you arrest my heart, but i knew this from the start

Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension
In a very Tron-ish outfit, frontman of The Strokes reels off some uber power packed electronic bingbang that strikes home. Btw, for all Strokes fans out there, they are releasing a new album sometime next March if you already didn't know.

Monarchy - Maybe I'm Crazy
I don't know how these guys do it, but they churn out dance hit after dance hit, impeccable ones at that. I've not found a single song that has let me down yet, and this clearly is no exception. Lush and deep bass that oozes sexiness with a touch of synths that sparkle - proclaiming their place among the stars. It's extremely delectable and remix worthy. I love the groove and of course, catchy lyrics.

Monarchy - Travelling By Ambulance
A more balladic piece which stands out against the rest in that it's a different approach, with decidedly more focus on the lyrics and letting the beats take backstage just for once. I mean, I never expected lines like "you're the sweetest curse" from them. Taking the analogy further, this is definitely more down to earth, more human. If I were an astronaut, I'd definitely take their new album which drops in Jan 2011 with me. Also, I hope their broadcast of their live performance to space gets picked up by extraterrestrials and maybe, just maybe, they start grooving to it.

the distant hum that blooms as we run

Memoryhouse - Caregiver
Deeply affecting piano-based song, at once full of grandeur and excruciatingly intimate with surrealistic vocals that speak of ghosts and cracked spools. It is because of songs like that that I ache to be able to create such amazing music, yet I know I have no talent for such. I'm pretty sure even the most undiscerning ear can appreciate this precious gem.

Wolf Gang - Lions in Cages
Good song but I don't feel it as much as The King and All of His Men. I think it's really awesome and super catchy now, it's grown on me!

Wolf Gang - Back to Back
Curiously different from the kooky catchy The King and All of His Men, it presents a more mellow and emotional side of Mr McElligott, who seems to wear his heart on his sleeve in this number, as he hits an extended falsetto crooning "sleeping with my back to yours, back to back, back to back were strung out". Interesting stuff, keep a look out for his new album next year - "Suego Faults".

Click through the banner below the video for a download offered by the man himself.

The Vaccines - Blow It Up
Oh my, what awesome guitar skimming riffs that just ooze 80s rock.

Blow, blow, blow it up - this might just be the birth of a new rock band. Warbly guitars and hazy reverbs abound, they are certainly making known their arrival.

i've known never known what's good for me

Kele - Everything You Wanted
Seems like a love song through and through. Might refer to a break up he had, which he channeled the feelings into this very personal solo debut album of his, "The Boxer". Also, I think his solo album draws a lot of similar comparisons to "Intimacy" with its electronic elements and maybe lyrics wise as well.

Bloc Party - This Modern Love
Never really did listen to the stuff from "Silent Alarm", not sure why. It's never too late but I'm appreciating it. Kele's vocals sound much rawer here, unpolished, which suits this song to a T. The lyrics reflect something many of us can prolly relate to. And for all acoustic lovers, take a gander at this awesome up close and personal performance by Kele and Russell outside what I think is a pub.

Bloc Party - Biko

Bloc Party - So Here We Are
So tender; the soft rock + jangly guitar just gets at the odd nooks inside your body so wonderfully. I definitely must give "Silent Alarm" the proper many over.

i promise it's easy you'll fade to black

Simian Mobile Disco - Aspic
From their latest drop "Delicacies", as the name implies, all their song titles are of food. But in this case, the songs take the name of an exotic, and often bizarre, delicacy from around the world. So what's Aspic? It is a savoury jelly made from meat stock and sometimes supplemented with gelatin to ensure that it sets. Don't know what the hell that is, but I'm having mixed feelings about it.

The same can't be said for this uber dancey number. The heavy beat comes right through, thick and fast, doowop-y and slick. Crank up the bass and let it rip for this one is one to be savoured.

Simian Mobile Disco - Sweetbread
Initially, I was like, what!? The video was not anything like what the titled might have suggested. And so, Wiki to the rescue. Sweetbreads or ris are culinary names for the thymus (throat, gullet, or neck sweetbread) or the pancreas (heart, stomach, or belly sweetbread) especially of the calf and lamb. Now I get it.

But seriously, I was laughing at the utter inanity of the video. It served practically no purpose unless you're a meat/butcher voyeur of some sort. And the man didn't even look like a proper butcher (where's the gloves!!!), save for his huge tummy. Anyway, the song's good stuff, sounds loungey yet sombre, yet with very heavy techno influences. And I'm pretty sure that whenever I listen to this song in the future, I shall be marred by this video.

Blackbird Blackbird - Pure
Right off the bat, the moment the twinkly sounds sprinkled itself all over my room, I knew I would love this song. It feels like what goes on in your brain when you have an epiphany - the sudden whirl of realisation. Or maybe, it's what it sounds like in space if sound can be heard in space. A cosmic revelation eh? Check out the entire Summer Heart LP here. It's absolutely wonderful.

