Spherical Notions

Then The Moment Is Lost To The Sky

2012-01-24T00:34:00.000Z

I've never been much of a Jack Peñate fan and, truth be told, I tend to flee at the mere sight of mopey-looking-fellows brandishing guitars. But there's something about this new acoustic video from the London singer-songwriter that completely slays me.

One friend commented that the arrangement at the beginning is similar to 'Under The Bridge' and the moody simplicity of the visual certainly does conjure the spectre of the late Jeff Buckley, but I think my compulsion to replay this again and again is really down to Penate's soul-bearing delivery. Behold 'No One Lied':

More Than I Think You Do

2012-01-23T02:07:00.000Z

Another synth-inclined duo who have been blowing up my, er, earphones are South London's Alpines. Their signature 'night pop' sound sees frontwoman Catherine Pockson's sweet yet sonorous vocals offset against glacial electronic beats provided by keyboardist Bob Matthews.

Alpines are what I imagine the musical lovechild of Portishead and James Blake might sound like. Their last official release was in June 2011, but a new remix of Emeli Sandé's 'Heaven' serves as a timely reminder of their considerable potential.

More after the jump...

A lot of energy seems to be also invested into the band's aesthetic, as evidenced by the video for Cocoon and their fashion-heavy blog.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://soundowl.com/track/2l7j/emeli-sand-heaven-alpines-remix"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Download Emeli Sandé Heaven (Alpines Remix)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Download Emeli Sandé Heaven (Alpines Remix)

Drive by Alpines

Kissing Death And Losing My Breath

2012-01-23T01:00:00.000Z

Back from the dead like some zeitgeist-chasing zombie, I'm gonna try and start blowing bubbles again (as opposed to blowing Bubbles).

First on my hitlist is mysterious New York duo Ms Mr, whose Ghost City USA EP I've revisited quite a few times the past few months. Teaming synths, haunting female vocals and a taste for the macabre, it's hardly shocking that I've taken an interest.

More after the jump...

A charming cover of Patrick Wolf's 'Time Of My Life' is among the four track EP, which is available as a free track here, but the standout has to be 'Bones', which comes accompanied by a visual made up entirely of clips from the Jim Henson classic, 'Labyrinth'.

Bones from MS MR on Vimeo.

Ms Mr - Time of My Life (Cover) by tiedtotruths

Every Day's Like Talking In Your Sleep

2011-08-09T02:13:00.006+01:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, Kimbra is my current infatuation. I may not have done many posts the past few months but, rest assured, anybody who has crossed my path has had the 21-year-old New Zealand singer's musical morsels forced upon them.

Her debut album, Vows, is released next month but, already, she's delivered two knockout singles Settle Down and Cameo Lover, as well as winning the prestigious Vanda and Young songwriting prize, which earned her the tidy sum of $50,000 towards her work.

Kimbra - Cameo Lover (Official Music Video) from Kimbra on Vimeo.
Cameo Lover is currently attracting the attention of remix artists galore. My pick of the bunch is the slinky Shook remix.

Kimbra - Cameo Lover (Shook Remix) by Shook (Official)

Cameo Lover (Sam Sparro & Golden Touch RMX) by viceroyalty

Kimbra - Cameo Lover (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix) by viceroyalty

You Said That We Would Still Be Friends

2011-08-09T01:43:00.005+01:00

There's a new frontrunner in terms of my favourite song of the year and comes courtesy of Australian singer-songwriter Gotye.

Somebody That I Used To Know is strikingly original, both musically and lyrically, and blows Adele's Someone Like You out of the water in terms of this year's best break-up song, as far as I'm concerned.

The track also features the dulcet tones of my current obsession, New Zealand native Kimbra, and is deservedly sitting pretty at the top of Australian iTunes at this moment in time.

Read more after the jump...

I've Gotye's last album, Like Drawing Blood, on heavy rotation the past while and these are some of the swoon-inducing highlights:

Learnalilgivinanlovin by Gotye

Hearts A Mess by Gotye

Electra Heart: The Start

2011-08-09T01:18:00.005+01:00

Ms Marina and the Diamonds made a surprise return today with a new track, Fear and Loathing. Serving as an introduction to a new 'character' (Marina strenuously denies it's an alter-ego), the video depicts the first part of Marina's transition into Electra Heart.

The song itself is a stark ballad with Marina's distinctive vocals underpinned by waves of synths that swell and subside over the course of the track.

Read more after the jump...

It will be followed by a Stargate-produced single next Monday and, while Marina's insistence on passing her collaborations with powerhouse producers off as a conceptual exercise might seem a bit disingenuous, if it's on par with Fear and Loathing we'll put up with her claptrap.

Marina & The Diamonds - Fear And Loathing by ImFallingUnder

Gracious. The Spaces We Make

2011-07-05T22:25:00.004+01:00

Shot over 36 hours with a crew of two and a $500 budget, the video for Melbourne five-piece Snakadaktal's debut single Chimera is a thrifty delight.

The song is a festival-friendly slow-burner that reminds me of the best bits of Foals' Total Life Forever, embellished with vocalist Phoebe's feminine touch. Snakadaktal are all still in high school and are set to release their debut EP next month. The youth of today, hah?

Snakadaktal - Chimera

Take A Second Look And You'll See

2011-07-05T19:05:00.005+01:00

Mysterious Swedes Icona Pop have shed a little more light on their identities in their new video for debut single proper, Manners. Neon light, specifically.

After the track proved a source of mild blogospheric hysteria last year when was included on a Kitsuné compilation, it will now be released internationally on Mercury Records.

The other handful of tracks I've heard by them are all top notch, although Lyndsay wasn't entirely sold on their live show when she saw them in New York recently.

Free download of the snazzy Captain Cuts remix here:

Icona Pop - Manners (Captain Cuts Remix) by Captain Cuts

Top Rated by IconaPop

Give Her Up To The Gods

2011-06-17T20:45:00.008+01:00

This week has seen Cork play host to the inaugural Solstice Festival, an offshoot of the Cork Midsummer Festival.

As part of the festival, Dublin-based performance colective Come As Soon As You Hear have teamed up with the festival organisers to present Human Sacrifice, an evening of DJs, dancing and virgin bloodshed this Sunday 19th of June.

Kicking off at 10pm at Murphy's Midsummer Nights at The Spiegeltent, the event will see a pretty young virgin pay the ultimate price as a gesture of gratitude to The Gods for a bountiful harvest.

Dress to distress and don't forget your dancing shoes as DJs Conor Behan and Joey Kavanagh will be soundtracking the slaying with a palette of pagan electropop. Tickets available here.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

2011-06-09T11:43:00.004+01:00

A few months back, I raved about Bristol singer Florrie after I made a last minute decision to catch her playing in the intimate surrounds of Dublin's Academy 2.

Since then, I've had her debut EP, Introduction, on heavy rotation (it's available as a free download from her site here). Her electro-infused top shelf pop reminds of the better output of Girls Aloud and Annie and her novel approach to releasing her music, turning down label offers in favour of financing herself with the benefit of endorsements and corporate collaborations, is really intriguing.

A follow-up EP, Experiments, is due next week. I wasn't entirely sold on the first track, the autotune-heavy Begging Me but, this morning, The Guardian posted a new track, Experimenting With Rugs.

A melancholy mid-tempo number, laced with delicious hooks and underpinned by Florrie's deft drumwork, it reaffirms my suspicions that Florrie is a pop messiah, come to save us all.

Experimenting With Rugs by Florrie

Begging Me by Florrie

Stuck On Repeat: Born To Do It Edition

2011-06-08T03:57:00.006+01:00

Mr Little Jeans - The Suburbs (Arcade Fire Cover)

SBTRKT - Wildfire (featuring Little Dragon)

Caribou - Sun (Pyramid Remix)

Hudson Mohawke - Thunder Bay

Logo x Icona Pop - Luvsick

The Weeknd - Rolling Stone

Get People - Away

Not That Happiness Is Dull. Only That It Doesn't Tell Well.

2011-06-08T00:32:00.005+01:00

I've started reading again recently, after a bit of a drought. My plan is to pester friends and family for their favourite books and attempt to read a book a week over the summer. At the moment, I'm reading Strange Pilgrims by Gabriel García Márquez, as suggested by my sister, but if I run out of suggestions I'd like to revisit Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin at some point.

A macabre tale that centres on a woman's strained relationship with her eldest son, the book is one of my all-time favourites and I'm really excited about the imminent film adaptation starring Tilda Swinton.

It's not being released until September, but reports from its recent premiere at Cannes have been overwhelmingly positive and, after watching the teaser trailers, I'm near convinced that this is going to be the movie event of 2011.

South By South West

2011-06-03T15:10:00.003+01:00

Come As Soon As You Hear, the creative collective/pack of dossers I'm involved in, are very excited to announce our involvement in Solstice, a brand new initiative being run as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival this month.

The mini festival, organised by four young arts enthusiasts, will run from the 16th to the 19th of June and will showcase work by over 150 emerging artists in the fields of music, dance, theatre and visual art descend. Transforming the Old FAS Building in the heart of Cork city into a pop-up venue, Solstice will include over 30 performances and will run from 10am to 10pm each day.

