How To Dress Well - Ready for the World

Washed out cut and paste downtempo from How To Dress Well

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aR0zxA4lK4

Obituary Dec 30, 2010: Boney M. - Rasputin

On December 30, 2010 it was announced that Bobby Farrell had passed away at the age of 61. There are reports he had complained of breathing problems before and after a show on Wednesday. The cause of his death has yet to be established.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvDMlk3kSYg

When Saints Go Machine - Fail Forever

Indie thumper that makes me think Hercules crossed with MSTRKRFT.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhzcJIRHlNc

Smith Westerns - Weekend

Futuristic Britpop from Chicago.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm92O-kWa6o

Echo Lake - In Dreams

Shimmering droning shoegazing pop from London.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_m2xOTrZZ0

Obituary Dec 26, 2010: Teena Marie - Lovergirl

Classic video for the old skool track Lovergirl. Teena Marie died today at the age of 54 in her sleep. The artist released 13 albums over the span of 20 years. Lovergirl was her biggest hit going to number 4 in the US in 1984. She was known as the protegee of Rick James.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYVWoi72Ow4

Hooded Fang - Highway Steam

Ahhh...the horns and a Canadian band; this should have been my Christmas day post.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5X3zsVTris

Those Dancing Days - Fuckarias

Merry Christmas IKVSDK's I saved this one for Christmas day. TDD get punkier. Took me awhile to get this one but now I love it. One of my favourite bands in 2007. Three years later they are back with a new Album called Daydreams & Nightmares.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYg40pJDF_A

ceo - illuminata

Nice electronic indie club track

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9yAw4dlUJ0

The Young Evils - Get Over It

Kitschy catchy sing along from the Young Evils.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbr4IQQ1bNE

Crystal Castles-Not In Love Ft. Robert Smith

What happens when you electroclash a Platinum Blonde song from the Eighties and have Robert Smith freestyle the vocals.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftKBjYUamQY

Josh's Top 10 of the Year

For this year's top 10 I have no method to the madness and so I give you 10 songs in no particular order:

1. Gospel Music - Automobile

Gospel Music, the side project by Owen Holmes of Black Kids released Automobile, featuring Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell. The song is off the EP duettes.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKTceVlJXP8


2. Nicki Minaj - Your Love

Taken from the album Pink Friday, Nicki explodes with some retro funk. The song sampled Annie Lennox's No More I Love You's.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSFyrrhKj1Q


3. Washed Out - You'll See It

Drowning rich atmospheric indiepop taken from the Life of Leisure EP

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOf-moiZPVQ


4. Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel

Jangily worldly indie track which I'm thinking Mark over at Panic Manual would give two thumbs up for.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0wPNow3ymc


5. Marina and The Diamonds - Hollywood

This woman tore the roof off the Opera House earlier this year. Infectious pop music.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VTcJfL7RE


6. Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La

Raw california surf music from the band who's SXSW show may have been epic?

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwck4XOp1vQ


7. Basement Jaxx - Dracula

Thundering industrial club music. Basement Jaxx heads completely south in direction and succeed. Halloween was not the same this year.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd5NJXinhWc


8. Allo Darlin - Dreaming

I must have liked this twee band as I posted about them twice this year by mistake (old age or its really that good.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDM_DyoGGSA


9. Best Coast Something In The Way

Raw california surf music take two. The birth of a new genre?

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxJn1Dwal6o


10. Roll Deep - Good Times

Epic club track that had the UK clubs slammin!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEGnYyKib9E


11. Blighters - Heartbeat

Number 11. Who was counting anyways......Raw new wave pop goodness.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogOB-snVo5E


12. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Heart In Your Heartbreak

Droning guitar pop was never done any better than this. TPOBPAH continue to not fail.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewhQrteR9OQ

Happy Holidays from all of us at IKVSDK

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Heart In Your Heartbreak

Poppy heartbreaking indie music. This band does no wrong in my eyes

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewhQrteR9OQ

Teardrop Explodes - Reward

Rewind to 1981 for this classic with Julian Cope on Vocals. 30 years later, the album Kilimanjaro just got a 3 CD reissue by Mercury Records in the UK. This single actually went to number six in the UK in sales in 1981. In US and Canada it was Teardrop who? There is even a video for the song.


