LISTEN: Amazing Radio (19 July)

It's HOT!

I've got another bushel basket full of new artists to introduce you to this week, all earning first plays from me...

YRRS - melodic surf punk by duo from England's south coast.
GHOSTING SEASON - chilled, understated electronic from Manchester duo who'd previously recorded as worriedaboutsatan.
WHISPERY CLUB - anthemic, radio-friendly (dare I say), alt-rock. #oldskool
TRANDCENTION -DIY prog/electronica from 17 y.o. Vermont whiz kid producer Julian Lenz.
BEATROOT - LDN-based trio blends alt-rock, hip-hop, funk, soul, latin, reggae & afrobeat.  No folk.
WAVES OF FURY - garage blooze from the first English band signed to genre champion Alive Records (Buffalo Killers, Soledad Brothers).
[STRANGERS] - dark, anthemic synth-pop. Depeche Mode fans need apply.
INDIANA - pretty pianist earned notices for her take on Frank Ocean's "Swim Good". Shockingly, not a Hoosier!
FRANK EDDIE - aka Fred Deakin, formerly half of Lemon Jelly.
MAFIA LIGHTS - trio plays atmospheric electro-pop with dubstep undertones.
DAUWD - shimmering chillstep from Welsh producer. Damn near perfect.
MELISSA JAMES - jay ay zed zed vocalist who cites Nina Simone & Joni Mitchell as influences.
ADDING MACHINE - Their description: "Early Cocteau guitar shrieks, throbbing post-punk bass and Silver Apples-inspired rhythms writhe beneath Siouxsie-esque macabre-pop tales".  I'm in!
TY SEGALL BAND - you know this guy: he brings teh rawk.


You can hear me play all sorts of (mostly new) music every Thursday on Amazing Radio at 5p Eastern & 2p Pacific (10p UK time).  If you didn't already know, each show is curated by the firm of me, myself & I from music uploaded to the companion Amazing Tunes site.  All shows will, in due time, be archived here on the blog.  Hit the Mixcloud links to access more for your listening pleasure.

Amazing Radio - 19 July 2012 by Mike Taylor on Mixcloud

WET MOUTH "White Light" (self-released), tba
ARÊTES "I'm So Sober" (feat. Binisa Bonner) (self-released), from Gods EP
CURXES "Spectre" (self-released), single
YRRS "Mob Life" (Keep It Yours), split single (w/ Honeyslide) (video) 
WHISPERY CLUB "My Home Your House" (self-released), single
YOOFS "Love At 140" (self-released), tba
BEATROOT "Never Be The Same" (self-released), from Beatroot EP (free EP download)
ALPINE "Gasoline" (Ivy League), from A Is For Alpine (video)
WAVES OF FURY "Businessman's Guide to Witchcraft" (Alive), from Thirst
INDIANA "Blind As I Am" (self-released), stream
MAFIA LIGHTS "West" (Luv Luv Luv), single
HOLOGRAMS "ABC City" (Captured Tracks), from Holograms (video)
ADDING MACHINE "Square Piece" (demo) (self-released), free download 
HIGH PLACES "Year Off" (Thrill Jockey), from Original Colors
DAUWD "What's There" (Pictures), from What's There EP
OPOSSUM "Blue Meanies" (Fire), from Electric Hawaii (video)
COVES "Fall Out Of Love" (none), from The Amazing Sessions
TY SEGALL BAND "Wave Goodbye" (In The Red), from Slaughterhouse (Pitchfork Fest performance)
MELISSA JAMES "Don't You Keep Yourself Down" (self-released), from Day Dawns
FRANK EDDIE "That's The Way" (Impotent Fury), single
[STRANGERS] "Safe/Pain" (Beatwolf), single (video)

STILL CORNERS "Endless Summer" (Sub Pop), from Creatures Of An Hour (video)

TRANDCENTION "Striations" (self-released), from Serendipity EP
DIIV "Doused" (Captured Tracks), from Oshin  
LOST BOY "Chew" (Old Flame), from USA USA  
GHOSTING SEASON "Time Without Question" (Last Night On Earth), from The Very Last Of The Saints

Music via:  Side One: Track One, Austin Town Hall 

LISTEN: Amazing Radio (12 July)

TASHAKI MIYAKI - hazy L.A. shoegazers on a JAMC/Mazzy Star jag

This month's Amazing America showcase digs a little deeper into the Amazing archive to unearth some gems from MIDLAKE, TIMES NEW VIKING, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY and FLEET FOXES.  You'll hear these alongside a mountain of new music from DIIV, ORCA TEAM and (pictured above) TASHAKI MIYAKI....  