We will be debuting a new show, Spurt, devised by Karl Watson and Dan Colley, as well as helping to liven up the festival's top secret closing party with something we've been working on for a few weeks. Check out the full programme here.

Solstice is an exciting new venture and, if you fancy doing your bit to help with proceedings, you can donate to their current Fund It campaign here.

Solstice from Solstice on Vimeo.

Stuck On Repeat: Arc Of Motion Edition

2011-05-17T00:06:00.005+01:00

Chet Faker - No Diggity

The Naked And Famous - Young Blood (White Sea Remix)

Edwin Van Cleef - Lisztomania (featuring Jane Elizabeth Hanley)

Agnes Obel - Riverside (Lulu Rouge Remix)

White Panda - Steal Eastwood

Holy Other - Touch

Strange Talk - Climbing Walls

Spherical Notions Meets... Clare Maguire

2011-05-09T18:46:00.011+01:00

Ahead of her Irish television debut on The Late Late Show, Spherical Notions sat down with Clare Maguire for a chat about drunken audiences, the pressures of being the Next Big Thing and the Irish relatives that she didn't know she had.

SN: Hi Clare, how's it going?

CM: Good, thanks. It's nice to see you again.

SN: So, this is your third time back in Dublin in as many months. How did you find the Sugar Club gig?

CM: It was one of the best gigs ever. It was amazing when people stormed the stage at the end. When I was doing my soundcheck, I was like 'Oh, God. How's this show going to go down?' because everybody was going to be sitting down, but when I came out there were people standing all down the aisles, so it wasn't so bad. People were standing up by the end so it was kinda fun. It's a great venue. I really liked it.

SN: You had some family there in the audience, am I right?

CM: Yeah, I had loads of family there - family I hadn't even met before. There were people saying 'Hi, I'm your second cousin' and I was like 'Oh, really?'. Then I was getting loads of tweets afterwards from people saying they were related to me.

SN: Obviously, you've strong connections here in Ireland. How have you found the reception here?

CM: Ireland's my favourite place to come. It's my favourite place in the world. I'm really excited that the interest seems to be growing here as well. The Late Late Show appearance will hopefully be good for it too.

SN:Your new single, The Shield And The Sword, is one of my favourite tracks on the album and the new video is great. Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind it?

CM: The main part of the video ties in with what I wrote the song about, which is my experience of the music industry. It seems very glamorous but there's all this internal struggle stress that goes on with it. The performance scene is inspired by my love of Marilyn Monroe.

It's kind of what you hear on the album, in the sense that it's all very grand, but there's so much going on behind it. So, that's what I wanted with this song - I wanted it to be powerful, but it does still have that emotional aspect to it.

SN: What's the plan for the summer then?

CM: I'm doing T in the Park, Glastonbury, V Festival, Bestival, Camp Bestival, and some other festivals. It's weird because I've never done the festival circuit before and now I'm doing all the big festivals.

SN: We had Jessie J here at The Trinity Ball recently and she said afterwards that it was one of the worst gigs of her life and she was a bit shocked by how drunk people. Do you think your braced for the festival shenanigans?

CM: It's a bit bad that she's said that. I'll probably be the one lying on the floor, passed out! Nah, I'm used to big parties and lots of music and drink. I'm really excited for the festivals. The band and I were just talking about dressing up and making it really fun and exciting.

SN: What can festival-goers expect from your live show?

CM: If it was up to me, and someone else was paying for it, I'd make it a big massive show but, with the festivals, you're kind of restricted by cost. As long as you really involve the audience, make them part of it and go in to the crowd, that helps make it fun and exciting.

I kind of obsess over James Brown, watching him on YouTube, and I love how his band all have a particular movement, so I've been trying to get my band to do that. I just try to make it really colourful, young and poppy.

SN: There were some mixed reviews for the album. Did you find the more negative reviews hard to take, after working on it so long?

CM: Not really. I don't really read that many reviews but I knew it was gone and Radio 1 aren't playing The Shield and The Sword, which upset me a bit.

When I was doing the record, I was putting pressure on myself, over-thinking it and worrying about people not liking it, but since I put it out, I've just been concentrating on really are the people that do like it. The people that are tweeting me and Facebooking me and coming to the shows.

The critics who didn't like it, that's fair enough and I can see certain points they're making about it. The more my career develops, the more fanbase I build and the more music I get to create, I think they'll turn around and begin to realise when it is quite raw and you hear it live, it does translate well and it is growing really strongly. That's all I have to think about it.

SN: Do you think that being featured on 'Tips for 2011' lists puts unnecessary pressure on artists like yourself?

CM: When I was on it, I didn't feel too much pressure. Jessie J was top of everything, so everybody was writing about her mainly. It was just a release for me when I finally released the record. I was just so relieved.

The more I'm playing live and the more fanbase I get, the more I'm thinking that I just have to not be too serious about it. I'm in the music industry, I'm 23, I'm doing what I want to do. I just have to try and have fun with it.

If you surround yourself with people who just tell you you're amazing or Google yourself all the time, it's just going to play on your mind and make you negative. So, just surround yourself with people who tell you you're an idiot, have fun at your gigs, don't Google yourself, and you'll be fine.

Forward to 50:25 here to see Clare's performance on The Late Late Show.

Oh I've Been Waiting, Definitely

2011-05-03T18:01:00.008+01:00

I'm on a bus. With Wi-Fi. And sitting still for what feels like the first time in weeks. In my memoirs, I think I'll chalk this down as a triumph.

The icing on the cake is that the internet connection is allowing me to listen to Grimes, who I've been obsessing over the past few weeks.

Like fellow Canadians Austra, elfin beauty Claire Boucher is producing otherworldly pop with a glorious high-end sheen. Boucher's output is a little more sugary and lightweight than Austra's, but ensnares your attention just as forcefully.

Her Darkbloom split-EP with D'Eon is currently permeating the blogosphere, with lead single Vanessa garnering the lion's share of attention, perhaps in part due to the Chung-friendly visual accompaniment.

Grimes - Devon by Arbutus Records

Grimes - Vanessa by Arbutus Records

Grimes plays Whelans in Dublin on August 3rd. It's a date.

Where The Highs Won't Bring You Down

2011-04-28T13:27:00.011+01:00

"Normally people clap and cheer at this point," Lykke Li sniped, as she returned to the stage for her encore in Tripod, Dublin, last week.

She may be prone to prima donna behaviour but, with one of this year's strongest albums under her belt and a live show that more than does it justice, I guess she's entitled to have a high opinion of itself.

Wounded Rhymes is an album I keep returning to and discovering new favourites and there are a few great remixes keeping things interesting.

The Gold Panda remix of Sadness Is My Blessing pitches Lykke's lovelorn vocal against a glitchy lo-fi backdrop.

Lykke Li, "Sadness Is A Blessing (Gold Panda Remix)" by The FADER

Meanwhile, the Its Overture mix of I Know Places incorporates elements of Talking Heads' This Must Be The Place to superb effect. Doesn't it sound a bit like Miike Snow's Animal?

I Know Places (Its Overture Remix) by Its Overture

The new video for Sadness Is A Blessing is great also:

Got Plenty Of Fight Left

2011-04-28T12:50:00.004+01:00

Wicklow woman Roisin Murphy has teamed up with Dutch dance duo Mason for a new track, Boadicea, from their new album They Are Among Us.

Pulsating electro beats underpin Murphy's silky vocals on this mid-tempo number, which comes flanked by this pretty excellent video that exemplifies the merits of power naps.

Previous efforts by Roisin have largely failed to win over the record-buying public but the DJ set remain ever loyal and, accordingly, there are several decent remix of the track doing the rounds. Pick of the bunch for me is Polydor's slinky house remix.

Mason Feat. Roisin Murphy - Boadicea (Polydor Remix) by Polydor

Mason feat. Roisin Murphy - Boadicea (Human Life Dub Remix) by Human Life

Mason Ft. Roisin Murphy - 'Boadicea' (Evil Nine Remix) by Evil Nine

Stuck On Repeat: Disco Inferno Edition

2011-04-27T21:14:00.006+01:00

Aeroplane - Without Lies (Black Van Remix)

Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (Plastic Plates Remix)

Monarchy - I Won't Let Go (Bag Raiders Remix)

Phoenix - Lisztomania (Classixx Remix)

Mr Oizo and Breakbot - Penelope Dickstop (Faisal Remix)

CREEP - Days (Azari & III Remix)

Jupiter - Saké

Fluorescent Adolescent

2011-04-25T21:08:00.004+01:00

Neon Hitch's first single proper, 'Get Over You', didn't exactly set the world alight. It's a shame really because all of her bootlegs and guest-spots got my hopes up.

Thankfully, the original gypsy queen is not quite ready to abdicate her throne to make way for Cher Lloyd. She's teamed up with Benny Blanco and Santigold producer Switch for a new track, Silly Girl.

It's pretty heavy on autotune but the super-slick production more than makes up for this. It's exactly the kind track I hoped Beyoncé would come back with, and I suspect it's gonna help boost Ms Hitch's stock no end.

Neon Hitch - Silly Girl by NeonHitch

Local Heroes: Red Radar

2011-04-23T20:39:00.008+01:00

Hello.

