AUDIO // THE BRUTE CHORUS “COULD THIS BE LOVE?”

Hailing from: London, England
Web: MySpace

While lazy journalists compare the Brute Chorus to the Arctic Monkeys (and likely spell “Artic” wrong), astute listeners will notice much more swirling in the band’s music. It’s something much more sinister, taking bits of blues and rockabilly without being too corny or over-the-top.

The band spent a freezing winter in the Lake District working on their sophomore release, which will be out in August on London-based indie TAPE. Until then, there’s first single “Could This Be Love?,” which is a perfect glimpse of things to come from these guys.

The Brute Chorus – Could This Be Love by Exitfare

Filed under: Audio, London, the Brute Chorus

VISUAL // THE CROOKES “BLOODSHOT DAYS”

Hailing from: Sheffield, England
Web: MySpace

Sometimes you need to look back to look ahead, and that’s exactly what this Yorkshire quartet does, and they do it quite well. Taking hints of ’80s C-86 mixtapers, twee pop, and ’60s R&B, as well as the band’s wry literature reference, and you have a concoction that’s both catchy and memorable.

Filed under: Audio, Visual, Heist or Hit, Sheffield, The Crookes

AUDIO // CASIOKIDS “FINN BIKKJEN!”

Hailing from: Bergen, Norway
Web: Official Website

I never totally got the cult around Casiokids until I spent a weekend in Oslo. It was there that I spent late nights in pubs with musicians from the band’s hometown, drinking Norwegian microbrews and siting too close to the radiator so my slush-drenched sneakers could dry.

Filed under: Audio, Bergen, Casiokids, Moshi Moshi, Norway, Polyvinyl

AUDIO // PULLED APART BY HORSES + RECORD STORE DAY

Hailing from: Leeds, England
Web: MySpace

Oft-mentioned (at least ’round these parts) spazz popsters Pulled Apart By Horses are set to release a very special live vinyl for Record Store Day this weekend. Limited to just 500 copies, the good folks at Transgressive Records will be making this dream come true. Pre-orders are totally gone, but if you were slow on the uptake, a select group of stores across England will have stock. I am sure this is obvious, but if you want your copy get there early.

Filed under: Audio, Leeds, mental shit, Pulled Apart By Horses, Record Store Day

AUDIO // DJANGO DJANGO

Hailing from: Dalston, London, England
Web: MySpace

Django Django has always intrigued me for a number of reasons. They’ve always been a band that I wanted to like, but one that I never got right away. They probably enjoy being mysterious and a little tough to digest, but the journey to understanding them is a wild and crazy ride, and one that is well worth taking. Equal parts spacey electronica and Saharan rhythms, latest single “WOR” / “Skies Over Cairo” is easily the most unique song that will get on the dancefloor all year. If references to the Beta Band come to mind, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise – John MacLean’s brother Dave is in Django Django.

Pick up their latest release from the Pure Groove online shop.

Filed under: Audio, Django Django, London

AUDIO // WE HAVE BAND

Hailing from: London, England
Web: MySpace

Today sees the UK release of the debut album from We Have Band – simply called WHB. It’s an album we’ve been lucky enough to spend some time with lately, and it’s exactly what every music fan needs as the seasons move from winter to spring. It’s joyous with a subtle touch of melancholia. It’s a record that takes you to dizzying heights without going overboard.

Filed under: Audio, Audio, We Have Band

AUDIO // INSECT GUIDE

Hailing from: Leeds, England
Web: MySpace

Formed in 2005, Insect Guide have become masters of the dark, cinematic pop song. Over the course of several releases, including one full-length, the band has been turning many heads throughout the British Isles, including the likes of Steve Lamacq and the NME.

Last month saw the release of the band’s latest single, “Dark Days and Nights,” is more of the same from them. It has vinyl style grooves, a black mini ‘vinyl’ sleeve, and comes with fold out hand-numbered artwork. There are just 100 available. Read more on their Bandcamp page.

According to the band, their second album will be out May 3rd on Squirrel Records. Check out the track “Paparazzi” below.

Insect Guide “Paparazzi” by Exitfare

Filed under: Audio, Insect Guide, Leeds

AUDIO // LEIF + THE FUTURE

Hailing from: Bergen, Norway
Web: MySpace

With guitars tuned to The Cure and vocals reminiscent of Echo and the Bunnymen, it’s safe to say that this Norweigan quintet is influenced by classic New Wave. Their bio on last.fm is a fantastical yarn that tells us that the band is still working on their debut album and has no release date. So while we wait patiently, here’s “Let You Go.” The single is out now on iTunes worldwide.

Download: “Let You Go”

Article by Sulyn Langjahr

Filed under: Audio, Bergen, Leif and the Future, Norway

AUDIO // HONOUR BEFORE GLORY

Hailing from: Leeds, England
Web: Official Website

Perhaps we’re never ready for the break-up of one of our favourite bands, but it happens all too often. While ¡Forward, Russia! didn’t go out on their best foot, Life Processes is still an excellent statement from a band that set high expectations from the onset.

Since this “break” is “for the foreseeable future,” all of the members are firmly entrenched in life after FR. Tom Woodhead has been working on other projects, including producing Leicester group Minnaars, who have been heralded for a longtime round these parts. Katie Nicholls moved to Nottingham for art school and is in another band, while her brother Whiskas joined Leeds-based Duels as a full-time member.

Filed under: Audio, ¡Forward, Honour Before Glory, Leeds, Russia!

AUDIO // THE WIND-UP BIRDS

Hailing from: Leeds, England
Web: MySpace

No offense to the rest of the country, but as of late, England’s best music has been coming out of Leeds. There’s something special about the north, with the combination of liberal ideals and formerly industrial towns meeting the information age head on.  The past few years have seen quite the musical renaissance.

While their musical touchstones might be terribly familiar, coming down somewhere between early Pulp and the satire of Mark E. Smith, the Wind-Up Birds are still able to put a new spin on this classic sound. More importantly, they’re a confident group that creates a post-punk racket around the mundane goings-on of everyday life.

Their double-A sided debut single “Tyre Fire” / “There Won’t Always Be an England” will be released by Sturdy Records on 7″ and iTunes on 19 April 2010.

The Wind-Up Birds “The Night Soil” by Exitfare

Filed under: Audio, Leeds, The Wind-Up Birds