For a band that culls much of its material from the whirlwind of emotions caused by relationships, the lads from Washington DC picked a relatively obscure but appropriate name. Lovelorn Irish writer William Butler Yeats scolded his love interest, revolutionary Maud Gonne, in 1916 for preferring Nationalist politics over a dalliance with the smitten poet in the poem ‘No Second Troy’. End of history lesson.

I’m glad to say that the band’s music is far less academic than their philosophies. For starters, slap on the classic REM rock of the title track ‘Colors’ and the pumped up energy of ‘Let It Go’. Now you’re ready for the unbridled anthemic power of ‘Wake Up’, ‘Surfacing’ and ‘Golden Age’. It’s guaranateed pure goosebump material and free of any intellectual stodginess.

Our two MP3s below cover the middle ground between No Second Troy’s rock and ballad sides. ‘Black & White Movie’ is a nice, loose groover and ‘This Is The End Of Me’ combines a straight Dance Rock beat with a big anthem chorus.

Keyboard player Mike Beach explains that ‘Colors’ is about seeing the nuances in our relationships. ‘Take the song ‘Black & White Movie’, for instance, it is an acknowledgment that we overanalyse our relation-ships and foolishly seek the perfection we see in Hollywood movies, thereby having our relationships fall into one of two categories - bliss or something inadequate, in other words, viewing the world as a black and white movie,’ comments Beach

Engineer Chad Clark previously worked with US Post Punk legends Fugazi. Chad brings an uncluttered, sparse style to the mix which lends No Second Troy’s poppy arrangements a sense of understatement. This is Indie Rock that will run for miles before sounding tired.

Beach compares No Second Troy to a pre-stadium success Coldplay, aiming for a sound that appeals to critics and a broad audience alike. Walking the tightrope between underground credibility and commercial cache is a potentially soul destroying task for any artist. No Second Troy are trying to keep sane by playing their cards close to their chests. The band self-releases its music and collectively determines the musical direction without having to heed outside advice.

Here’s a band that can set its own pace without sounding either too rushed or too stale. Like a prefectly matured peach, ‘Colors’ is ripe for the picking now.

‘Colors’ is available now. Check No Second Troy’s site for more info.

We say: 5 out of 5 stars

Listen here to ‘Black & White Movie’
Download audio file (black_&_white_movie.mp3)

Listen here to ‘This Is The End Of Me’
Download audio file (this_is_the_end_of_me.mp3)

OK, so Roberts lives in California. Sun drenched San Diego to be precise. That might go a long way to explain the laid back groove and sunny feel to his music. ‘Animal Feelings’ is full of funky drums, edgy guitars and quirky bits of percussion and keys. In fact, if the Talking Heads would have grown up in San Diego instead of New York they probably would have recorded something like ‘Animal Feelings’ in between skating neighbours’ pools.

Just check drummer Andy Robillard (Gogogo Airheart, Enon, Album Leaf) swirl his magic swizzle sticks on ‘A Frame’. Or delve into the cool Dance Rock of ‘Paper’ (not a cover of the Talking Heads song with the same name, by the way) and ‘Animal Feelings’. Then there is the subdued funkyness of ‘Beauty Beauty’ and ‘Fruit’, a song about Rafters courting his wife, photographer Lizeth Santos (who also shot the portrait which graces this post).

It’s hard to believe, but ‘Animal Feelings’ is Roberts’ fifth solo album to date. Rafter has tried a range of different musical styles in the past, on his own and as one half of legendary Punk Pop duo Bunky. The eleven songs on ‘Animal Feelings’ are his most poppy and consistent ones to date and deserve a bigger audience.

Listen up you, if you’re into Animal Collective and the like, then ‘Animal Feelings’ was made for your ears. Unashamedly good pop music with its heart in the right place. Now excuse me while I dig out my battered old skateboard and go for a cruise.

‘Animal Feelings’ is out now on US indie label Asthmatic Kitty Records.

We say: 5 out of 5 stars

Listen here to ‘Paper’ by Rafter Roberts
Download audio file (rafter_-_animal_feelings_-_paper.mp3)

Listen here to ‘Beauty Beauty’ by Rafter Roberts
Download audio file (rafter_-_beauty_beauty_-_animal_feelings.mp3)

The Bowie-style 70’s rock of the first single ‘Drunk Girls’ didn’t promise much, but LCD Soundsystem’s upcoming album ‘This Is Happening’ is full of rough and ready Electro rhythms. Lo-fi drum machines clatter away while James Murphy’s voice intones his spoken word vocals. Bleeps ‘n sweeps whirl through the tracks lending most of the songs a strong psychedelic haze.

