Watch: Summer Camp – “Losing My Mind”

Here at Alphabet Bands, we are somewhat susceptible to the undeniable charm and understated eccentricity of Summer Camp. Their debut album, Welcome To Condale featured at No.7 in our albums of 2011 countdown and we also featured their last video; the gif-tastic “Down”.

Yesterday they released another fabulous, clever and quirky video, this time for “Losing My Mind” (one of the many highlights of the album). Set in a photo studio, our heroes play the role of a couple about to undergo a schism, all the while surrounded by an array of characters posing and performing for the camera.

Check it out, we love it.

Listen: Wonder Villains – “Ferrari”

We don’t know about you, but a quick poll around the Alphabet Bands office revealed that 100% of people decided that the best course of action following their A-Levels was to go on to University. Sure, there was talk of a gap year, maybe going to India or someplace similar and ‘finding ourselves’, getting a job was even mooted at some point, but there was definitely no chat about making infectious, guitar driven anti-pop songs.

But then, not one of Eimear Coyle, Cheylene Murphy, Ryan McGroarty or Kieran Coyle works in the Alphabet Bands’ office. Not that we wouldn’t have them you understand, but they are far too busy being Wonder Villains and recording tracks like “Ferrari”. Fifty percent of this four-piece from Derry, Northern Ireland, just got their A-Level results yet they already have achievements like winning the Northern Ireland Music awards ‘Contenders’ title, and supporting the likes of New Young Pony Club, The Human League and The Undertones.

There’s a lot to enjoy about “Ferrari”, great riffs, a fantastic hook and lovely breathy vocals but it is the video game-esque keys that we really love.

“Ferrari” was released on 19 February through No Dancing Records in association with Third Bar, check it out below.

In Review: Sisterland – Dirty White EP

Ask anyone of a certain age about guitar music from the nineties, and chances are you’ll be treated to a sermon on the merits of Britpop. But before cool Britannia, before Oasis V Blur and 100 sound-a-likes came along, guitar music was quite different. It was much less replete with cockiness and ‘look at me’ sensibilities and much more focused on soft, fuzzy, lo-fi riffs, ground out and awash with reverb.

It is this kind of DIY fuzziness that Leicester based trio, Sisterland have recreated on their new release, the Dirty White EP. To imply it is nothing more than an affectionate jaunt down memory lane is unfair however. The incessant pounding drums and swirling, shoe-gazey vocals inspire more than just nostalgia and a yearning for Doc Martin boots and tie-dyed shirts.

It’s a pacy little thing, the four tracks clocking in at little more than 12 minutes in total and title track, “Dirty White” (which ironically is the most sedate of all) blends in a very modern pop influence and great hook. “Bunny Ears” is the Road Runner track, whipping past at breakneck speed in a thunderclash of drums and bass while closer, “Milk & Honey” swoops down and scoops you up onto a cloud of reverb.

The Dirty White EP is out today via Blessing Force and can be bought digitally or on limited-edition coloured cassettes with screenprinted covers – available here.

You can stream “Dirty White” below and then check out the DIY-riffic video for “Bunny Ears”, complete with the early nineties blue screen effect of random missing limbs and instrument parts.

SISTERLAND – BUNNY EARS from Humez on Vimeo.

Free Download: Pevin Kinel – “Dusty”

Those amongst you who you follow us on Twitter will recall that mention has been made, once or twice, to a rather large number of submissions currently residing in our inbox. As people have taken the time to make the music and send it to us, we don’t want it to just sit and fester, unheard. So, as well as the usual stuff, this week will be backlog week where we aim to get to as much of the good stuff we’ve been sent as possible.

First up is this rather lively little instrumental from London based Frenchman, Pevin Kinel, “Dusty”. Self taught, self produced and self released (because “he doesn’t believe the copyright laws are appropriate but a big enough advance and a four albums deal from a major recording company could swing it”), there is a lot to enjoy here. It’s a light and bouncy electronic track, with a delightful little rhythm section that includes beats tapped out on a variety of pots and pans, very reminiscent in tone and, to a degree, sound of the playful nature of Mr. Scruff. Kinel also has a really endearing sense of humour, as a quick visit to his website will show.

The song is taken from his forthcoming album, Syntactic Sugar, which is due out in the Spring and will be preceded by another single and video. Take a listen below and if you like what you hear, click through for a free download

Watch: Rocketeer – “Cupid”

If anyone ever tells you that guitar based indie pop can’t be fun and lighthearted, just play them “Cupid” by Rocketeer and try not to look too smug afterwards.

The new song (out tomorrow, 27 February) from this West Country quintet is a smooth piece of finger-clicking, lounge-music-indie. Telling the sordid tale of one girl and her series of indiscreet events, the song demonstrates the lost art of the use of language, lyrical dexterity and sesquipedalian tendencies. The video too, below, is delightfully tongue in cheek and thoroughly enjoyable.

“Cupid” is the first single from their debut album which is due for release later in the Spring.