Portland’s Hockey are set to release their debut album ‘Mind Chaos’, it’s a consistent record that blends chunky beats, razor-sharp lyrics and a whole lot of soul. For men with such chaotic minds, the band has channelled many influences into this album from Tom Petty to Michael Jackson to LCD Soundsystem.

Mind Chaos is a witty pack of literate songs you can dance all night to, especially single ‘Learn To Loose’ where vocalist Ben Grubin combines a vocal soulfulness and vulnerability with an arch raising eyebrow wit which is irresistible. Embracing an urge to mix the rhythmic sharpness of old school hiphop with the rawness of garage rock and the vitality of modern electro, Hockey have created a colourful, vibrant and infectious record, the band say “Everyone’s making dance music now true, but we started in 2002”.

Released 21^st September 2009.

By Sophie Stratford

“Raw, unpolished, and disarmingly personal, ‘Woe is Me’ the debut release from indie-folk newcomer Peter Squires is a sweet and sincere portrait of a young man recovering from heartbreak.

Recorded in his Brooklyn bedroom, Squires’ songs cathartically express lovelorn despair with refreshing humor and self-awareness.  Like the best work of Morrissey and Magnetic Fields, Peter Squires keeps things playful while he breaks your heart.”

Peter Squires is making his album available for free. Download link here. (clicking starts a .zip download)

Woe Is Me – Peter Squires

Newton Faulkner, the acoustic guitar virtuoso returns with his eagerly anticipated second album ‘Rebuilt By Humans’. In this album Faulkner’s beautiful voice ranges from bluesy croon to falsetto howl and it hasn’t sounded better. First track and single ‘This Is It’ was one of the earliest songs he wrote for the album – a elated hymn to the joys of giggling.

The album title makes reference to Newton’s near career-ending accident on Boxing Day last year when he slipped on ice and fractured and dislocated his right wrist. His injury forced the postponement of his UK tour and some recovery time which gladly has not affected his genius.

The album pushes the frequencies with a multitude of instrumentation and amazing song writing. Newton says “I had brilliant fun making this album, and hopefully it sounds that way”.

Released 21^st September 2009.

By Sophie Stratford

Afrobeat, Blues, Folk, Funk, Hip Hop, Reggae and Soul.

Nicholas Kopernicus are an instrumental duo from Brooklyn made up of pianist/producer Jason ‘classicbeatz’ Minnis and guitarist/songwriter Seon Gomez. Their tracks also feature a selection of live instrumentalists such as flautist Brandy Means as heard on ‘Candle Dreams’ (below).
The debut album ‘Audiocentric’ has just been released in shops and soon to be available as a download.

“A modern journey through music of the African Diaspora.”

Candle Dreams – Nicholas Kopernicus

Commentariolus – Nicholas Kopernicus

The First Days of Spring is the new album from Noah & The Whale, and is one of the most beautiful records you will hear this year.  The album comes accompanied by a film, directed from the band’s lead vocalist Charlie Fink and starring model Daisy Lowe, which runs the length of the album. Both the album and film are filled with huge emotional power, complexity and impact. The album opens with the 7 minute long, epic title track, and sets the tone wonderfully.

The First Days of Spring – Noah and the Whale

The record is very downbeat, and I can’t emphasize this enough. The only upbeat moment in the whole record comes from ‘Love Of An Orchestra’, where Fink sings about how his love of music is equivalent to the love of another person. Songs ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘Slow Glass’ are very catchy and will stay with you long after the closing bars have faded into silence. Give this album a full patient listen and you will find a strong and artistic album that still offers melodically successful and viscerally moving folk-rock music.

Released 31^st August 2009.

By Sophie Stratford