happy new year

Luis is a 23-year old cute guy who gets over excited about indie pop sounds. The Spanish band El Hombre Percha (basically a solo project) formed in the summer of 2011 and Luis released the song “Malestar de un Hominido” on a Modular compilation. He told me he is writing a song about the Greek island of Myconos while planning on releasing a full album soon. Wonderful stuff.

hot

Ice is white and shiny and smells like pure vanilla cake. The Broonkyn-based Ice Choir is the new project of super productive Kurt Feldman (from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and The Depreciation Guild). Feldman and his bandmates leave the indie guitars aside and focus on synth-pop sounds that give off a harsh retro feeling. The Ice Choir released debut 7” single “Two Rings” on 15th November through Shelflife (US) and Yes Boy Ice Cream (UK/EUR). Hot as fuck.



http://www.icechoir.com

boy

Candy Bar fancies tall, cute boys with a strong indie spirit. Butcher Boy are an indie pop band from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1998, they seem to enjoy the delicate sounds of Belle & Sebastian, Felt and Love. First album "Profit In Your Poetry" was released in 2007, second album "React or Die" was out in 2009, while third "Helping Hands" was released this summer. Sensitive pop with scottish signature.. oh Boy.



http://www.myspace.com/butcherboymusic

asleep

Candy Bar is a sucker for japanese stars and silver dreams. Therefore, a japanese solo project called Elen Never Sleeps is considered a real treat. I dont know much about this, apart from the fact that its new, loves suchi matched with shoegaze and has recently released some stuff online for free. Check "The China Blue" EP and "The Golden Minor" track, as well as the wonderful cover on My Bloody Valentine's "When You Sleep". Asleep as hell.



http://www.myspace.com/1004959211

hard

Soft cities are places where indie pop blossoms and planes fly high in the sky. The Soft City began as the side project of drummer Phil Sutton, formerly of Comet Gain, who released an ep on Cloudberry. Then they became an actual band, played with The Legends and The Drums, released a full album on Plastilina and are now back with another ep. The four track "Four Stories" is out on their own Calico Cat label and is so sweet and tender it can make you melt. or at least warm you up on those odd melancolic autumn afternoons.



www.myspace.com/thesoftcity

fuckedup

Lately my left wrist has been in pain. I got some advice and tried to heal it but somehow I made it worse. Thats when I decided to give Young Wrists a listen. Alberto and Letizia come from Italy, they love eating pizza peperoni while swimming into salty indie pop/noisy tunes. Ep "Fucked up In the Head" is out now and first song is accompanied by a lovely vid. A slice of pizza for me plz?

Young Wrists // I want to die young cos you're always wrong from Enrico Boccioletti on Vimeo.

http://www.myspace.com/youngwrists

waterfall

In 1994 I was just about to finish high school. I was surrounded by dreams and passion and it was beyond doubt that I was a superhero that would eventually conquer the world. International Waters are small indie pop heroes from Texas, with Mitch Calvert of Voxtrot on the steering wheel. They have released their debut album "1994", a wonderful mix of sounds that have the flair of Josef K, Aztec Camera and probably Orange Juice. Let's go back in time. Action!

1994 - International Waters from Mitchell Calvert on Vimeo.

http://www.internationalwaters.net

balloons

Purple balloons and yellow little clouds are always welcome in my tiny world. Pure indie poppers Very Truly Yours are here to please my ears and most importantly my (still very powerful) summer mood. The band has a new single called “Girls Tell You Secrets” (out now on 7’’on cloudberry records). Followed by a lovely vid, filmed at Montrose Beach in Chicago, it has a strong odor of pop at its best.



http://www.myspace.com/verytrulymusic

tweet

Candy Bar will be taking a summer break till september. Till then, you can visit me on twitter! >>
http://twitter.com/#!/astrogirrl

pockets

Pocketbooks aint new to the indie pop gang. They have been around for a while and their members are even involved in organising the wonderful Indietracks festival. The band is now releasing new single/sunshine pop gem 'Promises, Promises', for which they were joined by members of a local London orchestra. The single will be included in new album "Carousel", which was recorded by Simon Trought (he has worked with The Wave Pictures, Fanfarlo, Allo Darlin’ and Darren Hayman) and will be out Sept 2011. Pop and promises and pockets, carefully packed with lots of passion.



www.pocketbooks.org.uk

number8

Brooklyn never seizes to amaze me. A fertile music scene full of giant numbers, colourful chalks and a bunch of indie pop tunes given in different forms and shapes. Andrew Pierce (of The New Rags and Nouvellas) and Sable Yong (of Year of the Tiger) form the new band of Chalk and Numbers... who love dots, playgrounds and unique 60s pop sounds. You can download for free their first EP, "He Knew", from their official website. Good stuff.