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU3XjOwwfJE

IS TROPICAL - SOUTH PACIFIC

Fuzzed Out melodic drowning track. Nice!!!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqYi_z_zW3A

Golden Ages - Africa

Excellent washed out indie version of the Toto classic. Nice update to a never dated track.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPKLjc0EyZk

Fujiya & Miyagi 'YoYo'

Great new track and a fantastic video of a jealous yo yo'er......

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeDvM-3MRBE

The Go! Team - T.O.R.N.A.D.O.

Brand new Go! Team........Cut and Paste madness....

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jlg3oBLkf4

Nicki Minaj - Check It Out

Maybe overdoing it but Nicki Minaj is killing electro/new wave hip hop. This one samples Video Killed The Radio Star

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqky5B179nM

Freezepop - Doppelganger

Bubbly euro new wave pop tune from Freezepop and taken from the new album Imaginary Friends

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcJAOe5BVkc

Pull In Emergency - 15 Years

Raw UK pop single from this band on Mute Records. Reminds me of the now defunkt Long Blondes

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyoeS27iq2s

French Films - Golden Sea

Nice jangily indiepop track with some serious eighties motifs.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HrysKg1te0

Reading Rainbow - Wasting Time

Guitar driven drone under an angelic pop hook...

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyTPyr7k4zU

Basement Jaxx - Dracula

Crazy.....Industrial madness from the Jaxx....a nice surprise.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd5NJXinhWc

Nicki Minaj - Your Love

Fantastic and catchy RnB/Hip Hop track from Nicki Minaj

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSFyrrhKj1Q

Gospel Music - Automobile

Great track from one of the guys from Black Kids under the guise Gospel Music and guest vocals from Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell. Very Twee....

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKTceVlJXP8

Allo Darlin' - Dreaming

Catchy indie twee track from Allo Darlin taken from the Self titled release

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDM_DyoGGSA

Flux Pavilion - Lines In Wax (ft. Foreign Beggars)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5hVIc6qC8k

Absolutely loving this dubstep track from Flux Pavilion.

Gypsy and the Cat - The Piper's Song

Catchy sorta eighties sounding pop rock track.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGQS8AkkulI

Richard Hawley - Tonight The Streets Are Ours

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBkrs4YpzI

I saw the film called "Exit Through the Gift Shop" this weekend, which is an amusing documentary about an obsessive Frenchman's effort to meet and film Banksy, the infamous street artist who grew up in Bristol. This song played during opening and closing title sequences. Click the link above for the official video, which is not embeddable.

Edwyn Collins - Losing Sleep

Old skool northern soul influenced track from Orange Juice guy Edwyn Collins. Catchy track off his new album Losing Sleep

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x64tqDrHgM

Two Bicycles - The Holy Forest

Etherial indie chill out music.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCrIFHUQYWE

Kylie Minogue - Get Outta My Way

Brand new track from Kylie is another catchy pop hook filled track.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHGaW8lBlSk&ob=av2e

The Cavalcade - We Always Move Too Slow

Nice indiepop track taken from their full length 2010 release Many Moons

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbnM86oBhzU

Stromae - Alors On Danse

This has been out for awhile but just went huge in the UK. French hip-hop/downtempo.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHoT4N43jK8

More interesting is the Kanye West mash up remix of this track which puts this even farther over the edge. Check it out

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORqMkdP8TLo

Rewind: Chapterhouse - Pearl (Whirlpool - 1991)

Rewind. Chapterhouse was in for a show tonight in Toronto at Lee's Palace. Classic old skool shoegazer band from back in the day. This was one of their best singles.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmOWrSzzogI

The xx - Infinity

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbdvHJ9DvaY

As you may have heard, IDKD favourites The xx recently won the 2010 Mercury Prize. In honour of their victory, here is another song from their stunning debut album, xx.