The lovely people from Red Radar let me go back in and shoot another video with them. This time I got to recommend some of my favourite Irish music at the moment, including James Vincent McMorrow, Laura Sheeran, Fight Like Apes and Bipolar Empire, all of whom I've managed to catch live the past few months and was suitably impressed by.

Joey Kavanagh from REDradar on Vimeo.

I also gave a shout out to The Casanova Wave, who I recently caught supporting Go Panda Go, but sadly that piece was a victim of the cutting room floor.

James Vincent McMorrow - We Don't Eat (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix) by Adventure Club Dubstep

Jenny Kelly - Fight Like Apes by anhuber1@gmail.com

Take Me Where She Sleeps by L A U R A S H E E R A N

Here's A Daisy For Good Luck... by The Casanova Wave

Feel That You Own It by Bipolar Empire

Merrill's Streak

2011-04-13T20:15:00.006+01:00

Somewhere between 'swim with dolphins' and 'learn how to drive' (yeah, really) on my List Of Things To Do Before I Die is 'go to the SXSW festival'.

The annual music film, and interactive conference in Austin, Texas, has become one of the major platforms for emerging musical talent and reports from the festival can play a big part in making or breaking an up-and-coming.

The benefactor of some of the most superlative-laden reports this year was New England native Merrill Garbus, aka tUnE-yaRdS.

Armed with idiosyncratic layered vocals, clattering percussion and some gargantuan guitar riffs, has a similar energy to early Yeah Yeah Yeahs tracks.

The video for latest single Bizness is a blast and you can also stream her gramatically questionable new album 'w h o k i l l' over on the Guardian Music site.

Jump Hoops While I Set Them Alight

2011-04-07T23:06:00.013+01:00

I got very excited about Durham gal Hannah Yadi a few months ago when I came across her excellent song, Guillotine.

YADi - GUiLLOTiNE by Pop Culture Monster

Yup. Still excellent.

I hadn't heard much from her since and presumed she was cowering in a dark room somewhere, paralysed by the knowledge that she'd never craft a song quite as good as Guillotine.

Apparently not. A quick listen to her Soundcloud suggests that she has been continuing to churn out pop nuggets in the vein of Marina and the Diamonds and Kate Bush.

The tracks are all really solid and suggest that Yadi is going to be a pop force to be reckoned with when she starts releasing music. Pick of the bunch for me is Willow but please do check out the full selection.

Yadi - Willow

[Image: Jack Davison]

Adventures In Sub-Bass

2011-04-07T20:52:00.006+01:00

My first experience of dubstep was when Dublin Fringe Festival played host to Skream back in 2008. I had never encountered Skream or this wibbly-wobbly genre of music but, while selling tickets to people, I quickly realised that he was quite a big deal in certain circles.

Since then, the genre has spun up out of the underground and its influence can be heard on records by 'mainstream artists' like Katy B and Chase & Status. Heck, even Britney Spears has had a look in.

As a result, the tastemakers have focused their attentions on chillwave, moombahton and other suitably obscure genres. I was never especially in thrall to the genre, but occasionally there's still an artist that will grab my attention.

One of these is Adventure Club, whose Brand New remix I came across recently and was drawn to, despite not being familiar with the original.

Brand New - Daisy (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix) by Adventure Club Dubstep

Since then, the Candaian duo have transformed X Factor alum Diana Vickers and Irish folk troubadour James Vincent McMorrow into unlikely dubstep heroes with considerable success. An EP is on the way apparently.

Diana Vickers - Sunlight (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix) by Adventure Club Dubstep

James Vincent McMorrow - We Don't Eat (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix) by Adventure Club Dubstep

Ready Or Not, Here I Come

2011-04-07T02:29:00.004+01:00

Meet Blinky™, the creation of NCAD graduate and Oscar nominee Ruairi Robinson.

A young boy (played by Max Records of Where The Wild Things Are), feeling unloved and lost in the world as a result of his parents' constant fighting, decides that investing a robotic friend might be the answer to his problems.

At first, Blinky's arrival seems to have the desired effect, but the boy soon begins to have his doubts and things take a turn for the sinister.

Blinky™ from Ruairi Robinson on Vimeo.

All The Single Ladies

2011-04-07T01:14:00.009+01:00

A while back, I posted a Penguin Prison remix of Kimbra's Settle Down that I stumbled upon but, idiotically, I forgot to investigate the original.

Thankfully, Nialler9 posted the video for the track a few weeks ago and, since then, I've pretty much had it on loop and forced it upon everybody that's crossed my path.

Originally from New Zealand, Kimbra operates out of Australia these days. Her debut album, Vows, will be released pretty shortly but, in the mean time, there are a couple of cuts worth a spin. None are quite as devastatingly brilliant as Settle Down, but few songs are.

Settle Down by Kimbra

Cameo Lover by Kimbra

Kimbra - Settle Down (Penguin Prison Remix) by Lizmania

She Saved The World. A Lot.

2011-03-26T01:53:00.007Z

This is probably going to be the last post of this nature I make on the blog (more about that soon) but I just wanted to let any Dublin-based people know that the collective I'm involved in, Come As Soon As You Hear, are throwing one of our parties in the Twisted Pepper tonight (Saturday).

It's called Hellmouth As Soon As You Hear and, as the name suggests, it's based on Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

There'll be DJ sets from the eminetly talented Frankie Grimes, Andrew Bannister and yours truly. As well as some old-school Buffy classics, expect to hear some of the following:

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know (Frankie Grimes Remix) by frankiegrimes

Martin Solveig Feat. Dragonette - Hello (Eberhart's Sunset Love Mix) by Eberhart

Rebecca Black - Friday (Anal Filth Remix) by circuitbored

It's free in before midnight if you pop your name on this here guestlist. You nearly would.

Poster by Jacqui Ferns.

Les Animaux Dansent

2011-03-23T17:45:00.009Z

Fresh from their premieres of the new albums by Lykke Li and Oh Land, Hype Machine are debuting new material by another European pop femme, Yelle. The French electropop madame's new album Safari Disco Club is streaming exclusively on the site here ahead of its official release next week.

My limited knowledge of the French language means I have only the flimsiest of grasps on what she's singing about most of the time but that doesn't stop me enjoying her spiky concoctions. Pick of the bunch for me is the album's title track and the wonderful La Musique, which comes flanked by this excellent video.

Safari Disco Club by YELLE

Yelle - Que Veux Tu (Madeon Remix) by Madeon

Stuck On Repeat: Moment Of Impact Edition

2011-03-22T16:52:00.008Z

Mike Posner - Rolling In The Deep (Adele Cover)

Black Light Dinner Party - Older Together

James Blake - A Case Of You (Joni Mitchell Cover)

The Teddybears featuring Robyn - Cardiac Arrest

Icona Pop - Top Rated

Brand New - Daisy (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix)

Monarchy - I Won't Let Go

It Ain't Something You Can Synthesize

2011-03-22T16:17:00.006Z

Although the two were frequently mentioned in the same breath as artists destined for success in 2011, I'm still not convinced that Jamie Woon can impress quite as spectacularly as James Blake has done with his eponymous debut.

All the same, it's probably for the best that Hudson Mohawke opted to remix Woon's new single, considering how Blake has compared the art of remixing to 'musical prostitution'.

If this is the case, then Mohawke is certainly a high class hooker as his reworking of Woon's Lady Luck is an aural delight and, in my opinion, marginally more listenable than the original.

Lady Luck (Hudson Mohawke's Schmink Wolf Re-fix) by woon

Sky Ferreira: As If EP

2011-03-22T15:26:00.011Z

It's hardly a secret that I'm a big supporter of L.A. singer Sky Ferreira. Thanks to her poster-girl looks, wry sense of humour and distinctive voice, she earned the backing of some of the world's best producers and seemed destined for success.

However, after a disorientating string of releases that bore little or no resemblance to one another, her debut album was 'postponed' indefinitely from its January release date and the outlook began to look a bit grim.

Thankfully, it seems Team Ferreira went back to the drawing board for a change of tack. The result is the succinct but spellbinding As If EP.

Opening track Sex Rules, written by Billy 'Like A Virgin' Steinberg, sounds like a 21st century update of Vanity 6's Nasty Girl, with Sky crooning about the merits of carnal knowledge over a backdrop of skittery electro flourishes.

Traces, a dub-influenced piano ballad (yes, really) co-written by Neon Hitch, has been doing the rounds for quite a while in demo form but sounds much better in high quality and is probably the track that best showcases Ferreira's voice.

Haters Anonymous, immaculately produced by the inimitable Bloodshy & Avant, is a tongue-in-cheek attack on anonymous bloggers and internet 'haters'. An anthem for the Rebecca Blacks of the world, if you will.

99 Tears is a glitchy electropop number, written by Lily Allen collaborator Greg Kurstin, that echoes the vengeful ex-girlfriend sentiments of Allen's Smile.

108, another Bloodshy & Avant production, is an elegant robopop ballad in the vein of Sky's signature hit, One. Underpinned by cascading synths, colourful lyrics like "My secret lover is 108 / I know it sounds insane, it’s really ok / He's got a face that'll haunt you for a billion decades” are imbued with a quiet sadness thanks to Sky's deliciously deadpan delivery.

