Okay, so it’s a while since I’ve done one of these roundup posts (almost a whole month), and I probably should find another name than “daily roundup” if I can’t do one a day!

Recently I’ve been quite busy working my way through university stuff, so new music finding has gone by the wayside pretty much unfortunately, though I did find School of Seven Bells the other day (pictured at top), with their lovely shoegazy dancy sounds… Dancegaze if you will. Smooth, impressive sounds from the ex-Secret Machines Benjamin Curtis and twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza formerly of On! Air! Library!. I only wish I could have got to London to catch them tonight or tomorrow night - seem impressive, and ones to watch.

I’ve mentioned my love of Dan Black (pictured right) before, but his first “official” single “Yours” is out on 1st December, and I must say the video is looking pretty good. It’s no HYPNTZ, but it’s pretty darned good. And it features dancing on space hoppers, which is always a winner in my books!

I’m trying to resist the urge to proclaim bands as “amazing” too much at the moment - reading back a few old posts I’ve realised I have a tendency to proclaim undying love for bands that ultimately are pretty average. So feel free to yell at me if I proclaim a pretty average band as amazing!

One of my favourite music blogs, Winston’s Zen has been going from strength to strength recently, with a redesign, coverage from the new Freeze Festival in London’s Battersea Power Station, and a new “classic albums” section which started off with my review of The National’s Boxer which is still possibly one of my top 5 albums.

I haven’t really mentioned Lykke Li much recently, but I’ve realised that her album has become one of my favourites of the year. Slow, haunting, its slowly crept its way under my skin and has me craving it on the morning drive to uni. Her new single, Little Bit, came out yesterday, so be sure to download it pronto! The rather good and fitting video is available here.

Finally, I got my new Bloc Party album on Saturday in the post. it seems so long since they first announced Intimacy and made it available for download on MP3, and I fell in love with it for the first time. The CD is amazingly packaged (and somehow reminds me of Placebo’s “Sleeping with Ghosts” in looks) though would have preferred it if the last two “new” tracks had been left out - we just haven’t “clicked” yet.

Coming up, we’ve got more album and EP reviews, along with news of our new end-of-year survey with some great prizes for those of you who help us.

I’ve been slacking a bit this week on the updates, and this may possibly continue this week as I return to uni for the new term, and the start of my third year (when things get really serious, with a dissertation and everything!)

Monday night saw Zane Lowe give The Killers‘ new single, Human a spin on the airwaves for the first time. Synthy thumping and disco beat reminiscent of Hot Fuss makes Phil happy - whilst (as ever) it split opinions quite dramatically I personally love it - the return to the synths is just what I wanted, having not been a huge fan of Sam’s Town. Here’s hoping that the rest of their album is just as good.

MP3: The Killers - Human

Let’s face it, who doesn’t love Ben Folds?  His new album, Way to Normal is out tomorrow (monday 29th September), and one of the highlights is a single called “Cologne”. The album isn’t quite up to his ace standard I don’t think, though there are a few radio friendly tracks in there. It seems more of a comedy album than a normal BF album in my opinion, which is a shame, but won’t stop me loving tracks like “Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)” and “Bitch Went Nuts”.

MP3: Ben Folds - Cologne (crazy youtube video)

Finally, earlier this week whilst driving to work I rediscovered a track by WinterKids that I fell in love with earlier in the year after seeing them support Delays at Soho Revue Bar (catch some of the set here). “Who am I Kidding?” is one of those simple, catchy tunes with a touch of melancholy that just makes it my sort of thing, and it seems the Germans too - they’ve reportedly got a rather large following on the continent.

MP3: WinterKids - Who am I Kidding?

I know things have been a bit slow around here this week, as I seem to have been working pretty much full time and getting ready to go back to uni on the 29th.

On Tuesday night I went to catch Longview at London’s Hoxton Bar and Grill. I’d been excited about this since buying the tickets, but somehow it just didn’t work out - their debut album was amazing, but they pretty much ignored it to play mostly new material. The venue wasn’t the best having been filled mostly with people who are “too cool for school” if you get my drift. Oh well.

One band I’ve particularly been enjoying recently is Melbourne based Skipping Girl Vinegar who have some great summery indie pop that is perfectly Australian - fun, exciting and youthful. Check them out if you get a chance.

Finally, I’ve been loving Iglu & Hartly’s In This City a ridiculous amount this week. I’d never heard of them before hearing them on the radio and whilst they may just be a one-hit wonder (well, it’s too good to be able to match it for a whole album!) Download and enjoy below.

MP3: Iglu & Hartly - In This City

So yesterday I went to see Batman: The Dark Knight at London’s IMAX cinema, and we were blown away at the quality and sound of it on such a big screen. I’d already seen it before on a normal cinema screen, but yesterday was definitely worth the three hour journey each way. Of course, with so much time on a bus and tube, I got through some serious listening on my iPod.

