Five Star Songs: The Long Blondes- Giddy Stratospheres

I really miss The Long Blondes.....they broke up way too early in their career. I hear that lead singer Kate Jackson is now using the name Madame Ray and that she is working with Bernard Butler on new material. Looking forward to hearing her new stuff.

The sweet dance oriented post punk song Giddy Stratospheres was released on 7" back in 2004 and then re-released as the third single from the group's excellent 2007 debut album Someone to Drive You Home. Check it out below:

Someone to Drive You Home is available on iTunes, Amazon or check your local record store.

New Music: Kate Boy- Northern Lights

Nice electronic pop from Sweden's Kate Boy and their debut single Northern Lights. Everybody is comparing this track to The Knife, but for me it also sounds a lot like 80's pop group Nu Shooz. Listen and watch the video below:

For fans of The Knife, Robyn, Nu Shooz.

New Music: Widowspeak- Ballad Of The Golden Hour

Sweet new song from Brooklyn folky psychedelic dream pop band Widowspeak.  Ballad of the Golden Hour is a contradiction that features a syrupy mix of acoustic guitar combined with lead singer Molly Hamilton's sugar sweet voice that eventually fades into a thunderous conclusion. Download the song below:

Widowspeak will release their second album, Almanac, January 22nd via Captured Tracks.

For fans of Stars, Mazzy Starr and Built To Spill.

New Music: Johnny Marr- The Messenger + Music Video

Twenty five years after the break up of The Smiths, Johnny Marr has finally released a solo LP. His list of credits is very long since 1987. The busy man has formed bands (Electronic, The Healers), has joined bands (The The, The Pretenders, Modest Mouse, The Cribs), and even helped score a movie (Inception) but he has never done anything for himself, until now. After living in Portland for several years, Marr grew homesick for Manchester and his new album, The Messenger, was born out of his return to his native city. The new LP will be available February 26th via Sire/ADA.

Meanwhile, Marr has just come out with the title track for the album and accompanying music video. Nice song that showcases the guitar work of the legendary axeman. The music video is a simple black and white scene of Marr walking through the woods and on to a beach. Watch and listen below:

For fans of The Smiths, Edwyn Collins and Richard Hawley.

New Music: Pat Jordache- steps (Damaged Goods)

Is it me or does this Pat Jordache sound like Stephen Merritt and his 80's synth pop act Japan......

Of course, this is not the 80's and this song is not Stephen Merritt, rather Pat Jordache is another modern artist who likes to take us back in time to when new wave ruled the airwaves. Jordache is a Montreal based artist who used to be in the band Sister Suvi with Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs fame and now makes his own solo material.

Jordache is working on his follow up to his excellent 2011 LP Future Songs and to tide us over he just came out with saxy new single steps (Damaged Goods). Listen below:

For fans of Japan, Talking Heads, Ice Choir

New Music: Guards- Coming True

Guards have just come off of a highly acclaimed set at New York's CMJ festival and now they are almost set to release their debut album, In Guards We Trust, to the world. But first, the band have come out with Coming True, the follow up to the excellent single Silver Lining which we featured on the Aural Report back in September.

The track sees singer Richie Follin showcasing his vocal talents on the tracks shimmering choruses which proves to the world that sister Madeline of Cults isn't the only one in the family with a soaring voice. Listen below:

In Guards We Trust will be released on February 5th via Black Bell.

For fans of Bleeding Rainbow, Cults and Willowz.

New Music: Doldrums- She Is The Wave + Music Video

Toronto Experimental pop artist Doldrums, aka Alrick Woodhead, has released a second single, She is the Wave, from his forthcoming new album titled Lesser Evil . The skittish blippy track contains chaotic experimental beats which is appropriate considering the content of the accompanying weird music video. The video shows a ski boot wearing Woodhead desperately pushing a shopping cart through a barren wasteland and almost dying of exhaustion. All is not lost as a man in a kitty cat car, that looks like it was stolen from a Santa Claus parade, comes to the rescue. Watch and listen below:

Lesser Evil, which was recorded on a borrowed laptop from Grimes, will be released on February 26th via Arbutus Records.

For fans of Grimes, Animal Collective and DD/MM/YYYY