Sigur Ros – Hoppipolla (EMI)
By far and away the most accessible and commercial sounding record produced by Sigur Ros, and possibly the shortest as well. Is this new sounding accessibility a bad thing? I don’t think so. Their music remains to be a thing of beauty, so let’s not start thinking they’re going to be performing on T4 just yet, why? Cause they sing in foreign like. 
Watch video for 'Hoppipolla' [.wmv file]

Ron Beasley

Rogers Sisters – Emotion Control (Too Pure )
With a plethora of garage rock combos to choose from, you come to expect the ragged, spiky guitars, trashy rhythm section and yelping vocal delivery, as such, it is hard to trust your first judgment. Often is the case that many promises are made but fewer actually delivered. But this single by New York’s Rogers Sisters is as sharp and definite enough as they come, enough to hold your attention for the brief 5 minutes or so.  The yelping, conversational vocalists do a very good job of delivering the ambiguous and indecisive lyrics over a backdrop of effected guitars and simple Casio motifs. There is a definite undertone of urgency spread over these two tracks, but an urgency that is often difficult to capture on record and would be better understood in a live context. Played twice as fast and twice as loud, the clout and the sense of immediacy that this single hints at could really come into the forefront. 

HT

Speaker Speaker expel rapid fire 3 minute pop nuggets full of scratchy guitars and punk rock sensibility but in a way that your mother would approve of. Cool robo-alien style graphics too.
www.speakerspeakermusic.com

SB

The Strollers - Your Reminder has Changed
To coincide with the release of this EP, The Strollers published a statement in which the writer was bold enough to say that he hopes on day to give despairing critics a 'V- sign from a glossy magazine printed on ten pound notes'. After reading this optimistic prose, it was a shame to find their EP quite ordinary.

The music is never really disagreeable, indeed they play their instruments tightly and well together; the first track, 'Into the Dark' with it's guitar breaks, punchy vocals and pounding drums makes for a good listen.  

During the course of the EP, the lyrics are good but unfortunately they tend not to cut through the general banality of the music.

The Strollers boast that they are a learn- your- instruments- on- stage band, but is this something to be proud of? I'm not sure about that.  

I don't doubt the bands' capabilities of putting on an energetic and fun live show, but this EP is not really memorable in any shape or manner.  

Alex Clark

SB

Film School - On and On
The genre title, 'post- rock' usually suggests something chaotic, apocalyptic, anarchic and it certainly nods towards something that is totally free of creative boundaries. So how would you go about grasping a music genre such as 'post- rock', tame it, mould and shape it to suit your music? Well you could do worse than start with Film School as a reference point.

On and On, the band's debut single opens with, I guess what you'd associate with a 'post- rock' record; it's roaming and brooding, and with it's ebullient guitar swells and voicings, it appears the listener is about to embark on an unrelenting journey through a stark and bleak sonic tundra. 

With music like this, I'm sure the temptation is always there to simply record epic, sprawling tracks with no musical direction. However, on the contrary, it seems as though Film School have bucked the trend and opposed to the occasionally bland, sonic sound- scapes which I've heard all too often from 'post- rock' outfits, this band are really doing something for the genre.

With their meandering, sanguine melodies, it's difficult to find a fault with their sound, indeed, the soave and sauntering voice of the Fender guitar plays a pivotal part in the single's B- side Plus One, It’s largely a morose sound, yet altogether joyous and pleasing at the same time.

It would appear that the label, Beggar's Banquet have made a shrewd choice of bands to sign in Film School. Hopefully we'll be hearing more from them in the future.  

By Alex Clark

SB

Fanfarlo – Look Both Ways ep
I stumbled across this folk-pop duo, comprised of one Swede and one Englishman, quite by accident (well actually, a friend told me about them). Their website gives few clues as to what makes these guys tick, being mostly full of cartoons and piss-taking self-mythology, but the music speaks for itself. 

“Talking Backwards” simply has to be one of the most affecting songs I’ve heard this year, like a more scaled-down, vulnerable Arcade Fire, and with achingly mournful vocals. It’s hardly a criticism if the rest of the tracks aren’t quite in the same league, but what’s really remarkable is the depth of thought that has gone into every song…no such thing as a stale retread on this EP. Canny deployment of xylophone (“Two Months”) and recorder (“Tuesday”) make each track a mini-symphony. 

Fanfarlo are living proof that when two nations come together, beautiful things can happen.
http://www.fanfarlo.com
http://www.myspace.com/fanfarlo

Will Columbine

And the Mutts dip into their seemingly inexhaustible range of styles even further with the electro synth ballad 'I Didn't Realise' to round up another accomplished ep. Fischerspooner-tastic.
www.muttramon.com

SB

Mark Timothy – EP
Possibly the most ambient collection of acoustica I’ve yet encountered, Mark Timothy at least deserves credit for not being yet another minor chord-fixated singer-songwriter who’s sole purpose in life is to try and be Jeff Buckley (seriously…is there any way we can make that a capital offence?). In fact, he’s a man with a plan; after the release of this EP in January, he’ll tour the UK, record an album with Dan Hulme (Beth Orton, Turin Brakes) and then tour again with a full band. 