I've been intrigued by this band ever since "Somethin' Is Better Than Nothin'" dropped last year, another dollop of classic shoegazing with wispy, dead-eyed vocals.  They've also been shifting their image pretty radically.  Presented at first as a female duo, they played SXSW in more of a full band set-up as exhibited by the picture above, yet a recent interview and the clip for new single "Best Friend" suggests that TM is another guy/girl duo.  Adding to the intrigue, a recent LA gig was accompanied by a band request for no photos.  What's a smartphone waving, texting, video taking concertgoer to do?!? 

Check out "Best Friend" below, sounding like it was ripped straight from the Mazzy Star playbook, and then listen for the fuzzy, pulsating "Tonight" on the show.  Both songs appear as a double A single via the Luv Luv Luv label on August 6th.    





You can hear me every Thursday on Amazing Radio at 10p BST / 5p Eastern & 2p Pacific. All shows will, in due time, be archived here on the blog. Hit the Mixcloud links to access more for your listening pleasure.

Amazing Radio - 12 July 2012 by Mike Taylor on Mixcloud

DEAP VALLY "Gonna Make My Own Money" (Infrasonic Sound), single (Best Fit session video)
DIIV "Doused" (Captured Tracks), from Oshin  
TASHAKI MIYAKI "Tonight" (Luv Luv Luv), single
BEAT CONNECTION "The Palace Garden 4am" (Moshi Moshi), single (session performance video)
TIMES NEW VIKING "No Room To Live" (Merge), from Dancer Enquired
BAD VEINS "Don't Run" (Modern Outsider), from The Mess We've Made (Off The Avenue performance video) 
ROBERT ELLIS "Friends Like Those" (New West), from Photographs
MIDLAKE "Roscoe" (Bella Union), from The Trials Of Van Occupanther (video)
STRATHE "Grey" (self-released), single
TENNIS "Petition" (Fat Possum), from Young and Old
CROCODILES "My Surfing Lucifer" (Frenchkiss), from Endless Flowers (Amazing Breakfast performance video)
THE ANTLERS "Drift Dive" (Anti), from Undersea EP
SELEBRITIES "Paraiso" (Cascine), single
CRAIG FINN "Honolulu Blues" (Vagrant), from Clear Heart Full Eyes

DUM DUM GIRLS “Heartbeat (Take It Away)” (Sub Pop), from Only In Dreams

BRAIDS "Lemonade" (Kanine), from Native Speaker

DIRTY BEACHES "Lord Knows Best" (Zoo), from Badlands

DIRTY GHOSTS "Ropes That Way" (Last Gang), from Metal Moon (video)

RHONDA MERRICK "27 Club" (self-released), tba (video)

FLEET FOXES "Mykonos" (Sub Pop), from Sun Giant EP

BALLERINA BLACK "NTSB" (self-released), from INJURELESS: Röd EP (video)

FRANKIE ROSE "Know Me" (Slumberland), from Interstellar

THE WALKMEN "Heartbreaker" (Fat Possum), from Heaven (video)

ORCA TEAM "The Lowest Point" (Happy Birthday To Me), from Restraint (video)

NOW, NOW "Thread" (self-released), from Threads (video)

JESCA HOOP "Born To" (Bella Union), from The House That Jack Built

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY "Your Hand In Mine" (Temporary Residence), from The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place

Music via:  EARMILK, Rollo & Grady, Tune The Proletariat, Chromewaves, Coast Is Clear

LISTEN: Amazing Radio (5 July)

There's nothing I enjoy more than finding a new band to play for you. Even though I may just stick with one or two of their songs on the show, my hope is that you'll seek 'em out on your own if it's something you dug hearing. I spun these artists for the first time on this show:


HOLOGRAMS - Swedish punk band has the Spirit of '77
PLAYLOUNGE - LDN noise-pop duo
NOW, NOW - if you were a fan of female-fronted, heartland bands like Magnapop and Frogpond, you'll love this trio from Minneapolis.
WET MOUTH - 2 girls + 2 guys based in Liverpool with members from England, Norway, Canada and Los Angeles. Elements of grunge, post-punk and pop are all present here.
COVES - dreamy guy/girl duo with a noisepop undercurrent
WAILIN' STORMS - Gothic Americana by trio from NYC via Corpus Christi.
GET PEOPLE - LDN electro-pop trio
CAAN - stylish, nocturnal synth pop (think Jamie Woon) from ex-Ou Est Le Swimming Pool member Caan Capan
ALUNAGEORGE - Pichfork-approved dubstep influenced electro-soul duo

