The Smiles

Summer anthems in the mid-winter, that's appears to be the way of things. Los Angeles band The Smiles released their debut EP Hermosa in May this year (yep, I know that's not American winter but I'm wearing thermals right now. Don't argue with me.) and it's a pretty solid six tracks of surf pop. I can't stop listening to Cala Cola which is the best of the six. It's available as a free download from The Smiles' bandcamp. If you're not ready to take a risk on this free download then you can stream Cala Cola below.

The Smiles - Cala Cola

Hotspa - Kiola Beach

Hotspa are probably going to be a big deal. Remember that time I told you Jinja Safari were going to be big and now they're bigger than U2? ACT LIKE YOU KNOW IT! It'll happen again. I'm making this call on the back of a single song with a film clip. It's a nice film clip though. It's a compilation of clips of people that (I assume) are the band's family and friends doing all sorts of Aussie, summery things. The song rules though. Here is that song.

Hotspa - Kiola Beach


It's available as a free download from Triple J Unearthed. Thanks Triple J, you are a swell guy.

Gypsy and the Cat - Free Download

Gypsy and the Cat's new single 'Time to Wander' has been made available as a free download from the Triple J Website. Get amongst it!

Supergroups are IN.

There's been a swathe of supergroups popping up over the past 6 months so here is a completely inconclusive and subjective guide to a few of them. - Retrospectively, after rereading what I'd written here, I've realised that this is neither subjective nor a guide.

GAYNGS

Noteworthy members:
Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)
Joe Westerlund (Megafaun)
Phil Cook (Megafaun)
Brad Cook (Megafaun)
Michael Lewis (Andrew Bird)

Gayngs - The Gaudy side of Town

---

MT DESOLATION

Noteworthy members:
Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane)
Jesse Quin (Keane)
John Roderick (The Long Winters)
Tom Fiddle Hobden (Noah and the Whale)
Ronnie Vannucci (The Killers)
Country Winston Marshall (Mumford & Sons)

Mt Desolation - State of Our Affairs

---

TIRED PONY

Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol)
Richard Colburn (Belle & Sebastian)
Peter Buck (R.E.M.)

Tired Pony - Point Me at Lost Islands

---

MONSTERS OF FOLK

Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band)
Jim James (My Morning Jacket)
Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes)
M. Ward (M. Ward)

Monsters Of Folk - Dear God

Cee-Lo Green - No One's Gonna Love You

Cee-Lo Green (of Gnarls Barkley fame) very recently released this cover of Band of Horses 'No One's Gonna Love You'. I don't love this version but it's always interesting to hear a track I love done by another artist. Also, I'm no film critic but whoever directed this must have pitched it a little like this: "Look, this is what I'm thinking for the video. We have a really nice American road trip style thing. You know, diners, swimming, car scenes, all that crap. But here's our angle. Amid all these scenes we'll make sure we slot in some unnecessary boob action! Guys will love it. They'll be enjoying the scenery when BAM! Breasts! This is going to work. Bigtime."



Just in case you've not heard the original, here it is.

Radical Face

I'll share with you an old favourite of mine. His name is Ben Cooper but in musical circles he is known as Radical Face. I won't write a description of his music. Not a letter of it. His sound speaks for itself. According to the Radical Face blog a new EP will be available on July 6th (within the week!). I'm keen. You can get ahold of his first full length Ghost (which absolutely rules) on iTunes or from CD Universe (which is quite literally a universe worth of CDs. What a selection!) Here's the most well known track from Ghost, called Welcome Home.

Radical Face - Welcome Home

Valar

Valar were pitched to me as a combo between Radiohead and... I guess it was suggested that they just sound like Radiohead. I don't like Radiohead. I must be one of a kind if the Last.FM charts are to be believed. While older material may have somewhat, slightly, a little bit, maybe resembled Radiohead barely, the new tracks don't really have that vibe.

Valar pride themself on a cracking live show and an attention to production detail so it's worth taking the time to appreciate the solid ambience of their music. It's staggering that a three piece can produce music with this sort of weight. Listen, then go see them play. They're a Sydney band so chances are friends of friends are friends with them.

Here is the full five track EP for your aural pleasure. I recommend track two, Wolf I.



You can catch them on the 3rd of July at the Excelsior or on the 5th of July at the Annandale.