Beat Connection - Surf Noir

Beat Connection are your perfect summer soundtrack of indie dance pop. Beat Connection are currently giving away their debut EP, "Surf Noir" for free! Download it at their Bandcamp here.

Pontiak - Young

"Young" is a groove-driven monster of a track, taken from Pontiak's new album "Living". Download the track here.

WU LYF - I Got Dem Wu Wu Busted Teeth Spitting It Concrete Like The Golden Sun God

Yeah, the title might be a mouthful, but it's a a well good song with a well cool video! It' sounds like pop music being tortured. And the video is an interesting interpretation of colonialism.

spitting it concrete like the golden sun god WU LYF from LYF on Vimeo.

Jaill - The Stroller

Jaill put out their album "That's How We Burn" on Sub Pop today. Download their song "The Stroller" here.

Jaill - The Stroller from Sub Pop Records on Vimeo.

Guards - Guards EP

You can get Guards' new self-titled EP for free here. Download it if you love classic garage rock!

Factory Floor - Lying

I really can't put it into words how good this band is. I had heard of them before today, but had never listened to them. So, I decided to give their new untitled EP a go... And am I glad I did. Their music (if you can call it that) is brutal, raw dance, at it's most basic. It's discomforting, unsettling, claustrophobic. And quite amazing. They owe to bands like Suicide and early Cabaret Voltaire, but it doesn't sound like a pastiche. I can't wait for a full length from them.

Download "Lying" here.

Kele - Everything You Wanted

Kele has released a new video for upcoming single "Everything You Wanted". It's club music, with a singer-songwriter soul.

Salem - King Night

If M83 was into dubstep, this is how it would sound. Electronic music that is gloomy, orchestral and uplifting.

Download "King Night" from their upcoming debut album of the same name here.

Minks - Ophelia

Goth pop outfit Minks have a new single out, "Ophelia".

Download it here.

Yu(c)k - Daughter

Yuck are a bit like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, two completely different people sharing the same body. Yu(c)k is a stark comparison to their usual fare of grungy, feedbacky pop. Yu(c)k is soft, piano driven rock. The difference that brackets can make... Anyway, they're about to release their new EP, "Weakend", limited to 100 cassette copies. Download "Daughter", from the EP, here.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/78550037b1159d6d/

Yu(c)k - Daughter from Yuck on Vimeo.

To Kill A King - Cold Skin

Unsigned London band To Kill A King have released a new video for their song "Cold Skin". It's enigmatic, visually striking, completely compelling, and probably one of the best music videos I've seen this year. I was also amused to see it was directed by a guy called Jack "King". And, of course, it's a damn good song as well!

Watch it here.

To Kill a King 'Cold Skin' [Music Video] from Jack King on Vimeo.

Crowns - Little Eyes

Basically, if you like the Pogues, then you'll love Crowns! Vocalist Bill Jefferson is definitely channelling the spirit of Shane McGowan, but hey, he does it well, I'll give him that.

Download "Little Eyes" here.

These New Puritans - Hologram (Salem Remix)

These New Puritans are one of the best bands around at the minute and are releasing their third single, "Hologram", from their second album "Hidden". It's due to be released on the 9th of August. Salem have released a remix, which can be found on the single release. Salem have basically taken the original track, and drugged it up. You can download the remix for the price of an email address at These New Puritans' website.

http://www.thesenewpuritans.com/

Crocodiles - Sleep Forever

Crocodiles are set to return this September with new album "Sleep Forever". If you like The Jesus and Mary Chain, you will love Crocodiles - the sunglasses, pop melodies drowned in feedback, song titles like "Summer of Hate" and "I Wanna Kill". Watch the psychedelic video for new song "Sleep Forever" here.

Crocodiles - "Sleep Forever" from christin turner on Vimeo.

Download it here.
http://stereogum.com/download2/?file=408972%3A%3A3e6778%3A%3ACrocodiles+-+Sleep+Forever/

Mercury Prize Nominations

The nominations were announced today for the Mercury Prize. Here they are:

Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions (14th Floor)
Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea (EMI)
Dizzee Rascal - Tongue N' Cheek (Dirtee Stank)
Kit Downes Trio - Golden (Basho)
Foals - Total Life Forever (Transgressive)
I Am Kloot - Sky At Night (Shepherd Moon/EMI)
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can (Virgin)
Mumford And Sons - Sigh No More (Island)
Paul Weller - Wake Up The Nation (Island)
Villagers - Becoming A Jackal (Domino)
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers (Domino)
The XX - XX (XL)

Personally, I would love to see Foals win. I thought "Total Life Forever" was such an emotive, powerful album. However, I would put my money on The XX or Villagers to win. I'm actually kind of disappointed not to see These New Puritans on the shortlist, as I think "Hidden" actually deserves to win the prize.