Warpaint - Stars

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-G6Lrqr_iM

Warpaint are a four-piece band from Los Angeles. I was blown away by their live set on Tuesday night when they opened for The xx. Definitely worth seeing on stage if you get a chance, they are very talented.

Alex Gaudino - I'm In Love (I Wanna Do It)

Catchy dance song from Alex Gaudino...massive in the UK

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rTMB74hbwc

Selebrities - Time

New wave airy pop from Selebrities. There is a 5 track ep floating around called Ladies Man Effect which has Time on it.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCrGNqkZWaU

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart Say No To Love

Sonic pop noise from TPOBPAH. They can do no wrong

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMyURfKRTEM

Manic Street Preachers - (It's Not War) Just The End Of Love

Are the Manic Street Preachers back?

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItAfIJSjU9Q&feature=fvst

Wave Machines -- Punk Spirit

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDC321iYh4o

IKDK featured Wave Machines last year with their track Keep The Lights On. Almost one year on, here is another track from the Liverpudlian band's only album to date, "Wave If You're Really There".

Blonde Redhead - Here Sometimes

New single from new album on 4AD

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1E_y4g-3mM

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS - OH NO!

POW!! September 8th Opera House. Great single. Fantastic Album

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr-SqRWImmI

HURTS - Wonderful Life

UK New Wave synth pop

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuwdw7KmGwA

Raveonettes – I Wanna Be Adored

Ahead of the Curve. Doc Martens Stoned and Rosed.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv_rQ2c3Fa8

CFCF - Come Closer (Nacho Lovers remix)

Clonk, Warp, Zip. Nacho Remix.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dSXicS1ZaU

Roll Deep - Green Light

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPVjRDJyLWs

School of Seven Bells - Windstorm

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYBigw9c_vc

Bim Stay In My Memory

Bim is the brainchild of Singer / Performer Rebecca Rosier and Composer / Producer Tim Davis.

With their blend of harmonies, piano duets and electro beats, the duo have already made a name for themselves online – charting at #6 in the iTunes electro charts and having over 650,000 YouTube hits for their single, Stay In My Memory; and thousands following their Twitter, Facebook and Myspace pages.

Musically, Bim have been compared to The Cardigans, The Cocteau Twins and Imogen Heap, with a live stage show that echoes the energy of Blondie, Madonna and Abba.

Their debut album, Scatterheart, was entirely written, recorded, produced and promoted by Tim and Rebecca, and is released along side a string of home-grown music videos.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsELXlALTak

The xx - Basic Space

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHZVGqqf3gg

Continuing the series of songs from this year's Mercury Prize nominated albums, here is a single from perhaps the favourites to win, IK vs DK regulars 'The xx'.

Foals - Miami

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ90LRaEIt0

Foals are a five-piece band from Oxford, England. Their album 'Total Life Forever' is another one of this year's Mercury prize nominees.

Wild Beasts - We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkkJCSduFS0

Long time, no post! Wild Beasts are an indie rock band from Kendal, England. Today's track comes from the band's second album 'Two Dancers', which has been nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize.

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed (Jakwob Remix)

Song (video but no moving pictures): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmvI98s2jno

This is not a new track. Both Ellie Goulding and Jakwob are hitting St John's May Ball this coming Tuesday, get ready to dance!

The Depreciation Guild - Dream About Me

Great shoegazing dreampop track taken from the band's second album. Member(s) of this band are in The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. The album was released in 2010.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTqq4ypLxo8

The Bluetones - Carry Me Home

Brand new single from Britpop band the Bluetones called Carry Me Home. The single is taken from their sixth album A New Athens released today. Uptempo sing-along type of song

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLIs3ViF454

The Divine Comedy - At The Indie Disco

Great new single from The Divine Comedy's 10th album Bang Goes the Knighthood. Catchy pop tune about dancing at the indie disco. Brings back memories of club nights and the nineties. Which reminds me. My Friend's 30th birthday will drag me back to the Dance Cave in a couple of weeks. ahhhhh..."give us some Blur and some Cure and some Wannadies".

