Stuck On Repeat

Frankmusik - Losing Streak



The Pass - Cross Walk Stereo



Crookers featuring Miike Snow - Remedy (Jeuce Rework)



Velo - Trading Alibis



Japayork - Our Now (free download)



Cassette Kids - Lying Around



Fabio Lendrum - Trouble (Jakwob Remix)

Jump Jump Dance Dance

If you're gonna go ahead and name your band Jump Jump Dance Dance, then there's an element of pressure to create music that will inspire apoplectic movements.

Thankfully, the L.A.-based duo who've adopted this moniker produce tracks bursting with potential to do just that. Their single 'Show Me The Night' is a slab of pop-rock brilliance and its accompanying video is equally excellent.



I also really like the Grum remix of the track, which encourages us to jump and dance just that bit more fervently

Right On Time

Late of the Pier's 2008 debut album 'Fantasy Black Channel' has been a firm favourite of mine since I was introduced to it by my sister.

A melting pot of influences combined to produce a rollercoaster album that injected fresh meaning to that dreadfully clichéd word 'eclectic'.

Judging by the snippets I've heard from the band's sophomore release, I reckon we can expect something just as varied and exciting.

The first track to surface, the subdued and psychedelic 'Blueberry', earned the band comparisons to MGMT and even The Beatles, whereas new track 'Best of the Class' sounds like something concocted by LCD Soundsystem.

The track is flanked by a decidedly disorientating video, which I kinda love:

Lights & Music

Fresh from picking up her Critics' Choice Brit Award, Ellie Goulding has released this nifty little widget, with minute-long previews of tracks from her forthcoming album, 'Lights'.

You might notice that a number of the demos that were floating around have been radically re-jigged for the album, most notably 'Wish I Stayed' and 'Guns and Horses'.

I'm really looking forward to hearing these tracks performed live at her Dublin gig at The Academy on March 14th.

Show Me The Monae

I've heard Janelle Monae's name bandied about a bit the past few weeks but hadn't quite managed to get around to investigating the source of the fuss.

After seeing this video/'short film' on Nialler 9's blog for a track she released in 2008 called 'Many Moons', I'm beginning to understand the hype.



The 25-year-old Kansas-native boasts sing-a-long hooks to rival Beyoncé at her best, a swagger and retro wardrobe that only the likes of André 3000 can pull off, and an outlandish android alter-ego by the name of Cindi Mayweather that's like something Gaga might dream up. It's quite possible we may have a megastar-in-the-making on our hands.

Her album 'The Arch Android' will be released in May and she's served up two tasters, 'Cold War' and 'Tightrope', to whet our appetites.

Janelle Monae - Tightrope (featuring Big Boi)



Janelle Monae - Cold War

Giving Battles In Vain

'Violet Eyes' by My Gold Mask is a track I took a shine to a few months back and have found myself returning to again and again.

For a two-piece, band-members Jack Armondo and Gretta Rochelle certainly succeed in making an almighty racket. The combination of Armondo's thrashing guitars and Rochelle's snarling vocal (to my ears like a cross between Karen O and a female Jack White) packs some punch, and this particular track builds wonderfully throughout the verses towards its monstrous chorus.

The group recently shot a video for the track, using both a HD Canon camera and a toy Fisher Price camera.



Good news: you can download this track for free by clicking here.

Stuck On Repeat

Penguin Prison - Something I'm Not (free download)



Gorillaz - Stylo (Alex Metric Remix)



Lady Gaga (featuring Beyoncé) - Telephone (Electrolightz Remix)



80kidz (featuring Lovefoxxx) - Spoiledboy



Egyptian Hip Hop - Heavenly



Goldfrapp - Rocket (Richard X Zero One Remix)



Simian Mobile Disco - Audacity of Huge (Dada Life Guerilla Fart Remix)

Get Rowdy

Following the success of the Swap As Soon As You Hear event at Twisted Pepper, Come As Soon As You Hear are throwing a UV-themed extravaganza, inspired by the new rave revival that became synonymous with the first series of Skins circa 2007.

DJs Peter Fingleton of (C U Next Tuesday) and Frankie Grimes will serve up a heady mix of Indie and Electro and, as ever, there will be an interactive element to proceedings. Let's just say, if you're planning on coming, I advise sporting a T-shirt or top that you don't mind getting scrawled on...

The event kicks off at 11pm this coming Saturday, the 20th at Twisted Pepper. Entry on the door is €8 but you can get in for the discounted price of €5 if you put your name on this here guestlist.

Full details on the Facebook page.

Passions Reignited

Good news for anybody without tickets to Passion Pit's sold-out gig in The Olympia on March 13th. Heineken Green Spheres are organising another one of their free gigs and have selected the American electronic outfit as their headline act.

The Savoy Theatre in Cork has been chosen as the venue for the gig on March 12th. This may involve a road-trip for the likes of me but, having caught the band at Electric Picnic last year, I reckon it's worth it.

