16. Two Door Cinema Club
The Bangor band already received plenty of love from this blog last year. Their brand of melodic indie is an easy sell and their producer Elliot James deserves credit for has the superb job he has done by giving their sound an extra danceable pulse. Their debut album Tourist History is packed with songs as catchy as ‘I Can Talk’ and ‘Something Good Can Work’ judging by the sampler I received. Read Aoife Barry’s interview with them on State.
Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk
17. May 68
Spiky disco-tinged, danceable French pop from a Manchester quintet who take their name from the Parisian protests of that year. They sound like fun times. More tracks on the Hype Machine.
18. MNDR
Interesting one-lady electro-clash dance-jams based in New York. Imagine Kim Wilde singing over synths in a dark Brooklyn club. MNDR (pronouced Mandar) aka Amanda Warner is a self-confessed “gear nerd” and the extensive list of instruments on her myspace confirms that. She has recently been featured in Village Voice, New York Time and The Fader by guest editors Animal Collective but we heard her first via Sheena Beaston.
MP3: MNDR – C.L.U.B
19. Manus Goan
A tip from Sixfoot Apprentice just this week led me to Ireland’s Manus Goan after he described him as a cross between Nosaj Thing, Rustie and Hudson Mohawke. That’s me sold. Kid 606 is a fan too.
MP3: Manus Goan – Wokeup
20. RUBIK
Finnish band with a healthy dose of electicism and pop tones recently signed to Arts and Crafts in North America and Full Steam in Europe.
Dada Bandits is their most recent release (second to be exact) and it showcases the band’s penchant for atmospheric, quirky Scandinavian pop. Just liten to the frenzied and frequent breakdown in album opener ‘Goji Berries’ for an example of how they throw themselves into things.
MP3: RUBIK – Wasteland
Great list. Loving what I’ve heard so far from Lonelady. Just hope the album holds up to my expectations. Great to see something like The Box Social gathering speed as a hub for forward-thinkers. Let’s push things forward!
Nice picks.
Lonelady is fantastic.
Apparently Monarchy used to be Milke, whose ‘Love Get Out of My Way’ did the rounds this time last year.
Can’t wait for more Jay Electronica. 4reelz.
Wow..loads of great music fo this year so! Loving MNDR, Cloud Control, Two Door Cinema Club and May 68! Thanks for putting this together!!
Great list. Cheers.
Monarchy should be massive, Neon Gold can do no wrong.
Thanks for the list. Really like the Surfer Blood track “Swim”. Ithink Cains & Abels will be one to watch in 2010 based on the strength of their late 09 single “My Life is Easy”: http://www.catbirdseat.org/archives/1690.php
got my saturday planned out now ,gonna work my way through the bands ive not checked out.:) ta very muchly!
Sleigh Bells are swish! This’ll entertain my Sunday. Good!
Cloud Control for me….wonderful stuff….
hell yeah for baby monster !!
Once they put a good run of gigs together, I’m betting Spies are gonna get talked about a lot around Dublin. I could easily see them having a big following by the end of the year.