Sky Ferreira - 108

Lord knows I'm prone to over-excitement, but I genuinely think As If is on par with the best pop releases in recent years (Robyn's 2005 self-titled album springs to mind).

It's out today. Invest.

The Domino Effect

2011-03-04T15:36:00.006Z

Domino Records' latest protege, Austra, produce broody electronica that reminds of Fever Ray and Zola Jesus.

The project is the brainchild of singer Katie Stelmanis, who was a fixture on the Canadian indie scene before forming Austra with long-term friends Dorian Wolf on bass, and Maya Postepski as beat programmer and producer.

Their brand of gothic pop is currently a source of mild blogospheric hysteria, with mesmerising debut single 'Beat and the Pulse' and its accompanying x-rated video garnering the majority of the attention.

AUSTRA "Beat and the Pulse"

I like 'Young and Gay' almost as much. Here's hoping Austra pop up on the festival circuit this year.

Austra - Young & Gay by DominoRecordCo

Austra - Energy by DominoRecordCo

Live Review: Florrie @ The Academy

2011-03-04T14:36:00.006Z

Last week, Lou Bru came up trumps when she sourced me a last-minute ticket for Florrie's debut Dublin headliner at The Academy.

The as yet unsigned singer, songwriter and drummer is closely associated with Xenomania, the man behind most of Girls Aloud's back-catalogue, and has drummed live and on record for the (former?) girlband.

She released her debut EP, Introduction, last year (which is available as a free download from her website) and in a live setting, minus Xenomania's studio gloss, these songs hold their own remarkably well.

Florrie makes the same kind of lightweight but immaculately crafted pop that saw Pitchfork darling Annie, early incarnations of Sugababes and Girls Aloud salvage the genre's sullied reputation in the mid noughties.

Alternating between belting out high-energy numbers and thrashing on the drum kit, even the most po-faced gig-goers were shimmying and shaking by the time she wrapped up her short but supremely sweet set. Second helping: sought.

Florrie - Give Me Your Love

Florrie - Left Too Late

Florrie - Call 911 (Fred Falke Remix)

Florrie happens to be among a number of artists, Lou Bru and I discussed in a recent video for Red Radar. Check it out here:

Not Very Wise and Spherical Notions from REDradar on Vimeo.

Crossroads. Where We At?

2011-03-04T14:03:00.009Z

My latest musical discovery comes courtesy of my younger sister. Demonstrating a rather impressive example of sibling synchronicity, she had precisely the same reaction upon hearing The Dø's track, Slippery Slope, as I did - M.I.A. meets Lykke Li.

A pretty hefty billing, right? But the tribal beats, colourful lyrics and arty flourishes in the accompanying video all convene at a point somewhere on the musical spectrum between these two great ladies.

The French duo release their new album next week.

Lykke Li: Wounded Rhymes

2011-02-22T10:27:00.007Z

Lykke Li's sparkling sophomore album, Wounded Rhymes, has been made available for streaming in full over on Hype Machine.

The album's first single, Get Some, came as something of a surprise. With its pounding tribal beats and sexually-charged lyrics, it marked a clear shift from the lovelorn balladry of her debut. The tribal drums and harder sound are found throughout Wounded Rhymes, but lyrically, many tracks find Lykke in a more despondent mindset.

As their titles suggest tracks like Unrequited Love, Rich Kid Blues and Sadness Is A Blessing aren't exactly happy clappy affairs. I Know Places, meanwhile, is a downbeat highlight, with Lykke trilling earnestly over gentle strumming.

It's not all doom and gloom, however, and scattered among the ballads are more defiant tracks like call-to-arms Youth Knows No Pain and current single I Follow Rivers. Jerome, meanwhile, is a menacing lovesong with lyrics like “I'm screaming at nothing, Jerome. You've got me or nothing, Jerome.”

Wounded Rhymes is an accomplished album that should assert Lykke Li's place in indie-pop royalty and a welcome alternative to the identikit over-produced output of many of her contemporaries.

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes (Hype Machine Album Exclusive) by LykkeLi

Ehmmm...

2011-02-09T21:28:00.006Z

My video for TRTE, where I rave about Janelle Monae, is currently up on their site and will be for the next 24 hours. Check it out here

As you'll hear, in between me saying 'ehm' a lot, I managed to mispronounce the name of the abum. My bad. The studio lights got the better of me, I'm afraid. Apols, Janelle.

Meanwhile, The Red Radar site is beginning to get into full swing. My contribution, about how I inadvertently wound up in local band Bipolar Empire's music video for their new song is up here. Reckon you can do better? Well, I believe they're still on the lookout for contributors...

Party Ben - This Tightrope's Made For Walking (Janelle Monae vs Nancy Sinatra)

Galway Goes Green

2011-02-08T08:49:00.004Z

I've always been a major fan of the Heineken Green Spheres gigs, which have seen a host of top class international talent play free gigs in various locations around Ireland over the past two years.

Previous events have seen Miike Snow and Digitalism in Carlow, Foals and White Lies in Dublin, Passion Pit in Cork and Goldfrapp in Louth. Now comes Galway's turn and, on the 3rd of 4th of March, it will play host to a double whammy of gigs featuring Cut Copy, The Go! Team, and Holy Ghost.

Mercury nominees The Go! Team plus yet to be confirmed support will play Galway’s Black Box on March 3rd with Cut Copy, in their only Irish show of the current tour, joined by New York’s Holy Ghost! in Radisson’s Live Lounge on March 4th.

Christ, the exclamation marks are running rampage at this event.

As ever, tickets for the event are free. Simply log on to the Heineken Music website here for a chance for you and a friend to win tickets.

Cut Copy - Take Me Over (Flight Facilities Remix)

The Go! Team - Apollo Throwdown (Star Slinger Remix)

Holy Ghost! - Do It Again

Stuck On Repeat: Sting In The Tail Edition

2011-02-06T00:48:00.009Z

Plastic Operator - Singing All The Time (The Sanfernando Sound Remix)

Ellie Goulding - Lights (Wired Dubstep Remix)

Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em (Diplo Remix)

Oh Land - White Nights (Twin Shadow Remix)

Labyrinth Ear - Navy Light (4am Remix)

Clare Maguire - The Last Dance (Chase & Status Remix)

Kanye West - Monster (Kingdom's Nicki-centric Edit)

Sorry This Is Forever

2011-02-06T00:11:00.004Z

Paper Crows are an exciting new London duo who I posted about towards the end of last year. Their debut single 'Stand Alight' was the source of mild blogospheric hysteria and they're now following this up with a double A-side release next month.

Fingertips is a gorgeous slow-burner with singer Emma's vocals underpinned by a foreboding military beat but it's Follow The Leader that really tickles my fancy, thanks to the brooding post-dub influences, melodramatic lyrics and flourishes of strings. Game, set and match.

Paper Crows - Fingertips by Sainted PR

Paper Crows - Follow The Leader by Sainted PR

Just Another Hurricane

2011-02-05T23:22:00.006Z

Hot on the heels of Strictly Pleasure, comes another pop gem from Dublin pop prince James O' Neill, aka Bitches With Wolves.

Hurricane bears similarly high-end production to its predecessor and, with rumours abound of an even better track called 'Hercules' on the way, dare I speculate that an album might materialise this year?

Hurricane by Bitches With Wolves music

Diamond Standard

2011-02-05T22:24:00.006Z

Two new tracks from Marina & The Failures, I mean Marina & The Diamonds, have surfaced. Living Dead and Sex Yeah were initially thought to be demos from last year's The Family Jewels but, if Marina's self-sympathetic tweets are anything to go by, they are more likely demos of tracks from the follow-up album due later this year.

Both tracks are pretty great so it's understandable that she's upset they've leaked. At least she has this mesmerising performance of Shampain from RTE's current series of 'Other Voices' to be happy about, eh?

Marina and the Diamonds - Living Dead

Marina and the Diamonds - Sex Yeah

Red Alert

2011-02-05T21:08:00.007Z

Last Thursday, I ambled along to the Digital Socket Awards, a brilliant event organised by a number of Irish music bloggers. It was nice to put names and faces to a number of my favourite Irish bloggers and wonderful to see bloggers collaborating on a project that brings people together.

For this reason, it was a fitting setting for the launch of TRTE's new initiative, Red Radar. This new site is bringing together some of Ireland's most enthusiastic music and fashion bloggers under one URL. I'm delighted to have done a couple of pieces for the site, particularly considering some of my favourite online writers are involved, including Conor, Catherine, Angela and Louise.

Be sure to check out the site here and watch it grow over the next few weeks.

I Don't Notice A Change

2011-02-01T02:08:00.004Z

Remember circa 1996 when the question on everybody's lips was 'Who's your favourite Spice Girl?" Well, 15 years later (man, I'm old), I'm posing an equally divisive dilemma: Who's your favourite member of The xx?

Initially I thought mine was silky-voiced Oliver Sim, who I've always thought I would like to voice my inner monologue. Then Jamie Smith's remixes of Florence and the Machine and Adele led me to believe that in fact he was the brains of the operation.

Now comes Romy Madley Croft's rather impressive bid to hog the limelight in the form of her eerie collaboration with Creep on 'Days'.

