Christmas Cover of 2013: Frank Hamilton 'Lonely This Christmas'

Guys and girls, we are happy to announce that our favourite Christmas cover song of 2013 goes to Frank Hamilton with his version of Mud's 'Lonely This Christmas'.  The track is available for free download here  and intended as a big thanks from Frank in regards to the massive amount of support he has received over the past couple of years, or in his own words: “It's nice to give something away at Christmas.  Especially after...

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Stream: Punk Goes Christmas and lyric videos

Following a string of successful 'Punk Goes...' compilation CDs, Fearless Records have put together their first holiday-themed compilation 'Punk Goes Christmas', out now to buy or stream and a must have addition to your alternative rock playlists.  The 'Punk Goes...' series has garnered over 850,000 albums and 5 million singles in just over a decade. Prior volumes include Punk Goes Pop 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5, Punk Goes Classic Rock, Punk...

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Video: Tellison - 'Snow (Don't Tell The Truth This Christmas)' & name-your-price charity download.

For many of us, Christmas is becoming more and more of a chore where sentiment, tradition and generosity is seemingly lost amongst commercialism, materialism and bad temperament. We forget how lucky we are to have what we have, and we become irritated by the joy and cheer of the never-ending overly enthusiastic Christmas songs that bombard us at every opportunity. West London, indie rock four piece Tellison, on the other hand, have done...

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Free Download: Charlene Soraia - 'Standing Stone'

South London, singer-songwriter, Charlene Soraia may be a name are familiar with but could possibly be scratching your head as to why you know that you know it, but you don't  really know the reason as to why you know it. Her touching vocals, however will most certainly resonate with you on a stronger level, for she is the lady behind the stunning cover of  The Calling's 'Wherever You  Will Go' which featured on the...

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Video: Marika Hackman - 'Itchy Teeth' (acoustic)

With her 'Sugar Blind' EP release date set for 9 December 2013, Marika Hackman has revealed another intimate performance video of a second track taken from the upcoming EP. Following on from 'Cinnamon' is 'Itchy Teeth' which stripped back is full of sorrow as Marika's vocals reach raw and wailing heights. There is an enigmatic and open beauty to Marika's music and delivery, that is almost heart wrenching,...

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Video: Ryan Vail - 'Free' ( Directed By Giles Labarbe)

                                         Ryan Vail (Ryan Vail and Katie Cosgrove) are a Dark Melodic Electronica Duo from Derry whose single 'Free' was released on November 8th via Champion Sound Recordings. Combining experimentation and classical musicianship, Ryan Vail are a formidable duo creating ambient electronic at it's most enthralling,...

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Video: Marika Hackman - 'Cinnamon' (acoustic).

  In the lead up to her new EP 'Sugar Blind', Marika Hackman has revealed an intimate performance video of the EP's lead track, 'Cinnamon'. Performed under a bridge next to a canal, Marika's vocals are intoxicatingly exposed, only supported by dark and grungy acoustic guitar notes that Nirvana would be proud of. Ethereal and alluring, we're not quite sure if Marika is aware of the pull of her music, but either way, we are loving what she...

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Video: Smallpools perform 'Dreaming' on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Recently signed to RCA Records (also home to the likes of, Kings Of Leon, Everything Everything, Cage The Elephant, Kodaline and Imogen Heap to name but a few) Smallpools are an Indie Rock four-piece, based in LA whose dynamite debut single 'Dreaming' exploded its way to the top of the Hype Machine chart within a matter of hours. A track which may be familiar to you having featured on the FIFA 2014 soundtrack. Check out the vid below...

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Video: Falling Off Maps - 'The Redeemer'

 'The Redeemer' is the second single to be taken from Falling Off Maps' forthcoming debut album 'A Seaside Town In Winter' due for release in January 2014. With a single release date of  November 4th, the guys have unveiled an official video to support 'The Redeemer' which makes up the second part of the storyline in Falling Off Maps' reverse chronology video trilogy.  Picking up before the events of 'Honest', the intriguing...

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Video: Beautiful Boy 'Begging The Moon' (The Clockwork Owl Sessions)

We decided we liked what Beautiful Boy were all about the second we heard their debut single 'Home' back in August. Our respect for these guys has sky rocketed towards a borderline obsession since we were given a gentle, but more than welcome nudge in the direction of the live recording of their single 'Begging The Moon' filmed for The Clockwork Owl Sessions that you can catch below. With melt-worthy harmonies, powerfully emotive lyricism,...

