yesterday i had the longest ever dream that the world was endless with possibilities

The Sound Of Arrows - Magic
For those who've heard this song before, and wondering why the name is slightly different, it's because the band has renamed it from M.A.G.I.C to Magic for it's new release as a single. It also comes with one of the most amazing music videos I've ever seen.

A real sugary electropop ditty, it's catchy with all the prerequisite hooks and lyrics you can easily sing along to. Cue a video about 2 kids who wake up to realise they are the only ones left in their town; the adults are all gone. They go about their deserted town doing various things kids would do. The childlike innocence makes you smile inside, and it explodes into full blown fuzzy warmth when you see them packing for a road trip on their own. They meet other kids and "Where The Wild Things Are" type creatures. Pure pop bliss at its best from, you've got it right, a Swedish duo.

Yes Giantess - You Were Young
Bright synths and and a melody that just screams fun.

The Radio Dept. - Domestic Scene

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part VI

A great painter one day, high up on the scaffold, began moving backward to view better his finished fresco. The next receding step would have taken him over, and, as a warning cry might be fatal, his apprentice had the presence of mind to sling the contents of a pail at the masterpiece. Very funny! But how much funnier still, had the rapt master been left to walk back into nothing - with, incidentally, the spectators expecting the pail. The art of caricature, as Rex understood it, was thus based (apart from its synthetic, fooled-again nature) on the contrast between cruelty on one side and credulity on the other.

- Vladimir Nabokov's Laughter in the Dark


The Walkmen - Stranded
You look at the small puddles formed on the cobbled streets of somewhere in Europe, a gentle drizzle falling on your overcoat as you're trudging aimlessly. The evening sun casts a deep amber hue over the low rooftops around you while you ponder with a listless look on your face. Suddenly you hear horns so warm and regal in the distance, Hamilton Leithauser's vocals rising above the orchestration, seemingly coaxing you that everything is alright, and suddenly you know where you should be walking to.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The Radio Dept. - Heaven's on Fire (mp3)
It really reminds me of The Honeydrip's Fall From a Height, but less use of vocal samples. Notably, they both are from Sweden. And where Fall From a Height was more pensive and romantic, Heaven's on Fire is vague-ish and seems to be indirectly criticising the music industry. The entire layered arrangement fleshes out the song as Johan Duncanson muffles hazily throughout the song. Love them swedes.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Spoon - The Mystery Zone
The feel good beat, well, feels good as you just bop to the song. Undeniably catchy in a reserved way, it kinda worms it's way into your consciousness and as the song ends abruptly, it still continues in your head "mystery zone, ooh! the mystery zone. maybe all he wants, maybe all he needs"
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Avi Buffalo - Remember Last Time (mp3)
With the spread of the memory-dulled hazy shoegaze/dreampop that has been going around, it's a nice reprieve from all that with one that actually recalls something - a past love. Excellent extended guitar jam preceded by a gentle solo strum accompanied by softly spoken words around the one third mark of the song.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Local Natives - World News
Oh yeah, it's Local Natives again, this time with World News. These guys are awesome I tell you, the lyricism present in the song is ingenious. An entire song about being inside a car, which is the most mundane thing one can sing about, yet made so meaningful, catchy and most of all, interesting. I adore the first stanza the most, thinking about where you first started. Of course, how can I miss out the do-do-do-do-do?
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

MGMT - Flash Delirium
Delving into the world of all things weird and mindblowing, they deliver a punchy pop rendition that graduates into delirious punk rock(?), with the video ending in a flash.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Basia Bulat - Once More For The Dollhouse
Folk-inspired and heart-achingly bittersweet.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Chew Lips - Karen
Groovy and catchy with slick guitars and bouncy drumbeats that give due weight to the song.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Teen Daze - Let's Fall Asleep Together
Sigh, it's songs like this that make a bland day seem blander than it should be. Life should be like the sunny carefree depiction in this swell number. He says, "I really came to fall in love with the whole lo-fi pop scene this summer, and I wanted to see what I could come up with. After writing “Let’s Fall Asleep Together”, the last three just sort of happened in the span of a few days." From an aptly titled EP "Beach Dreams", it makes me wanna return to the sprawling beach of Nice with fine sand between your toes and sunlight sparkling in the sea like diamonds.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Cults - Go Outside
The glockenspiel works up a delight in this charming cut from Brooklyn duo Cults. Semi-chanting, semi singing, it's a swell to be listening to this on a nice spring day. So, refrain from going outside until you've finished this song. That said, I'm pretty sure you'd be wanting to take this along your jaunt.
[bandcamp] [last.fm]

The Saturday Mix #38 - asleep for twenty years with this feeling

Sebastien Tellier - Divine (Danger Remix)
Oh so divine. What do you get when Danger does a mix on divine music? You get a dangerously divine song. (Cheesy I know, but had to let it out.)

Mille - Crysteena (Fear of Tigers Remix)
Mille means 1000 in French. Wonder if it's derived as such.

Fear of Tigers - The Adventures of Pippi Longstrump (Diamond Cut Remix)
Who is Pippi Longstrump? I have a feeling it's Pippi Longstocking, a fictional character in a series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, and adapted into multiple films and television series. In Swedish, it's Pippi Långstrump; Pippi Langstrømpe in Norwegian; and Pippi Langstrumpf in German.

Scanners - Salvation (Don Diablo Remix)
Just how do you turn a rock song into a dancefloor mix?

Metric - Sick Muse (Adam Freeland Remix)
I'm in love with this remix, it's way too dope. NOO! He broke up the "I'll write you harmony in C".

