Mascott

Mascott are an indie group headed by the wonderful voice of Kendall Meade. They produce wonderfully delicate and pretty songs. These New Yorkers mix stripped down singer-songwriter driven melodies and catchy pop. Perfect for a relaxing warm summers day. Art Project came out over here at the beginning of he month and although only weighing in at around 25 minutes long is a sheer delight.

Myspace

Starfucker

Starfucker are not a band that are likely to gain a great deal of radio play I wouldn't have thought. Starfluffer? Starfuzzer? They have, however, produced an album in the form of Jupiter that got to be the best "dancey" album I've heard this year. Medicine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfJWkfqN97E) is a great example of their brand of fuzzy, electro-dance. Perfect to get you dancing on these lazy pre-summer days. There's also an incredibly shit band with the same name so beware!

Myspace

Evan Voytas

Apparently this is his new dynamic sound. If it is I like it. Getting Higher comes across as a classic disco tune. I can feel myself dancing to it now. No really. He appears to be unsigned. Somebody should sign that cat up. dreamy synth led pop/disco floaty fayre. A couple of free songs from his new ep are free to download here

http://rcrdlbl.com/2009/04/23/download_evan_voytas_i_have_a_dream_in_my_heart_getting_higher

Myspace

The Answering Machine

This Manchester band is never going to win any awards for originality but they do produce incredibly catchy bouncy indiepop a la The Wombats. I was slightly apprehensive about how good their debut album Another City, Another Story would be but its excellently packed full of catchy pop numbers. It may not be astral physics but its damn hummable.

Myspace

Bell

All the way from Moscow via Alaska and Brooklyn (where the cool bands live) and with a thorough Bjork A-Z, Olga Bell is pretty much awesome. Her brand of Bjork-esque, fuzzy electro, synth loop driven Eski-pop is simply magical. She combines her beautiful pixie-like vocals and fuzzy loops and create small cystals of iced-water pleasure. Magic Tape could well be the start of a rapid ascent.

listen

Mr Little Jeans

I have no idea about the name but she's a Norwegian living in a charming capital. Angel rocks my socks and makes me dance in the street (true story and in downtown Upperthorpe as well) She makes catchy pop, electro, dance dance dance, smile smile smile music. Imagine Emmy the Great and Lykke Li's bastard love child on happy pills and 10 vodka redbulls. It's as addictive as Koala smoking.

Myspace

New Villager

RichDoors is one of the best nu-80s electro to materialise out of the ether. Apparently they are exploring mythology through their songs. Nice. It kind of reminds me of Passion Pit but slower and with nice volcals. I played RichDoors on constant repeat for about an hour when I first heard it. So damn catchy. Anyway, they like wood and forests and shit. Don't we all.

Myspace

Max Tundra

Ben Jacobs has been going for years and he seems to either be completely absent or wholely present. He seems to share his time between creating original music and remixing for the likes of Architecture in Helsinki and Franz Ferdinand. I've always been vaguely aware of his work but it's never really caught my attention. I kind of caught him by accident a few months ago and I was incredibly impressed. He is firmly imbued in pure electronica and much of his earlier work is purely instrumental. He is highly respected and has toured with Hot Chip and Junior Boys and uses a diverse range of instrumentation to create songs that really do work.

Myspace

The Wave Machines

Their debut has to be a contender for album of the year so far and this Liverpudlian (+ Norwegian) band have produced some of the most interesting, diverse and well-crafted tunes I've heard for a while. Go!Go!Go! is probably their most straight pop song and gets you jumping and smiling like a Cheshire feline, but the album isn't straight forward in any sense. It shifts around with every song having it's own distinct sound. Colour me impressed.

Myspace

Polly Mackey & The Pleasure Principle

Caught Them on the same bill as Bang Bang Eche at SXSW. I'd heard a wee bit of hype beforehand and the myspace mainly contained live tracks. I was quite impressed and the more and more I listen the more I like. It's raw and it's in early development but it has the potential to be very very good. I've seen comparisons to PJ Harvey which I can't see whatsoever. It's very catchy and bright and I can see it catching on.

Myspace

Bang Bang Eche

Caught this New Zealand group at an international party at SXSW and they really impressed. This Christchurch mob have put their debut EP up for free download on their Myspace and it's well worth a listen. It's kind of crazy and raw but it certainly gets you moving.

