Local favourites // Trash Kit

Lo-fi is currently very en vogue, but the flaw of any emerging scene is that, once the door is opened, all and sundry can stroll through with a roughly crafted demo and command undue attention from slathering labels.

Trash Kit, however, are one of the good ones. The release of their self-titled debut on local indie Upset the Rhythm supports their case. While it's defiantly ramshackle and chaotic, there's a wild energy and melody to be found among the fuzz and reverb that sets the girls above their peers. No more so than on Cadets, its tribal drums and war cries acting as an unrelenting call to arms for those tired of polished pop.

Head to Stereogum for more Trash Kit related goods.

Vampire Weekend // Johnathan Low

Muse did it; Dead Weather did it; even Radiohead did it. Now Vampire Weekend are doing it too, offering up a brand new track for the forthcoming Twilight film.

Thankfully, it sounds pretty great. Not only do we get new material, the band have also dipped into their wardrobes and dressed up in Elizabethan garb for latest single Holiday, both of which you can enjoy below.

Vw by c87157

Klaxons // Flashover

The Mercury Prize, in attempting to maintain its reputation as a serial career killer, appeared for a while to have done for Klaxons.

However, after much upheaval, mind expanding and session scrapping the band are finally ready to release a follow up to their debut with the provisionally titled Surfing the Void and are streaming a teaser of things to come from their all new site.

On first listen, Flashover is so distinctively Klaxons it sounds vaguely identical to everything the band has done previously, but without pinning down exactly what. It is though much, much heavier than anything they've done before, backing up claims of a back to basics rock record with producer Ross 'Korn' Robinson's influence stamped on the prominent, heavy bass and screaming guitars.

The four are off previewing more new stuff in July, visiting London's Village Underground on the 27th.

The Drums // Forever and Ever Amen

Ahead of the release of their debut full length on June 7th, The Drums are steadily maintaining the magnificently high quality of both song and video with Forever and Ever Amen.

Grainy and effete, as if lifted wholly from British 80s new wave, the video sees the band cruising around and climbing on tables looking chiseled while a couple of kids bash stuff up. Great! Plus, their site has a free download of It Will All End in Tears for further listening pleasure.

Karen Elson // The Ghost Who Walks

The model-to-singer path is not one easily trod, ridden as it is with accusations of vacuity and the pursuit of dollar through diversification, with the music often a side issue. Actress to singer we accept almost without question, as proved most recently by indie darlings Zooey Deschanel and Scarlett Johansson, with a little help from their friends.

This is, however, the path chosen by Oldham's most glamourous musical export since Mark Owen, Karen Elson. Fortunately for us and her both, she has a miraculous, careless voice and has written mature, blues folk songs of subtle depth. Hints of late White Stripes in the gothic balladry (The Birds They Circle) and early Raconteurs (The Truth is in the Dirt) in the use of organ show hubby Jack's influence, while Nick Cave and female American country remain well sourced touchstones for the remainder.

Buy it on May 25th, or enjoy it now here.

Stag & Dagger // London

The impossible dilemma of any city festival, particularly one that lasts but a day, is reaching that point of acceptance. The understanding that no matter what you do or how fast you think you can walk, you're resigned to the fact that you just can't see it all and, if you try, you'll spend more time outside venues than in.

London's leg of Stag & Dagger on Friday 21st, with its 21 Shoreditch venues, promises just such warring frustrations and pleasures. While on the one hand Wild Palms and We Have Band will be pleasuring the attendees at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, those very people may only speculate on Django Django's genre shuffling at Queen of Hoxton or Spectrals' enchanting lo-fi loveliness at Jaguar Shoes.

Much to ponder. Here's a Spectrals related tempter to enjoy in the meantime.

Villagers // Becoming a Jackal

Here's a review of the excellent Becoming a Jackal single from Villagers for The Fugitive Motel.

Villagers // Becoming a Jackal
Domino Records // 24th May 2010

Villagers is not a bunch of slightly rotund, red cheeked gentlemen in tweed and dirty fingernails lambasting the local Tesco’s. Neither is Villagers a gaggle of haunted housewives decked in Laura Ashley regaling the pursuits of their darlings in the school hall coffee morning. Villagers is, however, folk. Pure folk. Not alt or nu or anything, but folk in its truest sense.

Becoming a Jackal, the title track from Villagers’ debut album, is Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel in a single, one Irish man package. Yes, the lyrics are a touch yearning at times: “I was a dreamer / staring at windows”, for example, could easily be misconstrued as clumsily airy, but the uneasy delivery and sinister accompaniment make them entirely believable. When he sings despairingly of selling his fears as the track closes, his demons almost visible on his shoulders, it feels like hearing Bright Eyes again for the first time. Not only that, his name’s Conor J O’Brien. Spooky.

Local favourites // Male Bonding

Dalston's Male Bonding (be careful when you Google) are preparing to release their long awaited debut album Nothing Hurts on May 10th, followed by a launch party at Camp Basement, Old Street on May 27th alongside other London greats Pens and Veronica Falls. This and, most importantly, the fact the trio produce some outstanding shoe-gaze inspired grunge, thrillingly towing the line between noise and melody, makes them more than a little deserving of being current local favourites.

Having released various split 7" alongside Fair Ohs, Pens and Cold Pumas, Sub Pop were suitably impressed to invest their time and cash in the band, who are now on their way to shake the foundations of a village hall near you. Here's a taste from the band's BBC session. Great huh?