fatandconfused

 
The Long Blondes – Separated by Motorways (good and evil)
In between fighting the Pipettes to inspire a season a great fashion (why though I feel annoyed to find the shops packed to the brim with cool clothes, am I naturally awkward? I’d get equally annoyed before that I couldn’t find what I wanted, now its everywhere. Is it because everyone can dress ultra cool now? Is it because you can no longer successfully judge a girl by her dress sense? Image over interest and the like…) the Long Blondes are releasing great single after great single. Seperated By Motorways is as intense and sassy as anything they’ve done so far and Bside Big Infatuation is a glorious modern day Summer Nights for the post punk girl pop generation. Buy it.
www.thelongblondes.co.uk
www.myspace.com/thelongblondes

 
The Research – The Hard Times (At Large)
For those disappointed by the fact that most the recent “Breaking Up” album was pretty much a compilation of already heard songs will be anything but disappointed by this gem. Another instantly loveable track from a band that I consider to have been one of the finds of the last few years, a fisher price mates of state, Ooberman with broken hearts and baseball caps. Like everything your piano teacher told you not to do, (“never ever run your fingers down the keys and call it a song!”) the epitome of non musicality bundle up in two minutes of boredom, disappointment, love and pure genius. “They were friends and then it all went wrong, they said one was fast and one was strong…I was gonna cut you some slack, but it’s never gonna be like that” and so on.
If you haven’t discovered them yet your in for a treat. 
www.theresearchgopop.com
www.myspace.com/theresearch

 
Bat For Lashes - The Wizard (She Bean Records)
I can’t remember who its was I was watching, maybe Espers or Tarantula AD, whoever it was they clashed with Bats For Lashes at this years ATP and I ended up missing the best part of their set, fortunately I pushed my way in at the end to catch two or three songs and ended up wishing I’d been there for the whole set. The Wizard is a lovely atmospheric track, filtered electronic drum beats and a voice as beautiful If not as unique as Joanna Newsom’s soaring and swaying over the washes of electronic resonance. One to get your hands on before its too late.
www.batforlashes.co.uk
www.myspace.com/batforlashes
 
FO Machete – What’s the Signal (symbiotic)
I’ll let you use yr imagination as to what the “FO” may or may not stand for, whatever yr conclusion don’t let it put you off. I can’t figure out if she’s Scottish or Norwegian either way the voice is desperate and beautiful, half out of breath sighs to aggressive skeletal riffs. Maybe better though is the cover of Olivia Newton Johns “Physical” “let me hear yr body talk… I wanna get physical, physi-cal, physi-cal” One of my singles of the year so far.
www.fomachete.com
www.simbioticrecordings.com