Jerry Soer

Local: Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night (‘All I Want’)

I’m a long time fan of Sarah Blasko, so for her third effort I didn’t just hope for a good follow up to 2006′s What The Sea, Wants The Sea Will Have, I expected her to deliver. And of course she did not disappoint. Teaming up with the right producer has brought the best in Sarah, her singing at its most confident and compelling. It’s the right sound with the right songs for the 2009, As Day Follows Night is blessed the perfect flow and rhythm from start to finish. I truly hope that this album will be the vehicle that proves to the world that Blasko belongs in the best class of modern singer songwriters with Feist, Emilliana Torrini, and Regina Spektor. Hard to believe but when I saw her perform this album in July this year she made these songs sound even better, she was in full command of her stage and the audience. Sarah has come a long way from the once shy and reluctant singer on guitar I once saw at the Annandale Hotel just before her Prelusive EP came out. Congratulations to Sarah on this wonderful album.

International: Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
I was travelling through the United States and Europe for a few weeks in March and April, saw a lot of cool young bands in Austin during SXSW and throughout Los Angeles, New York, but none of them had quite the effect on me as Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone. I admit to not knowing much about Neko beyond this release, but it provided the perfect soundtrack for my journeys, and up until now I still listen to it whenever I hit the road. There’s something about her voice, full of wisdom, stories and characters that gives me a lot of distraction and escape from the boring parts of travelling. Whenever I hear these songs I feel like I’m in a bar somewhere in middle America, overhead fans, daytime heat, whisky on hand. Why that gives me comfort, I don’t really know, perhaps I should find out soon.

Matt Hickey

Local: Aleks and the Ramps – Midnight Believer (‘Circa 1992 Ideas’)

I was a bit hesitant about this album because the band had a bit a hype amongst the Melbourne set and I felt like the bandwagon had perhaps passed. But then I had to review it for The Vine and was greeted by what turned out to be my favourite Australian release in what was incredibly strong year for local releases. Midnight Believer is an album that charms you immediately with its pop hooks and then keeps you coming back for more thanks to an endearingly uncalculated wtf-factor. Each song covers multiple styles without feeling like superficial genre explorations, and the lyrics are similarly attention deficit and attention grabbing. From the awkward office romance segue in ‘Circa 1992 Ideas’ to the feisty male/female exchange in ‘Whiplash’ and that computerised spoken word break in ‘Weather Patterns,’ it’s comfortably quirky without keeping the listener at arms length. This is an album that’s both complex and easily digestible, fun but not stupid. Not entirely without it’s less successful moments, but even they have something interesting to note and are more than outweighed by album’s overall success. It was a tough call, but Midnight Believer was the one that has brought me back the most over the last seven or so months.
Hon. Mentions: Seekae (Reissue), The Mint Chicks (NZ), St Helens, Songs, Philly Jays, Batrider (NZ), The Rational Academy, No Through Road, The UV Race.

International: Fever Ray – Fever Ray
This was even harder to pick than best Australian album but I have to go with Fever Ray if for no other reason than because it was simply the album I listened to the most throughout the year. I actually prefer this project to Karen Anderrson’s more famous other band, The Knife, because of it’s minimalist approach and emphasis on atmosphere. I’ve never heard an organ used to such great effect, and the creepy vocal manipulations she’s been experimenting with on previous Knife albums have never sounded more appropriately haunting. This is an album that never peaks above mid-tempo yet never loses your attention, with its dark, brooding vibe clashing well with lyrics about having a green thumb and dishwasher tablets. I went to Europe over their northern summer and managed to chase down a Fever Ray live show twice and it was great – basically the exact same as the album but with added smoke and lighting + a Nick Cave cover. Totally worth it.
Hon. Mentions: Bibio, A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Animal Collective, Telepathe, Girls, The Horrors, The Sandwitches, Fuck Buttons, The xx.

