Defenseload

Music Alliance Pact May 2015

Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the full 19-track compilation through Dropbox here.

 UNITED STATES: We Listen For You Johnny Azari - God Damn Blues Johnny Azari doesnt pull any punches with his blues. This is in your face, razor-edge reconstruction of a genre thats gotten soft. His music is the last swig of whiskey after a long night of drinking. The dark alleyway. This is real-life emotion through music and hes not cleaning it up just to make a few casual listeners more comfortable.

ARGENTINA: ZonaindieEl Gnomo - Suicidas MelodíasThis new musical project by Martin Reznik (La Filarmonica Cosmica) almost started as a game in 2012, when he recorded several songs on a weekly basis. Some time afterwards, while reviewing the material, Martin realised he had an album in his hands, so he spent the next months polishing the songs and re-recording some instrumental tracks. He also invited musical friends to participate in what became a folk album with a soft psychedelic vibe. Suicidas Melodías is one of these collaborations, in which singer-sonwriter Sofía Viola lends her wonderful voice. You can download the full album from Bandcamp.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?Arvo Tanty - White Hum Valley (Hello)Arvo Tanty is an introduction to producer Michael Dolans solo material, following his work with electronic outfit Perth. White Hum Valley (Hello) is a grandiose, cinematic Casiotone orchestra track where slow, effacing rhythms pulse and dissolve at surface break. Dolan says the song was inspired by Joni Mitchell, Mort Garsons Plantasia and his yearning to make a "Nintendo soundtrack of some kind".

BRAZIL: Meio DesligadoOtis Trio - Montags DreamMontags Dream, the opening track of Otis Trios debut album 74 Club, probably refers to the main character of the novel Fahrenheit 451. The dark jazz they create fits perfectly with the despair related in the book.

CANADA: Ride The TempoNina Bowz - BoneToronto artist Nina Bowz specializes in artful electro-pop that has quirky twists at every corner.

CHILE: Super 45Urban Monk - CollageThe lack of spirituality is a recurring theme of living in big cities, and for Urban Monk this is a starting point in their musical history. After a season in Brazil, Chai got together with Dhanur to bring out the sounds inside their heads. They have followed up their 2013 debut Primavera En Secreto EP with this years release of A Lua - a mixture of pop, rap, shoegaze and Krishna life by these friends from La Serena.

COLOMBIA: El Parlante AmarilloPlanes (Estudios Universales) - Fue Siempre Lo MismoBogotas Planes (Estudios Universales) previously appeared in the Music Alliance Pact in August 2012 and much has happened to them since then. Many trips, festivals, soundtracks and the release of their 2014 debut album Las Americas. In it, they continue their wave of dream-pop with alternative rock, creating a beautiful place in the soul of those who listen to them. Album closer Fue Siempre Lo Mismo is a song that speaks of encounters and disappointments.

DENMARK: All ScandinavianSpeaker Bite Me - Uh-AhThis month we try something different, serving up an exclusive taste of a 15-year-old album. Speaker Bite Mes If Love Is Missing It Must Be Imposed was originally released to little critical acclaim, but it has since grown to become a Danish rock classic and now its out on vinyl for the first time.

ECUADOR: Plan ArteriaLes Petit Bâtards - FicciónLes Petit Bâtards, with members under 19 years old, have become one of the most acclaimed new bands in Ecuador and are definitely worth keeping an eye on. One reason to believe in them is their intimate, touching first single, Ficción.

GREECE: MouxlalouloudaManos Milonakis - Zyklon Main ThemeManos Milonakis produces modern classical music for films and theatrical plays, as well as for his independent solo work. The original score for Thanassis Triaridis theatrical play Zyklon Or The Destiny is a magnificent set of 10 tracks awash in textures, atmospheres, moods and emotion. His music winds its way through your mind and moves your soul. You should also check out the main theme for the documentary Drink And Be Merry.

