Micachu is an alphabet soup, in which each letter is a new technological sound. Mica Levi is the young English musical talent that is behind the fictional and quirky Micachu. Michachu’s colorful experimental pop is drawn in neon colors. Songs like “calculator” and “Lips”, from the album “Jewellery”, are so bright that they will make you pull your Ray-Bans out. Can you hear Bubblegum pink?
The Dirty Projectors own music apparatus, Dave Longstreth and band, projects distorted rays of light, jagged riffs, and fragrant folk melodies. The Brooklyn based experimental art-pop band led by Longstreth is known to produce music that can be utterly eccentric and oddly familiar at the same time. The band’s latest album is a kaleidoscope of style, which the effect is similar if not stronger than of narcotics and could leave any lighthearted listener woozy. Is stillness really the move?
Telepathe is a Brooklyn, New York based experimental noise pop duo. Busy Gangnes and Melissa Livaudais, started Telepathe as a side project that was awaken by the monotony of playing in their habitual band. Telepathe has earned the respect from fellow musician Julian Casablancas, who has mentioned them in his latest Q&A interview, and as if that wasn’t enough, TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek produced their debut album “Dance Mother”. Superhuman, acknowledged absurd subhuman?
Golden Silvers are the odd London based trio with dandy fashion and an infectious synthesized sound that has instantaneously become my true romance. The combined effect of Ben Moorhouse, Gwylim Gold and Alexis Nunez results in music that is simultaneously rustic and futuristic. The Golden Silver’s music has proven more effective than the arrows of Eros.
Little Joy is an escape from the habitual black coffee, cigarette smoke and too many forgotten nights. Binki Shapiro, Rodrigo Amarante and Fabrizio Moretti dropped their routines and respective cities to make music in Los Angeles, California. Their music is a complete change of scene for former full-time pavement indie rockers. Little joy is the unusual sea breeze coming from the Bowery subway station entrance.
Hockey is a four-piece new wave band from Portland, Oregon. They might have too much soul for the world, but they are just fine to me. It would be too fake to say they are the only cool dance band around, but their witty lyrics are infectious and as Ben has said “everyone’s making dance music now true, but we started in 2002”. I’m not a sports fan, so trust me on this one.
Phonographs echo Brooklyn based Grizzly Bear’s unconventional mellow roar unceasingly. The psychedelia laced folk-rock sound of Grizzly Bear is translated into audible tales that unravel the highest highs and the lowest lows. The delicately complex and understated vanguard sounding “Two Weeks” and “Don’t Ask” are the odds-on favorite. Listen, don’t ask.
Noisemakers hike up their guitar straps and start playing dance music, resulting on the coolest frustrated danceable post-punk band called Foals. Although they might be considered just another band of snotty art school dropouts hungry for the dollar, who actually cares if they are? Foals is the antidote for all the monotonous faux intellectual bands around.
(Thanks Shadia babes!)
For a band that describes their sound as a frothing cauldron of gruel, Ra Ra Riot is the antonym of dull. Their unique line-up of the traditional guitar, bass and drums amplified by cello and violin creates a skewed pop sound that blends a post punk energy with the symphonic melodies of a more melodic age. Although I might be guilty of favoritism, this band is undeniably more than worthy of a listen.
Beach House’s combination of dream pop and indie rock blends effortlessly. Formed in 2005 in Baltimore, the group consists of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. With their languid song craft, Beach House is mellow in sound but incredibly stark. Songs like “Master Of None” and “You Came To Me” have a sound that evokes a tale like unpretentious glamour. Beach House’s audible fictitious prose narratives got me charmed.
Blonde Redhead trio Kazu Makino and Italian twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace whose band is named after a song by the New York No wavers DNA, have a sound somewhat influenced by No Wave and an undeniable resemblance to early Sonic Youth. Blonde Redhead isn’t like other experimental avant-garde rock bands, which often come across as detached and supposedly overly cool and intellectual, their records are actually filled with violent, boiling emotions. Very much like how an indie kid would feel if their bike or vinyl collection ever got stolen.
Any band that defines their music as “Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel” is worthy of a listen. Yeasayer is this unusual looking, trippy sounding band based in Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of Anand Wilder, Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton, and Luke Fasano. Their ultra-modern twist using heavy echo delay, synthesizers and random electronic textures makes it the most avant-garde band of the moment.Just say yes.
No, it’s not your favorite song from New Order. Thieves Like Us is a Swedish-American trio based in Paris. Their charm is in their French filter house with romantic beats you will bob your head without even noticing. If you were expecting New Order, don’t be disappointed! Actually, the beats of their song “Fass” are very reminiscent of their vibe. Give it a try, they will certainly steal your heart!
Friendly Fires electro dance/punk songs are just as addictive and caffeine loaded as my daily Diet Coke (or should I say…hourly Diet Coke). I can’t help but to think they sound like that awesome song you closed your eyes and danced to but didn’t know the name that other night. Ed Mac, Jack Savidge and Edd Gibson’s music literally sounds and feels like a “Jump in the pool”.
Whether you call it cool town rock or you just know it’s actually cerebral music hidden under dancey beats, Holy Hail is catchy indeed. Don’t confuse them with other average dance bands. Their upbeat pop tracks are scattered with political undertones, and that’s not a bad thing at all, at least not for this band. Dive headfirst into “Cool town rock” and “Born of a star”.
Stricken city has a textured sound and amazing offbeat style. Formed in the Midlands and now based in London, the quartet is fronted by edgy Rebekah Raa. Their music is just as avant-garde as their artistic music videos. The original concepts of their videos only compliments their already feisty music. Stricken City’s creativeness is refreshingly inspiring.
Florence and The Machine’s whimsical style is impossible not to notice. Florence’s voice is very much folk but her music is just as folk as a indie dance party. As Florence Welsh her self has said,“I want my music to sound like throwing yourself out of a tree, or off a tall building, or as if you’re being sucked down into the ocean and you can’t breathe.” Whether it is her outrageous fashion foward style, her random videos, witty lyrics or actual music that captivates you, it is definitely worth checking out.
New Wave meets Mod would define Lissy Trullie’s style. Her voice and pace are reminiscent of Nico of The Velvet Underground, but her sound is just as soft as her motorcycle jacket. Lissy’s cover of Hot Chip’s “Ready for the floor” is even more catchy and maybe even better than the original. Her duo with Adam Green in “Just a friend” earned my affection.
Passion Pit’s “Sleepy head” awakes you in the same way 3 cans of energy drink would. Their music evokes nostalgic moments, such as crazy karaoke nights when you overdid the alcohol or that time when your friends did a set of prince covers on your little cousins’s toy piano .Whether you feel like you heard it all, this might just change your mind.
Amid all the so called indie bands, Australian pop group Architecture in Helsinki is a breath of fresh air.Originally comprised of three childhood friends Cameron Bird, Jamie Mildren and Sam Perry, the band has morphed through as many as six different line-ups. Their music can be classified as Indie pop, although their style is not defining of their sound. The use of unexpected instruments and synths makes for an eclectic and unusual sound.
