I’d been frequenting their muxtape page almost daily for my fix but it’s finally here, Mars Argo’s debut album. Officially released on November 6th, ‘Technology is a Dead Bird’ is being sold online in the same way as Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’. The listener is given the opportunity to pay whatever amount they deem fit whether this be $10 or $100.

A ten track masterpiece, Technology is a Dead Bird is an album in its finest form. Two of these tracks could be considered interludes but they really make the album a fluid listening experience.

Technology is a Dead Bird is a subtly haunting work. The unnerving ‘Fitter Happier’ style monologues add to the overall feeling of this album; a somewhat apocalyptic undertone of the quietus of the human mind.

“My life is an integrated circuit, I’m inside of my human body but I don’t feel it yet. We all thought 2012 would be so much more dramatic, something religious or sacred. Things were more laughable back then, back when I was a text message. We’re going to be plugging in our brains soon, and nothing will stop the human race from racing. We’ll all be inside containers chasing, anything they put in front of us with a pretty logo on it. It’s the internet, it exists and people are not going insane.” The Singularity is Near

Have a listen for yourself though, Technology is a Dead Bird is available to download in a range of formats including mp3 and flac from Mars Argo’s bandcamp site. You can name your own price though (minimum $10)

1. The Singularity is Near
2. Suicide Birds
3. Mrs. Stadler
4. Machine
5. Monsters Under My Bed
6. Technology is a Dead Bird
7. Sideways and Sideways
8. You Don’t Know Me Anymore
9. Feeling Welcome in a Time Warp
10. Tired Today

Since rising to prominence seven years ago with the spirited, electro-tinged, indie-pop of their Mercury-nominated debut, ‘Vehicles And Animals’, Athlete have established themselves among the UK’s finest songsmiths. The south east Londoners have sold more than a million copies of their three hit albums (the other two being 2005′s ‘Tourist’ and 2007′s ‘Beyond The Neighbourhood’), packed out venues across the land; picked up an Ivor Novello award; and topped both the UK’s album and airplay charts.

Athlete worked on their new album ‘Black Swan’ with esteemed American producer Tom Rothrock (Foo Fighters, Elliot Smith, Elbow, Beck), who’d been convinced to come along for the ride after falling in love with some acoustic demos. Together they made an album which positively glows with snagging melodies, rich musicality and the band’s heartfelt tales of their own black swan events. The album kicks off with the hurtling FM rush of glorious first single, ‘Superhuman Touch’, which catapults the album into life with the opening line, “I’m on fire and nothing’s gonna hold me back”. ‘Black Swan’ is released on CD, Deluxe CD (with bonus disc of new tracks) and Vinyl LP and features art taken from a painting by Natasha Kissell.

(taken from the Athlete website)

Israel Darling’s self-produced debut album ‘Dinosaur Bones & Mechanical Hands’ is to be released this Autumn. Originally of North Carolina, Jacob Darden is the real creative input to the band. He grew up as a devout Baptist but lost his faith upon leaving hospital at the age of 19 after an unfortunate series of events. “I don’t think there’s anything after this so I’ve been trying to do better for myself, living for now and making the most of today.”

‘Dinosaur Bones & Mechanical Sounds’ has a traditional indie acoustic rock sound. The tracks are subtly catchy and a lot of the lyrics refer to religious practice from a wiser, rational, outside perspective. Below is Samson The Mason, the first single to come from this debut album.

Samson The Mason – Israel Darling

Richard Hawley’s sixth studio album ‘Truelove’s Gutter’ was released on the 21st of September. The ex-Pulp guitarist has said that the album was inspired by particularly dark periods of his life and this does show; but Truelove’s Gutter still retains an ethereal aura with some congruous chord progressions, unusual instrumentation and simply sublime vocals. The album is only an eight track affair but it’s by no means short and sharp, it’s a winding melancholic voyage to other side of dawn.

For Your Lover Give Some Time – Richard Hawley

In just a few short months 19 year old Tommy Reilly from Torrance near Glasgow has sold out two Scottish headline tours, played Glastonbury and T in the Park and has his debut single Gimmie A Call (which is on the album) in the top 20 of the national singles chart. The albums story is fairly downbeat, his lyrics reflect; rejection by girls, and being let down – which he happily admits is a greater inspiration than striking lucky. It’s that unquestionable optimism perhaps that makes Tommy such an instinctive writer of pop songs.

Tracks such as Grab Me By The Collar, Kick The Covers and Jackets are all stand outs on the album. Like I mentioned before the lyrics are depressing but the tunes always upbeat. There’s no doubt that Tommy Reilly is the hottest new breakthrough artist to come out of Scotland for years.

Out Now.

By Sophie Stratford