New Releases Round Up

Over the last two or three weeks we’ve probably received more tracks to MM than ever before. Not that we’re complaining, especially when the quality has been really high. It does mean we’re struggling to do everything justice though and while (in a perfect MM world) many of these tracks deserve their own post, we’ve decided to round up a bunch in one go for you. So take a chance, and download something new.

First up are raucous lo-fi electro punk four-piece, What Would Jesus Drive and their new EP The Girls Are In Charge. The title track is a bratty, indie-pop master-class; Imagine what the Ting Tings would sound like if they grew some balls and cranked up their guitars to 11 – catchy, edgy pop that rocks. We have the brilliant live version from the EP for you to blow those Sunday morning cobwebs away.

Download What Would Jesus Drive – The Girls Are In Charge (live) mp3 (from What Would Jesus Drive EP)

Next we have the soaring, melodic indie-rock of The Sleep-ins who release debut album Songs About Girls & Outer Space next month.

Download The Sleep-ins – Silver State mp3 (from Songs About Girls & Outer Space)

Aaron Wright is a Scottish singer and songwriter, whose studio band comprises of members from Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura and Teenage Fanclub. He doesn’t have a bank account, he frequently gigs so hard that he forgets to go home, and he’s been obsessed with classic pop since running away from to London aged 15…to see a Simon and Garfunkel concert! We’ve got a free download of a track called Go On Yer Self, a rousing, Celtic-Soul stomper.

Download Aaron Wright – Go On Yer Self mp3

Meanwhile legendary post-punk band, Family Fodder, have been away for ten long years and returned with a brand new album, Classical Music. Originally formed in 1979, Family Fodder emerged, bringing with them traits of psychedelic and new wave influences paired with a focus on improvising and experimenting. Having managed to avoid major exposure they have influenced generations of bands all over the world.

Download Family Fodder – The Onliest Thing mp3 (from Classical Music)

Ham1 hail from Athens, Georgia and new album Let’s Go finds the band reveling in sonic expansion a-plenty. It is not unusual for unexpected, angular Fender-snarls to surface to the murk and slap the back of a shaky bit of reverb-o-twang straight outta Link Wray – a dynamic that transfigures the whole into something akin to one of John Cales‘ rootsier affairs, or the work of an earthier Eno. Here are no less than three cracking album tracks for you to sample.

Download Ham1 – Ghost Loop mp3 (from Let’s Go)

Download Ham1 – Lumbee mp3 (from Let’s Go)

Download Ham1 – It’s Only A Dream Unto Itself mp3 (from Let’s Go)

Manchester noise merchants Kong have offered up a free download featuring Matt Cauthran from U.S Punk legends The Bronx. This track is taken from the sold out Leather Penny single and is a previously unreleased track from the bands acclaimed debut album Snake Magnet.

Download Kong – Count To Nine mp3

Since their 2001 debut, Never Stood a Chance, Austin, TX band Masonic has been creating well crafted noise pop along the lines of Stereolab, Yo La Tengo, and The Vaselines and blending them into a seamless mixture of danceable rhythms, heavy guitar riffs, and catchy keyboard melodies. Their fifth LP, Live Like A Millionaire, will be released November.

Download Masonic – Lifetime Of Deception mp3 (from Live Like A Millionaire)

The Sights’ precocious ability to blend frenetic garage rock with ’60s pop and create something equally classic and catchy has garnered consistently rave reviews from both sides of the pond. New release Most of What Follows Is True, has no gimmicks, no studio trickery – just rock and roll from the heart.

Download The Sights – How Do You Sleep mp3 (from Most Of What Follows Is True)

Kashmere Hakim recently released his debut EP The Hillsinger, five tracks of fragile, folk tunes that make you think of laying on your back on a hill somewhere in a valley of Scotland. Pure and simple original arrangements dipped in a warm and intimate sound and wrapped in haunting melodies – songs that take you away and then gently bring you back.

Download Kashmere Hakim – Foreign Worker mp3 (from The Hillsinger EP)

Washington D.C. based “indie pop orchestra” Twins of a Gazelle are a group of 25 roving classically trained musicians, taking their cues from ‘90s alternative rock and drawing influence from newer acts like Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire. The song Constellations features sweet and whispery vocals coupled with stunning arrangements to make a fully fleshed and orchestrated indie pop ballad.

Download Twins Of A Gazelle – Constellations mp3 (from Constellations)

And lastly Eux Autres write compact indie-pop songs with sparse instrumentation. Their music has been unfairly described as “fun.” But while the surface of the songs might seem nonchalant, the lyrics offer skewed observations and fierce barbs. Their third full-length, Broken Bow, will be released Novermber.