With 6 albums in their back catalogue, Death Cab For Cutie have taken a bold new step with their seventh entitled ‘Codes and Keys’. The album was recorded at 8 different studios in two week bursts and heavily features vintage keyboards. Digital modification in aspects such as beats and guitar effects seem to play a larger role than in their earlier more organic sounding albums. Codes and Keys is definitely different, and I wouldn’t even say necessarily for the better but it’s certainly refreshing.

Frontman Benjamin Gibbard has admitted being somewhat embarassed about the dark nature of earlier album ‘Narrow Stairs’ and hinted that the lighter nature of this album came from living a more stable, married life. ”I’m so proud of this album that at this point I don’t care if people don’t like it.”

“I don’t feel like we went all ‘Kid A’ on everyone. But there are moments on this record where we looked at each other and said, ‘Oh, man, fans of ‘The Photo Album’ are going to wonder what’s going on here.’”

Released 31st May 2011.

Delooze are destined for something big. Their latest singles ‘Too Heavy To Stand Up’ and ‘We Are Transient’ feature a blend of electro and hard rock with almost gothic elements to it. This mainly comes through due to the choice of classical instrumentation and dramatic feel and it’s like nothing else around at the moment.

We Are Transient isn’t officially released for another 2 months so only the first 57 seconds can be heard on bandcamp at the moment (pretty uncool). However, I’ve embedded an earlier single entitled ‘Big Love’ that was released in June 2010 which has been made available for free download (pretty cool).

It’d be fair to say We Are Transient has a much heavier feel to their earlier singles such as ‘Big Love’ and ‘Out Of The Rabbit Hole’ in which electro aspects featured more predominantly in the music and had a streak of Crystal Castles or even The xx about them.

Any Londoners reading this, Delooze will be playing at 93 Feet East on the 14th of July.

Released 11th July 2011.

This video of Weezer’s recent cover of Radiohead’s 1997 classic ‘Paranoid Android’ is something I expect will attract a large number of comments from both sides of the Atlantic. When I first saw the video description I was hesitant to open Pandora’s box but during the first 20 seconds I was actually pleasantly surprised. However, Rivers Cuomo’s vocals just don’t fit this song at all.

Some could argue his voice is just different to that of Thom Yorke but you really have to think carefully before you attempt to cover one of the best songs from one of the greatest albums of all time. It’s definitely worth a listen to make up your own mind but a simplified review from me; musically very good, vocally wrong.

The Civilization EP will be the most significant release since Justice’s ‘Cross’ back in 2007. Scheduled for release on June 6th, it is currently unclear what other tracks the Civilization EP will contain but it is known it features a remix from Mr. Oizo. There’s also word of a currently untitled second album set for release in autumn. Exciting times.

If shattered monuments raining down on wildebeest in a post apocalyptic, gravity reversed setting is something you’re into, then you’ll love this immense work of CGI mastery.

With the release of Friendly Fires’ second album Pala last week, the trio have certainly got a lot on their plate over the next couple of months. There’s word of a music video in the pipeline that’s currently being edited and the band are currently touring North America with a UK tour lined up for November.

The first single from the album ‘Live Those Days Tonight‘ will have a universal appeal and is just downright danceable, even more so than their earlier material. Pala brings us at times a really unusual blend between indie rock, 70s disco and even a tropical sound in places.

Competition to win 1 of 1000 limited edition vinyls of the Friendly Fires cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Strangelove’ here.

Tickets went on sale for the UK tour yesterday and there’re still plenty available. Definitely one of the best live bands out there and well worth seeing. The North American tour is currently in progress up until the 10th of June and you can still find tickets if you know where to look.

Thu 10 Nov – Bristol, O2 Academy
Fri 11 Nov – Birmingham, O2 Academy
Sat 12 Nov – Southampton, Guildhall
Mon 14 Nov – Nottingham, Rock City
Tue 15 Nov – Newcastle, O2 Academy
Thu 17 Nov – Manchester, O2 Apollo
Fri 18 Nov – Glasgow, Barrowlands
Sat 19 Nov – Leeds, O2 Academy
Mon 21 Nov – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Tue 22 Nov – Lincoln, Engine Shed
Fri 25 Nov – London, Brixton Academy