Jive back in time with Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed, a soulful young talent hailing from Massachusetts in the U.S. Alongside his band, The True Loves, Eli’s vintage sounds wouldn’t have been out of place on the MoTown roster of the 60’s. Just 24 years old, it is quite amazing to hear such retro tunes coming from such a young man. Heavily educated in, and influenced by music before his day - Eli’s Redding-esque sound is so very authentic in comparison to the modern day soul of Amy Winehouse and Welsh lass Duffy - an artist whom Eli has even bagged support slots for over the pond in America.

You wouldn’t be wrong for thinking you had accidentally clicked onto James Browns’ MySpace when you first check out Eli’s site. The soulful screeches that bound from The Satisfier echo the legendary soul man, while tracks such as Take My Love With You and Doin’ the Boom Boom provide the listener with powerful blasts of energy inclining them to twist ‘n’ shout. Furthermore, tunes such as ‘Am I Just Fooling Myself’ prove Reed is prone to the odd heart wrenching ballad too.

Eli’s album, ‘Roll With You’, is out now. Check out the soulster on Later with Jools Holland on BBC 2 this week, or even better, why not see him live? Eli is currently on tour throughout the U.K and Europe, November to December - catch him if you can and boogey on down!

MP3: Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and The True Loves - The Satisfier

Living in self-imposed exile in Paris, Dan Black meshes sounds and genres with the same fluidity, ease and cultural nous as his heroes David Bowie and The Neptunes to create his own blue-eyed culture clash of soul, hip hop, rock and electronica and the result is utterly beguiling.

We were first introduced to Dan, in major terms, when he released an astonishing cover of HYPNTZ by Notorious B.I.G. which fused the beat from Rihanna’s “Umbrella” with heavily chopped-up samples from the film soundtrack of John Carpenter’s “Starman”.

Now signed to A&M records, Dan Black is finally set to release his debut single. ‘Yours’ is a propulsive, electro anti-love song (“I don’t want to be yours no more”). Its amazing accompanying video showcases Black’s hyper-coloured modernity even more brightly. The single is likely to set the charts on fire with its catchy riff in the background and the massive drum beat.

The track has been highly rated by Zane Lowe on national Radio 1 and the tune is certainly radio friendly. It’s easy to predict that this tune is going to be overplayed but at the moment it grows with every listen. The single will be released on December 1^st and should be the first milestone of many for this young Frenchman. Black is currently at work on his debut album, which is set for release in early 2009.

For a quick sample of Dan Black, take, devour and enjoy the two MP3s below:

MP3: Dan Black - HYPNTZ

MP3: Dan Black - These Things Take Time

Just a quick post today, as time’s rapidly running out.

I’ve grown to love Friendly Fires after catching them live twice recently, with their crazy energy andremarkably good tunes that can’t fail to make you move, no matter how much of a bad mood you’re in.

I’ve also increasingly been loving Lykke Li at the moment with her amazingly relaxing tunes with that “morning after the night before” vibe.

So imagine how great a tour with both of them is. A.m.a.z.i.n.g.

And yet that’s exactly what’s going on in the US of A at the moment - on Monday they’ll finish their 2 week stint around the states, and to celebrate their tour, Friendly Fires have covered Lykke’s “I’m Good I’m Gone”, which is below for your download.  It’s changed from chilled out insistent piano and handclaps to mid-90’s full on highlight-of-the-night club classic. Oh yes, it’s that good.

Download and you won’t stop dancing. Cheesy, but oh-so-true.

MP3: Friendly Fires - I’m Good I’m Gone (Lykke Li Cover)

(found on Sterogum)

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

Los Campesinos! have announced that they’ll be hitting the road in October with LA based No Age and Ohio’s Times New Viking. They’re calling it the “Shred Yr Face tour”, and it’s taking place in association with the Coalition / Rough Trade Shops and Drowned in Sound.

Los Campesinos! have also given members of their mailing list a free MP3 of a track which didn’t quite make their debut album:
MP3: Los Campesinos! - How I Taught Myself To Scream

Tickets are on sale now, priced between £10 and £12 for each date.