Amazing Radio - 5 July 2012 by Mike Taylor on Mixcloud

GAGGLE "Army Of Birds" (Transgressive), from From The Mouth Of The Cave (video)
HOLOGRAMS "ABC City" (Captured Tracks), from Holograms (video)
NOW, NOW "Thread" (self-released), from Threads (video)
COVES "Cast A Shadow" (Cross Key), from Cast A Shadow EP (video)
GET PEOPLE "Something Better" (Luv Luv Luv), from Harmonize EP (video)

DIRTY GHOSTS “Shout It In” (Paper Bag), from Metal Moon (video)

WILLY MOON "Yeah Yeah" (Luv Luv Luv / Island), single (video)
ALUNAGEORGE "Put Up Your Hands" (Universal / Island), from You Know You Like It EP
CAAN "Into The Night" (Camouflage), single (video)
ATOMIC LEAGUE "Another One Like You" (self-released), tba
FANTASY RAINBOW "O, Weirdo" (Heist Or Hit), single
DISGOTHIQUE "Solar" (self-released), from Silver Trashy Music
PALE SEAS "Something Or Nothing" (Fear & Records), single (session video)
LANTERNS ON THE LAKE "A Kingdom" (Bella Union), from Gracious Tide, Take Me Home
COASTAL CITIES "Relief" (Once Upon A Time), single (free download) (video)
WAILIN' STORMS "Asleep In The Belly Of A Tree" (self-released), from Bone Colored Moon EP
FRIENDS "I'm His Girl" (Arthur Baker remix) (Lucky Number), single
MICHAEL A. GRAMMAR "All Night, Afloat" (Melodic), from Vitamin Easy EP (video)
THE HISTORY OF APPLE PIE "Mallory" (Rough Trade), from The Amazing Sessions
SPLASHHH "Need It" (Luv Luv Luv), single (video)
ALPINE "Gasoline" (Ivy League), from A Is For Alpine
WET MOUTH "White Light" (self-released), tba
CURXES "Haunted Gold" (self-released), single (video)
DIRTY GHOSTS "Ropes That Way" (Last Gang), from Metal Moon (video)
THE INVISIBLE "Protection" (Ninja Tune), from Rispah
THEME PARK "Jamaica" (Transgressive), single (video)
PLAYLOUNGE "Conor, Oh Burst?" (Art Is Hard), from Family Portrait split EP

Music via:  Pitchfork, Bedwetting Cosmonaut, Et Musique Pour Tous

LISTEN: Amazing Radio (28 June)

Another two hours of handpicked new tunes, including these artists getting first spins from me:

COASTAL CITIES - jaunty, Foals-like indie
DIVINE FITS - Britt Daniel (Spoon), Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs) & Sam Brown (New Bomb Turks). Kind of a supergroup.
THE DUNES - Dream pop from Australian duo with an expat Texan on vocals.
IO ECHO - L.A. electropop duo.
ATOMIC LEAGUE - Proggy DIY project of Glasgow's Shaun Canning, who cites Radiohead & Massive Attack as inspirations. One could do worse.
DISGOTHIQUE - Melodic, female fronted indie rock by quartet from Poole, Dorset. Never been there but it sounds like it'd be a pretty place.
HOT CITY - rave revivalists
JENNY O. - El A singer/songwriter
JOYLAND - LDN trio do expansive, dark, epic and widescreen mood music.
WET NUNS - Remember Sluts of Trust? Like that but heavier.
POLTERGEISTS - DIY, lo-fi atmospherics from Joseph Parsons.

You can catch me every Thursday on Amazing Radio at 10p BST, 5p Eastern & 2p Pacific. You can find archived shows & tracklistings here on the blog and on Mixcloud. Oh, and feel free to follow along on Twitter & Facebook, too.