INDONESIA: DeathrockstarAnswer Sheet - Regretful SeasonWith ukulele, guitar, bass and live loops, Yogyakarta band Answer Sheet bring diversity to Indonesias indie-pop scene. You might love how these guys sing in English with a slight Javanese dialect.

IRELAND: Hendicott WritingComrade Hat - One Of ThemMulti-instrumental, multi-talented member of multiple Derry acts, Neil Burns - known in this particular guise as Comrade Hat - will throw that hat over anything that catches his fancy. One Of Them is a fine example of his work, designed on piano and guitar but constructed using a delicate touch on synths. Think Mobys blissful corners constructed using the Rockies for inspiration. This is out of sync with the zeitgeist and all the better for it.

ITALY: PolaroidPueblo People - Dog People"As if Raymond Carver got drunk in front of the typewriter while Dinosaur Jrs Green Mind plays on the turntables" - I really like this sentence from the press release for Giving Up On People, Pueblo People debut album. I think it really tells something about the way these songs are written, the spirit behind this raw, powerful music. The guitars are loud, the drum and bass are tight, the vocals are harsh and grasping. Life up against the wall, bad luck, growing up and going separate ways. For sure, one of the best Italian indie-rock albums this year.

JAPAN: Make Believe MelodiesHalf Mile Beach Group - TwilightThe image that the beach city of Zushi, south-east of Tokyo, has conjured up in recent years has not been particularly positive. It was a rowdy spot and then the local government banned loud music and other fun times from the coast. Thank goodness for outfits such as Half Mile Beach Group, who on Twilight present a windswept and haunting view. It is not quite summer bliss, as the whole thing sounds appropriate for the slow season, but it is a gorgeous representation all the same.

MALTA: Stagedive MaltaMistura - Issa Tard WisqMistura is a duo whose songs, exclusively in Maltese, have elements of blues and rock, both electric and acoustic. Debut album U d-Dinja Tkompli Ddur, released in October 2014, is a rock concept record divided into four sections of four songs each. Packed with biting social commentary, especially in relation to local issues, it reflects on the theme of repetition and cycles of life. Antonio Olivari and Malcolm Bonnici are the main members, but they also perform as a full electric band with additional musicians.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanamérikaError.Error - ?Error.Error is the project of Efrén Valenzuela, a young musician and beatmaker from Hermosillo, Sonora on the north-western desertic corner of Mexico. He is the founder of the netlabel LALALA4e and also operates under the Zonzobot alias. Error.Error recently blew us away with his newest track, written as ?, an incredibly chilling piece which the artist has branded "reggaetrón". ? was accompanied with a futuristic, must-see 3D video created by the artist himself.

PERU: SoTBPhysic - Never SatisfiedPhysic began to attract vast attention with only a couple of songs earlier this year, leaving us eager to hear more of their dark post-punk. Fortunately for us, they have just released their self-titled debut and Never Satisfied is one of the jewels of this remarkable album.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?Beautify Junkyards - Rainbow GarlandBeautify Junkyards first album, released in 2013, contained only covers but it drew the attention of many radio stations and journalists, and they were invited to participate in a Brazilian television documentary along with David Byrne, Devendra Banhart and M.I.A. Their new album of original material, The Beast Shouted Love, was released this month and it is one of the best records I have heard this year. It will please fans of Goldfrapp, Beach House, Melodys Echo Chamber and Foxygen.

SCOTLAND: The Pop CopThe Great Albatross - Righteous ManEvery so often you come across a new song thats so obviously better than anything youve heard in months that it stops you in your tracks and makes you realise how much better life is to have it in it. For me, that special something is Righteous Man by The Great Albatross. The creator of this exceptional acoustic heartbreak is A. Wesley Chung, an American based in Glasgow. Righteous Man (video here) is taken from recent EP Roots, which features Avi Zahner-Isenberg from Avi Buffalo - he and Wesley are former bandmates.

