Maccabees make Brighton Rock shock

The Maccabees from Brighton have finally "arrived" with their new album COLOUR IT IN. This is the sort of music that stops me in my tracks and reminds me how great real post punk pop rock should sound like. Full of rawky riffola and dynamic contrasts, the opposition are going to have to step up several gears to beat this when the end of the year reviews are written and 2007 is just a memory. The Maccabees first came to my attention with the quirky but superbly enjoyable LATCHMERE single (Released on the wonderful FIERCE PANDA records). This wasnt their first recorded effort - that was a long deleted single called X RAY released on an unknown label called PROMISE records (29th May 2006) - If anyone has a recording of X RAY, I would love to hear it. COLOUR IT IN is definitely a huge leap forward for the Brighton boys, and will be up there in my end of year countdown. Enjoy.

Classic Record Sleeves

The Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon

The Virtual Turntable - MAY

So, I dont appear to have posted anything of note for a while (shame on me) - however its Bank Holiday weekend and I intend to put that right immediately.
The Red Baron's virtual turntable has been busy spinning up some great new tracks in May. If you managed to get hold of a copy of MOJO magazine this month, you should now be the proud owner of a wonderful cover CD showcasing the "best of British" new talent. I can confirm that the Noisettes' track is a fun slice of Garage Rockabilly that opens the CD. We are then led on a magical journey through some upbeat and melancholic A-class fodder, culminating in the Draytones' superb "Keep Loving Me". Although the CD does lose cohesion (as many of these compilations do), I can thoroughly reccommend the intent and sentiment of the 15 tracks contained on it, which represent some of the finest Indie work this side of the moon. Something for everyone.
THE NOISETTES - DONT GIVE UP
THE DRAYTONES - KEEP LOVING ME
Australia always seems to come up with some great jangly guitar oriented pseudo-psychedelic ruff-around-the-edges indie rock, and SOULS ON BOARD are in that vein, having been kicking around since 2005, their BLOOD FACE EP released in November 2006 seems to be honing their sound admirably. Try WHERE THE DANCE IS and see what I mean. I know its 6 months old now, but I cant seem to get it out of my head.
On the slightly more low-fi side, but definitely not minimalistic, California's THE LITTLE ONES are currently planning to woo us over here late in May with a series of dates as part of the NME New Music tour. A single release is planned for around that time too. Check it out: THE LITTLE ONES - LOVERS WHO UNCOVER
Our friends over on the ARTROCKER website are currently pointing us in the direction of some really great music (Was it ever any different, guys?). A few of my personal favourites getting almost constant play in my headphones are:
MUSIC IS GONNA KILL YOU by THE CAGES
HEAR ME OUT by THE BINGES
HIGHER NOW by THE BISHOPS
Go out and buy new alternative music - its what keeps the undoubted creativeness and innovation flowing. I have thousands of CD and Vinyl gems collected over many years and countless hours in backstreet record stores and I urge each and every one of you interested in this vibrant area of our rock heritage to do the same. Keep independant music alive. Spend a few quid and give these great new bands a leg up.