I was lucky enough to catch Green Spheres events in Carlow (Marina & The Diamonds, Miike Snow, Digitalism) and Dublin (White Lies, Neon Indian) last year and had a blast at both. Click here to apply for tickets.

Meanwhile, an alternate video for Passion Pit's breakthrough track 'Sleepyhead' has been leaked. Apparently the video pre-dates the official video but was rejected by the band and their management. To be honest, I kinda prefer this one.

When Amelie Met Daniel...

I realise I'm posting about Muchuu with alarming regularity but their output just keeps getting better and better.

Their latest gem is an inspired cover of Bat For Lashes' 'Daniel', set to Yann Tiersen's 'La Valse D'Amelie' from the film 'Amelie'. Feast your ears on this:

Back To Black

Despite being ranked alongside Lady Gaga, La Roux and Florence and the Machine in BBC's 'Sound of 2009' music industry poll, Londoner Dan Black didn't enjoy quite the same levels of success last year.

The consensus seemed to be that his album, ((UN)), didn't live up to the promise of early singles 'Yours' and 'HYPNTZ'. Undeterred by the lukewarm reaction to the album in these parts, Dan is continuing with plans to release it in the States this month.

Presumably to drum up interest ahead of the album's release, he has made a mix-tape called 'Weird Science' available for free download. The six tracks on the mix are all performed by Dan and include elements of tracks by Kate Bush, Dizzee Rascal, Madonna Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliot among others.

'Weird Science' is clever, fun and sounds great. I wonder if they'll let me re-activate my membership of the Dan Black Fan Club?

Dan Black - Gimme Into The Cloudbusting



Dan Black - Pass That Head Noise



Download the full mixtape here.

Robyn's Return

A new track from Swedish popstrel Robyn has materialised, purportedly produced by Diplo.

Whether or not 'No Hassle' is the first cut from Robyn's long-awaited follow-up to her excellent eponymous album, released in 2005, remains to be seen. Either way, is a sprightly reggae-flavoured number that's well worth a listen.

Robyn & Diplo - No Hassle

Emerald Warriors

It's no secret that I am an embarrassingly avid Marina & The Diamonds fan and, as such, I'm delighted that Eimear and I have been given the chance to DJ at next Thursday's Listen | Love, which is serving as an album launch of sorts for her debut album, 'The Family Jewels'.

If you fancy hearing the album in full, a day before it officially hits the shops, as well as busting a move to tunes provided by DJs from Super Super Disco, C U Next Tuesday, Áit Ait and Come As Soon As You Hear, I suggest you haul your ass down to Tripod on the 18th.

Rumours abound that Ms. Diamandis will be making her own contribution to the celebrations but your guess is as good as mine as to what this might entail exactly.

Full details of the event will be posted to the Facebook page throughout the week.

In the meantime, I'd like to bagsy this Monsieur Adi Remix of 'Obsessions' before any of the other DJs get their filthy mitts on it.

Marina & The Diamonds - Obsessions (Monsieur Adi Remix)

Stuck On Repeat

Friendly Fires - Hold On (Holy Ghost! cover)



Chromeo - Night By Night (Midnight Conspiracy Remix)



Shy Child - Disconnected (Anoraak Remix)



Miike Snow - Animal (Mark Ronson Remix)



Lady Gaga - Love Game (Chew Fu Remix featuring Marilyn Manson)



Japayork - Teenager (Lalory's Broadway Remix)



Cleast Eastwood - Sad Machine (Kider & Vapen Remix)

Dudley Do Right

Just days after unveiling the video for their second single 'Getaway Train', brother and sister duo Muchuu have recorded a gorgeous rendition of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Dudley', transforming the rock ballad into a twinkly synthfest.



If you've yet to check out the band's wonderful website, I'd strongly suggest having a snoop around.

Soler Powered Sounds

Ever since coming across English quartet Fenech Soler as a result of their excellent remix of Marina and the Diamonds' 'Hollywood', I've slowly become enamoured with their own brand of slinky electropop.

Teaming dreamy synths and throbbing drumbeats with sleek vocals from from frontman Ben Duffy, the band occupy a point on the musical spectrum somewhere between Friendly Fires and Tesla Boy.

Their recent single 'Lies' is a delectable little ditty that, by rights, should have conquered the charts:



There's also a pretty corking Alex Metric mix of the track that went down a treat when Mr Metric played at Spy last Friday.



Meanwhile, Ben also shares vocal duties with Saint Saviour on 'Paper Romance', the decidedly decent new track from Groove Armada:

C U Next Tonight?

Eimear and I are doing a set tonight at the cheekily-titled C U Next Tuesday at Crawdaddy. If you fancy yourself some midweek mayhem, be sure to come down and scope it out.

The brainchild of arty types Peter Fingleton and Alan Taylor, C U Next Tuesday has been packing out three rooms at Crawdaddy since beginning its residency there shortly before Christmas and established a reputation as one of the best spots to go and dance yourself into oblivion.