Comment with your tips for who you think will win it, and who deserves to win it.

Dead Models - Dead Models EP

A fresh, exciting band who pay homage to the classic songwriting methods of the fifties and sixties, this EP is definitely worth downloading. It's free for a limited time only!

http://deadmodels.playwhitenoise.com/album/dead-models?type=email&sig=f864debb29ccaf8e825e54c172514f1e&auto=mp3-320&payment_id=3677581923

Blonde Redhead - Here Sometimes

Blonde Redhead are set to release their new album, "Penny Sparkle" this September. New track "Here Sometimes" is like glammed up grunge, and it's absolutely brilliant! Listen to and download it here.

Jenny and Johnny - Scissor Runner

Jenny and Johnny are releasing their debut album, "I'm Having Fun Now" on the 31st of August. Download their song "Scissor Runner" by signing up to their mailing list here. Pure melodic power pop!

Unison - Outside

Unison are a French duo, playing haunting pop music. Lead vocalist Melanie sings like a siren over industrial beats and a skeletal guitar. Download "Outside", from their new "Outside EP" here. http://www.mediafire.com/?zvlnzd1n1ni

Watch the video for "Outside" here.

"Outside" by Unison from robby massey on Vimeo.

The Klaxons - Echoes

Klaxons have released a video for upcoming single "Echoes". Watch it there.

Broken Social Scene - Meet Me In The Basement

Here's the video for Broken Social Scene's song "Meet Me In The Basement". Basically, today's world. In a three and a half minute long video clip. (Which is actually distressing enough in itself... We can sum up our world in three and a half minutes?) Watch it here.

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest Artwork and Tracklisting

Here's the artwork and tracklisting for Deerhunter's new album, "Halcyon Digest", which is to be released September.

• 01. Earthquake - 5'00
• 02. Don't Cry - 2'49
• 03. Revival - 2'14
• 04. Sailing - 5'00
• 05. Memory Boy 2'09
• 06. Desire Lines - 6'44
• 07. Basement Scene - 3'41
• 08. Helicopter - 4'58
• 09. Fountain Stairs - 2'38
• 10. Coronado - 3'19
• 11. He Would Have Laughed - 7'29

Holy Family - Whatever There's To Know

An indie band that aren't afraid to use a drum machine? That's Sweden's Holy Family! Download "Whatever There's To Know" here. They are currently working on their debut album.

http://stereogum.com/download2/?file=434041%3A%3A423aba%3A%3AHoly+Family+-+Whatever+Theres+To+Know/

Local Natives - Sun Hands

Local Natives are one of my favourite bands around at the minute. Download their track "Sun Hands", from their debut album Gorilla Manor, for free by signing up to their mailing list.

Gypsy & The Cat - Time To Wander

Gypsy and the cat are going to explode sometime soon,it's only a matter of time. These two guys have definitely had the Fleetwood Mac records out, and write glouriously sunny indie pop. Download "Time To Wander (Steep Mix)" by signing up to their newsletter here:

http://forms.sonymusicemail.com/webApp/APP588?fs=13505219

Watch the video for "Time To Wander" here:

2:54 - Creeping

2:54 are London based sisters Hannah and Collette Thurlow. They play beautifully distorted noise pop. Sound good? It is. Download the fantastic "Creeping" here: http://thefader.cachefly.net/254-creeping.mp3

Minks - Funeral Song

Minks are a Brooklyn based act, playing gothic new wave - ethereal synths, high bass and lofi production. Funeral Song is pretty much undecipherable, save for it's chorus "So long summertime/ Not coming back". Their website doesn't give us much (sorry, "any") information, but this is definitely a band to watch out for.

Download "Funeral Song" here - http://stereogum.com/download2/?file=408021%3A%3A3e4252%3A%3AMinks+-+Kusmi/

Watch the video for "Funeral Song" here:

Minks - "Funeral Song" from LANCE DRAKE on Vimeo.

M.I.A. - /\/\ /\ Y /\

Her first album, "Arular" was named after her father, her second "Kala", after her mother. Now, she has finally put her own name to her work, albeit in what looks like a mess of characters. Which is symbolic of this album really. M.I.A. has stated that she wants her new album to capture the "digital ruckus" that is today's world, which is exemplified in the album artwork. Where her first two albums sported memorable hooks, this is a snarling beast of a record, that isn't quite sure of where it stands. Is she an underground rebel? Or rising pop celebrity? Tracks like "Lovalot" make me think underground rebel, she name-drops terrorist organisations, Gandhi and Bob Marley, and makes stark comments on the Islamic practice of jihad. But then track "XXXO" has a chorus her Gaganess would be proud of.