Having received Bloc Party’s Talons on Tuesday night, it’s been pretty much on repeat the whole time. Simply amazing, and is so far right up there with Ion Square as my favourite track of Intimacy. The video fits the song perfectly, and is suitably dark and brooding as Kele’s lyrics.

The press release comments:

Talking about Talons singer Kele said, “we wanted to keep things fresh and we thought the fans would be more excited to get a new song rather than something off the album. Talons is one of the last songs we recorded during the Intimacy sessions and I always had it in mind to be one of the extra tracks we promised for the CD if it turned out well. It turned out great so we decided to make it the next single. I’m enjoying this way of working, not over-thinking things, just make a decision and get on with it! It’s quite liberating in a way, I’m sure it’s going to be the way things happen more and more in the future”

Could this mean that they announce whole tours this way? I’d kinda like it if they just announced “oh, we’re playing London’s Astoria next Wednesday… and then Bristol’s Academy… and maybe some more venues too, we haven’t really decided yet!”. However I doubt they’d do that, for the logistical problems. But it’d be cool.

In my inbox this morning I found a link to a company that film live concerts in Europe, Fabchannel. I haven’t come across them before, but WOW. They have a great range of full gigs filmed on the continent, in amazing quality. I sound like I’ve been paid to gush this much, but I think it’ll be providing me with several evenings of entertainment. They sent me a link to Jack McManus who I haven’t come across before, and sounds pretty good at first listen, but I also came across full sets from Bloc Party, Delays, Los Campesinos (including the “most polite stage invasion ever”), The Courteeners, Pipettes… well, I could go on and on. You get the picture!

Finally, I found in my inbox an MP3 that I’d forgotten about. Sent to me about 4 weeks ago, Melbourne based Ancient Free Gardeners have a great sound - dreamy, a bit Shins-esque, with hints of The National and Radiohead shining through. Download the free MP3, and stop by their myspace to show some love - I’m sure they’d appreciate it.

MP3: Ancient Free Gardeners - Innards Out

Just a quick one tonight, as I’m plain and simply cream crackered at the moment - working 30-40 hours a week and then going to a gig or so a week and the usual pub evenings is pretty hard work… (boy, it’s a hard life, no?)

Bloc Party did another one of their suprises last night, announcing the release of Talons, their second single, and one that wasn’t on Intimacy, but will be on the physical release in October. In short, it’s pretty darned amazing, as with all of their Intimacy era stuff. A bit 80’s rock, a bit dark and murky, but ultimately good. I’m not posting the MP3 as I think it’s just asking for me to get (another) cease and desist, but I’m sure those of you in the know can get a copy for free.

Of course tonight is also the Mercury music prize, with my money firmly on Laura Marling to win, though I doubt the judges will choose her, probably sticking to a safer bet like Radiohead, Elbow or Last Shadow Puppets. If Adele or Estelle wins I won’t be a happy bunny though - they’re good, but not Mercury material.

There are still some reviews of Hydro Connect coming in, almost 10 days after the event, and just make me yearn for Scotland again. Only about 50 weeks now until Hydro 2009, eh? Rock Sellout have put up a guest blog from the festival, along with a better (and more indepth) interview with Rab from Glasvegas than we did.

Meanwhile, Mike over at Chromewaves caught this weekend’s Virgin Festival in Toronto, with Bloc Party, Kooks, Fratellis and more. I’ll be checking out some of the smaller (and larger) bands I haven’t heard of when I actually have a day off.

So, I’m trying a new thing this week: A “daily roundup” of everything that doesn’t merit a complete post of its own. It won’t be literally every day (I do go out sometimes you know), but will be a collection of new MP3s, Videos, music etc.

A busy bank holiday weekend has quickly been and gone, and now I’m staring down the barrell of this weekend’s Hydro Connect festival. Things are moving along quickly - today we confirmed that we’ll have an interview with one of the festival organisers and also the Duke who owns the castle who’s grounds its in. However, with one upside comes a downside - we’re most likely not going to be liveblogging as we’d hoped due to the realisation that taking my laptop to a muddy field in Scotland probably ain’t the best idea.

If you want something to do this weekend “down south”, then we’d reccomend Offset Festival. It’s new, but has a stellar lineup (Tom McRae, Maccabees, Blood Red Shoes, Young Knives), and Winston over at Winston’s Zen will be there covering it. His series of liveblog posts from V Festival set a precedent that I’m going to find hard to match up to with my pesky Sony Ericson k850i. His wrap up posts take a humorus turn on the numbers of the event - and an impressive number of sets. So whilst I’m fiddling around sending half baked posts to here via my (doubtful) connection, why not wander of to Winston’s place to catch some live blog action - it’ll be just like being there*

Right then… I’m off to bed. I’ve worked all day (all together now, ahhh, bless), and am catching Ra Ra Riot tomorrow at Water Rats in London (and have a spare ticket if anyone wants to join me…) and still have to sort out a tonne of stuff before the weekend. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have some free MP3s to post for your enjoyment.