More so than on his previous album ‘Sound Of Silver’, Murphy doffs his cap to experimental German 70s music or ‘Krautrock’ and David Bowie (an early Krautrock convert himself) on ‘This Is Happening’. ‘Bowie influences can be heard on ‘All I Want’ (think ‘Heroes’ era Bowie) and ‘I Can Change’ (think ‘Goon Squad’ from ‘Ashes To Ashes’ era Bowie) - Both are way stronger songs than ‘Drunk Girls’, in my opinion.

There are some touches of mid 80’s pop here, check out the New Order hook on ‘You Wanted A Hit’ or the ueber-groove on the Talking Heads pastiche’Pow Pow’. But overall I get more of a nice ‘n sleazy ‘79 revival vibe here, right down Murphy’s skinny tie and suit on the cover. If I’d had to place this, I would say Bowery rather than Hacienda. Just check out the Suicide vibe on ‘Somebody’s Calling Me’. Welcome to the punky Electro party!

‘This Is Happening’ is out on 17th May 2010. Here’s the official sneak preview!

We say: 4 out of 5 stars

You will detect a stronger House flavour than in previous months in this mix as UK producers increasingly work some soulful vocals and deep House grooves into their styles. Check out Geiom, Hackman and Altered Natives and see if you like this new thing. Terror Danjah’s ‘Sidechain’ tune from last year gets a D.O.K. refix flying the flag for straight up Grime while Sami Sanchez puts the cheese in Funky with his highly addictive Salsa sample. Gets them going every time, trust me.

There’s a bit of a story to ‘Footcrab’ with it’s infectious ‘f-f-f-footcrab’ stutter. Addison Groove is the alias of Tony Williams a respected Juke DJ. Juke is a totally underground, high energy take on Hip Hop as pioneered by a bunch of Chicago street kids. It comes with it’s own dance moves called Footworking, which is roughly similar to the 70’s ‘Uprocking’ gang dance, the precursor of Breakdancing. Just like in the early years of Hip Hop, two groups meet, form a circle (or ‘Cypher’ in old Breakdancing terms), somebody gets in, busts his or her moves and challenges an opponent to outdo their performance. This is all highly competitive, super-charged stuff which inspires some jaw dropping moves. Watch those feet burn up the floor in any of Walacam’s videos on YouTube.

We also featured some choice oldies by Public Image Limited and the obscure 80’s Electro heroes Chilltown, aka the production duo of Lotti Golden and Richard Scher from Noo York City. Hard to believe, but there’s more than ten years between the two Zed Bias mixes on here, the UK Garage classic ‘Body Groove’ from ‘99 and the Altered Natives remix from this year. Either Zed was way ahead in ‘99 or ‘Believe In Me’ is totally vintage. Either way, both tunes carry a mean swing.

Do you like what you hear? This is my entry in a Mixcloud competition for a DJ slot at the Stag & Dagger Festival in London on 21st May 2010, please hit the Favourite button before 7th May and spread the word. Please note, you may need to register with Mixcloud (it’s free). If I get this gig, there’ll be a free drink for the first 10 voters making their way to the DJ box during my set…

Chip Buttie Mix - Tracklisting

1. Chilltown - Rock The Beat (Accapella)
2. Geiom - Sugar Coated Lover (Brackles & Shortstuff Refix)
3. Chilltown - Rock The Beat
4. Addison Groove - Footcrab
5. Hackman - Always [Brackles Remix]
6. Architechs - Body Groove (Zed Bias Dub)
7. Altered Natives - Believe In Me (Zed Bias Club Dub)
8. Sami Sanchez - Dirty Salsa
9. Dubtribe Sound System - Equitoreal (Dub)
10. Pil - This Is Not A Love Song (12″ Remix)
11. Terror Danjah - Sidechain (D.O.K Remix)
12. Dub & Run - Sax Shaker

For promotional use only - Please support the original artists

Put your headphones on and head for the nearest park to get the full benefit of ‘Shady Retreat’. The gently tinkling piano, scratchy acoustic guitar and Damien’s hazy vocals are perfect for a lazy afternoon with some friends, a beaten up frisbee and an improvised picnic to wind up the day.