Tuesday 14th October - Brighton Komedia
Wednesday 15th October - Liverpool Carling Academy 2
Thursday 16th October - Leeds Irish Centre
Friday 17th October - Dublin Whelans
Saturday 18th October - Glasgow School of Arts
Monday 20th October - London Electric Ballroom
Tuesday 21st October - Bristol Fleece
Wednesday 22nd October - Manchester Academy 3

One of the perks of running a music blog like There Goes The Fear is the inbox deluge of MP3s and random myspaces to check out. Hopefully this will be one of the first in a sporadic series of posts aiming to give you a selection of the MP3s we can’t feature more, or don’t feel strongly enough to write more about.

Sarathan Records got in touch to tell us about their new signing, Peter Bradley Adams. He has a new record out, “Leavetaking”, and some amazing songs up on his myspace.

Peter wrote a song called “So Are You To Me” for his sister’s wedding. Peter had so much demand for the sheet music for weddings that now he freely gives it out to any askers on MySpace. The eastmountainsouth version of this song has sold over 17,000 downloads without a speck of promotion or a single radio spin….

MP3: Peter Bradley Adams - Always

The Winter League got in touch to show me their myspace. They said about themselves:

The songs are at times hopeful, at times resigned to the overwhelming catastrophe…The loss of a land where maps are constantly redrafted to chart the eroding landscape, where cities regenerate in endless cycles and the monuments of the past fall into the sea.

Majestic brass rings out over chiming guitars and delicate pianos. Found sounds and whirring electronics fuse with textured strings, humming organs and rich choirs. The sound of a marching band at the end of a quiet and hopeless world.

See if you agree by downloading their Dead Leaves demo.
MP3: Winter League - Dead Leaves Demo

I love I’m From Barcelona. Like, full on love them. They’ve got a new album out in October, and this is the first single from it.
MP3:I’m From Barcelona - Music Killed Me

And, if you like that one check out the Adventure Kid remix of I’m From Barcelona vs Madonna. Slightly strange, but oh-so-good. Don’t be suprised if I have to take this one down shortly though… I’m sure we can all guess what Madonna’s people are like. (i.e. scary!)
MP3: Adventure Kid - Music Killed Me

Keane have a new album out at the end of the year, and a new song called Spiralling which they were giving away free last week on their official website. Personally I’m not a big fan of the new direction they’ve taken on this track, however you might like it…
MP3: Keane - Spiralling

From the outside, this five-piece have all the makings of your typical indie band. They reside in London and have been mates with the ultimate grunge icon Pete Doherty since they were wee nippers. But take a closer look at the Cazals and you will find a band with altogether more depth.

“Every song on the record is a true fucking story,” front man Phil tells NME. “We’re not one of those bands who just bash out a song.”

Think Bloc Party, Simian Mobile Disco and The Rakes. These guys have spiky guitars, lo-fi drum loops and gravelly sung lyrics about life, love and losing their minds.

Cazals are signed to uber-trendy French record label Kitsune, famous for their electro and dance offerings. And it shows. Their debut album What Of Our Future is packed with punchy, disco-beat tracks that open your eyes and minds.

You can catch the lads on a tour bus making their way around Europe.

Dust off your synthesizer and say hello to Cazals.

MP3: The Cazals - New Boy In Town
MP3: The Cazals - Life is Boring

Cazals’ debut album What Of Our Future is out now.

Recently I’ve had a bit of a thing for lo-fi pop. You know, basic, raw pop tunes that sound like somebody’s scrabbled them together in about ½ an hour, but still have the power to draw vivid pictures. Fresh from supporting Los Campesinos! And Tokyo Police Club, ultCult are the latest band to catch my attention, sounding remarkably fresh and like they’re in a complete world of their own.

Radio 1’s Huw Stevens loves them, and whilst normally I’m not a huge fan of his picks, he’s on the money with ultCult. The tunes on their myspace all sound like they should be the soundtrack to a dreamy Skins episode, like the homemade demos of Patrick Wolf or Lykke Li.

Lead singer Lucille’s vocals sound remarkably fragile, like a singer who has yet to be corrupted by the remarkably vicious UK music industry. She reminds me a bit of a younger version of Lesley Feist (of 1,2,3,4, fame), particularly on Odious Emporium, which is below for free download.

Just back from Iceland where they recorded their debut single, the Yorkshire four piece look set to have a busy year ahead, based upon the already glowing response they’ve had. If you want to catch them live, they play London’s Macbeth on Friday 8th August, and Doncaster’s Vintage Rockbar on Sunday 14th September.

Free MP3: ultCult - Odious Emporium (demo)