Available link for download

Mostly topical comedy may contain traces of animal whimsy

On Sunday, Kevin and I had another look at the papers in, er, John and Kevins Sunday Papers ; and tried to settle the equally vexed questions of who will win the next election; and why weve been invited to a club by some beagle puppies in frog hats.
And on Friday, I was on The Now Show, talking mostly about scorpions, but also a bit about Vince Cable and the Royal Mail. You can listen to the whole show on iPlayer here for the next five or six days (and you should; it was a good one).

Lastly, if, for reasons best known to yourself, youd like to own a drawing by me of a seventeenth century philanthropist and his cuddly rabbit, then your luck is in - the Thomas Coram card from the post below is currently being auctioned on eBay. (Incidentally, if you win it, and youd like me to sign it specifically to you (or someone else), Ill be very happy to do so.)

Available link for download

N O V E L T Y Charlie May aw13

Available link for download

Music Alliance Pact May 2014

Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the full 27-track compilation through Ge.tt here.

 UNITED STATES: We Listen For You YVETTE - Pure Pleasure The drums and guitars of Brooklyns YVETTE thrash heavily like lightning striking steel. What makes this band special is the thoughtful order to the chaos. Its angry, evil and loud, but the precision ultimately makes YVETTE an unforgettable and important band.

ARGENTINA: ZonaindieShaman y Los Pilares De La Creación - Tierna OscuridadTierna Oscuridad is the opening track on Shaman y Los Pilares De La Creacións second album, released by Concepto Cero, one of La Platas finest independent labels. You can hear the whole album via the bands website. The song is also on the soundtrack for the film Arriba Quemando El Sol, so the sound prevails over the notes, creating a deep atmospheric musical environment.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?Yeo - KobeA little over a year ago, Melbournes Yeo gave his acoustic guitar the flick and turned to a new friend, the keytar. He had some success in 2013 with the dark, whirring Girl and now hes back with Kobe, the second single from his forthcoming EP. Its a big step up for the producer: a shining, ambitious pop song with brash synth stabs, jittery percussion and confident RnB vocals. Yeo played Canadian Music Week and some US shows this month. If he doesnt break the North American market first time round, we reckon hes got a promising future penning tunes for Justin Timberlake.

BRAZIL: Meio DesligadoQuarto Negro - Quando o Mar Não VemQuarto Negro are about to release their second album and have just brought out a movie about their time in studio, called GRU-PDX. Quando o Mar Não Vem is taken from debut album Desconocidos, released in 2011, and shows the bands melodic excellence and sensitivity.

CANADA: Quick Before It Melts[MP.G] - Black Mesa Rally Cry[MP.G] My Pet Genius released Might Strike Satellite in 1996 to much critical acclaim. For the past 17 years they have been recording, mixing, switching studios, re-recording, scrapping and re-mixing hundreds of hours of music that will become the colossal double LP, Empire Of Light. A teaser EP called EMP01 reveals whats to be expected when Empire Of Light finally arrives this fall.

CHILE: Super 45Fernando Milagros - Otra VidaFernando Milagros embraces pop with synths, guitars and guests musicians on his fourth album, Nuevo Sol, a collection of songs about coming back home and going ahead with the truth. Otra Vida, the first single with Andean music arrangements, is the catchiest song on the record.

COLOMBIA: El Parlante AmarilloMitú - Cri CriRenowned guitarist and producer Julian Salazar, a vital part of Bomba Estéreo, joins with percussionist Franklin Tejedor aka Lamparita to form Mitú, where somehow they pay tribute to Lamparitas hometown, San Basilio de Palenque. Thus, the traditional rhythms are mixed with analog synthesisers to give a unique characteristic, totally danceable. In 2012 they released their album Potro, and in 2014 Mitú hits back again with Balnear, where the future and the jungles past are mixed, as we can hear in their track Cri Cri.