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB--qzE4JhE

Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee

Brand new single from scottish outfit Teenage Fanclub. Taken from their first album in 5 years called Shadows. Released on their own record label PeMa label. Nice pop tune.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4H8F3TxSzQ

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w

OK Go is a band originally from Chicago, Illinois, now residing in Los Angeles. The band's 2006 music video for "Here It Goes Again" won a Grammy Award for "Best Short-Form Music Video". Here they are with a Goldberg machine-style video from this year's release "This Too Shall Pass".

The Big Pink - Tonight

Great new single from IKDK favourites the Big Pink off their stellar first album A Brief History Of Love

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2og_Yu9fzPY

Blighters Heartbeat

This band is going to be huge. Eighties influenced indiepop. I've heard a number of songs by the band and have not been disapointed. Supposedly this band is unsigned (but i'm guessing not for long) This is the first single released on 7 Inch on Hungry Audio Records. No album as of yet.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogOB-snVo5E

Uffie feat. Pharrell Williams-Add Suv (Armand Van Helden Vocal Remix)

Saturday Night Massive club track remixed by one Armand Van Helden. Slammin.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-UFdbPU1uQ

Blood Red Shoes - Don't Ask

Second single taken from their second album Fire Like This. Strong indierock from this Brighton band. Blood Red Shoes have been and Indie Kid Vs Dance Kid fav for awhile now. Hard to believe its already been 4 years since the single You Bring Me Down came out.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE5AB0mHnSk

Bingo Players - Tom's Diner (Original Mix)

Yes...this is a reworking of the Suzanne Vega classic. Slammin funked up club beat. Out on Spinning Records. Nice!!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPhKuuuWHFo

Merchandise - Lies Like These

What a great song to start the week off with. We featured a song by this outfit way back in June of 2008 called Sometimes. The band has finally canned the new album which features this great new single. The album is out on June 7th and features both songs. The video is taken in a pizza parlour somewhere in Salford. Maybe Dunstan can fill us non-uk folk on where this is. Very catchy and definately worth hunting down.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA40pM9Ckcg

Website: http://www.merchandisetheband.co.uk/

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS - I AM NOT A ROBOT

Brand new single from Marina and The Diamonds. But technically an old single that has just been re-released. Taken from the fantastic album The Family Jewels.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_oMD6-6q5Y

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round

Haunting indie-slow disco piece by this 4AD band. Just released on 7 Inch but due out on a full length soon.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhwKup1AKd4

Sparrow and The Workshop - I Will Break You

Dark Bluesy indie single from Glasgow based band Sparrow and The Workshop.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC0AOJszKBA

Lucky Soul - White Russian Doll

Catchy classy pop from Lucky Soul. Single taken from their second album A Coming Of Age. The 7 Inch is a dbl a-side release with Woah Billy on the other side.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukq8xcwKUPU

Best Coast - Something In The Way

Nice drone guitar pop from Best Coast out of California.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxJn1Dwal6o

Roll Deep - Good Times

Slammin club track which I can only imagine is tearing up the UK dance floors.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fql6aFizfPI

Mayer Hawthorne - Just Ain't Gonna Work Out

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBKx8PyE5qQ

Kicking the month of May off with a double posting of music for you...

Mayer Hawthorne (real name Andrew Mayer Cohen) is a hugely talented multi-instrumentalist originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan. His original songs sound like they could be remixes of old songs. Well worth a listen. Apparently his live act is excellent -- he's currently on a European tour, catch him if you can.

Anchorsong - Devils Clap

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEW4iP5LsK8

Anchorsong is the solo project of Masaaki Yoshida, a music producer from Tokyo. He started his career in Tokyo in 2004 and is now based in London.

He has become globally recognized for his unique live performance, creating electronic music live with a sampler (MPC2500) and a keyboard right in front of the audience, “on the fly”. Some people say, "It's like watching a painter drawing on a white canvas."

