Weird Dreams // Hypnagogic Lullaby

We're big fans of Sleep All Day Records at No Action HQ, largely as the label consistently delivers record after record of the best London acts around. And they've struck audio gold again with Weird Dreams' enchanting Hypnagogic Lullaby EP.

It's probably no coincidence that sleep, dreams and hypnagogic lullabies tie in so nicely, with the EP fitting the label's canon like a glove, crafting lo-fi power pop riffs with a Pixies ear for distorted melody which, while perhaps not achieving the transcendent state the title suggests, certainly makes the pulse race.

Hypnagogic Lullaby by Weird Dreams

The Strokes // Under Cover of Darkness

As if you didn't know, those pesky kids of the early noughties and today's discerning godfathers of garage The Strokes release what is likely to be their farewell album 'Angles' on March 22nd. For those wanting an early listen of what will hopefully be a bow worthy of their good name, you can download a free copy of first single Under Cover of Darkness for the next 48 hours from their site, or listen here.

The Dodos // Black Night

While their early demos and second album 'Visiter' made and cemented The Dodos as blogosphere megastars mentioned in the same breath and verse as Fleet Foxes, their follow up felt, well, underwhelming.

Black Night from their forthcoming 'No Color' LP sends the duo straight back to the top of the pile, rivalling Vister's Winter and Fools in its ability to be both sparse and epic. The thunderous drums to open are unrelenting throughout, the very definition of the engine room, while Meric Long's plucking and vocals provide the charm, the refined features and melodic flair that makes the track stay with you for days. You'll find yourself walking in time. Typing in time. Breathing in time. It's that good.

Little Comets // In Search of Elusive Little Comets

Little review of the pop sprites' long overdue debut record for the excellent Fugitive Motel here.

In Search of Elusive Little Comets
Little Comets
Dirty Hit
Released: 31.01.2011

What were Columbia thinking? One can only guess at the contractual wranglings, angry words, ultimatums and fist shaking that went on prior to the label dropping Little Comets in early 2010, but on one thing we can be certain; in a dark corner of Columbia HQ an executives brow is sweating feverishly as it approaches the block, while the sprightly pop brilliance of In Search of Elusive Little Comets ironically soundtracks the bleak scene.

I was charmed by Little Comets prior to the aforementioned struggles, and am therefore delighted that the early singles and demos have made it to the record and received a Rich Costey spruce up. Adultery’s opening lambaste is rapidly followed by the cowbells, howls and infectious riffery of insta-hit One Night in October, before Robert Coles exorcises the strains of the past 12 months with ferocious yelps on Joanna. While intelligent indie-pop may not exactly be en vogue, the market for it undoubtedly remains. Mystery Jets have done a fine job of capturing the ears, hearts and wallets of the mainstream, while the devoted followers of Bombay Bicycle Club and Two Door Cinema Club will no doubt quickly accept Little Comets to their collective bosom.

The band's made-for-radio jangly pop is instantly likeable; Tricolour’s pristine 80s production and Mathilda’s off kilter afrobeat channelling Paul Simon through a Geordie filter. When the tempo temporarily slows on Her Black Eyes and piano-led closer Intelligent Animals, Coles’ vocal drops the dependence on its impetuous idiosyncrasies and carries a drama and fragility akin to Everything Everything.

This is a debut brimful of hits and verve from a band finnaly getting the spotlight it deserves.

Metronomy // She Wants

Jul & Mat, the French video making wizards, have followed up earlier Metronomy and We Have Band collaborations with this supremely intricate vid for the former's single She Wants. The single has been knocking about for a while but is charming, restrained electro, with a classic Metronomy bassline yet added harmonies and warmer production, indicating next month's release of The English Riviera could be pretty special.

First Aid Kit // It Hurts Me Too

From the opening, longing refrain "I love you baby, ain't gonna lie. Without you darlin' I can't be satisfied", it's clear that the First Aid Kit girls have grown up. The heart warming harmonies remain with added world-worn soul, but the lilting folk of their earlier songs is replaced by a brooding blues, no doubt a product of Jack White's tinkering.

Brown Brogues // Don't Touch My Hair

There's plenty of bands, Egyptian Hip Hop, Everything Everything, Wu Lyf and Christian AIDS to name but a select few, bursting from Manchester's burgeoning new class set to steal the limelight and A&R attention from their London peers.

Add to that list Brown Brogues. Listening to the duo's two minute blasts of psych garage is akin to feeling the angst striken buzz of early White Stripes demos like Lafayette Blues or Hand Springs, as thumping drums provide the platform for scuzzy lo-fi guitar.

Before they head out to SXSW, the band's debut 7" is out next week on Suffering Jukebox. For your listening pleasure, samples of two tracks from the release are below, as well as a Manchester Scenewipe directed video for Treet U Beta.

Find more artists like brown brogues at Myspace Music

Find more artists like brown brogues at Myspace Music

Local favourites // James Blake

This BBC performance of The Wilhelm Scream offers the absolute explanation for why we still haven't recovered full consciousness since James Blake's incredible support slot for Everything Everything at the Union Chapel last month.

The first 'echo-pop' at 1.13, the blanket synths gathering at 2.21, the refreshing clarity at 4.32; a few examples of the simple beauty Blake achieves in his music, and why February 7th can't come soon enough.

Little Scream // The Heron and The Fox

You can never go far wrong with a Secretly Canadian signing, the record label home of Here We Go Magic, Yeasayer, JJ and Antony & The Johnsons acting as signpost for innovation and future genius.

It would seem careless therefore not to herald a new SC signing with some attention. Unlike her label contemporaries there's more of the traditional in Little Scream, with a lush, hushed voice that invites comparisons with Joni Mitchell, yet behind the innocent visage lies perhaps a more deviant edge, singing of showing truckers what she's got and that she would be the fox to her muse's heron.

Ok, perhaps not deviant, but there's plenty to love in this celebratory free download that certainly whets the aural appetite for her forthcoming debut 'The Golden Record' out 11th April.

Little Scream - The Heron and The Fox

Smith Westerns // Dye It Blonde

We can't get enough of Smith Westerns. Thankfully, NPR must have felt our painful anticipation of the boys' new record and are willing to indulge us by streaming the record, in full, on their site.

A little bit glam, a little bit garage, even on first listen it's got 'you will be listening to this all year' all over it. Here's a choice selection, or head to NPR for the lot.

Smith Westerns - Dye It Blond by revolutioncontemporaine

Porcelain Raft // Gone Blind EP

Every man and his dog are plugging Porcelain Raft as the 2011 big hitter, and while not one to stand on ceremony, unfortunately No Action has no choice but to be in total agreement. The lush pop dreamscapes evident on Mauro Remiddi's new Gone Blind EP are evidence enough that the man's ability to transport us away from grim, grey reality to somewhere grander are just the tonic for the new year. Here's a choice cut and video from the forthcoming release.

Porcelain Raft 'Dragonfly' from Porcelain Raft on Vimeo.

Christmas Countdown // The Maccabees :: Walking In The Air

In a valiant attempt to trump Jona Lewie's Stop the Cavalry as No Action's favourite Christmas song, perennially under-rated The Maccabees have recorded a haunting, dramatic version of Walking In The Air. Staying true to the original, it's take off at just under two minutes in is spectacular, while Orlando's voice is a perfect fit with its mix of innocence and unhinged portent.