DENMARK: All ScandinavianAnnasaid - CollisionFour years on from their full-length debut, Jua, Annasaid released their second on April 28. Titled Rite De Passage theres a coming of age tale here, but while the quartet has definitely matured in age, arrangements and songwriting, their guitar-on-chest indie-rock is as youthfully energetic as ever. Heres the excellent first single Collision as a MAP exclusive download.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: La CaseteraDiego Mena - IntoleranteDiego Mena continues to turn his wheels away from his roots in rock music and on to synth-pop delight. Even though hes heavily influenced by the 80s , his newest songs sound more current than ever. Intolerante is the first single from his third album Cadáveres En El Closet, a hypnotic ensemble of melodies and smooth singing. The album is out now via Bandcamp.

ECUADOR: Plan ArteriaNicola Cruz - NierikaNicola Cruz is one of Ecuadors most interesting producers. His work focuses on experimental music that mixes electronics with organic textures and traditional sounds.

ESTONIA: Rada7.eeBadass Yuki - AmericaCiting influences as varied as Burt Bacharach, The Jesus And Mary Chain and Britpop, Badass Yuki are a threesome on the verge of releasing their second album, Open Your Eyes To The Landmass, which is being pressed on vinyl by small family label Porridge Bullet.

FINLAND: GluePelotons - Blind LuckPelotons is a folk duo formed by Tina Kärkinen (Finnish) and Mike Gale (English), who began making music together at the end of last year and released a debut EP called Burrows. Blind Luck, a very laid-back, soft tune with great harmonies, is the first single from their first full-length, which will be available very shortly through Battle Worldwide Recordings.

FRANCE: Yet Youre FiredLa Quinte - Jai Passé LÂgeLa Quinte is an up-and-coming rap act from Strasbourg composed of four MCs and a beatmaker. What started as a way to fill their free time while paying homage to their elders eventually became a serious project, and the crew has been more and more active and visible in the past few months. By combining old-school instrumentals with topical lyrics, La Quinte have found a unique blend that will surely make some heads turn in the coming months.

GREECE: MouxlalouloudaA Victim Of Society - Once AgainIn their relentlessly brilliant debut album Distractions, A Victim Of Society craft eight intense, hammering and explosively airy rocknroll songs and wrap them in a bleary, beautiful package. With layers of fuzz-laced and feedback-laden guitars, raw, tribal drumbeats, repetitive gloomy melodies buried beneath noise and distortion-drenched vocals, they produce an assured, exciting piece of art that works as the ideal soundtrack for a nightmarish post-urban landscape. Listen to the striking Once Again and check out the video for Enough Said.

INDONESIA: DeathrockstarCareless 061 - Teen AngerCareless 061 is a band from Medan, North Sumatra, whose songs sound as if Davey Havok created the music, some angry teenager wrote the lyrics and a bunch of Green Day fans performed it.

IRELAND: Hendicott WritingWe Cut Corners - BlueDublin duo We Cut Corners have contrasting loud and quiet streaks. Set up like The White Stripes, only with the singer on drums, the pairs garage rock with quirky pop melodies have won them a nomination for the Choice Music Prize ("Irelands Grammys") and near universal admiration in a crowded scene. Blue is the fourth single from just-released gorgeous second album Think Nothing, crammed full of their usual brand of sharp lyrics and heart-on-sleeve brashness. A real hidden gem.

ITALY: PolaroidVaghe Stelle - Duemila KilometriVaghe Stelle is a producer based in Turin (real name Daniele Mana) who released his new album Sweet Sixteen on the UK label Astro:Dynamics. The press release explains that the theme of the album is "an attempt to have a conversation with the listener on the subjects of love and despair". Among all those fractured rhythms and deep cosmic sounds resonates a melancholic vibe, something passionate, and this is what I really love about Vaghe Stelles ever-fascinating music.

JAPAN: Make Believe MelodiesKai Takahashi - CannibalThe title is extremely misleading - Tokyo producer Kai Takahashi only has summer vibes in mind with this song, a short cut from a recently released mixtape of similarly cut-and-chopped beats. Cannibal is especially warm, a stuttering collection of vocals and island-ready sounds tumbling over one another into a fantastic shot of mid-June weather.