The Golden Filter - Hide Me

Slam electro downtempo club track from The Golden Filter. Bizarre video for this one two which seems to have been ripped from another band but works well with this track.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IQnPEAWXWg

The Crookes - Bloodshot Days

Nice melodic indie track that reminds me abit of a cross between Vampire Weekend , Gene, and Dexy's Midnight Runners which works for me.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc-Nu86hBsY

Robyn Fembots

Funky new electropop single from Robyn from her new album Body Talk Pt.1.

Sample alert....S-Express - Theme From S-Express.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkab8fZ-xxE

Summer Camp - Ghost Train

Cut and Paste downtempo indie track from Summer Camp. Nice

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rqgwIEAu8Y

Stars - Fixed

Brand new spaced out dreamy track by Canadian outfit Stars taken from their forthcoming album The Five Ghosts released in June. It doesn't disappoint. Stars play a sold out show May 5th at the Mod Club.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1sEq2ESt1A

Kate Nash - Do-Wah-Doo

Great new single Do Wah Doo and first from Kate Nash's second album My Best Friend Is You which is released this Monday. Kate continues on from where she left off with her 2007 release Made of Bricks. Catchy cute pop track. No surprise she has sold out her Toronto gig at the Mod Club on April 26th. Wish I had tickets.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqV-embx_tA

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil's Tattoo

Beat The Devil's Tattoo is the first single from the sixth album of the same name from the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Definately some hard rocking bluesy voodoo going on here. I got the chance to check out some of the new stuff at their recent concert at the Phoenix on April 11 here in Toronto. The band played a strong set for almost 2 1/2 hours. Nice.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYkhNWIdra0

MGMT - Congratulations

Myspace link: http://www.myspace.com/mgmt

MGMT have a new album out this week called Congratulations. You can listen to the full nine songs on the album on their Myspace page (link above). It's Working sounds to me like a weird mix between Mew and Simple Minds. Have a listen, catch them in Toronto on April 29 at the Mod Club or in the UK in September.

RIP Malcolm Mclaren World's Famous Supreme Team Hey Dj

Sad day as Malcolm Mclaren died at the age of 64 today from cancer. Brilliant musician who embraced everything from Punk to Old Skool. One of my favourite old skool clips originally released in 1984 Hey DJ. Hard to believe the same guy released they synthpop classic Madam Butterfly the same year. RIP Malcolm:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18bkvJRK7rw

Small Black / Washed Out Split 7 Inch

I would have liked to catch this show tonight but the Wrong Bar is alittle out of the way for this East Ender on a work night. It doesn't seem that Washed Out can do any wrong. Here they remix Small Black's Despicable Dogs which in its own right was brilliant but then they make it more brilliant. Small Black then return the favour by remixing Washed Out's You'll See It. Split 7 Inch out on Lovepump United Records.

Again if these remixes catch your interest go hunt down the originals which are absolutely amazing; search for our earlier review of Washed Out for a link to the original version of You'll See It.

Small Black Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQvu8FBEBU8



Washed Out - You'll See It (Small Black Remix)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JBZxGDc9k4

All Saints Day - It'll Come Around

This side project was described as abit of My Bloody Valentine mixed with the Swirlies. All Saints Day is Katy of Vivian Girls and Gregg Foreman of Cat Power. Nice!!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puh7eR4IexI

Allo Darlin' - Dreaming

Nice raw indiepop track from Allo Darlin. First album and self-titled is out in June on Fortuna Pop records.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDM_DyoGGSA

Drums - Best Friend

Great new single from this indie surf band from New York.


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0N-1RxIzyY

French Horn Rebellion vs Database - Beaches and Friends

Don't know anything about this outfit but this is one funky indie/club piano track.


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Fs7X1O3ZI&feature=related

Three Songs from Three Albums by The Ettes

Video of Dead and Gone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gdcx08OoHs

Video of I Get Mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr2MFjMv-Ys

Video of Take It With You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVDhvNS9aSE

The Ettes are a rock band consisting of Lindsay "Coco" Hames, Maria "Poni" Silver and Jeremy "Jem" Cohen. The three New Yorkers met in Los Angeles, Poni learned to play drums so that they could set up a band, and in 2004 the Ettes were born. Today IK vs DK presents one song from each of their first three albums: "Shake the Dust", "Look at Life Again Soon" and "Do You Want Power".