The Radio Dept. - David (The Rice Twins remix)
This is going down with me as slow and purposeful. Good beat, could be semi chillout too, for a change of pace.

Beni - Maximus (Harvard Bass Remix)

if it's a dream i wouldn't know if it's worth dreaming

"People see rock and roll as youth culture and when youth culture becomes monopolised by big businesses, what are the youth to do? Do you have any idea? I think we should destroy the bogus capitalist process that is destroying youth culture."

- The Radio Dept. in Heaven's on Fire


She & Him - Thieves
What a pretty song. Vocals contributed by Zooey Deschanel and main accompaniment by M. Ward. Disarming country song which is lovesick to the bone, she oozes every bit of charm and sincerity as she belts out line after line of heartbreak and longing.

The Radio Dept. - Heaven's on Fire (mp3)
Very pop feel to their new song, part of their new album "Clinging to a Scheme" which is slated for an April 21 release. And yet another song with a narration which goes as above. Very interesting and insightful comment, leading right into a breezy keyboard riff. That hazy feel, I can imagine myself bathing in the warm glow of sunlight as I traipse down the street by the beach. It leaves that lingering taste of the salty air on the tip of your tongue; definitely looking forward to their new release. Is it me or do I feel a little jazz infusion here with all that sax sound?

when i look at you/my heaven's on fire

Laurel Music - Dreams and Lies (mp3)
Short, simple, sweet and heartfelt, in the vein of Zooey Deschanel, it's beautifully written.

Daniel Zott - Living A Lie!
Chuck has the most awesome music choices currently. They find such appropriate music for the scenes, it amplifies everything by a million times. This [articular song plays at the part where Chuck has to break up with Hannah for her own good, but cannot tell her the truth. And she says he's the best liar she's ever met. Absolutely heartwrenching and gut-tearing. They were pretty sweet together. I was moved and totally felt for Chuck.

"cause every good thing i do is a selfish act" - this line is so apt for Chuck's conundrum.

oh your angelic mind

Micachu (& The Shapes) - Golden Phone
Micachu is actually Mica Levi, and she got together with her band The Shapes comprising of Raisa Khan on keyboards and electronics, and Marc Pell playing the percussion and drums. I believe her stage name is derived from a combination of her name and her own modified guitar called the 'chu'. Her music is very experimental and unique pop, which has been lauded by The Guardian for combining "hard experimentation with soft introspection, her scrappy, lo-fi production wrapped in warmth." She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, during which she was commissioned to write an orchestral piece for the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Not bad huh? Interestingly, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama has quite a number of notable alumni, including Daniel Craig, Joseph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor and Orlando Bloom.

The Mary Onettes - Lost(mp3)
and you say you have to be there/cause you feel so ordinary/but you know how much you need me/when the sadness comes for you

For a name such as The Mary Onettes (hailing from Sweden), one couldn't be faulted for thinking there's a female or two in the band. But that's unfortunately a mistake for they are Philip Ekström (vocals, guitar), Henrik Ekström (drums), Petter Agurén (guitar) and Simon Fransson (bass).

The Mary Onettes - Puzzles(mp3)

The Radio Dept. - The Worst Taste In Music(mp3)
Something from another small Swedish outfit who are slated to released their new album next year. Looking forward to it!

Violens - Doomed
The Big Apple aren't only known for producing people like Woody Allen, Michael Jordan and Robert de Niro. They have Violens a small indie quartet comprising Iddo Arad (synths/vocals), Ben Brantley (bass), Jorge Elbrecht (lead vocals/guitar) and Kris King (drums). They quote influences such as seashells, dreadlocks, gems, sand, veins, ribbons, steel. Hah, I like that.

The song has a bit of that choir sound to it, only that you don't have millions of other vocals backing it, but catchy drumbeats and awesome bassline. They dive right in from the get go, immersing you in whimsical and dreamy pop. They never let up throughout the song, giving this good vibe that resonates deep within you. This has to be a must listen for today (coupled with the fact they have a fantastically directed video by Mateo Ramirez).

you've convinced yourself the book is never wrong

As Tall As Lions - In Case of Rapture
As Tall As Giraffes sounds logical, but As Tall As Lions is plain ingenious. Love their songs. by the way, did they derive their song title from some christian thing or sorts? it seems familiar, anyone can help?

The Dutchess and the Duke - Hands
They bring to mind Fleet Foxes and Shearwater. This duo, Jesse Lortz and Kimberly Morrison are ready to blossom with the follow-up to their debut album, with confidence stemming from extensive touring throughout 2008 in support of their debut, "She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke."

Onerepublic - Come Home

The Radio Dept. - David(mp3)

spooning water from their broken vessels

Little Big Adventure - Happiest Times(mp3)

The Radio Dept. - Pulling Our Weight

Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer

Ray LaMontagne - Let It Be Me

The Saturday Mix #12 - tumbling down from the hills, just half way introduced, stumbling into your arms, passing out in the line

Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek (Acoustic Live)
A friend highlighted this to me, very good rendition and alternative to the layered and very very electronic sounding original. All she needs to do now is a guitar version.

Miike Snow - Sylvia
Totally different sound from Animal. These swedish people are good (but of note is that Andrew Wyatt is American). You've got Fever Ray, The Knife, Jenny Wilson, Lykke Li, Robyn and millions more. Now there's Miike Snow(2/3 swedish).

Dirty Projectors - Cannibal Resource
They really make unique sound good.

The Raveonettes - Suicide
Single out of their new album, In and Out of Control, which will be out around October.

Air France - GBG Belongs To Us
I think just click the link and you'll be able to download the song. Direct download off their own site.

The Big Pink - Dominos

The Radio Dept. - Lost and Found