The production lets some of the tracks down. Songs like "It Iz What It Iz" and "Story To Be Told" feel sparse and unfinished. But once again, this is conflicted by brilliant tracks such as Suicide sampling "Born Free", "Tell Me Why" and "Meds and Feds". It almost feels like M.I.A. is purposefully trying to create a sound that will drive away listeners, as she flirts with major pop success. Overall, a good record, but it never really feels like M.I.A. is giving us all she can. And knowing what she can do, it's slightly disappointing.

Tracklisting:

1. The Message

2. Steppin' Up

3. XXXO

4. Teqkilla

5. Lovalot

6. Story To Be Told

7. It Takes A Muscle

8. It Iz What It Iz

9. Born Free

10. Meds and Feds

11. Tell Me Why

12. Space

13. Internet Connection (Bonus Track)

14. Illygirl (Bonus Track)

15. Believer (Bonus Track)

16. Caps Lock (Bonus Track)

Rating: 7.9

Download: "Born Free", "Tell Me Why", "XXXO".

Watch the "provocative" video (which was banned from YouTube) for "Born Free" here...

Born Free - M.I.A from Bourgeois Ink on Vimeo.

Coheed & Cambria - World of Lines

New Coheed & Cambria video, featuring footage from the film "Metropolis". "Metropolis" is an all time favourite of mine, so I personally give them mega kudos for this! Watch it here...

Junip - Rope and Summit EP

Junip is known for being the side project of folkie José Gonzalez, but deserves to be known for more than that. A moody, krautrocky record, that retains Gonzalez's trademark vocal intimacy. Download it for free by signing up to their mailing list. Junip will have an album out in September, to be released on the City Slang label in Europe.

Sign up here: http://junip.net/?page=join

Mlini - Open Road

Mlini combine lo-fi buzz with a sparse, melancholy melody. Listen to and download "Open Road" here. Their debut EP, "The Mlini EP" is out now.

Sleigh Bells - Treats

This review should probably be written completely in block capitals, to help get across the sense of how loud this album actually is. Driving percussion, gargantum riffs, and cheerleader style chants from vocalist Alexis Krauss. All way too loud for your own good. "Treats" is an album that is both poppy, yet heavy at the same time. A serious album that manages to still be more fun than anything in todays top 40. It's hardcore you can dance to. Or bubblegum pop to mosh to. As soon as the machine gun drumming kicks in on opening track "Tell 'Em", you get this wonderful feeling. And you say to yourself "I've never heard anything like this before". And than, for the next half an hour, you are aurally assaulted by sheer noise and ripped to shreds by the hooks that are littered throughout the record. Your head will buzz from the amount of power being injected into it. And you will go back for more.

Tracklisting:

1. Tell Em'

2. Kids

3. Riot Rhythm

4. Infinity Guitars

5. Run the Heart

6. Rachel

7. Rill Rill

8. Crown on the Ground

9. Straight A's

10. A/B Machines

11. Treats

Rating: 9.3/10

Download: "Tell 'Em, "Kids", Infinity Guitars".

She & Him - Thieves

She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward) have released a video for new single "Thieves". "Thieves" is taken from their album "Volume II". Watch the vintage styled video from Merge Records here.

She & Him - Thieves from Merge Records on Vimeo.

!!! - AM/FM

!!! (pronounced chk chk chk) are back with new single "AM/FM". You can download it for free now by signing up to their newsletter. I'm absolutely loving this track at the moment, it's got a real groovy, Madchester sound to it. Baggy revival much? Uhuh! The link is here: http://chkchkchk.net/ "AM/FM" is taken from the upcoming album "Strange Weather, Isn't It?", which is out on the 24th of August on Warp.

Women - Eyesore

Women (an all male band, by the way) are back with a new album, "Public Strains", which is to be released in the UK and EU August the 23rd, and have made new track "Eyesore" available to download. "Eyesore" continues the same with the same sonic brashness that was honed to perfection in their first album, while also allowing their pop sensibilities to come to the fore, creating the bittersweet melody that is this song. The album artwork already looks like an instant classic, and I'm sure we can expect big things from this record.

Download "Eyesore" here: http://www.flemisheye.com/content/music/FLCR021/Women-Eyesore.mp3

Liechtenstein - Passion for Water

Liechtenstein have a new single, "Passion for Water". The bass is bouncy, the guitar jangly. And of course, it features their trademark skill for beautiful vocal melodies. A perfect pop song, full of a punkish energy.