CREEP (featuring Romy Madley Croft) - Days (Deadboy Remix) by hannahrad

CREEP featuring Romy xx - Days (Azari III Remix) by Hypetrak

At least I know it's not Baria.

I Don't Know About My Dreams

2011-02-01T01:46:00.006Z

James Blake's eponymous debut is already well on its way to being one of this year's essential albums. Although a tad too 'leftfield' to receive much in the way of radio airplay here in Ireland, it's gonna be interesting to see what impact his mesmering post-dub soundscapes have on the music world this year.

New single 'The Wilhelm Scream' now comes flanked by this visual delight:

James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream from Alexander Brown on Vimeo.

James Blake - Lindesfarne (live on BBC Radio 1) by MSFRQZ

James Blake - Limit To Your Love by TheDropFather

Local Heroes: Quarter Inch Collective

2011-01-22T15:29:00.007Z

Quarter Inch Collective is a Dublin-based record label that is poised to release Quompilation, which features 13 of Ireland's finest indie acts covering their favourite track of 2010.

The song selections are varied, ranging from international megahits like Rihanna's 'Rude Boy' and Kanye West's 'Lost In The World' to homegrown compositions like Villagers' 'Becoming A Jackal' and Squarehead's 'Fake Blood'.

My personal favourite is the blissed out cover of Twin Shadow's 'Castles In The Snow' by Sacred Animals, and I also quite like Kid Karate's rawkin' take on Tinie Tempah's 'Pass Out'.

Castles In The Snow (Twin Shadow) by sacredanimals

Kid Karate - Pass Out (Tinie Tempah Cover) by Quarter Inch Collective

You can hear the full set of tracks here. Quompilation gets its official launch at The Lower Deck, Portobello on the 27th of January, with many of the featured bands playing. Entry is €10 and includes a free cassette, as well as a free download, of the compilation.

Tornadoes, Moons, Bridges and Balloons

2011-01-22T14:23:00.005Z

Wispy dream-pop duo Muchuu are hard at work on their second album, the follow-up to 2009's 'Adventure We Go' but, to tide fans like me over, have assembled this swoon-inducing 'compilation cover' of sixteen of their favourite songs, entitled 'Tornadoes, Moons, Bridges and Balloons'.

The featured songs are:

The Smiths - There is a Light that Never Goes Out, Black Eyed Peas - Rock Your Body, Coldplay - We Never Change, Blonde Redhead - Magic Mountain, Rihanna - What's My Name?, Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone, CocoRosie - Noah's Ark, Jonsi - Tornado, Siouxsie and the Banshess - Cities in Dust, The XX - Islands, Beirut - Nantes, Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon, Joanna Newsom - Bridges and Balloons, Fragma - Toca's Miracle, Bon Iver - Skinny Love, Kate Bush - Army Dreamers

Take A Snapshot Inside Of My Soul

2011-01-22T03:33:00.005Z

After releasing a slew of genius mash-ups last year and, more recently, this 'collaboration' with Deadmau5, it seems travelling circus performer-turned-popstar Neon Hitch is finally set to release some music of her own.

Two dub-infused remixes of a track called 'Am I Dreaming?' recently surfaced and now comes 'Get Over You', the first single from her debut album.

'Get Over You' is a soaring pop-ballad produced by Benny Blanco and written by Sia and, although I'm not entirely convinced that this is the song to break her into the mainstream, those credits make me optimistic for the calibre of songmaking on the album.

Neon Hitch - Get Over You

Neon Hitch feat. Liam Horne - Am I Dreaming (Easy Does It Remix)

Neon Hitch - Am I Dreaming (ROBOPOP Remix)

But My Heart Wants So To Scream

2011-01-21T01:15:00.003Z

'Excuse Me' is a collaboration between Dublin-based performance artist Xnthony Keigher and media artist Patrick Hough.

Local Heroes: The Strutts

2011-01-16T01:13:00.010Z

Last week, I ventured along to The Pint on Dublin's Eden Quay to get my fix of live music. There was a clutch of great bands playing but my primary concern was to see four-piece The Strutts in action and they certainly didn't disappoint.

Delivering a rousing set of sprightly guitar pop, their performance possessed a warmth that goes some way to explaining the ardent breed of supporters they attract, but was also underpinned by a resolve to impress that hangs the right side of ambitious.

I can happily report that The Strutts' energy and verve, which serves them so well in a live setting, is equally present on their eponymous EP. Singers Liam Gardner and Daragh O' Connell's tuneful vocals are wonderfully complementary and it's little surprise to learn that they've performed acoustically as a duo in the past.

However, the addition of bass and drums affords them a fuller sound best felt in the latter half of 'Easy To Forget', which descends into an instrumental jam that's tailormade to set audiences busting moves on the dancefloor.

The Strutts' trump card is perhaps their knack for pegging down a catchy pop hook. Tracks like 'Down', where cascading harmonies are pitched against a backdrop of jangly guitars, remind of The Beatles' early material but more contemporary influences are felt elsewhere.

Gardner's snarling delivery on 'People Talk' is reminsicent of Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner, and this track for me is the standout on an accomplished EP by a Dublin band whose star is firmly on the ascent.

The Strutts - People Talk

The Strutts' eponymous EP can be downloaded from iTunes here.

Don't Just Walk All Over Broken Hearts

2011-01-16T00:45:00.007Z

Icona Pop are Stockholm-based electro fiends Caroline Hjelt & Aino Jawo. The pair are currently being touted as rising stars by trendy French boutique label, Kitsuné but, even if global domination eludes them, they've certainly conquered my affections.

There are sparse details about the pair, who are presumably pursuing that 'endearing' strategy of shrouding themselves in mystique, and I've only been able to track down a couple of tracks. Even so, I've heard more than enough to know they're very much 'my bag'. I'm particularly fond of 'Manners'.

Manners (Extended)

Still Don't Know

Icona Pop - Manners (Elof Remix)

Local Heroes: Bitches With Wolves

2011-01-15T23:08:00.012Z

Bitches With Wolves (aka James O' Neill) is someone I've posted about on the site before. As I said previously, James represents a breed of popstar of which we haven't really seen the likes since Samantha Mumba inexplicably 'pulled a Houdini' from the charts and our hearts.

The colourful costumes and high-energy performances are all well and good, but James's trump card is his flair for pegging down a contagious pop melody.

Last year, Broken Hearts became Bitches With Wolves' biggest hit to date and there's every chance that new single, Strictly Pleasure, will achieve similar success.

A fine slice of electropop that sees risqué lyrics pitched against stabbing synths and pulsating drumbeats, the track is sure to get an emphatic reception when Bitches With Wolves play Whelans, Dublin on February 3rd.

Bitches With Wolves - Strictly Pleasure

Bitches With Wolves - Broken Hearts

[Image: Peter Fingleton]

Local Heroes: Heathers

2011-01-15T22:17:00.006Z

Although their 2008 debut album, ‘Here, Not There’, made Heathers (Blackrock sisters Ellie and Louise MacNamara) darlings of the Irish music scene, it wasn't until their track 'Remember When' was featured in a Discover Ireland advertisement last year that their music began reaching a mass audience.

For their sophomore release, due later this year, the girls have expanded on the simple but effective formula of tuneful harmonies and guitar accompaniment to more intricate arrangements, adding percussion, electric guitars and cello into the mix.

I was lucky enough to catch the girls debut some new material at a gig before Christmas and can happily report that the new material is pretty special. A live version of one of the tracks, Find A Way, has surfaced online and is every bit as good as I remembered it being:

Here's another couple of tracks of theirs I really love:

Heathers - Margie

Super Extra Bonus Party featuring Heathers - Comets

[Image: Sara Devine]

Welcome To The Neighbourhood

2011-01-15T21:38:00.004Z

Over the next few days, I'm hoping to do a number of posts about Dublin-based bands. The Hype Machine recently revamped their site and applied various labels to each of the blogs they list and it got me thinking about the kind of music I post on the site.

One of the tags applied to my own blog is 'British' and, when I think of it, it's very true that I tend to post about a lot of UK acts, but rarely about the equally talented musicians I regularly encounter gigging around the fair city of Dublin.

The 'Local Heroes' series, which I hope to intersperse with (more regular) posts about artists from further afield, is my attempt at kickstarting a habit of sharing some of the glittering gems the Emerald Isle has to offer.

Should I fail, well I guess this post is going to look a bit embarrassing in a few weeks' time. If not, who knows, maybe The Gods of Hype Machine will consider bestowing an 'Irish' label upon my plot of cyberspace next time they stop by?

Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls

2011-01-10T02:24:00.007Z

Lykke Li's sophomore effort is shaping up to be quite something. First single 'Get Some' was one of my favourite tracks of 2010 and now comes another gem in the form of 'I Follow Rivers', which features more of the tribal beats and sensual delivery that made its predecessor such an intriguing listen, albeit with fewer references to solicited sex.

The track comes flanked by a disco-tinged remix courtesy of The Magician, which works surprisingly well.

Lykke Li plays Dublin's Tripod on April 16th. Book tickets here.

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix) (Radio Rip)

Yes, I've Been Black But When I Come Back

2011-01-10T01:19:00.010Z

To begin with, I was a firm supporter of Frankmusik and tried to force his early Frankisum EP release on anybody that crossed my path.