Myspace

Discovery

Discovery are from New York and comprises one dude from Vampire Weekend and one dude from Ra Ra Riot. It doesn't sound like you think. It turns out to be fragile vocals behind a synth loop and really rather nice. The project kind of stalled but seems to be firmly back on track now.

Discovery

Official Secrets Act

To say I like this album would be a fair assessment. So Tomorrow has to be one of the catchiest songs I've heard in a long time. These London boys produce a punchy kind of superior indie and their album belies a maturity beyond their years. They seem to be picking up steam now and don't be shocked if you hear them on mainstream radio in the non-to-distant.

Myspace

The Great Northern

I loved their first album Trading Twilight and the Sleepy Eepee was just plain lovely. I was lucky enough to catch them at SXSW and fell in love. This LA group combine dreamy vocals with striking melodies to produce lovely little junkets of pleasure. Their new album Remind me Where the Light is comes out in the couple of weeks and promises to garner them the exposure they deserve. Imagine being wrapped up in a duvet on your setee on a cold winters night with a hot cup of cocoa. That's what they sound like.

yourface

Chew Lips

I was browsing through the acts playing The Great Escape a while back and came and had a listen to these guys. I immediately fell in love with Solo and it has been on heavy repeat ever since. Its reminiscent of LCD Soundsystem with a female pop vocalist and inherently catchy. What with La Roux and Little Boots getting a lot of media attention I think they could be very successful. These Laandaners are currently supporting The Virgins and will hopefully have their own headlining tour very shortly.

Ecoutez!

May 68

Named after a happy date in French history, May 68 produce catchy dancey electro which has you instantly tapping your feet (or dancing like a loon, take your pick). They are beginning to get some good support slots and a bit of radio play and hopefully will begin to gig outside of the rainy city. They've not been going for long but show a huge amount of promise and I can't wait to see them live.

Myspace

Hockey

I'm finally going to be able to go and see these guys next month and I'm excited. They came to the awareness of the British ears earlier this year with "Too Fake" receiving a fair bit of air-time on XFM and 6Music. I'm curious to see how it works in a live setting but with songs like "Song Away" and "3 AM Spanish" are top drawer and are taken from their debut album Mind Chaos which is, quite frankly, pretty ace. Think LCD Soundsytem morphed with The Strokes on Valium.

Myspace

Wolf Gang

These guys are pretty new on the scene but seem to be gaining popularity and kudos at pace. The London collective are jumping on the 80s revival and producing some exciting stuff. Their also set to play Dot-to-Dot and the Stab and Dagger Festivals this year.

Myspace

Telekinesis

Telekinesis is one guy who likes to create songs. Happily he brings some friends along to help and the first thing that strikes you watching them live is the big f-off drum kit at the front. Singing drummers (except Phil Collins) pique my interest. Not only must it be terribly difficult it's also a bit mad. Their self-titled debut is a real gem. Mixing 60s and 70s pop with indie to create free flowing songs songs that usher the summer in.

Myspace

Rogues

Myspace

Described as "like Foals, but darker, and more electro" they certainly embrace the 80s. Not So Pretty is their debut release and it puts a marker down for future prospects. Insanely catchy. They're traveling down to Brighton for the Great Escape this year and will also be playing Hinterland. The FEED ME remix is pretty scorching too.

The XX

There seem to be a lot of bands around using X & Ys liberally and it does get a tad confusing. The XX are a London bands who pen beautifully swirling melodies which would fit nicely into any dark Gothic church near you. Their debut album is out later in the year and their debut single Crystalised is set to be released later in this month. Best listened to in a darkened room. Imagine Robert Smith on opium.

Myspace

Dirty Projectors

As usual it's all about Brooklyn. These guys have been around for a while with ever-changing line-ups. Their new album Bitte Orca is no less than a masterpiece. With interchanging male and female vocals and painfully beautiful strings it could relax the fiercest gerbil and melt the coldest heart. It's a work of extreme craft and joy. At times it vears towards Anthony and the Johsons and others towards the weird Icelnadic one. Truly a work of wonder and Domino are on to a real winner.

Myspace