Introducing: Police Squad

Police Squad are a Liverpool based 5-piece indie/garage band. Formed in 2008, they took their time releasing their debut EP,  Gestalt. It is said ‘good things come to those who wait’, it is certainly true in this case, a likable and listenable release.

‘Y.oung D.airy F.armers’ and ‘Rezzonator’ demonstrates what Police Squad do best; catchy, endearingly likable indie songs with touching heartfelt emotion emanating from a heady mix of hooks, rhythms and melodies. The vocals, delivered with a certain deadpan melody, are a notable feature of the bands success. It does, at times, remind of Milburn or The Holloways on top of their game.

Nothing wholly original on offer here but what they do, they do exceptionally well and isn’t that all that matters?

Police Squad’s debut EP Gestalt is out now.

Introducing: King Twit

King Twit are Liverpool-based purveyors of lively and supremely catchy alternative-indie-folk.

The band formed in late 2011 and quickly to hit the road, blagging dates across Europe before returning to produce debut EP, Bicycle. Heavily indebted to the likes The Shins & Captain Beefheart, accompanied by a mix of up tempo scratchy guitars, snappy percussion, wonderful brass and an unmistakably distinctive vocal drawl, the EP is lively, infectious, endearingly likeable.

King Twit are currently in the midst of on an Irish tour (the full list of dates are here) you can also ‘name your price’ and get Bicycle from bandcamp.

Download: King Twit – The Partys Been A Prison All Along

Download: King Twit – Parking Space

Download: King Twit – Bicycle

Introducing: Black Manila

Formed in 2010, Black Manila are a London based garage rock band, resurrecting the licks, dirty guitar riffs and gravelly tones of old fashioned garage rock jams.

The band already have a few single releases under their belt but with ‘Fiasco’ and b-side ‘England’, they have really found a groove. ’Fiasco’ is a ferocious rock-out, sneering vocals sithe through a haze of repetitive guitars while ‘England’ stomps along a softer edge into an epic droned ramble. Both tracks are dispatched with a sense of assured confidence and swagger to boot.

Both ‘Fiasco’ and b-side ‘England’ are out now & available as a FREE download.

Download: Black Manila – Fiasco

Download: Black Manila – England

Introducing: Sive | Charming & Sweet Folk / Alt Rock Fusion

Sive is the brainchild of Kildare songwriter and musician Sadhbh O’Sullivan. The band was formed (in full) in 2010 following the addition of Eoin Hartweig, Patrick Hopkins and Mark Dudley to the fold. 

Drawing from a wide variety of alternative rock, jazz and folk influences, Sive’s gorgeous sound is a fusion of these influences, with perfect arrangement, excellent musicianship and charm. No question it is Sadhbh’s voice which is the greatest asset, it is simultaneously powerful, delicate and intricate, sweeping along sweetly, adding depth and feeling to songs, both bright and touching.

Sive left quite an impression on everyone with a stupendous performance at ‘BarryGruff Presents’ back in December and with their debut album, We Are Moving, out this Thursday, April 19th, it was high time we shed some light on this talent. The launch takes place in The Grand Social on the same day. More info here.

 Sive – We Are Moving

Download: Sive – Sunkissed

Introducing: Only Real | Delectable blend of hip hop and indie

Only Real is the handle of 20-year-old Niall Galvin, who from his West London bedroom produces some charming sounds, taking care of production, vocals, arrangement etc.

It is an usual but delectable blend of hip hop and guitar indie. ’Cadillac Girl’ demonstrates this attitude best. It worms its way inside your head and refuses to leave, meandering around there with a lazy but catchy riff, steady drumbeat, rapping and a carefree hazy vocal drawl. There is a kind of Jamie T / King Krule thing going, and, I for one cannot get enough of it right now.

Only Real’s currently working in getting the live set-up sorted but for now I’ll happily make do with what he has to offer.

Only Real – Cadillac Girl

Only Real – New Gold

(Video) Turrentine Jones – Slam The Door

Mancunian’s Turrentine Jones have, by all accounts, been causing quite a stir in their native Manchester on the back of several self-released demos.

The bands first single proper, ’Slam The Door’, sees a melding of a slew of rock and blues influences combine with swirling organ, rapid-fire drumming and lead singer Neville’s distinctive croaky drawl. What we are left with is a rousing sound of effortless swagger, a kind of bastard child of The Stones and The Animals.

‘Slam The Door’ is released as the A-side of Le Debut and the video is below.

 Turrentine Jones – Slam The Door

Introducing: Sad Soul Circus | Cork based chilled electronica

The list of prodigious electronica artists emerging from Ireland over the past year and a half is damn impressive. 

Sad Soul Circus, 19 year old Cork City based Finn Yowell, is another talent to be added to list. He has created something of rather unique quality. The music is a chilled out, alluring array of fresh and tranquil sounds. So far there are two wonderful tracks, both of which have been on constant rotation since last week. ‘Waves’ flows beautifully, a refreshing vibe washing over you while the blissful ‘Lost Ideas’ skips gently by, along  a choppy bass-heavy rhythm.