However, the majority of his releases since then have fallen short of that standard, with the exception of his excellent collaboration with Computer Club, 'Losing Streak'. When his debut album, Complete Me, finally surfaced, the magic from his early demos was strangely absent and the whole project seemed a little overcooked.

Earlier today, however, he unleashed his 'Long Live Frankmusik' EP, which you can download free of charge here.

The EP's four tracks remind me of the reasons why I first took to his music so enthusiastically and suggest that album number two might be the one that changes everything:

Frankmusik - Warrior by thebubbleboy

Frankmusik - Our Discovery (Tribute to Daft Punk) by thebubbleboy

This is an older track I stumbled across in my iTunes today. Probably not to everyone's tastes, but I kind of dig it.

Frankmusik - Rehab (Amy Winehouse Cover) by thebubbleboy

Here We Go Again

2011-01-10T01:06:00.002Z

Piggy Minaj, Coming Through...

2011-01-05T18:05:00.005Z

Kanye West's 'Monster' video, featuring an all-star line-up of Rick Ross, Jay Z and Nicki Minaj alongside several scantily clad corpses leaked online last week and didn't disappoint.

Better yet is this genius mash-up of the song to footage from Muppets and Sesame Street, with Piggy Minaj stealing the show.

Utterly. Obsessed.

A Dawn That Breaks The Spell

2010-12-28T16:43:00.006Z

Danish singer Oh Land has been the source of a mounting blogospheric attention over the past few months, and it's not hard to see why.

Combining the off-kilter Scandopop sensibilities of Robyn and Lykke Li with a voice that reminds me a little of Arklow's finest Roisin Murphy, Oh Land embellishes her live performances with artistic flourishes and is a former student of the Danish Royal Ballet.

She's been releasing music in her homeland of Denmark for the past few years but looks set to go global in 2011 after inking a deal with Epic Records following a rousing set at the SXSW showcase last year.

Two tracks from her recent self-titled EP, 'Wolf & I' and 'Son Of A Gun', have really tickled my fancy, and I look forward to hearing more from her in the new year.

Oh Land- Wolf & I (Live)

Sun of a Gun

Sun of a Gun (Yuksek Remix)

Sun of a Gun (Savage Skulls Remix)

Festive Fantasy

2010-12-28T15:34:00.004Z

Gorillaz served up a generous Christmas gift to their fans this year when they debuted a new album, 'The Fall', in full on their website.

While everybody was getting their knickers in a twist about this unexpected release, recorded entirely on an Apple iPad, Owen Pallett (the artist formerly known as Final Fantasy) quietly unleashed his own festive treat - a collection of demos & instrumentals from his last album “Heartland”

Although one of the tracks on the 'Export EP' is entitled 'Owen's Voice', none of the tracks feature vocals by Pallett. Even minus his dulcet tones, the tracks are still well worth a listen.

Owen Pallett - Export [Demo EP] by Owen Pallett

Owen was also recently responsible for scoring the New York Times' excellent 'Fourteen Actors Acting' feature, which paid tribute to the actors that defined cinema in 2010. Among those included are Chloe Moretz, Jesse Eisenberg, Natalie Portman and James Franco, but my favourite is Tilda Swinton, presumably included for her role in the wonderful, 'I Am Love'.

The full collection can be seen here.

Running Even Though My Mind Says No

2010-12-28T13:54:00.005Z

One of the best gigs I had the pleasure of attending this year was when madcap Icelandic troupe FM Belfast played at the ABSOLUT Fringe in Dublin.

During the Summer, I posted this remix by Copenhagen-based producer Brynjar Bjarnfoss of my favourite of their tracks, 'Underwear', and I've been meaning to post about Brynjar's own musical venture the past couple of weeks.

Kúra sees Brynjar teaming up with his cousin, Reykjavik-based vocalist Fanney Ósk Þórisdóttir.

Their names may be a bit of a mouthful but their brand of glacial electropop goes down nice and easy. Their Multicolor EP was released this month and it's provided the perfect soundtrack to my snowy incarceration the past few weeks.

Here are a couple of choice cuts:

Kúra - Gógó by Kúra

Kúra - Gógó (Lulu Rouge Remix) by Kúra

Kúra - Einstein by Kúra

Guinea Pig Hair In A Twisted Mouth

2010-12-26T14:19:00.012Z

One of my resolutions for the new year is to read a lot more books. Over the past few months, I've dedicated the majority of my reading time to hefty 'lifestyle magazines', so weaning myself off these will be a major coup.

If I'm allowed the occasional concession, I'll more than likely indulge in Wonderland Magazine, who always feature a nice pick'n'mix of emerging musicians in their interviews and photoshoots.

The current issue features Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius and this video of Mike crooning 'Lookout, Lookout', a delicate ballad recounting the Mary Bell murders, was recorded during the shoot.

In other Perfume Genius news, a studio version of 'Dreeem', which I posted about before, has surfaced. It's one of three new tracks that were added to his album 'Learning' for its recent re-release.

Perfume Genius - Dreeem

A second new track, 'Your Drum', can be heard here.

Stuck On Repeat: Silent Night Edition

2010-12-26T12:58:00.007Z

Ellie Goulding - Your Song (Blackmill Dubstep Remix)

Diamond Messages - Liquid Summer

Amadou & Mariam - Sabali (Miike Snow Remix)

Patrick Wolf - Time Of My Life

Wolf Gang - Lions In Cages

Neon Hitch featuring Liam Home - Am I Dreaming? (Robopop Remix)

Spark - White Christmas (Cover)

Can't Sleep. Presents Will Eat Me.

2010-12-26T12:45:00.003Z

I came across this brilliant video over on The Clink. Merry Christmas, y'all.

The Guessing Game

2010-12-16T14:57:00.007Z

Tips for 2011 are flying left, right and centre at the moment but, by virtue of the fact that the BBC's 'Sound of...' list compiles the predictions of over 150 music gurus across the UK, it's inevitably going to hold a bit more weight.

The past few years, the lists have been dominated by female-fronted acts, with Adele, Duffy, Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding, La Roux and Marina & The Diamonds all placing in the upper reaches. As such, it's refreshing to see so many great male artists in this year's shortlist.

Jai Paul and James Blake are two acts that I've posted about in the past and, with the right break, could conceivably convert their blogospheric hype to mainstream success.

Another act who, like both Jai Paul and James Blake, teams neo-soul vocals with electronic and post-dub arrangements is Jamie Woon. But whereas James Blake started out a more leftfield artist and has now begun embracing conventional song structures, Jamie Woon began as a singer-songwriter before gradually turning to the dark side.

Jamie Woon - You're Not Alone (Olive Cover)

Jamie Woon - Night Air (Ramadanman Refix)

There are of course the usual crop of indie bands, curveballs in the guise of dubstep-lite act Nero and grime act Wretch 32, and those pesky female fronted outfits.

The wispy Esben and the Witch could be a strong contender for a Top 5 finish, whereas big-voiced Birmingham lass Clare Maguire and spiky power-pop chanteuse Jessie J are also likely to feature in the final reckoning.

Clare Maguire - Ain't Nobody (Breakage Remix)

Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude (Hygrade Dubstep Remix)

The full shortlist is as folows: James Blake, Anna Calvi, Daley, Esben And The Witch, Jessie J, Clare Maguire, Mona, The Naked And Famous, Nero, Jai Paul,The Vaccines, Warpaint, Jamie Woon, Wretch 32 and Yuck.

There’s A Fire Starting In My Heart

2010-12-15T14:39:00.005Z

Around this time of year, music bloggers start squabbling about two things: who made the bloggiest albums of the year gone by, and who will yield the bloggiest albums of the year to come.

Three years ago, top of the list in the latter category was 19-year-old singer Adele, whose brand of 'blue eyed soul' was deemed most likely to be the next big thing. Sure enough, her debut album was met with critical acclaim and went on to shift millions of copies before earning her two Grammy awards, including the highly coveted Best New Artist award.

I never quite understood the hype and, although could appreciate that she was obviously talented, had her earmarked as 'not my thing'. These past few weeks, however, as morsels of her forthcoming sophomore album, 21, have been surfacing, I've found myself completely gripped by her music.

First came 'Rolling In The Deep', which the singer herself has described as a “dark bluesy gospel disco tune”. Pounding drumbeats and handclaps underscore the almighty vocal delivery and repeat listens draw you further and further in.

Next came the startling 'Someone Like You', a heartwrenching ode to lost love that sent shivers running down the back of my neck when I first heard her pitch-perfect performance on Later... With Jools Holland.

I've been fortunate enough to snatch a sneak preview of the album in full and can happily report that it is one of the first truly great albums of 2011.

The unsung hero of The xx, Jamie xx, put together this incredible remix of 'Rolling In The Deep', which although apparently will never see the light of day other than this poor quality rip, adds another dimension to my appreciation of the track.

Adele - Rolling In The Deep (Jamie xx Remix)

These are two fairly old remixes that I've revisited the past few days. Both great:

Adele - Hometown Gory (High Contrast Remix)

Adele - Hometown Glory (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix)

The Dog To Your Bone. Or Something.

