Here at TGTF we get a LOT of Cds coming through our letterbox. Just last week we averaged 3 a day, and whilst this is very nice to be popular and get so much post, it’s often difficult to differentiate between one tedious indie band and the next. However, one lovely artist from Los Angeles made herself jump out by a nice handwritten note, and we got the added bonus of an extra CD. As the press release commented,

“The album’s dead. The market for recorded music is imploding. Nobody cares about shiny plastic discs. What’s an independent artist to do? If you’re Roni Brunn, the answer is a double album: one CD bearing From’s infectious three minute pop songs, the other disc an album from another band entirely, picked from a selection curated by Brunn”

So, I opened the envelope to find a handwritten note, and a copy of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5… and immediately From jumped from next one in a looong queue of CDs to the top of the pile! And the song’s aren’t half bad either….

We’ve already featured Roni Brunn’s new project, “From” on TGTF when they had a video for “One Spring Away” that’s quite special. The rest of the EP is much of the same – short, 3 minutes lo-fi pop that’s like something Emmy the Great would have done if she’d had such a colourful life as Roni Brunn (grown up in Tel Aviv, Israel, went to Harvard, created LA’s Math Club, created a line of high end handbags). At times, she’s like Imogen Heap, at others and American sounding Lykke Li.

Definately watch as Roni becomes a fighting force on the US indie scene, and remember who told you about her first…

I love Koko in London – some of my favourite gigs of the year have taken place there (Stars, Air Traffic and Death Cab to list three – I also caught Tegan and Sara and Delays there, but didn’t write a review). They’re upping their game a bit, and have released some quick “highlights” programmes if you will – below is the Gossip @ Koko, or if guitar rock is more your sorta thing then catch The Enemy here.

Black Cab Sessions have garnered quite a cult following recently, with some massive artists playing the back of a cab… these include Brian Wilson,  Badly Drawn Boy, Lykke Li and Death Cab For Cutie. However, I honestly think that the latest one with Kurt from Lambchop was the best… catch it below:

Stumbled across this music video that recycles clips from 41 TV adverts – it’s by a Los Angeles band called From, and sounds pretty good, but the video is what takes a good song to an amazing combination.

Swedish duo First Aid Kit are Wichita’s latest signings, and are playing the label’s Christmas bash at Hoxton Bar and Grill (tickets £5). To get in the seasonal spirit of things they’ve done a special video… sounds like Tegan and Sara gone all Fleet Foxes on us. And that’s a good thing.

MUZU.tv has a great video from a band calling themselves the British Port Authority. Their new single, Seattle, is taken from their forthcoming album “I Think We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat” which features the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Jack Penate, David Byrne, Iggy Pop and Martha Wainwright. I can’t find an official website, but watch the video and enjoy anyway!

Those crazy kids I’m From Barcelona have announced a string of UK tour dates in November in support of their new album, Who Killed Harry Houdini.

We first featured I’m from Barcelona on TGTF last September, and I’ve been waiting for a chance to see them for a while now, so should be good.

Tickets are on sale now at £10 each, and you can catch me at the London Scala date – I’ve booked my tickets, so if you’re there pop on by and say hi!

Monday 24th November – Manchester Ruby Lounge
Tuesday 25th November – London Scala
Wednesday 26th November – Brighton Concorde