Dirty Epics - The Cure

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCdivoXOvDU

Just to be clear, this is not a new release from Robert Smith and friends. Dirty Epics are a four-piece Irish alternative rock band that released this single (The Cure) back in March 2008. The sound of Dirty Epics has been described as "a mix of the New York Dolls, Joy Division and the Pixies with Bob Dylan".

Rose Elinor Dougal- Start/Stop/Synchro

Hmmmm.....I loved the Pipettes and was quite surprised that one of the Pipettes had gone solo. Three singles have been released including this one. Very nice pop single but not as jangily as the Pipettes. Looking forward to the full length which is due soon. Just did some research and this single was actually released last year....hmmmmm...

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHDYzPCfo-Q

Alphabeat - Hole In My Heart

Brand new single from the Danish dance pop band taken from the album The Beat Is. Nice hooks. Catchy melody.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFpfF2AZzY

Blood Red Shoes - Light It Up

Brand new single from IKVSDK favourites Blood Red Shoes taken from their new album Fire Like This. Nice indie punk rock.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiTSbmxssBQ

The Bug (feat. Warrior Queen) - Poison Dart

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aW7NFSGklM

London-based DJ/musician/producer/journalist Kevin Martin produced this track back in 2008 in collaboration with Annette Henry. A strangely addictive dub track.

Die Antwoord - Enter the Ninja

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc3f4xU_FfQ

This is the first Zef-Rap music I have ever heard and I felt obliged to share it.

Goldfrapp - Rocket

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF8-eIL5WZM

New single from Goldfrapp. Very clubby dreamy eurodance sounding. Maybe alittle La Roux mixed in. Definately sounds Richard X produced. Mute has no video for it yet but their is a promo single circulating around with remixes by the likes of Richard X and Tiesto. Nice! Taken from the album Head First

Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La

New 7 Inch single from this twee outfit signed to Subpop records. Bubbly harmonies and catchy vocals. Nice! An album I Will Be is due out soon. The band will be at SXSW in March and will be in Toronto Supporting Girls on April 9th at the Phoenix

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwck4XOp1vQ



If you can't wait for the album they do have an ep that they released in 2008 which is reviewed on Micropsia

Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring

A very interesting and quite disturbing video from Los Campesinos for their new single off their new album Romance Is Boring. Perfectly released one day after Valentine's Day. Los Campesinos are in Toronto at the Phoenix on April 20 and a perfect alternative to the sold out Hot Chip concert at the Koolhaus. The new album is out on Wichita in the UK and Arts and Crafts in Canada.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8auuEDedkKo

The Hundred in the Hands - Dressed in Dresden

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQiKHTPaM0E

The Hundred in the Hands are Eleanore Everdell and Jason Friedman (from The Boggs). They have a studio album in production, so expect it in the coming months. As for their biography, well, their website says: "With carefully composed polyrhythms, jagged guitar lines, and layered, breathy vocals, THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS keep the raw energy of post-punk illuminating their minds and Studio One boogie-down beats churning in their guts."

Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel

More of a summer track than a winter track but this one will definately keep you warm. An indie worldy feel good cut from US act Fool's Gold taken from their self-titled album. Nice!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0wPNow3ymc

Mumford & Sons - The Cave

Video (well, just the song really): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay1z1Z0p6Xg

Mumford & Sons are a folk-rock quartet from London. Here is the third single to be released from their debut album "Sigh No More", which came out in October in the U.K. and is set for release next week in the U.S.

