Local favourites // Vadoinmessico

Five piece Vadoinmessico only just qualify as 'local' favourites, solely thanks to drummer Joe. The remainder are made up of Italians Giorgio and Alessandro, Salvador (from Mexico) and banjo playing Austrian Stefan, combining to make luscious, tropical folk-pop. The Vampire Weekend-esque Pepita Queen of the Animals and In Spain showcase elegantly quirky vocals reminiscent of Devendra Banhart, while the nostalgic rolling folk and slide guitars of Teeo are our personal picks, but there's much to admire in all the band's enigmatic output thus far.

Preparing to release their debut record 'Archaelogy of the Future' on 5th March on PIAS, Vadoinmessico will be following up with a show at the Lexington with Drugstore on 6th April.


 

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Willis Earl Beal // Evening's Kiss

XL Recordings are doing alright for column inches lately, what with Adele's recent bird flipping, M.I.A.'s recent bird flipping, and Tylor The Creator's constant bird flipping, and it's only a matter of time before the label's most recent recruit Willis Earl Beal gets the XL guide to media handling.

For now, he's settling for hand drawn videos featuring naked women and ignoring pets to meet the controversy quota and accompany his incredible lo-fi blues tracks. Mr Beal will be at London's Power Lunches next week, before further shows at The Victoria and Sebright Arms in early March. See you there.

 

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Arthur Beatrice // Midland

Ahead of the release of their debut record in March and their Open Assembly show next week, the frankly brilliant and destined for greatness Arthur Beatrice have previewed new track Midland, a furthering of the grandiose indie heard on previous tracks What We Hoped to Achieve and Charity.

Midland by Arthur Beatrice

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THEESatisfaction // Pause + Do You Have The Time

THEESatisfaction have been pricking the ears of Zane Lowe, The Guardian's Paul Lester, and many other tipsters in the last few weeks. While you shouldn't necessarily take either of these endorsements as gospel, anyone who's heard their 'Transitions' or 'Sandra Bollocks Black Baby' records from last year will understand the hype is deserved, as the girls fuse jazz, early hip hop and 60s soul, served in a smooth yet unpredictable groove akin to stablemate and collaborator Shabazz Palaces.

The duo are ramping up for the release of their debut on Sub Pop 'awE natualE'. Check them performing Pause and 'Transitions' track Do You Have The Time below on KEXP, and grab free download Queens while you're at it.

 
 

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra // Strangers Are Strange

At first, I sort of felt indifferent to this track from UMO's debut full length. Then that cyclical bass groove just gets in your head, and you start walking, eating, breathing, and doing most other things in time with it, an addict to its funky rumble.

Just when I thought I'd got my life back in order, the band release an equally addictive video, fully supporting the mantra that Strangers Are Strange. Or at least they are in the 2012 version of 70s spy dramas.

 

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Selebrities // Night Heat

Perhaps thanks in part to Drive's outstanding soundtrack, setting 80s house synths to images of emotionless violence, Carey and Ryan's sexual tension and great bomber jackets, Selebrities are likely to do very well in the current climate.

That said, Night Heat and its accompanying kaleidoscopic video are so glamourously sensuous the track would no doubt court success in any climate. Following their under-acknowledged 2011 debut 'Delusions', this continues their mastery of pulsing gothic pop, and is a sultry delight for this wintry Monday eve.

Selebrities - Night Heat from Selebrities on Vimeo.

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Jessie Ware // Running

Jessie Ware steps way beyond the pavement dwelling scenes of earlier track Valentine and takes on a 90s diva regality in the video to her new track Running. Beige leather sofas? Red velvet drapes? Basement cabaret clubs? This has Sade's Smooth Operator written all over it for inspiration, while the track also has a foot in smooth R&B territory while maintaining the driving beats as heard on Strangest Feeling. Scrubs up nice too Jessie, eh?

 

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Phèdre // Phèdre

Depicting themselves as "Three lovers from Monaco, raised in a cave of gold", Phèdre's début record sounds as equally decadent. Combining psychedelia with a couldn't care less delivery, the members of Hooded Fang and Doldrums have an album full of mystery, with In Decay particularly possessing a sparkling pop bounce that could prove their Time To Pretend moment. Stream the album in full below.



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