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Single Review: The Intermission Project - 'Come Away With Me'

The Intermission Project are one of those immediate bands you can't help but have a soft spot for. Not only because they are a hugely talented, young, fresh trio; but because of the initial way we were introduced to them. There is nothing big, brash or boisterous about these guys, whose DIY aproach saw them reaching our radar just before they were due to join forces with The Youth Hostels Association to perform,...

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Funeral For A Friend announce re-mastered, remixed & expanded edition of first EP 'Between Order and Motel'

Welsh Post Hardcore five-piece Funeral For A Friend released their debut EP 'Between Order and Model' in 2002 through Mighty Atom Records, probably very unaware of the international mark their music would go on to leave on their fans, and how their music would take on a huge amount of responsibility in reuniting hardcore kids, punks and metalheads ( a scene I personally spent many happy teenage years flittering around). 11 years on, they...

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Video: LVLS - 'Photographs'

Meet Manchester based guitar-pop quintet LVLS (pronounced 'Loveless') consisting of Jay Gibb (vocals/guitar), Paul James (guitar), Emily Jane Conlon (guitar/vocals), Charlotte Hughes (bass/vocals) and Gaylord Knott (drums). With a sound strongly influenced by 80's melancholic electro - pop their track 'Photographs' is very Depeche Mode, with a pinch of The Smiths, and a little bit of The Cure thrown into the mix. They've got the image, the...

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Jagga reveals Oxossi remix and Jagga Bad Brains remix of 'Out Of Control'

Good old Jagga seems to be sonically dominating cybersphere as of late and if one version of his babe of a single 'Out Of Control' wasn't enough, the track has now been played around with a fair bit to give us two strong and engaging remixes, one by Oxossi and the other, Jagga himself. Each remix is completely contradictory to the original and holds stark contrast to one another. Listen to Oxossi's version when you want to re-enact a search...

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Video: Dog In The Snow - 'Fire In The Sky'

Brighton experimental, art pop act Dog In The Snow is the startling project of Helen Ganya Brown with support from Marie-Eve de Gaultie. New single 'Fire In The Sky' is an immediate, illusory track that gently tingles its way up your spine and shivers you into existence. The track pulsates, dominates and could quite possibly awaken supernatural life forms. 'Fire In The Snow' is accompanied by a penetratingly memorable, ghostly, video directed...

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Band To Check Out: Let's Buy Happiness & 'Run' official music video

Let's Buy Happiness are a five-piece from the North of England (Newcastle) who only recently reached my radar with their single 'Run' which immediately found me making strong comparisons between their haunting, melancholic, dreamy sound and that of two of my favourite English alternative/indie acts; Bat for Lashes and The XX.  Excitingly, the quintet recently announced that their long awaited debut album will go by the name of 'Chants For...

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Video: Elyas Khan - 'Bells'

Elyas Khan is one of those dapper guys who you look at and instantly think "Damn, he's cool", and we first got a bit swoony over him over at our sister site  The Sound of Confusion when we reviewed his funky, avant garde, soulful single 'Bells'.  We've just caught the video for 'Bells' which features Elyas Khan and Romain Vicente on drums , getting their groove on, doing their thing and are completely besotted! After watching...

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Upcoming benefit compilation CD to feature unreleased tracks by Thee Oh Sees, Cave Singers, Elf Power & more

At three years old, Ryan Benton was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,a degenerative and deadly condition that saw him given a life expectancy of late teens to early twenties at most. In the fall of 2008 he had to make the journey out of the USA to Costa Rica to be treated for the first time with adult stem cells; a natural treatment that then and now is currently banned in the USA. After receiving his first treatment and against...

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Video: goodbyemotel - 'Set It Off'

We were introduced to alternating Australian/New York based indie-rock quartet, goodbyemotel almost a year ago when we shared our opinion of their EP 'People' over at our sister site, The Sound Of Confusion. One track taken from the EP has made a considerable mark on the Southern Hemisphere, and that's 'Set It Off' which has featured on the soundtrack of a Chrysler 300 TV advert aired in Australia as well as countless radio plays. 'Set...

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Black Light Dinner Party stream debut album 'Sons & Lovers' on official release date

                                                      NYC electro quartet Black Light Dinner Party are comprised of Jack Côté, (vocals, guitar), Zach Lipkins (drums), Joel Friedman (keys) and Dan Stevens - (vocals/ bass) and today has been an important day for them. Why? It marks the official release...

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The Intermission Project release 'Sorry' EP

If you've been following us you'll know that we've shared news on The Intermission Project a couple of times this year (if you're new to us, check our archives). Therefore, we are really pleased to hear that yesterday (Monday 23rd September) saw the release of The Intermission Project's debut EP 'Sorry'. The EP features three remarkable songs, two of which have already received incredibly positive responses online.  Check out the...