Ghost Trees - Feathers

Ghost Trees was at our own The Only Cafe last night on the Danforth with Flashlight Radio and Two Zebras. Unfortunately they don't have a video to post yet but this Canadian outfit is worth checking out. Dreamy thick melodic indiepop is the recurring theme in their tracks. So far there is only an EP called Feathers. Not sure if this is even availably physically. However you can check out their music on their myspace page. I recommend starting at New York Leaves

Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/ghosttreesmusic

Phoenix - 1901

I bought their earlier album in 2004 called Alphabetical and it didn't really do much for me. I ended it pawning it back to my local used record store Vortex that I bought it from. This is a catchy song though and the new single from Phoenix. I'm thinking of revisiting Alphabetical based on this track. Definately will check out the highly acclaimed 2009 album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix that won a Grammy this year. Nice soaring pop song.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rbGj4_qYgI

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS - Hollywood

I was going to simply dismiss this but something about this track made me hang on. One part indie, one part pop, and a touch of Hollywood. Nice! Her debut album is out this month and is called The Family Jewels.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VTcJfL7RE

FM Belfast - Par Avion

Not a new album but FM Belfast release their album How To Make Friends in the US. This song reminds me alittle of the Canadian band Stars. This is the first US single and quite infectious it is. Talking about wanting to live in the Carribean

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsUHS-yGynA

Washed Out- You'll See It

Excellent downtempo track taken from the EP Life Of Leisure. Definately space age indie chiil out music here. Have not had the chance to check out the rest of the EP as of yet but if its anything like this.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOf-moiZPVQ





Check out the review of the EP here 000 Blog

The XX - VCR

Brand new single from the Brilliant first album by the XX. Low tempo indie rock. The XX are at the Phoenix in Toronto on April 10. I don't expect these tickets to last long. They also open up for Hot Chip on April 20 at the Kool Haus. These tickets are sold out.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI2eO_mNM88

Beach House - Norway

Brand new single (7 Inch) on Bella Union and first one off their new album Teen Dream which is out at the end of the month. Fantastic atmospheric track/lush. Beach House will be at the Opera House in Toronto on March 30th.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHbtR8uO81M

Tune-Yards - Real Live Flesh

4AD, one of my favourite labels of all time are releasing the "monumental lo-fi R&B jewel" from Tune-Yards, ‘Real Live Flesh’, backed with a new track entitled 'Youth', on February 8, 2010. Available from 4AD on both 7 Inch and download. This is definately indie RnB if I have ever heard it. Nice!

I'm actually directing you directly to the 4AD site for the video as there is no opportunity to embed this. If you aren't familiar with 4AD I recommend you check out their site. The label has been around since the late seventies and has housed old skool bands such as the Cocteau Twins, The Pixies, Pale Saints, Lush, Wolfgang Press, and one of my all time favourite bands Ultra Vivid Scene. Of recent the band has been home to the likes of St Vincent, Atlas Sound, Tindersticks, Camera Obscura, and The Big Pink. The label can do no wrong

Video:Real Live Flesh Video

Harlem - Spray Paint

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L30rwq_xDYQ


Great indie garage punk rock from Harlem who drop their new album Hippies on Matador records in April 2009.

The Tough Alliance - A New Chance (Juan Maclean Remix)

Not sure where this remix came from. I needed to go back to the original version taken from the album of the same title A New Chance which came out in 2007 to see how brilliant the new Juan Maclean remix actually is. I can safely say its brilliant. By the way, the remix is now out on the new Tough Alliance remix EP, titled Prison Break and its the first thing we have seen from the band in like 2-3 years.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I6GjRTlPKQ


Check out this other guy's review of the remix

Get Well Soon - Angry Young Man

Epic sounding music fit for the cinema from Get Well Soon. I'm guessing that this is the first single from the German singer's second album Vexations due out in 2010. If you like this you might want to check out the first album Rest Now, Weary Head! You Will Get Well Soon which came out in 2008 and has some nice dark pieces too it.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mumG3p3mb68

Wiley & Chew Fu - Take That

The builds in this track are absolutely crazy. This would probably drive any club absolutely mad. Wiley picks up where Dizzee left off.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjoQEckfDeQ

Elizabeth Fraser - Moses

Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins fame releases a piece of downtempo italian lounge music which has sorta grown on me. Quite different than her Cocteau stuff. Feel like I'm in a bad italian movie actually. The music has the sentiment of a cut and paste job done by someone like the Avalanches. See what you think? Out on Rough Trade Records on limited edition 12 Inch vinyl. Also available through your typical online outlets supposedly.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfeYJWCNMzU

Happy New Year: What IK VS DK Missed in 2009

So, 2010 is here... but we're not finished with 2009 just yet. BBC News is running a story on the "best albums you never heard in 2009" (click for link). This sparked my curiosity -- which of these artists did IK VS DK miss?

