Crushed Beaks and Torches, two of the most atmospheric bands around, are covering each others tracks for a special release. This is Torches interpretation of ‘Close Ups’. Its a big pulsing monolithic slice of reverb, organs and the leadsinger’s (who ten minutes googling didn’t give a name to) unmistakably booming voice. Nice.

A new video from Melbourne youngsters Snakadaktal. They’ve been making some serious waves in Australia with their slightly ominous sound getting signed to I OH YOU (home of Bleeding Knees Club) in the process. They’re all still high-school age so if you’re going through a mid twenties, ‘what have i achieved’, crisis best to look away now….

Dystopian landscapes filled with vacant wanderers, absent lovers, and moonlit car-chases litter Michael Lovett’s first Lp as NZCA/LINES. Its something of a concept album told from various perspectives, foremost the first person but also at times, namely on Atoms & Axes, from that of a faceless third-person propelling his hapless protégée in the pursuit of the girl/lost-love/siren he seeks. In an interview we did with Lovett back in 2011 he talks a bit about this over-arching concept and the narrative he hoped the record would convey:

Lovett: “The Nazca Lines are an ancient series of geoglyphs in Peru, where a thin layer of surface rock has been scraped away to reveal the lighter earth beneath – this simple technique allowing people to ‘draw’ huge images only visible from the air. So there are simultaneously two landscapes happening. From ground level it is impossible to detect the drawings, whilst from the air the terrain assumes a radically different character. This idea inspired the over-arching narrative of the NZCA/LINES record. Every track relates to New Magnetic North, an alternate set of magnetic poles that are continually shifting. Like these Peruvian plains revealing their secrets from the air, cities and places are defined by where the compass points at any given moment.”

With a concept that bizzare it was always a possibility that the album would wind up getting tangled in the landscape, losing sight of the songs themselves in order to fulfill Lovett’s grand-fantasy. Somehow though, despite the satisfyingly weird theme, the songs themselves are, with the exception of a few interludes (the choral ‘Am Travel Approach’ being a key example), perfectly independent slices of r&b influenced pop. ‘Compass Points’ and ‘Okinawa Channels’, the most accessible of the tracks, would even fit quite comfortably onto a Radio 1 play list. It is therefore not just a success as a concept (Lovett’s a bit of a master at conjuring up hyper-real landscapes with his precisely wheeling lyrics) but also as an album. It’s the best thing we’ve heard so far this year and, in part thanks to the depth of the narrative, infinitely listenable. Well worth splashing out for.

For Fans of: Passion Pit/ Metronomy/ Music
Highlights: Base64 Love / Work / Compass Points

Being There have returned. Still smashing it with their blend of stripped-back vocals and swooningly nostalgic melodies they’re making simple guitar music with a massive presence. Having signed with London tastemaker label Young & Lost Club and with an Lp in the pipeline you can probably expect to hear a lot more about them in the near future.

Them Swoops are a duo fresh out of Melbourne. Combining a heady mix of Phoenix-esque guitars, sharp melodies and sunny vocals they’re ones to savour when the suns out.

Fun Adults are yet another English Band absolutely smashing it. A glitchy, popping glide smothered in dollops of syrupy smooth vocals and laid back guitars its making me wonder how many ‘posts’ you can put before dubstep before it stops meaning anything. Three?

Arthur Beatrice have been playing the hype very well. After getting a serious of seriously good write-ups late last year they’ve only just released their songs online leaving, at least this fickle blogger, with some serious curiosity. They have a a sort of darkly smooth shuffle to their sound, a touch of darkness under what can be quite a light sound. They hail from London and, in quite a coup for such a new band, have already played the Albert Hall (supporting Metronomy there last year). I’d be interested to hear what you all think about this bunch because I for one am pretty psyched.

For a while there we were worried that this lot had split up. After almost a year of absolutely nothing, following the excellent and much played ‘Liar, My Dear’, they just dropped this new track and news of their upcoming Lp, ‘Funtimes’, into our inbox. It’s a bit like your ex turning up on the doorstep after 9 months with a box of chocolates and a suspicious bump. Swooningly melodic pop songs were always their thing and this newbie does nothing to buck the trend.

Here’s a solid new tune for you all. Despite the somewhat off putting title (quiche and I don’t normally get along) ‘Mr Quiche’ is a bit of a tune. Airy synth mixing it up with airy vocals to produce something surprisingly wholesome.

St Lucia have been raking in the page-space recently. First through being remixed (Starslinger/Xaphoon) now through doing the remixing. This edit of Foster the Peoples ‘Don’t Stop’ is heavy on the guitars and, in one of the best moves ever, has been laced with some seriously infectious trumpet/sax. Glorious.