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