Just like a perfect summer day, the ten songs on the album have a transient, catch it while you can feel to them. ‘Well Alright’ exudes the fragile charm of a mid-Sixties Beach Boys session. Blink and you miss it. Same for the folky feelgood factor on ‘The End’ or the wistful ballad ‘Into The Woods’.

Watch Peasant Play ‘The End’

Peasant’s songwriting and delivery are more subtle than on his previous album ‘On The Ground’. The 2009 album presented an artist equally at ease with polished pop tunes and earthy folk rock. ‘Shady Retreat’, on the other hand, takes a step back from the edge of the stage and shows a more private DeRose.

Recorded in the attic of a 200 year old wooden farm house stranded in the middle of drive-ins and retail outlets, ‘Shady Retreat’ is resolutely lo-fi. You can feel the contrast between the speed and noise of the modern world on the outside and the calm of Peasant’s old world retreat on the inside coming through on these songs. They are songs that urge you to stop the clock and feel the moment, it will be gone too soon.

‘Shady Retreat’ is an unusually unassuming album, so you may need to give it a few listens before the songs open up for you. Definitely a grower.

We say: 4 out of 5 stars

Peasant - Spring 2010 Tour Dates

US Dates
13/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Café
28/04 – Chicago, IL @ Martyrs w/ Chris Pureka
29/04 – Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall w/ Chris Purkea
01/05 – Minneapolis, MN @ Bryant Lake Bowl w/ Chris Pureka
02/05 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon w/ Chris Pureka
03/05 – Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews w/ Chris Pureka

European Dates
05/05 - Basel (CH) @ TBC
06/05 - Zürich (CH) @ Papiersaal
07/05 - Stuttgart (D) – Wagenhallen
12/05 - London (UK) - The Tamesis Dock
15/05 - Lille (F) - Le Drugstore

If you like ‘Shady Retreat’, you may also enjoy Peasant’s previous album ‘On The Ground’.

Brooklyn based artist James Murphy, aka LCD Soundsystem, not so long ago had a unique sound that borrowed the best bits of 80’s New Wave. You know, a dancey feel with a bit of an edge and some quirky arrangements that made his music sound sharp and, well, witty. The new LCD Soundsystem single ‘Drunk Girls’ on the other hand sounds like vintage mainstream Rock with a touch of nostalgia for the 70’s.

Listen To LCD Soundsystem’s ‘Drunk Girls’

Alright, ‘Drunk Girls’ is infatuated by David Bowie and - with a little stretch of the imagination - the Velvet Underground, which kind of saves the day here. We are not talking stadium rock, but the 70’s idea of a big rock sound. Murphy first showed a liking for straight, old-fashioned rock on the 2008 tune ‘Big Ideas’ from the soundtrack of the movie ‘21′. ‘Drunk Girls’ picks up where ‘Big Ideas’ left and adds more of that vintage feel. And then there’s Murphy’s acerbic lyrics which are good for a smile or two.

Still, taken on its own, ‘Drunk Girls’ is not an instant winner. Maybe it needs some context, so I am curious whether LCD Soundsystem can make this new Rock trip sound more enticing on their upcoming album ‘This Is Happening’.

Knife crime, binge drinking and teenage pregnancies are just the tip of the iceberg of social issues that UK rapper Scroobius Pip rhymes about on ‘The Logic Of Chance’, the duo’s second album after their 2008 surprise hit album ‘Angles’. Where ‘Angles’ presented an ironic, hard-partying version of Hip Hop its successor appears almost speechless faced with everyday violence.

It is as if Pip can only address the issues straight on, as if he no longer sees a point in talking in metaphors. Simultaneously, Dan Le Sac’s beats have become heavier and more abrasive as if he, too, feels that the party is over and the music needs to pick up the aggression of the street.

The lightheartedness of ‘Angles’ is definitely gone. Instead, Dan and Pip are fed up with having to dodge all sorts of aggro every day, worry about ending up as stabbing victims and despair of the general apathy around them. The song ‘Get Better’ traces the causes for much of the behaviour that frustrates Pip and Dan. Pip calls it the ‘Smalltown Syndrome’, where drug abuse, binge drinking and random violence are borne out of boredom. ‘It’s all just because life ain’t too exciting and it’s easier than trying to do the right thing,’ he raps.