2010-12-11T15:56:00.005Z

Continuing to deliver music every bit as intriguing as his name, producer and singer Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs has just unveiled the video for his latest track, 'Household Goods'.

I think I actually prefer the track to Garden, which has been a fixture on my playlists the past few months.

At one point sampling a Scottish gaelic choir, 'Household Goods' positively wreaks of 2011 and comes accompanied by a suitably bizarre video.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Household Goods

I've also been enjoying this schizophrenic 'minimix' he made for the woman with the career of my dreams, Ms Annie Mac.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Annie Mac Minimix

Stuck On Repeat: Rise And Shine Edition

2010-12-11T14:52:00.004Z

Deadmau5 featuring Neon Hitch - I Can't Behave Myself

The Bloodhound Gang - The Bad Touch (Prime Remix)

Rihanna vs Faithless - Only Insomnia In The World (DJs From Mars FM Remix)

Fugees - Ready Or Not (Cillo Remix)

Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude (Curtis Lynch Remix)

Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome (Sunday Girl Mix)

Sky Ferreira - Obsession (Disco Fries Remix) // downloadable

Exorcising My Demons

2010-12-11T13:55:00.006Z

Ok, here we go. I've invested a vast sum of money (about 9 euro) in obtaining the sphericalnotions.com domain name and I'm determined to resuscitate my poor neglected plot of cyber-real estate.

A band whose debut album I've been meaning to rave about the past few months is Fenech Soler, who I first encountered via their remix of Marina and the Diamonds' 'Hollywood' this time last year.

Occupying a point on the musical spectrum somewhere between Klaxons and Friendly Fires, the band's eponymous debut is laden with glittering electropop gems, doused in shimmering synths and spluttering drumbeats.

Opening track Battlefields begins with choral-like vocals before breaking into a frenetic dance-beat tailor-made to set toes tapping. Anthemic ode to self-doubt Demons sounds like the most likely candidate to grant Fenech Soler chart success, while contemplative piano-led track Stone Bridge offers a rare reprieve from the frantic pace upheld for most of the album.

The band's trump card is undoubtedly frontman Ben Duffy's powerful vocals, which is especially impressive in the upper register and sets the band apart from the slew of keyboard-toting electropop acts currently clambering for our attention. In truth though, it's hard to fault any aspect of this package and Fenech Soler is one of the most impressive debuts of the year.

Fenech Soler - Demons (Yuksek Remix)

A Good Disguise To Start The Show

2010-11-21T17:33:00.009Z

Self-proclaimed teen witch Sky Ferreira and her band of merry producer-type men are busy applying the final gloss to her debut album, which, if all goes to plan, will be one of the big pop records of 2011.

In the meantime, we can make do with her contribution to the recent Aeroplane album - a sultry disco-tinged number called 'Without Lies', with provocative innuendo-laden lyrics about how deceit helps keep life interesting.

Aeroplane feat. Sky Ferreira - Without Lies

There are also a couple of nifty remixes doing the rounds that raise the stakes a little. I'm particularly enamoured with the Black Van reworking.

Aeroplane feat. Sky Ferreira - Without Lies (Black Van Remix) by Black Van

Aeroplane feat. Sky Ferreira - Without Lies (Breakbot Remix) by thebubbleboy

Playing it By Ear

2010-11-11T00:41:00.002Z

I haven't really been able to keep tabs on developments in the world of music these past few weeks, but one source of mild blogospheric hysteria that hasn't escaped my notice is London synthpop duo Labyrinth Ear.

Breaking More Waves posted one of their tracks, Snow White, a while back, which cleverly transforms a sample from Disney's film of the same name into a blissed-out electro track. Just as good is laconic lovesong Navy Light.

Their debut EP is available as a free download here.

Snow White by Labyrinth Ear

Navy Light by Labyrinth Ear

While we're (sort of) on the subject of Snow White, have you seen Pogo's latest Disney mash-up, Wishery? Apparently The Little Mermaid is next on his hitlist...

Stomp. Stomp. I've Arrived.

2010-11-11T00:35:00.004Z

In light of the fact that I once forced a little known track called 'Tik Tok' on anybody that crossed my path, insisting it represented the future of pop, I'm a little more conscious about jumping the gun when hailing pop princesses-in-waiting these days.

However, with the gurning expressions of Nicki Minaj, styling that teams Rihanna's ghetto princess with the obligatory Gaga-esque flourishes, provocative lyrics á la Katy Perry, and a writing credit for Miley Cyrus's 'Party In The U.S.A.' under her belt, Jessie J certainly seems pretty perfect on paper.

I've been thrashing about my room to the Labrinth remix of her sass-heavy track 'Do It Like A Dude' the past few weeks and a video has now surfaced, which should secure Jessie plenty of airtime on music television.

Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude (Labrinth Remix) by PurplePR

Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude [Jakwob Remix] by PurplePR

You're A Good Dreamer

2010-11-01T23:55:00.005Z

Absolut Vodka's fervent endorsement of all things artsy is something I've always found a little... suspicious. Seemingly though, it's been going on for decades and is all above aboard. If you say so.

This 30 minute film movie, 'I'm Here', directed by Spike Jonze and (sort of) starring the dashing Andrew Garfield, was sponsored by the firm and makes for a pretty strong argument in defence of corporate sponsorship of the arts.

Parts 2 and 3.

Dropping Citric Acid

2010-10-30T00:13:00.008+01:00

Dragonette are one of those acts, like Robyn and Girls Aloud, credited with restoring the good name of pop music in the latter part of the last decade, after the boyband/girlband explosion that coincided with the turn of the millenium led to stigma so severe that pop purveyors were practically driven into hiding.

Even so, I never really 'got' Dragonette myself. Recently, however, a couple of their collaborations have caught my attention. First of all there was a track called 'Hello' with French producer Martin Solvieg and now comes a guest-spot on Don Diablo's latest release, 'Animale', which is 'right up my street'.

The track is accompanied by a brilliantly bizarre video about a young boy's toxic relationship with oranges. Behold:

I also came across this rather potent dubstep remix over on Sheena Beaston, which I suspect I'd rather enjoy after an orange segment or two.

Don Diablo featuring Dragonette - Animale (Datsik Remix)

We'd Look Like Revolutionaries

2010-10-29T23:44:00.008+01:00

"We are a lost generation, desperately clinging to anything that feels real, but too afraid to become it ourselves. We are a defeated generation, resigned to the hypocrisy of those before us, who once sang songs of rebellion and now sell them back to us.

We are the last generation, a culmination of all previous things, destroyed by the vapidity that surrounds us. The hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture so detached and disconnected that it has stopped giving birth to anything new.

Dawn breaks and the last of the after-after-parties begin to spill into the streets. The hipsters are falling out, rubbing their eyes and scanning the surrounding landscape for the way back from which they came. I take a look at one of the girls wearing a bright pink keffiyah and carrying a Polaroid camera and think, "If only we carried rocks instead of cameras, we’d look like revolutionaries.""

-- Douglas Haddow

Throwing Shadows On Our Eyes

2010-10-28T02:26:00.004+01:00

Perfume Genius's beautiful if slightly harrowing album 'Learning' has been a staple on my headsets ever since a friend recommended it a few months back.

Singer Mike Hadreas is currently touring the album and drawing all manner of superlatives wherever he stops off. He hasn't made it quite as far as Ireland yet but, rumour has it, he's due here early next year.

To tide us over, he's been debuting some new material on tour, including this characteristically heart-wrenching number, 'Dreem'.

Also worth a listen is 'Helpless', a beguiling cover of a track made famous by Mammy Kavanagh's favourite, Mr. Neil Young.

Stuck On Repeat: Fatal Footing Edition

2010-10-27T01:50:00.015+01:00

Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe

The Knocks - Dancing With The DJ

Phoenix - Listztomania (Shook Remix)

Mumdance featuring Esser - Don't Forget Me Now

Goldenbug featuring Esser - Never Stop Dancing

Marina & The Diamonds - Obsessions (Ocelot Remix)

Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith - Not In Love

My Life Would Suck Without You

2010-10-27T01:45:00.000+01:00

Blake Wright speaks the truth.

Like A Shotgun Needs An Outcome

2010-10-27T01:24:00.007+01:00

The new Lykke Li EP hit the web less that 48 hours ago but, already, it's totally permeated the blogosphere.

The Swedish singer's stunning debut, 'Youth Novels', had critics fawning over her lovelorn lullabies back in 2008 but radio stations and the record-buying public were less enthused by the material.

No harm though because, based on the initial reaction to these first two cuts from her sophomore album, Lykke seems set to make more of an impact this time around.

While heart-wrenching ballad 'Paris Blue' treads familiar territory, 'Get Some' marks a change of pace with its rhythmic drums and racy lyrics and makes for a more intriguing listen.

Lykke Li - Get Some

Lykke Li - Paris Blue

Both tracks can be downloaded for free here.

Exclamation Just For Emphasis

2010-10-27T01:15:00.001+01:00

"I love how she just spent the last year being the bird making loads of shit records worth listening to." - Celina Murphy on Nicki Minaj

Exhibit A:

Will I Am & Nicki Minaj - Check It Out

Although she has yet to release an album, 26-year-old rapper Nicki Minaj is the music industry's worst kept secret, recently breaking a record by being featured on a total of seven different tracks in the U.S. Billboard Top 200.

