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.

 
 

Follow @No_Action

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.

 

Follow @No_Action

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.

Follow @No_Action

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?

 

Follow @No_Action

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.



Follow @No_Action

Brown Brogues // Anyone But You

Photography © Pat Hill 

Soon to be released on Italian Beach Babes, blues-some two-some Brown Brogues' new video for Anyone But You from Manchester Scenewipe (who also filmed their social club outing video for Treat U Beta) has pretty much all you need to know about the band. A healthy disregard for convention, equipment, noise caps and their own safety are par for the course, while they excel in making being in a band look effortlessly fun.

According to FakeDIY, the single will come out on 27th February accompanied by B-side I Drove For Miles Just To Hear About The Book That You're Reading. The band will also be in London for a show at Shacklewell Arms on March 1st, before heading out to the US. Probably minus that guitar.



Follow @No_Action

Sea Pinks // Oh London

Taken from their excellent 2011 record 'Dead Seas', Sea Pinks have pulled together a be-quiffed and sensibly jumpered video of retro café clips for Oh London. This track particularly recalls the vocals and shanty delivery of Mull Historical Society, while you can check out the rest of the record's melancholic lo-fi charm via the Belfast band's Bandcamp.


Oh London from Sea Pinks on Vimeo.

Follow @No_Action

Sky Larkin // Tiny Heist

With Katie having played keyboards for "over a hundred shows" with Wild Beasts and Nestor having drummed for Napoleon IIIrd and tour managed Young Legionnaire among others, it's surprising Sky Larkin have any time for anything else these days.

Thankfully, Katie was able to squeeze in a jaunt to see film-maker Ashley Connor and pull together what is the closing statement on their 2010 Kaleide record, the fruits of which trip you can see below.


Tiny Heist from Sky Larkin on Vimeo.

Follow @No_Action

Childhood // Mount Chiliad

Trading in languid, hazy pop, Nottingham/London trio Childhood recently appreared on Double Denim's Binnacle bill of brand new acts alongside Outfit, Seams, Patten and other singularly denominated bands. While their output may be limited thus far, they demonstrate quality over quantity, as early tracks Paper Wave, Just Floating, Blue Velvet, and the newly recorded Mount Chiliad show. Here's hoping there'll be more to come from these guys this year.

Childhood // Paper Waves



Blue Velvet by childhoodmusic

Mount Chiliad by childhoodmusic

Follow @No_Action

Judah Warsky // Painkillers & Alcohol

Unabashed devotees of the retro collage videos of Jamie Harley as we are, we couldn't let this 12 minute plus mini-epic pass by without a post. Particularly seeing as it's set to the two teaser tracks available to hear from Judah Warsky's new 'Painkillers & Alcohol' record, which feature looping French house beats, prog guitars and Wayne Coyne-esque vocals to produce a hypnotic, at once mechanic and heartfelt opening to what sounds like a remarkable record, due to be released in March.


Judah Warsky : "Painkillers & Alcohol" / "Asleep in the train" from Jamie Harley on Vimeo.

Follow @No_Action

La Sera // Please Be My Third Eye

Katy Goodman is pretty much the most prolific musician around, gaining rapidly on Damon Albarn and Jack White in the accumulating bands stakes. Already having produced three LPs as one prong of Vivian Girls, a self-titled EP as half of All Saints Day, she's about to release a second full length as her most recent alias La Sera.

Tracks such as Never Come Around and Devils Hearts Grow Gold from La Sera's self titled debut were caressing exercises in 60s girl group pop with a fuzzy lining, Please Be My Third Eye, the first single to be released from the new record 'Sees The Light' on Hardly Art, is all about the punch. Retaining the sinister menace of the heartbroken, the sound is direct searing pop punk with a melodic riff reminiscent of The Strokes before they became all bitter and hateful. Grab the track for yourself below.

La Sera // Please Be My Third Eye

Follow @No_Action

Youth Lagoon // July

Trevor Powers, aka Youth Lagoon, had a pretty storming 2011 following the release of 'The Year Of Hibernation', appearing in nigh on every 2011 best of list, including our own.

The video for next single from that record July is an eerily elegant affair. That is until the car park beating, nose bleeds and sun-bleached panic ensues.


Youth Lagoon - July from Tyler T Williams on Vimeo.

Follow @No_Action