Hailing from Adelaide are The Honey Pies, and in preparation for an lp they’re hoping to release sometime within the year, they’re releasing some demos to give everyone a taste of what is to come from this quartet. The most recent serving they have to offer us is ‘Too Cool For School’, and though sounding a little rough like any demo would, it’s a great snapshot to an awesome 60’s reminiscent pop song.
Conjuring the sounds of the Cretaceous period (sorry, couldn't resist) Brooklyn newcomers Dinosaur Feathers first came to my attention through their intriguing four-track EP 'Early Morning Risers'. With the cyberspace buzz around the New Yorkers building with every electric live performance around their home city and with every mention on the wonderfully named music blog 'Pop Tarts Suck Toasted', I thought it would be a smart bet to get onto the bandwagon early before it starts careening away.
Lookbook was formed in mid 2008 by Maggie Morrison (Digitata) and Grant Cutler (Passions, Tom-hanks) in Minneapolis. The band combines sparkling synths with sparse guitar to create a sound which is both familiar and unique. The band counts Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Phil Collins as inspiration but are acclaimed for a leaner minimalist take on 80s new wave. The band has been garnering critical acclaim stateside, gaining regular rotation on local radio and picking up the attention of Pitchfork.com
Owen Pallett is not a name you will be instantly familiar with, but you will have heard his musical fingerprints all over some of the best releases of the last couple of years. He has been in constant demand for his string arrangements; recent work includes the string arrangements for The Last Shadow Puppets, Arcade Fire and Pet Shop Boys. Another reason you may not be instantly familiar with his name, as he has put out his records under the moniker Final Fantasy up until very recently.
The independently released ‘Kites’ from Melbourne indie-pop-rock band Kinematic seems to have what it takes to bring a break to the band, on first listen. However, the album lacks the attitude to grab the listeners and make them really commit this album to memory; it remains a bunch of feel-good pop-rock songs with some impressive guitar work, and nothing more.