Sad Soul Circus is currently in the process of producing an 8 track album.

Download: Sad Soul Circus – Lost Ideas

Sad Soul Circus – Waves

Introducing: Death In The Sickroom | Jingle-jangle Dublin Indie

Death In The Sickroom are a four piece Indie band from Dublin. To be frank, they play happy-go-lucky jingle-jangle pop songs with underlying themes of sex, violence and desperation.

So far there are just a few demo’s and live recordings, nonetheless, ’Tonight’ in particularly is worthy of praise. It recalls the sparkling indie brilliance of Echo & The Bunnymen at their very best, while The Smiths are another obvious influence on their work. There’s definitely talent here, hopefully they can get into a studio in the coming months and get some tracks down proper. Watch this space.

You can stream or download the lot below. This weekend they support Cheap Freaks in Little Green Street Gallery on Friday and Saturday with The North Sea in Whelan’s.

Download: Death In The Sickroom – Tonight

Introducing: Byron | Articulate & Witty UK MC

Raised in grey, British suburbia of his hometown of Slough, MC and lyricist Byron, has been bubbling under the surface for a while releasing numerous mix-tapes and tracks. Fueled by a passion for poetry, a diet of UK Grime and Garage and a desire to have his say, he has turned his insight and frustration into something terrific.

His frustration, story-telling abilities and articulation culminate in intelligent and informed stories of what he sees all around him, lyrics are delivered with razor-sharp wit, humour and sometimes aggression and anger. The music has a very Garage and Grime feel to it. ’Don’t Hate, Work Harder’ is a perfect example of this, while ‘All Part Of The Magic’ and ‘Don’t Judge A Book’ display his story-telling abilities.

Byron is a talent and a very promising one at that. There is no reason why we shan’t be hearing much more about him in the future. 

You can spin a few tracks below or dowload his latest release, Deep Lyrics Dirty Beats Part II for free.

Download: Byron – All Part Of The Magic

Download: Byron – Don’t Hate, Work Harder

Download: Byron – Check This Out (Freestyle)

Introducing: Simon Bird

Originally from West Somerset but now Dublin-based, Simon Bird produced five EPs in the last 12 months touching on a host of genre’s including; hip-hop, noise, post-rock, ambient and electronica along the way.

His fantastic V EP is a relaxing, thought provoking and engaging release. Through a series of complex layers and rich ambient sounds it creates a really tranquil mood, like gazing into a free flowing flowing river as it passes you by. His live shows have come in for particular praise, while I have yet to witness one myself, I have heard only good reports. Bird is a prospect, no doubt about it. It will be exciting to see what he comes up with next.

His V EP is available from bandcamp below, just name your price, a limited run on vinyl will follow soon.

Simon Bird – Xerox Waveform Godless Ocean

Simon Bird – Stillborn In Autumn

Introducing: SlowPlaceLikeHome

Donegal-based SlowPlaceLikeHome (aka Keith Mannion) released his second EP, Coastal Hubs for Chivalry in January.

This is rich electronic music which slowly builds through vast wandering instrumentals, coupled by expansive, seductive and swirling arrangements to create relaxing, thought provoking music. Mannion isn’t afraid to mix things up a little, preferring to work through different electronic styles rather than committing to just one in particular. Take the perfectly chilled-out ‘Carte Blanche’ with it’s warm, relaxing ambient beats or ’We Learned To Tilt At Windmills’, which sounds like the result of night of passion between Air and Unkle.

You can try a few choice cuts below or grab Coastal Hubs for Chivalry in it’s entirety, for free, from bandcamp.

 SlowPlaceLikeHome – Carte Blanche

Download: SlowPlaceLikeHome – We Learned to Tilt at Windmills

Introducing: Miaoux Miaoux | Impressive Glasgow based spacey electronica

Miaoux Miaoux is 26-year-old Glasgow based producer Julian Corrie, who makes hugely impressive spacey electronica with indie and post-rock leanings. 

Miaoux Miaoux’s fluid and uplifting indie-electronica sounds evoke moods a million miles from dreary rain soaked city of its birth. From the hazy, sun drenched sounds of ‘Hey Sound!’ to the swirling synths of ‘Cloud Computer’, we glide through a heavenly mist of lush harmonies, melodies and electronic beats and vibrations. While it may recall many of the finer points of Caribou, Four Tet and Hot Chip, it does have a groove all of its own, one deserving of a much larger audience.

Following a series of self-released records, Miaoux Miaoux has recently signed to Chemikal Underground with a new album is penciled in for the first half of 2012.

 Miaoux Miaoux – Hey Sound!

Miaoux Miaoux – Cloud Computer

Miaoux Miaoux – Knitted