Watch The Video Of ‘Get Better’

It is a brave undertaking to comment on social issues in the UK (or anywhere else, really) while avoiding to sound like a ranting MAG or a finger wagging liberal. Pips lyrics often give both sides of the story a voice, like in ‘Snob’ or ‘Five Minutes’. He realises when he gets too caught up in a subject and often moderates with a hint of self-depreciation. On ‘Last Train’, surveying the carnage on the last train home after a night out in town, Pip concedes ‘Maybe I’m a miserable guy, but everywhere I look I see things I despise.’

Dan and Pip skillfully prevent ‘The Logic Of Chance’ from turning into a whinge fest. Their aim is to encourage listeners to do something about improving their lives. Get passionate about something, suggests Pip on ‘Get Better’, use the internet and other free services to broaden your horizon and break out of the grip of mindless boredom. The notion is a bit idealistic and certainly easier to subscribe to if you had the pleasure and privilege of a good education. But Pip is no fool and realises the difficulty of breaking the inertia of a formed habit. ‘It’s one thing to see a path but it’s another to choose it,’ he raps in the domestic violence drama ‘Five Minutes’.

‘The Logic Of Chance’ is an album that might alienate some of their more party-oriented fans due to the overt preaching, pending your point of view. But then again, Dan and Pip didn’t set out to preach to the converted.

The duo’s music has become more varied since ‘Angles’, working through an eclectic mix of contemporary pop styles. At times, Dan’s beats are very meaty, reflecting the tense lyrical subjects in shards of Grime, mainstream Dance and Hip Hop (’Great Britain’, ‘I’m Sick Tonight’, ‘Last Train Home’). At other times, the music masks the content with cheerful bopping beats (’Get Better’) or zany humour (’Cowboi’).

Whatever your current taste in music may be, you should listen to ‘The Logic Of Chance’ at least once, in full and ideally with the lyrics sheet within reach. Whether you warm to the album or not, Dan and Pip have something important to say about the times we live in.

We say: 3.5 out of 5 stars

If you haven’t got it yet, check out Dan and Pip’s debut album ‘Angles’!

The Tiny’s Ellekari Larsson morphs from one persona to the next between verse and chorus, exchanging blue-eyed folk whispers with a rasping 40-ciggies-a-day cough. The lyrics are no candy floss either. Within the first minute of the opener ‘Last Weekend’ the song’s protagonist is standing at a lovey dovey wedding, bemoaning the fact that her current relationship could implode any day now and certainly will never get to the rings and bubbly stage.

Watch The Video Of ‘Last Weekend’

The first impressions are misleading, however, ‘Gravity & Grace’ is not the last testament of a bunch of strung out junkie rockers. It is actually a clever pop album that gets its edge from the nice girl/broken girl vocal acrobatics. Larsson’s tales of woe are a bit hammed up, but her band mate and husband Leo Svensson creates an instantly catchy soundtrack that sits loosely between modern classical and lounge Jazz. Notice how the cool, detached feel of the backing tracks contrasts with Larsson’s agitated vocals. To my ears, this contrast is what brings ‘Gravity & Grace’ alive.

I’m pretty sure the hidden pop quality of the album is down to producer Paul Webb. A former member of 80’s pop stars Talk Talk of ‘It’s My Life’ fame, Webb worked on the solo debut ‘Out Of Season’ by Portishead singer Beth Gibbons back in 2002. Listen closely and you’ll find echoes of ‘Out Of Season’ on ‘Gravity & Grace’, particularly that jazzy vibe and the sympathetic space around the vocals.

In a nutshell, what you are getting is an album full of finely crafted pop songs with a leftfield feel. Whether you will like the lyrics is a different story. Plenty of fundamentally morose lyricists are/were actually quite entertaining. Leonard Cohen does sarcasm in style, Morrissey sparkles with wit and irony and Ian Curtis had a certain poetic ambiguity. By comparison, ‘Gravity & Grace’ is straight to the point of bluntness.

‘Gravity & Grace’ is The Tiny’s third album, following ‘Close Enough’ (2004) and ‘Starring Somebody Like You’ (2006). The album is due out on 12 April.