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Video: MyLyricalMind - 'Drop Me A Line'

MyLyricalMind is the wonderful solo project of Manchester based, acoustic/melodic /atmospheric/ nu folk/ who-cares-about-genres-anymore, artist Matthew Wood and lately we've been chilling out to his simplistic,nature-based, official video for his single 'Drop Me a Line'. The track is taken from MyLyricalMind's forthcoming second EP 'A Quiet Hurricane' where his laid back acoustic sound, peculiar, husky vocals, and emotive strings makes for a...

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Video: Bwani Junction: 'Borneo'

Scottish indie pop band, Bwani Junction, will be releasing their infectious, anthemic, new single 'Borneo' on 4th November. 'Borneo' is the third single taken from their forthcoming second album, produced by Paul Savage (Mogwai, Franz Ferdinand, Delgados, Deacon Blue) and due to be released on Aksatak label. We caught up with Bwani Junction via an email Q&A back in July here over at our sister site, The Sound of Confusion where the...

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Single Review: Jagga - 'Hold Me'

After releasing his single 'Out Of Control' at the start of the month, Jagga's already coming at us with his beastly new track, 'Hold Me'. Darker and more insistent than it's predecessor, Jagga's vocals plead emotion, fury and intensity amongst a powerful backdrop of noise that sounds a bit like Jagga's recorded the track clanking around chained up in a dungeon some place. Creatively and sonically speaking though, it's very good but has left...

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Video: Watch Nirvana play 'Scentless Apprentice' Live

Do you have documented footage of what you were doing on 13th December 1993? No? Neither do I. Either way, it probably wasn't as exciting as the live performance footage we have below of Nirvana playing ‘Scentless Apprentice’ originally recorded on that exact date that was released online yesterday. The band’s Live And Loud show recorded at Seattle's Pier 48 venue features the final touring line up of Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl, and...

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Band To Check Out: Talk In Colour & 'Rushes' EP stream

London 'cinematic future pop' quintet Talk In Colour consist of (Kat Arney - Harp, Chris Bangs Cellist/Producer/vox,Mary Erksine - Vox and Keys, Dave Oliver- Drums and Nick Siddall: Guitar). After their critically acclaimed 2012 album 'ColliderScope', Talk In Colour got back into the studio to create their next EP 'Rushes' "more stripped-back, raw sound, melding together their trademark delicate vocal and harp melodies with glitchy...

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Psapp announces details of new LP 'What Makes You Glow' & 'Everything Belongs To The Sun' single stream.

I was first wowed by off-the-wall,  London-based, experimental/electronica duo Psapp, back in 2006 when I stumbled across their fabulously quirky track 'Hi', whose animated accompanying video is in my top 10 list of music videos you have to see at least once in your life!  Psapp recently unveiled their new, highly energising, hand clappy, mummery, cat meowing, baby crying, tribal themed single 'Everything...

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Video: Steel Cranes - 'Moving On'

On the 24th September, California-based rock duo Amanda Schukle (drums) and Tracy Shapiro (guitar/vocals) of Steel Cranes will release their lively debut album, 'Ouroboros'. 'Moving On' is the super noisy, sonically scuzzy duo's "heavy as shit" second single taken from the album and has had us caught in a bad as, whirlwind of punky pleasure since our first listen. It's more than just boisterous noise though, as band member Tracy Shapiro...

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Art Brut announce line up change just days before UK tour

Who is in the picture you might ask? Well, it's the new line up for Art Brut of course! With only five days to go until the Berlin-based English and German indie rockers begin their UK tour, they've just announced a change in line up with drummer Mikey Breyer and guitarist Jasper Future respectively retiring from the band. But, as the old saying goes, "as one door closes, another one opens" and the band have welcomed Toby...

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Single Review: Gavin James - 'Remember Me'

Gavin James is already an exciting, well established, up-and-coming talent in Ireland whose debut EP 'Say Hello' (released only in Ireland) entered the Irish iTunes album charts at No.1, which then saw the title track of the EP go on to win Gavin the Choice Meteor Award (the Irish Mercury Prize) this year for Song Of The Year. We discovered Gavin back in April and instantly impressed, made him one of our Artist's To Check Out over at our...

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Free Download: Sundays - 'Forces'

Vancouver based, experimental soul/electronic, singer-songwriter and producer Sundays is a new and exciting, enigmatic artist whose current single 'Forces' has got us very interested to see what wonderful things the future may hold for her. The second single to be taken from her upcoming EP 'Of Eros and I' (due for release in October)  'Forces' is a down-tempo, minimalistic track with spooky synths, seductive vocals, smooth, spacious...

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