Sophie Benjamin

It’s always tricky to choose an album of the year, even when my choices are limited to music from this little island at the arse-end of the world. So, these are the Australian releases of 2009 that I listened to ad nauseum:

Favourite: Eleventh He Reaches London – Hollow Be My Name (‘Hollow Be My Name’)

Hon. Mentions: The Gifthorse , Cam MacKellar, Skinny Jean, Hunz.

Mark Spillane

Favourite: Capital City – Keep It Stupid Sucker (‘I’ll Never Get Out of this Girl Alive’)

Capital City are one of WA’s least prolific bands, with Keep It Stupid Sucker being the second album they’ve recorded in their 9 years together, but it’s been well worth the wait. It’s snarling punk rock vitriol is best blasted into your auditory nerve at maximum volume. Cracker album, cracker band.
Hon. Mentions: The Sugar Army, Karnivool.

Dave Payne

Favourite: Crayon Fields – All The Pleasures of the World (‘Mirrorball’)

Hon. Mention: The Devoted Few

Johann Ponniah

Favourite: Jonathan Boulet – Jonathan Boulet (‘Community Service Announcement’)

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Blonde On Blonde – ‘Oh My Oh My’ (mp3)

Blonde On Blonde list their influences as “The Velvet Underground, The Valley and sex”. Add fellow Velvets admirers The Dandy Warhols and Queens of The Stone Age to the gang and you’ve got music which is pretty derivative but sexy nonetheless.

‘Oh My Oh My’ opens with drumming so effortlessly tight you’d swear it was looped, if not for the lack of wood block during the verses. Then there’s the scratchy guitar riff, then the bored-sounding male and female vocals and superfluous bass; you know how it goes. Who needs a bridge or a middle-eight with a groove this good?

I tried really hard to listen to the lyrics of this song, but I kept getting distracted by the urge to smoke a million bongs and convince attractive people to make out with me. That’s not a bad thing by the way, especially with New Years a couple of days away.

Excuse me.

www.myspace.com/blondeonblondetheband

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CharlieWhy - ‘Singing Nina’ (mp3)

Yello – Bostich (Rio Lobotomy ‘Yello Fever’ Remix)

Charlie Why is a modest bastard. Apart from putting in time as the bassist for one of our fav bands Comic Sans, I actually know this dude personally from a few years back when we studied electronic music production together (clearly he’s doing a bit better than me). And yet I had to find out about this rad remix job by his new project, Rio Lobotomy, through Waves At Night (cheers, by the way – head over there to check out the rad video for the track).

Rio Lobotomy is Charlie + Adam Hunter of Wolfgang DJs and above is their take on a track from Swedish act Yello’s debut album. It’s got an insanely pulsing bottom end to it and a lot of cool shit going on above it – but seriously, with decent speakers/headphones you’re most likely to remember those throbbing, side-chained beats.

Also above is one of CharlieWhy’s older solo tracks, which is a bit more of an electro number. Like a lot of good electronic music, its feels like he’s brought a punk attitude to the process rather than a refined, technical one. It’s also definitely worth checking out.

www.myspace.com/charliewhy1

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Merry Christmas from Old Man River and Katalyst. Head here to check out and download a pretty rad new bootleg mixtape the pair have put together free of charge. No tracklist for it that I can find, but feel free to point out the stuff you recognise in the comments section. It’s worth listening to at least once, even during this peak release period. Kudos.

www.trustomr.com

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Broken Chip – ‘Nothing To See Here’ (mp3)

Broken Chip is a one man electronica act based in the Blue Mountains. ‘Nothing To See Here’ is pulled from Powwow Seven , which is part of Feral Media’s Powwow (see also: AFXJIM).