She hasn't quite permeated the public consciousness in the same way over here yet but I suspect that when her debut record, Pink Friday, is released next month, she'll be pretty inescapable.

In the meantime, I'll happily make do with this:

Birds Of A Feather

2010-10-25T14:22:00.004+01:00

I'm slightly in love with these Soviet-style posters for Darren Aronofsky's forthcoming ballet-based feature, 'Black Swan'. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, I'd suggest you get acquainted. Unfortunately the film isn't due for release her 'til February 2011.

(via Darren)

An Old Design That Can't Be Traced

2010-10-24T16:09:00.005+01:00

It's been fairly slow progress for Penguin Prison. His debut album, which was shaping up to be one of the best of 2010, is now destined to be among the cream of 2011 instead.

However, on the plus side, the New York-based singer has inked a deal with Wall of Sound to release his album in both Europe and Australia.

He's also premiered another track called 'Golden Train', which is up to his usual standards of brilliance and should tide diehard fans like myself over for the time being.

Penguin Prison - Golden Train

Penguin Prison - Golden Train (The Royal Palms Remix)

Win Tickets To Mark Ronson @ Heineken Green Spheres

2010-10-22T14:24:00.008+01:00

For over a year now, Heineken Green Spheres have been hosting kickass free gigs in various spots around Ireland, with the likes of Foals, Marina and the Diamonds, 2 Many DJs, White Lies and Passion Pit having performed.

They've just announced a free Goldfrapp gig on November 25th in Drogheda (find out how to register for tickets here). Before then though there's the small matter of Mark Ronson and the Business Intl at The Clarence Hotel in Sligo on Wednesday, October 27th.

The lovely folk at Heineken Music have kindly given me two pairs of tickets to give away. To enter, simply e-mail thebubbleboyblog@gmail.com with your name and the name of Mark's younger sister, famed for her rocky relationship with Lindsay Lohan.

If you haven't already seen it, check out the great video for Mark's collaboration with Boy George, Somebody To Love Me.

Bringing All The Boys To The Yard

2010-10-21T09:34:00.006+01:00

Come As Soon As You Hear have teamed up with the Forward/Slash boys for a night of mayhem at The Bernard Shaw, this Thursday the 21st as part of the Beatyard Weekender.

From 8 o' clock, we'll have a selection of New Volta Film Club shorts, curated by Bob Gallagher, as well as CASAYH's interactive performance, which features flower crafts, fortune-telling and Facebook photography.

DJs Frankie Grimes, James McLoughlin, Haido, Eimear Fitzmaurice and kDamo will be soundtracking the evening with all manner of blissed-out beats.

Hip-hopper Bob Glynn will be playing some tunes, the enigmatic Lobster Boy will be putting his claws to use by whipping up some visual delights and, to top it all off, we'll be marking International Day of the Nacho.

Bernard Shaw drinks promos? Check. Free admission? Czech. Go getcha some.

If you can't make it along to this, fret not. There's plenty more fun to be had over the weekend. A full listing of what's happening for The Beatyard Weekender can be seen here. I'm hoping to make it down to the all-new Toejam Mini Mall, a compact edition of their renowned Carboot Sale, to see if I can gleam some bargains.

Like A Waterfall In Slow Motion

2010-10-20T19:08:00.007+01:00

Press play. There's a handsome white man, walking around an apartment, plagued by gravity-defying fruit. He's crooning Feist's 'Limit To Your Love' against a backdrop of syncopated piano chords. His voice is pleasantly soulful and unmistakably English.

So far, so James Morrison.

But wait. Thirty seconds in, things take a turn for the brilliant.

This is James Blake, a London-based singer and producer. This fusion of indie, neo-soul and elements of dub is one of the best pieces of music I've come across this year, flooring me in the same way that The xx's 'Crystalised' did the first time I heard it.

It's the first track to be released from James's forthcoming album and, based on the unpredictable genre-hopping nature of his previous work, it's going to make for an interesting listen.

A New Kind Of Piece Of Machinery

2010-10-19T17:52:00.005+01:00

Spark has debuted the video for her excellent single, 'Revolving', which is being released on Neon Gold on November 15th.

The fact that the video's makers haven't done more with the lyrics about wind-up toys and mechanics strikes me as something of a missed opportunity but, simple as the treatment they've opted for might be, it works reasonably well.

Although it's not quite on par with the stunning Monsieur Adi re-working, I'm also quite enjoying the Warrior One remix of the track:

Spark - Revolving (Warrior One Remix)

You're My Favourite Daydream

2010-10-19T13:57:00.010+01:00

Twin Shadow was somebody I meant to post about a while back during the Great Blog Drought Of '10 but never got around to it.

I stumbled across his video for 'Slow' again today, a clever pastiche of these vaguely pervy Calvin Klein advertisements that were banned in the 1990s:

Real name George Lewis Jr, Twin Shadow produces tuneful retro-sounding ballads, with fuzzy synths and sturdy drumbeats serving as a backdrop to his winsome wailing.

His album, 'Forget', is ideal for soundtracking the more peaceful moments in the day and 'Castles In The Snow' is probably my favourite track right now.

Twin Shadow - Castles In The Snow

Puppet On A String

2010-10-19T12:12:00.003+01:00

As if naming his child after himself wasn't vain enough, Will Smith now seems to be grooming his nine-year-old daughter Willow to follow his career-path. With her brother Jaden (presumably named after their monther Jada) already a successful actor, Willow is now set to embark on a music career with the release of her debut single, 'Whip My Hair'.

The track is a delicious slice of pop/r'n'b with a snazzy futuristic video to boot. If she must be deprived of her childhood, I guess at least it's for a decent cause:

If you still can't shake the feeling that Willow is but a puppet in her parents' grand scheme for global domination, then this mash-up of the song with a Sesame Street video called 'I Love My Hair' might seem more fitting.

A Tale Of Two Singles

2010-10-19T11:54:00.000+01:00

I Blame Coco has been garnering some pretty harsh reviews for her debut album 'The Constant', with The Independent offering an especially scathing critique.

Having heard a preview of the album, I disagree with the majority of the criticism. Granted, there's nothing quite as earth-shattering as Caesar but it's an accomplished debut with scarcely a dud track.

One thing I do take issue with though is the choice of the next single. Initially, the excellent 'Quicker' was scheduled for release but, even after an accompanying video surfaced, a decision was made to release 'In Spirit Golden' instead.

I Blame Coco - Quicker:

I Blame Coco - In Spirit Golden:

One consolation for the last-minute single change is that we get some nice souped-up remixes of both tracks, with remix artist RackNRuin being made work overtime:

I Blame Coco - In Spirit Golden RackNRuin Rmx (96kbps) by RackNRuin

Quicker - I Blame Coco RackNRuin Album Version by RackNRuin

Don't Go Around Blaming Me For The Floor's Problems

2010-10-13T02:54:00.003+01:00

Very Mary Kate is back with an episode fittingly entitled 'Back'.

That'll do nicely.

Everyone Is Good At Something...

2010-10-13T02:03:00.006+01:00

For some it's eyebrow-grooming, for others it's producing deliciously sardonic cartoon strips. Natalie Dee falls into the latter category. I'm currently trawling through her extensive back-catalogue. Jackpot.

That Western Feeling

2010-10-13T01:23:00.009+01:00

It's approaching two years now since 'tastemakers' started harping on about two flame-haired ladies named Florence Welch and Elly Jackson.

It's been a long hard slog for both singers but, sure enough, both have enjoyed international success, most recently in the United States.

Florence's recent performance at the VMAs came close to breaking the internet Jacko-style, catapulting her album 'Lungs' into the Billboard Top 20, while Elly Jackson of La Roux has attracted the attention of none other than Kanye West.

Elly and her mysterious music-making partner Ben Langmaid will be featured on his forthcoming album and he has re-swizzed their forthcoming U.S. single 'In For The Kill'.

La Roux - "In For The Kill" (Remix f/ Kanye West)

Poor, poor Little Boots.

Cold As Ice Cream But Still As Sweet

2010-10-13T00:47:00.004+01:00

Sunday Girl is showing little sign of surrendering her claim to this year's Most Remixable Lady In Pop award. It's a highly coveted title, with previous winners including the likes of Ellie Goulding and Lykke Li.

Her latest endeavour is a track called 'Stop Hey'. Based on the snippets I can hear here, the track itself sounds is passable if not a little dull. The Rusko remix, however, is swoon-inducingly brilliant and, tellingly, is the subject of its own music video.

As much as I have the souped-up remixes of her singles to the originals, I do, however, quite like this pared-down version of Ke$ha's 'Tik Tok' that Sheena Beaston recently posted:

Sunday Girl - Tik Tok (Ke$ha cover)

Sunday Girl - Stop Hey (Rusko Remix)

Plastic Fantastic

2010-10-09T17:34:00.002+01:00

For whatever reason, it's all been very slow progress for The Aspririns For My Children but, promisingly, his SoundCloud has been a hive of activity for the past few months and now we're being treated to a video for his track Cutter. A good one it is too.