MALTA: Stagedive MaltaStalko - TwoStalko are a somewhat restless indie-folk trio who are equally comfortable playing small, intimate acoustic gigs or bigger shows accompanied by various other musicians and instruments. Theyve supported a number of renowned artists such as Adem, Owen Pallett, The Moulettes and Stanley Brinks (Andre Herman Dune). Their debut album Grandiloquence was released to critical acclaim in 2012 and earned them a Best Newcomer win as well as a Best Album nomination at the Malta Music Awards.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanamérikaLos Bandiera - Cielo AzulRolling in the grass, wearing paisley shirts and growing an afro (crowded with lice) is not exclusive for those who lived in the 60s. Coming from the perennial springtime city of Cuernavaca, Los Bandiera are a retro outfit that takes inspiration from both The Byrds and the Mexican psychedelia of Los Dug Dugs. Cielo Azul is a bittersweet love declaration to lay with your beloved one, staring up at the sun-hazed diamond skies.

PERU: SoTBWolves As Friends - Small GoodbyesInspired by the need to express himself as a singular voice comes Wolves As Friends, the personal project of Lima singer-songwriter Rodolfo Caceres. Honest and simple, he conveys heartfelt, meaningful thoughts about what it is to feel left out and lost in the world. Wolves As Friends released debut record Small Goodbyes in 2013.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?Throes + The Shine - DomboloFollowing the worldwide success of Buraka Som Sistema comes another kuduro project made up of Portuguese trio Throes (Marco, Igor and João) and Angolan duo The Shine (Diron and André do Poster). Their work together has already been defined as rockuduro (rock and kuduro). Their sound is wild and energetic and word has spread through their performances at various festivals including Roskilde. Dombolo is taken from just-released new album Mambos De Outros Tipos and has this video.

PUERTO RICO: Puerto Rico IndieSr. Langosta - DoidoPuerto Ricos indie scene skews heavily towards rock-oriented sub-genres - punk, metal, garage, pop or experimental - so it is certainly worth noting when a band like Sr. Langosta comes along to test our musical boundaries and take audiences in new directions. Led by guitarist Jorge Andrés Ferreras, the acid jazz and funk trios debut album reveals great musicianship and a playful streak, with an extended band willing to fuse Caribbean and Latin rhythms with the classic rock influence of guitar heroes like Jimi Hendrix. Doido is but a taste of the records refreshing sounds.

ROMANIA: Babylon NoiseFaunlet - Bird BonesDark and perverse, Faunlets music combines elements of post-punk, shoegaze, gothic noise, post-rock and doom-pop in a style they call dark gaze. The Bucharest group released debut album Fauna Of The Heart Flora From Beyond in January.

SCOTLAND: The Pop CopModel Aeroplanes - CrazyIdols-in-waiting Model Aeroplanes recorded their rollicking debut single Crazy while they were finishing their high school exams, but a career as musicians certainly doesnt look beyond the teenagers, whose enthusiastic post-punk sound might remind you of Two Door Cinema Club or the first Arctic Monkeys album. Their new single Electricity is released on May 24.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROKMonoban - DandelionIndie-folk trio Monoban has members playing acoustic guitar, cello and cajón, a Peruvian percussion instrument. Dandelion is the lead track off debut EP Ghostship, released in April. With its charming and light-hearted melody its an extremely addictive track well suited for repeated play.

SPAIN: MusikornerFernando Lagreca - Silly Girl Meets Silly Boy (Tsowc Remix)Fernando Lagreca was born in Uruguay, but his heart has been a part of Barcelona since 2002. Electronic music is his passion and he explores it in an organic way, discovering warm melodies and bright landscapes of sound. IDM is what he delivers so its no wonder he has signed to Barcelona-based label Irregular, home of The Suicide Of Western Culture and Lasers.

Available link for download