* Okay, maybe not just like being there. It’ll be warmer, and comfier at home, and you most likely won’t have beer thrown at you.

So, I’m trying a new thing this week: A “daily roundup” of everything that doesn’t merit a complete post of its own. It won’t be literally every day (I do go out sometimes you know), but will be a collection of new MP3s, Videos, music etc.

It’s scary how quickly this Reading and Leeds festivals have been and (almost) gone. I’ve not really caught much coverage on the BBC of the festivals, but have checked out some of the ace videos and pictures. Particuarly loving the fact that Red Light Company are getting so much coverage from Zane Lowe, following on from my live review and initial introduction. Bloc Party look to have been amazing too - check out their live set available here for 7 days.

MP3: Red Light Company - Fascination
MP3: Red Light Company - Scheme Eugene
MP3: Red Light Company - With Lights Out

This time next week I’ll be in Scotland at Hydro Connect Festival, getting mouth wettingly-excited for the closing nights combination of Sigur Ros and Franz Ferdinand. I’ve spent much of today sorting out some pretty mundane things about the festival, like driving and what sort of coverage we’ll be having. I’ve had a look at the brilliant Winston’s Zen, who was at last weekend’s V Festival and getting a few ideas about how to live-blog the festival, amount of coverage etc. It’s gonna be hard to judge just what’s best until we get there, so don’t be suprised if you get tonnes, or next to nothing coverage wise.

One thing we’ve been having to look at is how to camp - I originally requested camping tickets, but got non-camping tickets, so have been looking at other options for us, from Tangerine Fields‘ bespoke camping options, to the goregous wendy-house style Podpads via the eco-friendly myhab’s - I’d honestly never really considered anything other than a tent, or a hotel for the posho’s.

Traditionally, August is quite a quiet time for the music industry - bands are off playing the festivals, people are on holidays, and generally the live music biz is taking a well-earned break ahead of the onslught of year-end tours. However, this week we’ve had no end of new tour announcements, with The Fratellis, Kaiser Chiefs, The Whip, Laura Marling, Joan as a Policewoman, Slipknot and Martha Wainwright all announcing stints around the UK this winter. I’m not expecting this week to have quite as many new tour announcements, but fingers crossed - this winter’s shaping up to be a great live experience.

So, I’m trying a new thing this week: A “daily roundup” of everything that doesn’t merit a complete post of its own. It won’t be literally every day (I do go out sometimes you know), but will be a collection of new MP3s, Videos, music etc.

I first got sent Dan Black’s HYPNTZ back at the end of July, and fell in love with it, however couldn’t help but feel it was a tiny weeny bit too cheesy - sounded like some schoolboy rapper from North London trying to be ghetto. Then I heard it on Zane Lowe the other night and then heard the new one, “These Things Take Time”, which sounds like it has a sample of Nelly Furtado’s Maneater in it.

Dan says:

“I knew what kind of music I wanted make, but at first I found it hard to get these conflicting desires to blend well outside of my head. I’d been making these weird remix/mashups for my occasional Djing, so I thought, I’ll take the method I’ve been using for that but use it for song writing instead. The very first thing I tried was HYPNTZ.”

Download and enjoy.

MP3: Dan Black - HYPNTZ
MP3: Dan Black - These Things Take Time

We found out earlier this week that we’re off to Hydro Connect festival in Scotland next weekend, so you can expect a lot of coverage next week from the festival. However, this weekend of course is the mighty Reading and Leeds festivals, where many of the bands I’ll be catching next weekend are playing. Friendly Fires went down a storm, and I can’t wait to see their show after only getting into their album the other week. Meanwhile Crystal Castles caused chaos - I’m not a big fan of them musically, but might have to catch them just for the entertainment factor.

The two bands however that I’m looking forward to most at Hydro Connect are Sigur Ros and Bloc Party. Sigur Ros’ new video for ‘Inní mér syngur vitleysingur’ (’Within me a lunatic sings’)is pretty bland, but my God I love that song! Next Sunday, as the sun sets around Inveraray I can see them completely capping my weekend, and providing an amazing atmposphere. Bloc Party’s album has been on repeat since I downloaded it yesterday morning at 9am - I’m yet to be as hooked as I was by “A Weekend in the City”, but it’s definately a grower (in a good way).

On a slightly different musical side of things, Dido has released a new song ahead of releasing a whole new album in early November. Needless to say, it sounds pretty much the same as her previous two albums of stuff, with a bit more musical accompaniment (is that an orchestra we hear?) Yes, some might say it’s bland and boring, but I love it.

MP3: Dido - Look No Further