ESQUE. They license the perfect proper pop song " Disco Thunder". This phenomenal song has a groovy wavering synth bassline, sexy drumbeat and shimmering guitars that touch the soul. It's like dreamy 70's disco crossed with 80's electro pop but with a modern twist. The vocals are exceptional and deliver a lovely pure pop song of the original kind. The kind of song that was written in the 80's when proper pop was cool. Think Tears for Fears crossed with Depeche Mode out for lunch with Roxy Music. The lyrics are of a sensitive nature " Start to go a little crazy and find those things in life, that really just aren't right" sings sensitive Andy Shickle in a Gahan/Gore-esq manner. The beat shudders to a halt mid song to reveal filtering modern synths but soon bursts back in with that unforgettable chorus. This is not rock n' roll it's pure excellent pop with a proper tune, thoughtful lyrics and a melancholy but uplifting mood. Now that's where music should be heading. A recent song of the week and deservedly so. Esque are simply the best. 

Wormbelly from the USA above 

Exceptional 5 Piece rock band Wormbelly who hail from Charleston, SC ( USA ) appear next with the classic song " Tell Me Nothing". This truly touching song starts off with lovely dreamy acoustic guitars and the most wonderful violins we have ever heard. This song is classic in all the sense of the word and grows from basic acoustic guitars to a huge mammoth and grand sound that is classy and very memorable. " Do not divulge anything to me, no secret is safe with me" sings lead singer Chris Patterson with emotion and lots of melodic strength.  Chris Patterson and Kevin Graham founded the group in 1997 and were shortly joined by pianist and visual artist GoGo. After their 1998 release Demolition Superprize and its follow up tour, the now seasoned original members handpicked drummer KC Hazelwood and bassist Todd Few to complete the line up. They then recorded the amazing and epic album " Guf" from which this gem " Tell Me Nothing" is taken. It was recorded with veteran producer John Uhrig ( The Eagles, The Ramones, Joe Walsh, Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones, Crosby, Stills and Nash) at Area 51 studios in Charleston. An exceptional song from an exceptional band and album. It sticks in your head and your soul and will help take this class rock band to where they belong. Excellent and classy right until the end where GoGo shows off his exceptional classical piano playing proving that this band are not just your average rock band but a band with serious musical ability and songwriting strength. The production also gets 10 out of 10. What more can we say. Check out their cool site also. 

The Hippified NIALLJAMESHOLOHAN above 

Floating into orbit next we have Dublin's wonderful, loveable and eccentric singer/songwriter " NIALLJAMESHOLOHAN". This very well travelled lo-fi acoustic master licenses the excellent flowery sing a long track" Unsigned Pretty Little Girl". Niall has been on tour all over Ireland, Europe and the USA and has a strong following. He even recently played to 40.000 people at an anti-war rally. Niall is not only a singer/songwriter but a protest song poet like Billy Bragg, Paddy Mcaloon and Terry Hall before him. His lyrics are clever, witty and inspiring but are delivered in a tongue in cheek manner. " The pseudo political cruel hearts of lonely men who fall between stools" . From the lo-fi beats, jangly acoustics, lovely high pitch backing vocals to Niall's warm voice , charm and charisma this song SHINES. It reminds us of The Colourfield " Virgins and Phillistines" era and is just simply lovely. Niall the poet deserves high acclaim. Check out his website. 

London's catchy THE MARIACHIS above

Staying in proper pop territory we have London's fabulous THE MARIACHIS. They license the groovy alt country pop track " Cinderella". From start to finish this song is bright, catchy, classic and poppy as hell. There are lovely strumming acoustic guitars, meandering bass hooks and sing-a-long harmonies that remind us of the Mamas and Papas crossed with the Beach Boys doing alt.country. Very Good indeed. The band was formed in Birmingham by singer/songwriter Richard Evans and guitarist Tim Marsden. They were then joined by Claudia Morcroft ( Vocals/percussion), Iain Harris( bass) and Henry Gwynne ( drums). " Running wild and falling down". This is what music should be about. A proper tune, good witty lyrics and a lot of catchy charm. Also watch out for those delicious slide guitar lines. Also, the wonderful ascending harmonies at the end of this song would bring a smile to even Morrissey's face. Pure boppy pop genius at it's best. A unique and warm traditional sound for the 00's. Check out this article on the Mariachis  

Hot new 4 piece THE DECOYS from Leicestershire UK feature next with the groovy Indie track" Let Your Love Come Over". This song moves and grooves the whole way through with a bluesy bassline and loads of really cool distorted and jangly guitar riffs. The vocals are strong and catchy and remind us of kelly Jones crossed with Ian Brown. Think the Happy Mondays having a late night jam with the Stone Roses and Reef but this rocks them all into the ground. This is proper old school Indie rock with a modern twist and is very catchy indeed. The full line consists of: Damon Perrins - Bass, Backing vocals, Chris Marczak - Drums, Blake Robson - Vocals, Guitars and Richard Osborne - Guitars . This great floor filler is perfect for Indie clubs nationwide. DJ's wake up. The Decoys are here.

Canada's decadent dark rock hero PAT VAZ from DAYDREAM NATION

Appearing next and moving across the pond we have the very cool DAYDREAM NATION. This super sonic dark pop band were formed by Indie guru Pat Vaz from Ottowa , Canada. Pat concentrates on Songwriting and vocals and is accompanied by Angus Mclachlin ( Keyboards) and Andrew Smith on drums. "Spread Your Love" is a dark bouncy leftfield gem with lovely distorted guitars and anthemic vocals that remind us of Jesus and the Marychain sipping cocktails with Echo and the Bunneymen, Fields of the Nephilim and The Cure. There is a lot of atmosphere on this superb alternative record and the vocals are massive and full of glorious reverb. The whole sound conjures up images of a late night decadent smokey dancefloor . Fuzzy and dark but also groovy and very danceable. In their own words this music is for " The morning after the night before, A soundtrack for the that spongy haze of the half drunk and the half-hung-over-netherword." Yes it has a dark 80's bedsit goth appeal but the sound also rises to new heights incorporating a modern twist but luckily with no bleeps. If you know what we mean. Pat and the Daydream Nation are the new pioneers of nocturnal pleasure beats and dark love songs. Excellent and all the way from Canada. The NME also love em " distorted impenetrable guitars, big fuzzy drums and lazily mammoth vocals." This great record is also out on elephant stone records www.elephantstonerecords.com . Also check out the official DN site. 

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