Amazing Radio - 28 June 2012 by Mike Taylor on Mixcloud

RHONDA MERRICK "Thank You For Taking The Time" (self-released), tba (viography)
COASTAL CITIES "Relief" (Once Upon A Time), single (free download) (video)
ALPINE "Gasoline" (Ivy League), from A Is For Alpine
DIVINE FITS "My Love Is Real" (Merge), from A Thing Called Divine Fits
THEME PARK "Jamaica" (Transgressive), single (video)

DIRTY GHOSTS "Ropes That Way" (Last Gang), from Metal Moon (video)

TWO WOUNDED BIRDS “To Be Young” (Holiday Friends / Frenchkiss), from Two Wounded Birds

THE DUNES "Trace The Sun" (Quiet Pop), from Between Midnight and Dawn EP
MICHAEL A. GRAMMAR "All Night, Afloat" (Melodic), from Vitamin Easy EP (video)
AZEALIA BANKS "1991" (Polydor), from 1991 EP
CHARLI XCX "Nuclear Seasons" (IAMSOUND), from You're The One EP (video)
ALLAH-LAS "Tell Me (What's On Your Mind)" (Innovative Leisure), single (video)
WUSSY "Death By Misadventure" (Shake It), from Wussy (performance video)
MS MR “Hurricane” (IAMSOUND / Chess Club), free download (video)
FEATHERS "Land Of The Innocent" (self-released), free download
IO ECHO "When The Lilies Die" (IAMSOUND), from Ministry Of Love
ALT-J "Something Good" (Infectious), from The Amazing Sessions (video)
ATOMIC LEAGUE "Another One Like You" (self-released), tba
DISGOTHIQUE "Solar" (self-released), from Silver Trashy Music
HOT CITY "Buggin' Out" (Moshi Moshi), single
SUMMER CAMP "Always"  (Moshi Moshi), from Always EP (video)
RAPIDS! "Mogadishu" (self-released), from Cold Distribution EP (free EP download)
I AM OAK "Reins" (Heist Or Hit), from Nowhere Or Tammensaari
JENNY O. "Well, OK Honey" (Manimal Vinyl), from Home EP
JOYLAND "Whitebate" (CRC Music), single (video)
WET NUNS "Throttle" (self-released), single (NSFW video)
DIRTY GHOSTS "19 in ‘71" (Last Gang), from Metal Moon   
POLTERGEISTS "Q & A" (self-released), from Golden Stairs

Music via: Rollo & Grady, Aerial Noise

LISTEN: Amazing Radio (21 June)

Yep, that'$ why I do it....

After each of the All-American shows I've done on Amazing Radio, I get especially itchy to unearth some new bands to introduce you to on the following week's show. That'd be this one right here.

Listen for these new artists I'm playing for the first time:

THE HYPNOTIC LIGHTS - synth-pop from Deutschland
OWEN BARRATT - Mancunian singer/songwriter
CRUSHED BEAKS - indie pop/rock duo from LDN
AN-MAGRITT - young Norwegian lass does summery, bossa nova flavored pop
MICHAEL A GRAMMAR - soaring & shoegazey, inspired by Radiohead and Joy Division
LIZ LAWRENCE - gentle English folk
OPOSSUM - acid-pop project of  Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Kody Nielson
ILLLS - Mississippi garage rock duo seeks worldwide success via the UK  
HONEY - classic shoegazers from Scotland
UMA - German husband/wife duo do a-bit-more-out-there experimental synth-pop

I'm also spinning new tracks from BOY, THEE SATISFACTION, RAPIDS!, and THE ANTLERS.   

Amazing Radio - 21 June 2012 by Mike Taylor on Mixcloud

YETI LANE "Warning Sensations" (Sonic Cathedral), from The Echo Show (video)
BOY "Skin" (Grönland), from Mutual Friends (video - acoustic version)
THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS "Come With Me" (Warp), from Red Night 
THE HYPNOTIC LIGHTS "Hey We Are" (self-released), from We Are EP (video)
OWEN BARRATT "Undivided" (self-released), from EP\
SEASFIRE "Heartbeat" (self-released), single (video)  
MATTHEW DEAR "Her Fantasy" (Ghostly International), from Beams
SAVAGES "Husbands" (Pop Noire), single (performance video)
CRUSHED BEAKS "Grim" (Paint It Black London), single
AN-MAGRITT "Summertime" (Starfield), single
MICHAEL A. GRAMMAR "All Night, Afloat" (Melodic), from Vitamin Easy EP (video)

THEESATISFACTION "Deeper" (Sub Pop), from Awe Naturale (Best Fit session video)