We featured singles from Dirty Projector's Bitte Orca and Jack Penate's Everything is New, and we had tracks from both Sky Larkin and Wild Beasts in 2008... yet we missed the rest. Now some of the tracks aren't in the genres we usually review, but I was particularly embarrassed that I missed Mew's latest release, having thoroughly enjoyed their previous studio albums Frengers and And The Glass Handed Kites.

Without further ado, here are singles from several of the albums we missed (click on You Tube links to see/hear videos) and descriptions courtesy of the BBC News article:

A Camp - Stronger Than Jesus (from Colonia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUVMpluF7kQ

Eight years after their debut, The Cardigans singer Nina Persson has resurrected side-project A Camp. Working with her husband, she says the album was inspired by "the history of savagery", explaining: "The human urge to rape, conquer and pillage has always fascinated me."

Blue Roses - Doubtful Comforts (from Blue Roses)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CzL35rTqfM

Recalling Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell, the voice of Laura Groves is at the heart of this warm, folky album. She roped in family and friends to accompany her and recorded on borrowed equipment in bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms in her home town of Shipley, Yorkshire.

The Do - On My Shoulders (from A Mouthful)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bBkEQYdMM8

Named after the first and last note on the musical scale, this French-Finnish duo claim to be as inspired by jazz and classical as rock and pop. The result is wilfully off-the-wall and exhilarating.

The Low Anthem - To Ohio (from Oh My God, Charlie Darwin)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGxaRpN5Eb4

This trio met at university in Rhode Island and have won fans with their fragile Americana. Their instruments include a WWI portable pump organ, a rusty saw, a nipple gong, a "gut-strung parlor axe" and "enough harmonicas to summon a swarm of locusts".

Major Lazer - Hold The Line (from Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4SNtFQZF0A

Major Lazer is a one-armed Jamaican ex-commando who battles the forces of darkness. Actually, he is a cartoon character devised by producers Diplo and Switch to serve their blistering cocktail of dancehall reggae, hip-hop and electro.

Mew - Repeaterbeater (from No More Stories...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEh9cELK5Os

Phil Singer, There Goes The Fear blog: "This has been my favourite album of 2009. One moment extremely bombastic, the next surprisingly fragile and gentle, it is not your typical indie-by-numbers affair. The stunning opener New Terrain can be played both forwards and backwards, the magical Sometimes Life Isn't Easy has chirpy hand claps and uplifting kid choirs, while Hawaii has hypnotic vocals and fun, calypso-style percussion. "

Micachu & The Shapes - Golden Phone (from Jewellery)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TRkZpFgJcI

Micachu is Londoner Mica Levi, who recorded the album while studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and used home-made instruments ranging from a modified CD rack to broken bottles and a vacuum cleaner.

Sky Larkin - Antibodies (from The Golden Spike)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQRwg0QLSNg

After four years together, this Leeds guitar trio recorded their brisk, taut and spiky debut album in two weeks in Seattle. It owes much to American alt.rock and was released by respected indie label Wichita.

tUnE-YaRdS - Fiya (from BiRd BrAiNs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xff8CnlQ6o

Made using a digital voice recorder and shareware software in her Montreal flat, singer and instrumentalist Merrill Garbus' rich, intimate and unpredictable album is held together by DIY charm.

Wild Beasts - All The King's Men (from Two Dancers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sxh5zMbNAo

Hayden Thorpe's distinctive falsetto, coupled with Tom Fleming's baritone and a delicate, dreamy musical landscape, makes this Kendal foursome stand well apart from the conventional indie scene.