Idlewild - Idea Track

Idlewild used to be very loud, they also used to be very good. At least until commerciality (as opposed to Roseability) stole their imagination and mushed it into a digestible-for-mass-consumption pulp. Along with ‘Is This It?’, ‘100 Broken Windows’ (the bands sophomore) soundtracked our 15 month trip around the world. The former for that most obvious of reasons, it being the incessant torrent of incandescent tuneage. ‘100 Broken Windows’ had a different tact, its huge swathes of violent guitar noise were on the closer inspection home to the cuddliest of sweet melodies. They were there on every tune, hidden in the crevices, extending a soft welcoming embrace. We were smitten which makes their later defunct works so utterly objectionable. A great band which took the carrot and completely lost their sight, what they'd give for a one idea track now. KD

Idlewild - Idea Track

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Idlewild
Year: 2000

Julian Koster - Jingle Bells

Because I couldn’t give a fiddlers for those who say it comes earlier every year (2000+, given that logic it should be all year round at this stage) but mostly because along with the Doucaine (all will be revealed on Monday week) the Singing Saw is my favourite new (old) instrument. You will know Julian Koster from the Music Tapes and Neutral Milk Hotel but he has a particular affection for the wood slicer come vibrating instrument come where did that index finger disappear to. KD

Julian Koster - Jingle Bells

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Julian Koster Never Bleeds
Year: 2008

Midnight Masses - Walk On Water

It turns out that the Jason Reece of Midnight Masses is the self same Jason who wrote one of the best albums this century (‘Source Tags & Codes’ if you must know). While his main band continue to freefall after that epic high there are grounds for optimism given the early movements of this supergroup of sorts (Here We Go Magic, TV On The Radio members also contribute). This is the closest thing I’ve heard to mount a serious challenge to the utter redemptive bleakness of that Late Cord record from 2006. ‘Walk On Water’ is the sound of the undead discussing the merits of purgatory before realising that like or not they are stuck there for eternity. Lucky us if they continue their wonderful dialogue. Even the drunks at the back will bow to this sublime artistry. KD

Midnight Masses - Walk On Water

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Midnight Masses
Year: 2009

The Mary Onettes - Puzzles

It’s been a while since we’ve featured a Labrador band on mp3hugger but thankfully the new Mary Onettes album ‘Islands’ means that wrong can now be righted. And like many things from that label POP seems to be the operative word. Or more precisely POP music that emerged from the dayglo ‘80’s, because ‘Puzzles’ triggers a hotch potch of memories, among them OMD, Erasure, T’pau, Fiction Factory and quite bizarrely the more recent phenomenon that is the Frank and Walters. While it lacks the chiselled chorus of their classic ‘Lost’ it nonetheless shoulder pads with epic production values and leg warms with a gloriously grand ambition. Proof if it were needed that real bands still stalk the underground. KD

The Mary Onettes - Puzzles

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Mary Onettes
Year: 2009

Indiecater Night - Whelan's - 12 Dec 2009

It’s creeping closer, the shop tills are beginning to ring and fairy lights will soon be adorning every dwelling in the city. Yep, don’t you just love the build up to Christmas? This year is going to be a bit more exciting than usual for us. Not only is baby hugger on the way (3 weeks time), a new house to move into (1 day shy of 3 weeks) but we are holding our first ever Indiecater gig in Whelan’s in the middle of December. We’ve invited 3 special acts for the occasion. Irish audiences should know the Ambience Affair and Storkboy Choons but our main act is travelling all the way from the good oul United States of America to be with us on the 12th. They are of course called the Very Most, a band who have spent more time in mp3hugger’s ears than any other act these past few years. Hard to resist their pristine melodies, charm and downright way with an indie pop tune so it seems sorta right that they should be releasing their brand new album on the occasion of the inaugural Indiecater night. Tickets are just €8 and are available to buy from the indiecater site right now. We promise it’ll be more headnod than eggnog. KD

This Year, Christmas Came November 4th

Watch The Video For Good Fight Fighting

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Tickets: The Very Most & Friends
Year: 2008

Black Hand Laser Band - The Witching Hour

Ok, this is more than a little odd (I’ll stop short of saying it is scary even if it is the scariest night of the year); a band in 2009 without a website or a myspace page. Yep, despite at least 8 seconds scouring google for all its worth it appears as if the Wales' Black Hand Laser Band are cyber virgins. It’s as if someone in authority had told them it was the psychedelic sixties and info that resides on non-geographically defined locations was only for those with mind-altering tendencies. The lack of info although mildly annoying hardly detracts from the vast open sound of ‘The Open Hour’. Right from Dracula’s organ to the beautifully paced BJM momentum Black Hand Laser Band display enough creativity to have their very own wiki page assembled in their honour some time soon. Be ghoul. KD

Black Hand Laser Band - The Witching Hour

More Info: A Tiny Severed Pinky Worth Of Info

Lukestar - White Shade

This is so Mew the Danish lads should be calling up to nearby Oslo to pick up their royalties. But as Mew’s current album is scaring me from their door (and this despite ‘And The Glass Handed Kites’ being by some distance my favourite album of 2005) I have instead become utterly consumed by another Scandinavian beauty. ‘White Shade’ is taken from last years ‘Lake Toba’ record and specialises in peculiarity. There are elements of at least half a dozen different songs here but the patchwork somehow manages to sound a convincing whole. The only pity is that it is so short, there’s acres of background to be coloured but instead the quartet choose to extenuate the illusion. KD

Lukestar - White Shade

Watch The Video

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Luckstar
Year: 2008