Track Love Is One is a soft techno rock anthem. The Frequency’s music is totally unique to anything you’ve heard before. Inspired by music from Pink Floyd, Can, and Spiritualized, their live show adds another level of intensity to the music.  Their show has been described as an audio/visual feast for your senses.

By Sophie Stratford

Toro Y Moi, a 23 year old from South Carolina, is getting ready to release his debut album Causers of This. There’s already word of a second full length album in late 2010 with a completely different sound. This is Blessa from Causers of This, the first single of the album.

Blessa – Toro Y Moi

It’s been said that he’s of a currently unnamed genre but I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves about how original this act is. His sound, in my opinion, can be summed up in a number of genres which is the mark of any interesting artist. There’s elements of funk, break/big big beat but I think the defining genre would have to be trip hop. It’s like The Avalanches, Shuggie Otis and Four Tet met and decided to transcend to a higher dimension for a jam.

Released 22nd February 2010.

_2 / Technology is a Dead Bird is to be released on CD and vinyl formats. Mars Argo have said they are “on the way”.

_3 / Mars Argo now have a merchandise store with districtlines. There are two rather dashing T-Shirts on there for sale at the moment.

Scrambler Seequill is the collaborative music and production project by Michael Gamble (Scrambler) and Devin Febbroriello (Seequill). Coming from such different backgrounds as conservatory trained musician and d.i.y. art activist, Scrambler and Seequill have found a meeting place to channel their visions and voices dualistically. Drawing from various inspirations, and experiences a certain sound and message is earnestly delivered.

Scrambler Seequill’s psychedelic prog rock, is punctuated by complex arrangements yet catchy art pop hooks. A swirling cascade of opposites comprise their poetically charming sound. Songs written under covers, at night and at dawn over coffee, during good years and bad years, about something, for no one and anyone who wonders why.

You can download four of Scrambler Seequills songs for free upon visiting their bandcamp site including ‘One Design’ as featured in the video below.

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

Cult of Optimism – Laurel Halo

Two EPs have so far been released, ‘The Future Fruit’ and ’Ambrosia’ which can be heard on last.fm. I’ll be sure to feature any future Laurel Halo releases on this blog as they inevitably happen.

The album features eighteen new songs, the sound is immediately recognisable as the Flaming Lips but once more push the boundaries of sound into unchartered new territory. Embryonic also highlights a number of special guest appearances including; The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O provides additional singing, screaming and noises on a few tracks whilst MGMT contribute additional playing and singing to track Worm Mountain.

Released 12th October 2009.

By Sophie Stratford

‘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

Kanye West entered the VMA stage whilst Taylor Swift was giving her acceptance speech upon winning the award for the best female video. West took the mic from Swift and with the same logic and elegance of speech as saying ‘no offense’ before laying into someone announced,

“Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’m going to let you finish. But Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time.”

Swift remained silent and was soon escorted offstage. Beyonce was of course massively embarrassed by West’s outburst and later called Taylor Swift on stage to finish her acceptance speech.

I don’t care that he apologized about it on his blog. The fact is that he ruined a defining moment of a teenager’s life and should have been able to control himself.

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