Each song is comprised of nothing more than simple acoustic guitar and keys which make everything sound warm and intimate. The four tracks are all good, although they suffer for being very much one-speed, and it’s an odd choice to open with the brittle “Time” whilst relegating the slightly more rousing “Little Boy” (about the Iraq war) to the rear. The heavy use of delay on the vocals starts to outstay its welcome after a while. Hopefully the album will prove to be more diverse…but this is a promising start.
http://www.marktimothy.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/marktimothy

Will Columbine

SB

Think flaming lips meets the weird experimental sounds of Brian Wilson, which is present on both tracks but more on B-side “brown boxes” because they play the Kazoo!.. I haven’t heard that on a song for a while?  All in all, a fresh 60’s sound and good start from the band set to break many a girls hearts with there adventurous and tight sounding melodies.  
watch video for 'Mountains and Brown Boxes' [.wmv file]

Simon Hambrook

'We need a dancer' (Track 1) starts well, lots of funk, trumpet and a catchy chorus. The Lick (track 2) has lame lyrics, is a little flat but does have some good moments. The instrumental section makes up for the tired and uninspiring chorus. Centerfold Lady (track 3) is more of a Jamiriquai commercial funk track with a jazzy swing to it. This is the cream of the three and worth trying a few smart moves at the next wedding reception.

Sarah McDonald

SB

The Schla La Las – Schla Demos (Truck Records)
There is nothing particular intricate about what The Schla La Las do, and that’s a very good thing. Theirs, if you didn’t know already, is the sound of the all-girl garage pop group, and I think they’re bloody lovely.

Calling these songs demos implies that they sound grubby or more lo-fi than the group’s normal output. However, when you’re the Schla La Las you always sound delightfully grubby and lo-fi. Think an even more disorganised Dressy Bessy and you just about have the sound of these songs. They’re wonderful pop pieces. And, just to top everything off nicely, Piney Gir is in the band. Does it get any better? I don’t think so…

SM

'Youth' is a far better ghostly apparition of a song until...yup, Radiohead finale. Worth a sneaky peep but don't linger you ghouls.
www.ampop.co.uk
watch video for 'My Delusions' [.wmv file]

So it's a good job the music is fantastic. A skilful hybrid of trip-hop and industrial dance, the Myopia evoke memories of Massive Attack, Curve and The Sneaker Pimps in that cool south coast way. The exception is 'War' which is outright PJ Harvey. But this is a slick ep and will be lodged in the tasty CD player for a while yet.
www.magmaep.com

SB

Pearly – Escape Trick
I wasn’t expecting much from this, to be honest. It’s got one of those horrific homemade, colour photocopied covers. But, bugger me, it’s lovely. ‘Escape Trick’ is lovely understated indie rock. Calling it indie rock probably doesn’t do it justice. But think David Bowie fronting Dinosaur Jr, and you’ll be nearly there. William Adnams sings in a very nice, shy English accent, and that always gets bonus points. Every months something you that think is gonna be shite turns round and bites you on the nose with its general greatness. This month, step forward Pearly.

SM

Little Man Tate - demo
Quirky kitchen sink guitar indie from Sheffield's Little Man Tate. Tales of transvestite bruisers, groupies, threesomes and loose women seem to abound, all performed with a cheeky chappy nod and a wink and no small amount of jerky guitar work. Won't win any booker prizes but all good fun.
www.littlemantate.co.uk
MP3 for 'Man I Hate Your Band' [.mp3 file]
MP3 for 'What What You Got' [.mp3 file]
MP3 for 'Down on Marie' [.mp3 file]

The Long Blondes – Separated by Motorways (Good and Evil Records)
If this isn’t the song that propels The Long Blondes into the big leagues then I don’t know what will. ‘Separated by Motorways’ is viciously funky, and I love how The Long Blondes never go on too long – always the sign of a good band. And The Long Blondes are certainly that. This single tells the tales of ‘two lonely girls on the run’, as the vocals are spat out like a young Siouxsie Sioux. And the drums make me want to dance. Yeah!

SM

Flipside, Pump It Up does nothing to dispel this inkling. It's just slower. Get back to Iceland you freaks.
www.trabant.is
watch video for 'Maria' [.wmv file]

The National – ‘Lit Up’ (Beggars Banquet)
Good solid American alt rock taken from their well received album ‘Alligator’. Great voice, deep guitars, wry lyrics. Excellent. B-side is a new track,  ‘You’ve done it again Virginia’ is slower, acoustic guitar, with a splendid piano backing, again excellent. 

Ron Beasley

Envelopes – Sister in Love (Brille)
A little bit late, but still worth including because it’s bastard fantastic. Seemingly omnipresent at the moment, Envelopes have a single here which defies apathy. It’s twee and raucous at the same time. It’s danceable yet huggable. It’s, quite frankly, amazing. Tight whilst all the time seeming that it might fall apart around them, ‘Sister in Love’ makes me tingle. And only the sight of John McDermott in full flight can do that nowadays.

SM