The Moog are an indie rock quintet from Budapest, Hungary. And yes, like their name suggests, their singer/keyboardist Tonyo Szabo plays a Moog. How they came upon the instrument: it was given to them by the good people of Moog Music, the folks who make those fancy synthesisers; they said the band could use their name as long as they always precede their name with ‘the’. (Apparently the band’s name is homage to a bar they frequented when they were younger. Bless.)

The band has the incredible distinction as being the first Hungarian band ever to be signed to an American label, so I really hope these guys do well. Enjoy this promo video for ‘When I See You’, the second single off their second album, ‘Razzmatazz Orfeum’; the video was filmed at the Bob Baker Puppet Theatre in Los Angeles and you’ll see lots of puppets, a clown, and the Big Bad Wolf. Plus – you guessed it – the Moog (the instrument) features prominently in it. Check it out.

The Moog’s second album, ‘Razzmatazz Orfeum’, was released on 21 July in America on MuSick Recordings and is available now.

Donora – I Think I Like You

I hadn’t heard of Donora before I checked out this video. It’s simple, kinda twee and a lot of fun. After checking out the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania band I think I may have fallen in love with them a tiny bit – they have a cute frontwoman, great tunes and a sense of fun that so many bands seem to forget about these days. Watch this and enjoy the last few hours of your Bank Holiday Monday!

“I Think I Like You” is featured on Donora’s debut self-titled album, which is available on iTunes UK now.

I might as well admit it to the world: I’m a sucker for a well-written pop ballad. (Maybe this has something to do with my two X chromosomes?) But it was quite a shock to me that Jack Penate, the London soul singer who earlier this year brought us the decidedly tropical-themed ‘Tonight’s Today’ and the dance-poppy ‘Be the One’, should come along with a tear-jerker of a tune to win my heart.

Filmed in the Jordanian desert solely on a Super 8 camera while Penate was on holiday, the bleakness of the surroundings suits the subject of the song and makes the point that you don’t need to fork over a massive amount of money to make a flashy video that’s memorable.

Hot on the heels of their headlining spot on the NME Radar Tour this September and October, Golden Silvers are back with a new single, ‘Please Venus’, and a video to go with it. It’s no ‘True Romance’: this one is black-and-white themed, but it’s not without its moments of colour and humour. And the “bah bah bah“s will get into your head.

The ‘Please Venus’ single drops in the UK on 31 August.

The Airborne Toxic Event – Sometime Around Midnight

Atmospheric SoCal pop rockers the Airborne Toxic Event are coming back to the UK in November. But you may not yet have seen the music video for the paean to lost love, “Sometime Around Midnight”, which involves singer/guitarist Mikel Jollett getting his angst on in what appears to be a Los Angeles flat while having flashbacks of his ex, and his bandmates are there too, incongrously playing their instruments in the same flat. A bit surrealistic, but we like it.

The Doves – There Goes The Fear

100 Videos of the Day. Wow. So, what would be a fitting “big 100″ then? Well, I’ve dug up an oldie, the one that started it all. Doves’ There Goes The Fear, after which I named this blog about 2 years ago. Yes, the quality isn’t fabulous, but watch and enjoy a great song by a great band. Here’s to the next 100 videos.

http://www.vimeo.com/5907719

Arctic Monkeys – Crying Lightning (read Jess’ review)

The lads from Sheffield are back with a dark new sound. The music makes you feel like lumbering back and forth with a mug of stout and drunk enough to sing a sea shanty, so how appropriate that the boys find themselves on…a rickety old boat.

Imogen Heap – Canvas

Ahh, Imogen Heap. The toast of the digital world, innovative and with great tunes to boot. I first came across her on the soundtrack of Garden State (possibly one of my favourite films ever), and am super excited about her forthcoming new album, Ellipse, which is out in two weeks time.

This is the video for “Canvas”, which is one of the tracks on the new album and suited perfectly to our weather in the UK at the moment (!). Watch and enjoy.

The XX – Basic Space

I’ve only come across this great London four piece a few days ago, having spotted their name seemingly coming up everywhere. And boy am I glad I did – just like most of the blogosphere, I’m in love with their hazy, spaced out tunes that owe as much to The Cure as they do to some R&B legends. This video fits the mood perfectly of thie forthcoming single, “Basic Space”, which is out on Young Turks records today.

The Gossip – Love Long Distance

I didn’t think that the Gossip’s new tracks could ever live up to the genius of their breakthrough “Standing in the Way of Control”, however it seems I was wrong – this great track has a bit of tongue in cheek feel to it, fun and funky and sees a great progression from the famous trio. Love it.