http://chalkandnumbers.bandcamp.com/
http://www.myspace.com/chalkandnumbers

dreamer

Dreams and cats go together in child stories, nasty fairy tales and grown-up hallucinations. Field Dreams are the solo project of Jack Hilbert, a musician from Cambridge who likes to chill out, dream in a super pop way and listen loud to bands like Beach House, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Deerhunter and Best Coast. Demo EP "Dresden" from Field Dreams came out on 22nd May. Check the link below and make yourself a lovely free download present.

http://fielddreams.bandcamp.com

++89

Sweden isnt always happy and shiny. It can be dark and wild and fairly dramatic. From the odd woods of Sweden, where there is a town called Tranås, the band of Degrees is narrating its own unique fairytale. Mikael Jacobson (The Trick, Late Night Conversation)and Rickard Folke (Boygirlme) decided to stick to their heavy coats and put their shoegaze pop hearts together in 2008. New record "Dream On Dreamy" was out on May 21. High temperature on its way.



http://www.myspace.com/degreestranas
http://www.dgrs.se

Tesco Chainstore Ligloss

I’m a sucker for weird band names. And when they include ironic references, they are even more appealing. Borrowing their name from a film, Tesco Chainstore Mascara formed in 2005 and immediately showed their love for The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Belle & Sebastian. Double a-side single "Big Bowl of Wrong”/”You Lost Me at Hello" is available through Bubblegum Records(as part of the label’s limited edition download project). Some more black mascara, please.



http://www.myspace.com/tescochainstoremascara

bravery

Bravery is a virtue. It makes you wish to pursue your goals in a more creative and passionate way. Brave Irene seem to be pretty much aware of that. An all-girl band from Vancouver that formed in 2009 by Rose Melberg (ex Tiger Trap and The Softies). Indie and lo-fi sounds, bubbly melodies, retro aesthetics with a bunch of bands like Strawberry Whiplash, Very Truly Yours and Days to mingle with other. Very promising debut came out in March on Slumberland.



http://www.myspace.com/braveirene

on fire

Finnish hearts are nothing like cold and distant creatures. They are flames that dance in different colours and shapes. Burning Hearts (founded by members of Cats on Fire and Le Futur Pompiste) are one of this blog's fav bands. New single "Into the Wilderness" (released by Shelflife 21st June 2011) is a pop anthem. <3 X3



http://www.myspace.com/burningheartsmusic

lover

Love is a big issue these days. Some doubt its existence; some have still faith in it. Amor de Días (Spanish for 'love of days') is the name of the (till recently secret) group formed by Alasdair MacLean of the Clientele and Lupe Núñez-Fernández of Pipas. Painting, music and feelings seem to be their common ground, expressed here through lovely folky pop sounds. Debut “Street of the Love of Days” (recorded between UK and Spain) is out on Merge 17th May. Spread the Love.



http://amordedias.com

SpringHeart

When I saw Simple Minds live I was a wacky teenager. When Summer Heart decided to name one of their songs “Simple Minds” they declared war with the superficial hipsters. Summer Heart seems to be a solo project from a young Malmö-based Swedish boy. He loves hot weather, warm hearts, Beach Boys-esque harmonies and dreamy pop lo-fi strong wind in the air. New Ep "Please Stay" is a yummy download through the site below. ps. lovin the artwork!



http://summerheart.bandcamp.com/

oldcastles

Dreams are made of tiny little yellow hearts glued together. They show innocence and passion and pure love in its greatest form. Dream pop is that kind of music that makes your head spin around from layers, visions and colors. Youth Castles come from US and they are relatively new in the music business, yet they are very charming in a Slowdive or Pale Saints-esque way. Lovely new single "Love & Honesty" was released 8th March. Youth & Love.



http://youthcastles.bandcamp.com/
http://www.myspace.com/youthcastles

Down with Loneliness!