We say: 2.5 out of 5 stars

If you like ‘Gravity & Grace’ you may also enjoy:

Dag för Dag

Ikonika, aka UK artist aka Sara Abdel-Hamid, sports a unique style that is intricate and almost baroque with layers upon layers of detail over solid bass lines. ‘Contact, Love, Want, Have’ is her debut album and pushes the right buttons for fans of wonky Funk and sleazy electro sounds. Fans of Zomby or Joker take notice, this is right down your alley.

‘Contact, Love, Want, Have’ is a brainy album that needs you to tune into the music and engage with it. There are no obvious dancefloor rollers like Ikonika’s recent remixes of Egyptrixx’ ‘The Only Way Is Up’ on the Night Slugs imprint or Brown Acid’s ‘Bastard Kids’. Instead, the album starts with a blank page, joining the dots between Dubstep, Grime, Funky and - occasionally - the lush early synthesiser prog rock of Vangelis. The result doesn’t quite sound like anything that went before it.

Listen To Ikonika’s Remix Of ‘Bastard Kids’

Both sides of last year’s 12″ release for Hyperdub, ‘Sahara Michael’ and ‘Fish’, are featured on the album. Either are good starting points to explore the more out there tracks on ‘Contact, Love, Want, Have’. The soundscapes Ikonika creates are full of detail, conjuring up brief flashes of urban science fiction imagery with their metallic harshness and snippets of heroic themes.

There is so much happening on each of the tracks that reduction would, at times, create a possibly stronger impact on me. Altered Natives demonstrate this ably on a remix of the album track ‘Idiot’. The Altered Natives mix strips down the original, adding a rolling snare drum that anchors the track which previously floated like a helium balloon. Little quibbles aside, Ikonika’s debut is essential listening if you are interested in the development of electronic music.

‘Contact, Love, Want, Have’ is due out on 6th April 2010 on Hyperdub Records in CD and MP3 format. Instead of a straightforward vinyl release, Hyperdub plans to table a series of 12″s featuring remixes from the album. The Altered Natives mix of ‘Idiot’ kicks off the series on 12th April 2010. Unfortunately, there are no official videos or audio samples bar the Brown Acid remix available at the time of this review going live. You can preview excerpts of some of the album tracks on Ikonika’s webpage.

We say: 3.5 out of 5 stars

UK Funky is made up of a good dollop of Soca drums, a dash of Calypso and a spritzer of Antilles carnival spirit. It’s an all round Caribbean flavoured cocktail, you could say. And it’s served on the rocks, with the whole concoction resting on a bedrock of trouser shaking bass.

The best thing about UK Funky is that it sounds different straight out of the box, thanks to its heavily syncopated beats and juggernaut basslines. Tune into Mixcloud.com and crank up the mix below - I’m sure it will put a smile on your face.

With the exception of Canadian Ghislain Poirier - possibly the Godfather of UK Funky - and Detroit’s Kyle Hall, all the main artists come from the UK, particularly from Bristol and London. Some of the names to look out for are: Roska, Baobinga, RSD, Atki2, Monkey Steak, Brackles, Hanuman and Mosca.

The tracklisting features some of the big UK Funky tunes that have filled the floor at Micro Kitchen clubnights at the Village in Dublin over the past couple of weeks. Urban Species and Foul Play Productions both add mellow ‘99 oldskool Garage and Drum And Bass flavour to get the party started. Brazilian Samba maestro Nicos Jaritz contributes mad snare rolls for the proper street carnival vibe. Enjoy!

Mariokart Joyride Mix - Tracklisting
March 2010

1. Urban Species - Woman (MJ Cole 99 Mix)
2. RSD - Naked Mariokart
3. Foul Play Productions - Risk
4. Martyn - Hear Me (Zomby Mix)
5. Mosca - Square One (Roska Mix)
6. Ghosts On Tape - Predator Mode (Roska Mix)
7. Atki2 & Dub Boy - Tigerflower
8. Poirier - Marathon
9. Baobinga - Ride It
10. Nicos Jaritz - Otau E Eu
11. Monkey Steak - Hyped Up
12. Ghislain Poirier - Get Crazy (feat. Mr. Slaughter)
13. Monkey Steak - Haarlem Drift
14. RSD - Naked Mariokart (Part 2)