It sounds largely like a modern, minimalist classical composition mixed with a lullaby, but with its broad, icy atmosphere penetrated by moments of floating static and cut-up beats. It’s a calming, beautiful track that transforms a simple piano figure into something that sounds equally like the soundtrack to some haunting, blue-washed opening credits or a guy fastidiously messing about on his laptop in the dark. Either way, the image is fitting and the result is fairly amazing.

www.myspace.com/brokenchip

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Van She – ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’ (Holy Ghost B-Live Mix) (mp3)

There’s little coming out of the DFA stable that isn’t worth checking out if not covering. Holy Ghost are one of the NYC label’s more recent signings and continue with its theme of electro/disco/house music. They’ve lent their deft remixing skills to Van She’s recent cover of ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ and have extended it into a 12″-inspired disco track. Amongst many changes, Holy Ghost have re-installed the infamous cow bell and introduced a more protracted and repeating build up/break down structure. Funtimes.

www.myspace.com/vanshe

www.myspace.com/holyghostnyc

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Single Twin - ‘Came Home Dead’ (mp3)

I previously covered the track ‘My Silken Tooth‘ by Melbourne singer-songwriter Single Twin (Marcus Teague to his mother) when it was sent to me after being written and recorded in a single night. That track has now made its way onto Single Twin’s first official release, a six-track EP now available through iTunes and is being launched this weekend in both Melbourne and Sydney.

The above track, ‘Came Home Dead,’ is not only the lead track on the EP but it also set to appear on Teague’s debut long-player under the Single Twin moniker early next year (he also pulls time in Deloris). Like other Single Twin songs, it’s a mostly acoustic, narrative-driven affair, recorded and mixed entirely in his bedroom on Garageband. That said, the arrangement and sound quality in general are more subtle and dynamic than these conditions might suggest, while his lyrics are also more affecting than your average local troubadour.

Single Twin launches the EP this weekend with band in Melbourne and Sydney, at a couple of off the map warehouse shows. Friday 18th December at 188 Christmas Street, Fairfield in Melbourne with guests Denim Owl, and Saturday 19th December Suite 303, 271 Cleveland St, Surry Hills in Sydney. Doors for shows start at 8.30pm.

www.myspace.com/singletwin

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Angus and Julia Stone “And The Boys” from : ) on Vimeo.

I’ve been waiting long for a followup to their debut and here it is! Love Julia’s voice.

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ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Coiffeur – Humedad
Coiffeur is not the name of a band, but the alias of a young folk singer and songwriter from Morón, a city in the greater Buenos Aires area). Humedad is one of the finest songs from his third album, El Tonel De Las Danaides, which was released this year by Estamos Felices (Argentina’s coolest independent label, you should check them out).

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Toecutter – Best Party Ever (Jordan Lightyear & Jimmy2sox remix)
Best Party Ever pretty much sums up Toecutter, a man called David Harris from Milano, New South Wales who creates dancefloor-friendly progressive house music. Apparently, Toecutter has been sitting on this song since 1984 when he recorded the hook onto a cassette and then spent 25 years deliberating on its merits.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
The Property Line – The Start
The Property Line have only been around a few months but they’ve been building quite a local following with their brand of psychedelia-tinged country-rock. Their EP (which is available for free download on their site) is pretty strong, and nowhere is it stronger than on The Start, in which the band infuses a little Sufjan into their sound, with absolutely stunning results.

CHILE: Super 45
Gen – ¿Qué Le Pasó A Mi Rap
Es is the latest album by Gen (Freddy Olguin). Putting together amazing beats, social critique rhymes and sounds from another dimension, the Chilean rapper has taken the experience of listening to hip hop to a whole new level. An army of producers has helped him develop a very distinctive personality for his record, which can be compared to the sound of Flying Lotus, Subtle or even The RZA, with the result something nothing short of future-like music. It’s refreshing, experimental and highly exciting.

CHINA: Wooozy
Today – Before Ending
Before Ending is taken from Today’s debut album which was released last year. They are searching for hope and happiness by watching everyone’s love life as a third person. You won’t feel lonely after listening to their songs. The band’s new album, Live The Life, will be out soon.

COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana
Miss Muffin – Bways ‘n’ Gyals
What happens if you put together Juan Valdez and Bob Marley? Well, the answer to this experiment can be given by Isabella Escobar aka Miss Muffin, the known name for this promising talent of Colombian reggae. Originating from Antioquia, with Caribbean blood, Miss Muffin has released Hear This, an album that explores in a curious manner the various possibilities of reggae.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
Eumig & Chinon – This Fang
The last Danish track of 2009 is also a MAP exclusive. Eumig & Chinon aka Christian Kastbjerg has kindly provided this kickass piece of funky housetronica titled This Fang, which will be on his debut EP coming out sometime next year. You’ve got to groove.

ENGLAND: The Daily Growl
Banjo Or Freakout – Upside Down
I’m bending the rules a little this month because Alessio Natalizia, who trades under the name Banjo Or Freakout, is Italian – but he’s based in London so we can claim him as our own. Just as well because his awesome soundtracks, all wrapped up in a dreamy melodious electronic haze, are worth breaking down national boundaries for.

ESTONIA: Popop
Malcolm Lincoln – Me Iz Loaded With Zoul
Malcolm Lincoln has been active only for about a month so there’s not much of a biography yet. The band is the brainchild of Robin Juhkental, who is joined by Madis Kubu aka Fretless Rämbu for live shows. Five more songs are downloadable here.

FINLAND: Glue
Rex Willer – My Girl
Rex Willer is a five-piece indie band who recorded the excellent Inner Moray Scenes EP at their home studio earlier this year. Influenced by My Morning Jacket, Steely Dan and Death Cab For Cutie, they are driven by groovy bass lines and old-school keyboard sounds, without forgetting good guitar licks. Let yourself be caught by the irresistible melody of My Girl while Rex Willer finishes some new material due out early next year.

FRANCE: ZikNation
Michael Wookey – Songs About Snow
At the age of 15, Michael Wookey was given a portable pump organ which belonged to his grandfather, who was an organist during World War II. This instrument inspired Michael to write some songs and start collecting obscure instruments. Now 26, he has released three albums and by using a portable studio, he has recorded in various sheds, basements and meat lockers. He now lives in the red light district of Paris. The French describe his music as folk baroque.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
Dobré – The Melody Is A Stranger
Sometimes you realise within minutes what creative potential a musician has, and Dobré comes into that category. Usually found playing eclectic indie-folk with his mates Sepp Kennedy, he just released a ‘best of’ solo record called Tools ‘n’ Toys which you can download here. The Melody Is A Stranger is a downtempo piece of indie which strongly reminds me of early Peter Gabriel.

GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
2-L8 – Excuse Me, But I Just Have To Explode (Part II)
2-L8′s second release – He & She, Angry Enough To Keep Loving In The Dark Ages (download it for free here) – is a masterpiece of avant-garde music that truly haunts the mind. It’s a passionate experience, leading the listener into excruciating catharsis – you look into the eyes of two lovers and see nothing but painful regret. It’s exhilarating and rare to hear such florid arrangements based on sharp stringed instruments and theremin, trembling, frantically passionate vocals, desperate and bleak lyrics coupled with a sense of hope and all of them laced with uncompromising experimentation, true emotional resonance and weight. A total seductive triumph.

ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music
Morðingjarnir – Manvisa
Punk-rock trio Morðingjarnir (“The Murderers”) play fast and sharp three-to-four chord songs, often with some dark humour. Atli, Haukur and Helgi are influenced by Dead Kennedys and local punk heroes Fræbbblarnir. Manvisa is a song featured on their third album, Flóttinn Mikli, with guest vocals from Kata of the band Mammút.