Blackbird Blackbird - Fade To White (feat. Emily Reo) (mp3)
Another awesome track. Download provided by Blackbird Blackbird on his bandcamp. I'm such a major sucker for chillwave/dreampop/psychedelic/hypnagogic/whatever you call it.

your brown eyes are my blue skies

Beach House - Zebra (mp3)

Beach House - Heart of Chambers (mp3)
In light of Beach House coming down to Singapore to perform at the Laneway Festival, here are two of my favourite songs, which happen to be available for download as well, from their own website.

The undulating voice of Victoria Legrand never fails to draw me into any one of their songs. It's like a giant magnet, compelling you to listen to the song in order to put you into a dreamlike haze that you'll be glad never to lift. The passive synths seem so insignificant when you consider the hold her voice has over you, but you realise, it is a complement that serves to empower that ethereal voice.

Warpaint - Undertow (mp3)
I guess i'll just make this a Laneway post. Not sure whether by intention, Warpaint is a gorgeous all girl quartet that doles out exquisite rock with an undercurrent of psychedelia and haziness provided by hypnotic vocals, and not least a deep resonating beat. Put it this way, listening to this song is like being in a state of bliss. In some ways, they do sound like Beach House, just with the post-rock element. And you wonder what were they doing since 2004, only releasing their EP only in 2009 and debut album in 2010. Oh and I think they're anything but Warpaint, so don't take the name too literally.

Warpaint - Billie Holiday
Initially I thought this might be a Miike Snow cover, but just listening to the song and you know it's not. So I googled Billie Holiday and it turns out she is a famous jazz singer and songwriter. And this song is so damn exquisite and wonderfully crafted that it's like fine bone china. I could rave on and on about this song, but this song is one you just have to listen for yourself and be utterly transfixed by these girls. Amazing. Check out an acoustic version here which is just as beautifully done.

like a shotgun needs an outcome

The Hundred In The Hands - Pigeons
The Hundred In The Hands is Eleanore Everdell and Jason Friedman (I think by no means related to Milton or even Thomas Friedman). Lovely electropop, or what some would term indietronica. Buzzy hooks and a catchy chorus are a prerequisite, so it's no surprise there. It'll definitely be glued into your head and you might inevitably find yourself bopping to the thumping backbeat as you walk down the street at night, wondering if you'd start spewing out fire. Love the video, both the videography and editing.

The Hundred In The Hands - Commotion
They've got another video for yet another of their song. I think some remixes of their songs are due to make it ripe for the dancefloor.

Lykke Li - Get Some
Oh, Swedish indie darling Lykke Li seems to be channeling some of her inner Fever Ray in this uber not-so-indirect track. It seems to be about a lover taking control of her man. This stuff is different from Youth Novels and while it's good, I'm gonna expect much much more from her.

Röyksopp - The Drug
Following "Junior", fellow swedish Röyksopp have dropped "Senior", filled with atmospheric and expansive sounds. How they make everything work in tandem, I don't know, all I know, is to appreciate the good stuff. And with a name like The Drug, it's no wonder I'm kinda hooked on it.

Röyksopp - The Alcoholic
More "senile" stuff.

when you appear i know i won't be here

BACK!!! Like finally.

Tame Impala - Expectation
Totally wall of sound-esque, Tame Impala literally gives us a kaleidoscopic performance that seems like it's going to tear everything apart, yet in a weird sort of way, come across as cool, calm and collected. I think it's partly due to Kevin Parker's vocals which are eerily drug inducing.

Cut Copy - Take Me Over
I don't know what's more exciting, TRON which is soon to be released, next week in fact or that Cut Copy, fellow label mates of Tame Impala and Aussies dropping their first single for their new album "Zonoscope" in February 2011. As Whitford croons "Take me over, take me out, to the jungle through the night in paradise, paradise", it personifies this synthy pop funk that Cut Copy is reeling us in with. The synths are typical of Cut Copy, but this almost saccharine pop number less so. Nonetheless, you'll still love Cut Copy. I still do. Stay tuned for their new album!

Gorillaz - Crystalised (The xx Cover)
Check this out! It's dope as hell, Damon Albarn and co covering an XX favourite. So affecting and showing on his face, it contrasts a little with the minimalist emotionless style of The xx. Anyone's gotta love BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge for giving us music lovers all sorts of amazing covers, some of which I've featured before.

Chief - Night & Day
Utterly a-fucken-mazing. Succinctly summed up by Paul Lester from Guardian as "Masters of mellow, this LA four-piece specialise in pretty melodies evocative of 1970s America". Sounding similar to Fanfarlo, Midlake and by extension any 70s band, certainly not "smacking of originality" in Mr Lester's words, their arresting earnestness and lyricism sure is a breath of fresh air.