Download it for free from Fraction Discs here:

http://www.fractiondiscs.se/mp3/1Liechtenstein%20-%20Passion%20For%20Water.mp3

Lost Knives

Breathtakingly emotive, it's amazing to think these guys are still unsigned... Surely it's only a matter of time before they have a record deal? In "Fake Natural Sound" you can hear Joy Division, The Fall, Echo & the Bunnymen, but never once does it feel like they're ripping anybody off. They play hauntingly atmospheric post-punk, in the same vein as Chapel Club. Their music pulsates and throbs with a sombre, grandoise energy that envelops the listener... John Peel would have loved these guys. Take note, this is definitely a band to watch.

FAKE NATURAL SOUND from Lost Knives on Vimeo.

Download their demos from last.fm, "Fake Natural Sound" and "Solstice" being the standout tracks.

www.last.fm/music/Lost+Knives

The Klaxons - Flashover

Jeez, it seems like ages since we heard anything from these lads! After having their first attempt at the their second album rejected by Polydor, their record label, for being "too experimental", we're finally hearing some new material three years after their debut album "Myths of the Near Future". New track "Flashover" has a more heavy vibe than anything heard from that album, probably due to the influence of producer Ross Robinson, known for his work with Korn, Slipknot and Machine Head. The album is titled "Surfing the Void" and it's out on the 23rd of August. The first single off the album will be "Echoes"

Download "Flashover" here: Klaxons - Flashover

PVT - Window

PVT (formerly known as Pivot) are an Australian trio, playing chilly, progressive indie. Imagine a New Order for 2010. Their new album, "Church With No Magic", is out on the 9th of August worldwide. If their new track "Window" is anything to go by, it should be a cracker!



Currently, "Window" can be downloaded for free by visiting their website and signing up to their mailing list.

http://pvtpvt.net/window/

Visions of Trees - Sometimes It Kills EP

Jungle music, for hippies. Sounding like a more upbeat Crystal Castles, these two Londoners are the true successors to Dead Can Dance. Their newest EP is sold out, but don't fear, it can be downloaded for free from last.fm! Cult of Cobras is the standout track, and has a pretty trippy acid house style video to accompany it.

Cult of Cobras from Visions of Trees on Vimeo.

http://www.last.fm/music/Visions+of+Trees/Sometimes+It+Kills+EP

Dead Jerichos - Under The Street Lights EP & The Ark T Session

So, the first band to have the honour of being featured in EVP... Dead Jerichos! Hailing from Oxford, and playing "math" rock, we can cue the inevitable Foals comparisons. There's no denying the Foals comparisons, but there's so much more to them than just that, there's The Jam's energy and The Cure's gloominess there too. This is math rock, but with a bigger, more forceful sound than many current bands under that tag. They're gigging like their lives depend on it at the minute, and it's only a matter of time before they break out of Oxford. They have two EPs free for download, and they're newest will be available for download soon.


Under The Street Lights EP - http://www.mediafire.com/?wngonz2wide
The Ark T Session - http://www.mediafire.com/?aj2nzdwdzkn

And In The Beginning...

Alright, the time has come. I am joining the masses, and have begun my own audioblog. Yes, you are to be subjected to my opinions (and probably rantings) with a few tunes thrown in for good measure. I'm going to start this blog by posting my all-time ultimate playlist, to give a sense of my listening tastes. And I hope to see you back here soon!

1. "The First Days of Spring" - Noah and the Whale
2. "New Age" - Chrome
3. "Mushroom" - Can
4. "Untrust Us" - Crystal Castles
5. "Knife Slits Water" - A Certain Ratio
6. "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain
7. "Helicopter" - Bloc Party
8. "Be My Wife" - David Bowie
9. "W.F.L." - Happy Mondays
10. "Cemetery Gates" - The Smiths
11. "Idioteque" - Radiohead
12. "And I Was A Boy From School" - Hot Chip
13. "Temptation (7" Version) - New Order
14. "This Orient" - Foals
15. "Peace Frog" - The Doors
16. "Three Thousand" - These New Puritans
17. "Heroin" - The Velvet Underground
18. "Industrial Estate" - The Fall
19. "Search And Destroy" - Iggy & The Stooges
20. "Swan Lake" - Public Image Ltd.
21. "Disorder" - Joy Division
22. "World Town" - M.I.A.
23. "Flow Coma" - 808 State
24. "The Killing Moon" - Echo & The Bunnymen