INDIA: Indiecision
The Mavyns – Greener Than The Sea
The Mavyns (pronounced “May-wins”) are a rock act from Mumbai. Their music is a particularly refreshing take on the new British post-punk revival. Powered by piano-driven melodies and a charming disposition, the recently-formed quartet already look set for greater things. Greener Than The Sea makes no bones about its Beatles affectations culminating in a dizzying guitar romp. This live recording from an excellent recent set in the city is a definite sign of a career path that looks to be going only one way – up!

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Tika & The Dissidents – Waltz Muram
Known as the diva from the indie scene in Indonesia, Tika has a beautiful voice and smart lyrics with influences ranging from swing and lounge music mashed with eclectic orchestration. I chose her and her band this month because I also want to promote Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of the country.

IRELAND: Nialler9
O Emperor – Po
After an impressive appearance on Irish TV and some blog love from The Torture Garden, Cork band O Emperor are definitely on the ‘ones to watch’ list. Especially, though, after repeated plays of their debut single, Po, an unassuming number that reveals itself on multiple listens thanks to its snaking ephemeral guitar lick and a vocal that lodges in your brain for 24 hours at a time.

ITALY: Polaroid
The Calorifer Is Very Hot! – Evolution On Stand-By
Italy is well known for its Prime Minister’s various conflicts of interest. For this month’s MAP I decided to act in a diplomatic way and promote a band and record that I helped to release. I could tell you that I believe these guys play some of the best indie-pop in this country. I could tell you that their lo-fi punk attitude to songwriting deserves worldwide attention. I could beg you to go to see them live and promise that you will have fun. But these would be all lies. They’re here just because I put my money in their new album – buy it!

JAPAN: JPOP Lover
Sonic Attack Blaster – 20000Volt
Sonic Attack Blaster, an alternative band from Tokyo’s underground scene, call their music ‘samurai rock’. Their songs actually have Japanese retro melody lines that give them an early-90s feel. Interesting and really rather weird. Their new album will be released in January.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
Rana Santacruz – Cajita De Barro
Rana Santacruz’s richness lies deep in Mexican soil: a buried treasure of plundered Celtic tunes, ranchera-song lamentations and magical-realistic folktales that could have been part of a lost chapter from a rural cuento written by Juan Rulfo. Chicavasco is his debut album – a delicate collection of bohemian vignettes permeated by a true sensorial feel of rain, leather and mezcal. Watch him come up the hills and down the slopes as he slowly claims his place among one of our favourite singer-songwriters.

NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam Event Guide
The Very Sexuals – Bowie Eyes
Hallo from Holland! This is our first submission and we’re happy to introduce The Very Sexuals. Starting out as a project between three or four other bands, this act have come together to produce an impressive, emotive and totally free album which has left listeners in dreamy shoegaze heaven since its release earlier this year. Be sure to download Bowie Eyes and look out for album number two in 2010.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
Signer – +Kicks And Kicks
Bevan Smith is the musician who records as Signer. Smith started out as an indie-guitar fan but gave that up for psychedelic electronica and synths. His latest album, Next We Bring You The Fire, has a more ambient sound than earlier records, toning down some of the more leftfield noise elements. +Kicks And Kicks isn’t that typical of the album – it’s poppier and more rhythmic – but gives a good introduction to Signer’s ability to create music which is accessible but slightly unsettling.

NORWAY: Eardrums
Moddi – A Sense Of Grey
Moddi is a unique artist from the northern parts of Norway who will release his debut album Floriography on February 8. His music is poetic and dreamy, but at the same time there is a roughness in his sound. I often think of the rugged northern nature when I listen to his music, which is full of beauty but also darkness and sudden changes.

PERU: SoTB
El Hombre Misterioso – 80 Veces 80
The four members of El Hombre Misterioso are so versatile they would sound completely different if separated. They are always willing to experiment with rock and their second album, Inside The Corporation, narrates national historical stories. 80 Veces 80 remembers the worst days of Peruvian history, when the 1980s crisis was worsened by car bombs in a civil war that nearly destroyed the country.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Noiserv – Melody Pops
Noiserv is one-man band David Santos, a very talented multi-instrumentalist from Lisbon. His self-released 2008 debut LP, One Hundred Miles From Thoughtlessness, was highly acclaimed by the mainstream Portuguese press. In May, Noiserv released a single through the Scottish label Autumn Ferment Records.