Loneliness can be a cruel thing. Empty bed, smoke in the air and dirty glasses in the dustbin. Help Stamp Out Loneliness invented their brilliant name in the city of Manchester; they believe in love, have strong connections with Language of Flowers and praise jangle pop in its purest form. Wanna fight loneliness? Pre-order their forthcoming album “Help Stamp Out Loneliness” (released 9th May) at Papillons Noirs and make your statement.



http://helpstampoutloneliness.bandcamp.com

acidhousequeens

They are swedish and have been hitting the indie pop waves since early 90s. Fifth album “Music Sounds Better With You” -full of 60s inspired lovely tunes- was initially due to be released in 2008, but then pushed back for a release in 2011 (Labrador, March 22nd). Music sounds so much better with the Acid House Kings!!



http://www.myspace.com/acidhousekings

curryakin

I like curry. Its hot and funny and makes my mouth bubble. Kuryakin have a flair of India but actually live in Sweden. They record everything at home and dislike being categorized under twee; Avalanches, Prefab Sprout and 80's indie is probably more their cup of tea. First release was an EP/7inch on Shelflife while the “Fought A War” EP is available from the japanese label Fastcut Records. New album "A New Day" has recently been released (Fastcut Records) and is full of spicy sunshine extra yummy tunes. Optimistic and cute.



www.kuryakin.se
http://soundcloud.com/kuryakin

spider recluse

Brown Recluse is a large dark brown spider; when threatened it usually flees, seemingly to avoid a conflict and is rarely aggressive. Brown Recluse is also a harmless psych/pop Philadelphia outfit which started as a duo and evolved later to a six-piece band. They offer a super sunshine pop feeling with refined 50s elements while they have played with bands like Pants Yell!, Matt and Kim, Acid House Kings and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. They now release debut album “Evening Tapestry” (with limited edition coke bottle green vinyl copies through Slumberland!!). Harmless and beautiful.



http://www.myspace.com/brownreclusesings

page 8

My world is made of lollipops, red balloons and nerdy striped t-shirts. My heart is twee and that’s why I'm a sucker for long picnics or plastic earrings. Le Page is a Greek band; in fact they are the only twee band in Greece right now. A boy and a girl who, apart from being two little sweethearts, are wonderful people and lovely musicians. Tony and Terpsichori joined forces in 2007 inspired by 50s aesthetics, old movies and the folky guitar of Adam Green. Their debut “Yojikevin” is true to their vision and colourful stories and is out now on their own label (Bantha Records) with the cutest artwork. Love it.



http://www.myspace.com/lepagemusic

silver bears

Bears are cruel beasts. They are huge and they roar and they eat poor little penguins. Yet, once they turn gold they get gentle and soft and caring. Gold-Bears are living under the umbrella of Magic Marker, Cloudberry and Slumberland and that can only work in favor of them. A twee punk band from Atlanta, Georgia that shares the same taste with the likes of Boyracer, Huggy Bear, Rocketship and Neutral Milk Hotel. First 7-inch "Tally" was introduced as a jangly pop gem, while new 7inch is now out! Cant wait for the debut coming out this spring.



http://www.myspace.com/thegoldbears

brilliant patterns

Colors are getting brighter this season. Neon and pink and yellow are all over the place and inside my wardrobe. Brilliant Colors are a San Francisco girl band who follow that trend and have been around for a few years. With a punk background and a love for dreamy C-86, those girls know how to scratch their guitars and have a good time on stage. Following up two sold-out singles (on Make A Mess and Captured Tracks) they landed their debut album in 2009 while recently released a wonderful split 7″ with Girls Names from Ireland. Check it out on Slumberland and feel the colors.



http://www.myspace.com/brilliantcolorssanfrancisco

white stars

Stars are everywhere. You can spot them on little envelopes, inside poetry pages or on the surface of a red table cloth. Based in Canada, Shimmering Stars have been around for only a year and are inspired by the smell of anxiety, the sound of anti-socialness and the taste of Everly Brothers. They say they are eager to share their nasty thoughts and that can only be a good thing. First 7" "East Van girls/I'm gonna try" is out on the limited edition of 500 units. Star Addiction.



http://shimmeringstars.bandcamp.com

the hot flow

Arctic Monkeys are not my cup of tea. Τhe Arctic Flow, on the other hand, are so tender and dreamy that have almost stolen my heart. Brian Hancheck could live in Iceland but instead chooses to shout his words from South Carolina. Think of Slowdive, Chapterhouse, The Cocteau Twins or even Wild Nothing and you’re on the right path. New digital 4-track album is free to download from the band’s website. "December Morning" (which is basically a re-release of some older stuff) will bring light and warmth and much less cold to our hearts.



http://thearcticflow.bandcamp.com

red fence

Tim Presley is hiding behind the fence. He wears a big hat and white american shorts that match perfectly with his lo-fi attitude. He shortly drops the mic from Darker My Love where he presents himself as the lead singer, and creates a psychedelic pop bubble of his own through the project of White Fence. Self-titled LP is released through San Francisco’s Make a Mess Records (Grass Widow, Brilliant Colors). Cute.



http://www.myspace.com/whitefenceband