Some of the tunes you can expect to hear from our set:

Bloc Party Vs. Gwen Stefani - What You Hunting for?



La Roux - Bulletproof (Data Remix)



Miike Snow - Animal (Fake Blood Remix)

Dancing With Death

The first thing that caught my eye about French electronic duo Make The Girl Dance was their mildly outrageous video for their rather decent single 'Baby Baby Baby'.



However, I reckon the boys have produced an even better video to accompany their latest track, 'Kill Me'. The track itself is a slice of club-busting brilliance that you might expect from the likes of Justice.

But the (NSFW) video, which poses the question 'What would you do if you only had eight days left to live?' before presenting a pretty comprehensive list of available options, is the real dealbreaker.



I'm also somewhat besotted with the Audrey Katz remix of the song and have been playing it full blast all weekend.



Hardcore.

Rough and Ready

Back in September, one of the few shows I managed to catch at the Dublin Fringe was 'Rough', an original play by upstart Grace Dyas, staged by THEATREclub.

A murky drama that looks beyond the designer label clothes and preened hair of 'Generation Y' Dubliners to cycles of binge-drinking, casual sex and self-loathing, the play featured two dazzling performances by emerging actresses Aoibhin Garrihy and Roxanna Nic Liam and some strikingly original set design by Doireann Coady.

The play deservedly scooped the Fishamble New Writing Award at the festival. If you didn't get around to seeing it, that's a real shame for you.

But guess what?

Axis Ballymun is serving as a second-chance saloon later this month, playing host to 'Rough' for a special two-night run.

Tickets for the show have deliberately been set at €5 to try and encourage those that might not typically venture to the theatre to come along and experience a piece of work that might subvert their impressions of what theatre is all about.

'Rough' runs at Axis, Ballymun on the 25th and 26th February at 8pm. Booking & Info: (01) 883 2100. Full details here.

Can You Get Me A Bagel?

My friend Colm recently introduced me to the work of funnywoman Elaine Carroll and her Very Mary Kate series.



See more episodes here.

Ms Carroll's talents seemingly extend beyond parodying the poor Olsen sisters. She also does a mean impression of Amelie conjugating the French verb 'aller' and a Hermione Granger/Michelle Pfeiffer hybrid in 'Dangerous Wands'.

Cute Overload

Cutesy brother-sister duo Muchuu have released their self-made video for second single 'Getaway Train'.

Like most of Muchuu's output, the track is just the right side of twee and laced with the pair's youthful exuberance.



Singer 'Milky' has also produced an animated video for the track that she composed entirely on MS Paint, click here to check it out.

Asian Persuasion

Carl at Illegal Tender is still working his way through his 'tips for 2010'.

Whereas most sites threw together a list of 'hyped artists' at the end of December/beginning of January, Carl has taken the time to put together a list of names that even the most clued in hype-mongers are unlikely to have heard of.

As well as the the excellent Talking Pictures and Velo, Illegal Tender are endorsing slinky synthmeister Japayork.

Sounding like an intoxicating mix of Monarchy, Nightwaves and maybe even a less-shrill Dan Black, the 22-year-old is also seemingly a graphic design whizz.

Japayork's track 'Our Now' is something of a corker and comes backed with a moody video that shows off his aforementioned design skills.



Check out his Myspace to see what else is lurking up his sleeve.

Stuck On Repeat

Cory Enemy Featuring Sky Ferreira - Take It Slow



Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed (Penguin Prison Remix featuring Theophilus London) (free download)



Velo - Trading Alibis



The Good Natured - Sleep In Dust



I Blame Coco - How Did All These People Get In My Room?



Monarchy - Gold In The Fire (We Have Band Remix)



Yeasayer - O.N.E.

H, I, J...

The Come As Soon As You Hear juggernaut is gathering pace and we have a pretty diverse selection of events coming up in the next few weeks.

The first of these takes place this coming Thursday in The Bernard Shaw, Portobello, and is a celebration of The Letter K.

Among the krazyseksykool things we've got lined up are:

A performance by talk of the town Kid Karate

A DJ set by the inimitable kDamo.

Kolouring Kompetitions (with prizes)

Kola

Krispie Buns

And the best thing is that it won't cost you a bean. It's kompletely free.

I'd love to see you there. Possibly in a kimono.

Seal Of Approval

Swedish electropop oddities Lo Fi Fnk released their debut album 'Boylife' back in 2006. I was late in discovering the album but, when I did, I quickly developed a love for the duo's synth-laden music and quirky lyrics.

Apart from their rather wonderful Kitsuné release, 'Want U', August and Leo maintained a decidedly low profile since the album.

Then recently they began posting snippets on their website and yesterday unveiled a new track, 'Marchin' In', from their forthcoming album.

The track is somewhat more downbeat than some of the older tracks but a wicked bassline and Leo's idiosyncratic vocal prevent it from sounding anyway drab.

I also quite like the hypnotic marine-themed video that accomapnies the track.