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Byron – King Of Clowns
Releasing their third album this year (A Kind Of Alchemy), alternative rock act Byron has already developed a unique sound, an alchemy of Jeff Buckley’s lyricism and Porcupine Tree’s neo-prog escapism. Dan’s voice goes from soft and warm to almost tormented, all the way spiced with wild-on-the-verge-of-insanity harmonies. The keyboard work shines with brilliant prog-inspired interventions, the guitar-playing is rock-solid (pun intended) and the use of flute on several tracks also works miracles, bringing a certain distinctness to the whole. Did I say Jethro Tull? Well, you get the picture.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
The Kays Lavelle – Aftermath
If any film directors are reading, do yourself a favour and download this song. With its eerily mesmeric piano refrain and increasingly intense, impassioned vocals, Aftermath is just begging to be played during an emotionally-wrought scene or at the end of the movie as the credits run. A studio version of Aftermath featuring the full band will appear on The Kays Lavelle’s debut album due out early next year.

SINGAPORE: I’m Waking Up To…
For This Cycle – For What It’s Worth
Sixteen-year-old Weiwen Seah has a lot to be proud of. Performing under the persona For This Cycle, he has released a five-track EP this year and is currently recording his full-length album due next year. Weiwen brings a welcome breath of pop goodness in a music scene better known for its underground subculture with shades of Jason Mraz and Dashboard Confessional. In fact, it’s easy to forget that someone so young sings with as much conviction on this month’s selection, For What It’s Worth.

SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
Van Coke Kartel – Voor Ons Stof Word
Van Coke Kartel is an Afrikaans rock band. Francois Van Coke and Wynand Myburgh were previously in Fokofpolisiekar, who revolutionised Afrikaans rock music by challenging and shifting rigid mindsets. Van Coke Kartel proceeded to explode onto the SA music scene with sold-out shows and rave reviews. The group has been busy working on their new album, Skop, Skiet En Donner, which will be out in early 2010. Look out for it, it’s sure to blow your mind.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Oh My Melodies – I Like It All
Oh My Melodies is the US-based solo project of Jiyoung Lee, vocalist of I Love JH. She now offers home-recorded electronic pop with sweet lyrics on the recently released EP So Lazy, which can be downloaded here. I Like It All is a catchy tune with a bit of synth that makes doing the chores seem like the most delightful task.

SWEDEN: Swedesplease
Symfoniorkestern – Tänd Eld På Dig Själv (För Det Du Tror På)
Wow, it was a no-brainer this month. Symfoniorkestern are a uniquely Swedish group. They are like an indie-rock band but with a grab-bag of unusual orchestration, lyrics in Swedish and lovely harmonies. The new EP, Tänd Eld På Dig Själv (För Det Du Tror På), is available here for free in its awesome, spellbinding entirety. The band spent a year and a half recording it – I only wish I could somehow give this review the same amount of care.

UNITED STATES: I Guess I’m Floating
Chll Pll – Dick Moves
Sacramento, CA’s Zach Hill has a new project, Chll Pll – a slice of the rather raucous, noisy, blunt force corner of the electro-pop world. Dick Moves is from the upcoming debut Aggressively Humble, out now on Porter Records.

VENEZUELA: Barquisimento
Fordelucs – No Queda Mas
Alternative rock band Fordelucs have been winning over fans and critics alike and building up a name for themselves in Venezuela’s music scene. Now the boys are about to start a tour that will take them beyond the borders of their country. No Queda Mas is taken from their first release, Mundo.

To download all 33 songs in one file click here

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