YOUNG KATO "Drink, Dance, Play" (LAB), from Young Kato EP (video)   

THE OK SOCIAL CLUB "The Late 90's" (Platform), single (video)

ARÊTES "I'm So Sober" (feat. Binisa Bonner) (self-released), from Gods EP (free EP download)

ISLET "This Fortune" (Shape Records (Turnstile), from Illuminated People (performance video)

LIZ LAWRENCE "Lips and Eyes" (Young and Lost Club), from Live From No. 82 EP
OUTFIT "Drakes" (Double Denim), from Another Night's Dreams Reach Earth Again EP
RAPIDS! "Mogadishu" (self-released), from Cold Distribution EP (free EP download)
ODONIS ODONIS "Handle Bars" (FatCat), from Hollandaze (performance video)
OPOSSUM "Blue Meanies" (Fire), from Electric Hawaii (video)

TWO JACKALS "Arrows" (self-released), demo   

THE ANTLERS "Drift Dive" (Anti), from Undersea EP
ILLLS "Teeth" (Sounds Of Sweet Nothing), from Dark Paradise EP (video)
PINS "Eleventh Hour" (self-released), single (video)
DEAP VALLY "Gonna Make My Own Money" (Infrasonic Sound), single (Best Fit session video) 
HONEY "Fantasist" (self-released), single (free download)
UMA "Wild At Heart" (Seayou), from Drop Your Soul EP
THE FRESH & ONLYS "Yes Or No" (Mexican Summer), from Long Slow Dance

Music via:  Electric Adolescence, EARMILK, No Fear Of Pop, Captain Obvious  

LISTEN: Amazing Radio (14 June)

I've decided to make the 2nd Thursday of each month an all-American showcase. Seeing as I'm one of two Yanks on the station, I like the idea of playing up-and-coming bands from over here to an audience (predominately British) that may not be familiar with them.

For this month though, it's really an all-North American showcase, as I've carved out a segment in the lineup for a few worthy Canadian acts. Be listening for first spins from DEAP VALLY, THE MYNABIRDS, JIM WHITE, QUIET COMPANY, YPPAH, ALLAH-LAS, SOULSAVERS and CLASS ACTRESS. 

Amazing Radio - 14 June 2012 by Mike Taylor on Mixcloud

BAD VEINS "Don't Run" (Modern Outsider), from The Mess We've Made (Off The Avenue performance video) 
MS MR “Hurricane” (IAMSOUND / Chess Club), free download (video)
DEER TICK "The Bump" (Partisan), from Divine Providence
DEAP VALLY "Gonna Make My Own Money" (Infrasonic Sound), single 
THE MYNABIRDS "Generals" (Saddle Creek), from Generals
SLEIGH BELLS "Demons" (Mom + Pop), from Reign Of Terror (video)
DINOWALRUS "Beth Steel" (Old Flame), from Best Behaviour  (video)
JIM WHITE "Infinite Mind" (Yep Roc), from Where It Hits You
FRIENDS "Mind Control" (Fat Possum), from Manifest (video)
QUIET COMPANY "Fear & Fallacy Sitting In A Tree" (self), from We Are All Where We Belong
YPPAH "Film Burn" (feat. Anomie Belle) (Ninja Tune), from Eighty One (video)
MATTHEW DEAR "Her Fantasy" (Ghostly International), from Beams
NITE JEWEL "Autograph" (Secretly Canadian), from One Second Of Love
BEAT CONNECTION "The Palace Garden 4am" (Moshi Moshi), single (session performance video)
ALLAH-LAS "Tell Me (What's On Your Mind)" (Innovative Leisure), single (video)
WORK DRUGS "Swimmer Girl" (self-released), from Aurora Lies (video)
BEAR IN HEAVEN "Sinful Nature" (Dead Oceans), from I Love You, It's Cool (video)
RHONDA MERRICK "Thank You For Taking The Time" (self-released), tba
YOUTH LAGOON "Cannons" (Fat Possum), from The Year of Hibernation  
THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS "Keep It Low" (Warp), from Red Night  
DOLDRUMS "Egypt" (Soulterrain Transmissions), from Egypt EP
ZEUS "Love/Pain" (Arts & Crafts), from Busting Visions
JAPANDROIDS "The House That Heaven Built" (Polyvinyl), from Celebration Rock
SOULSAVERS "Longest Day" (Mute), from The Light The Dead See
CLASS ACTRESS "Weekend" (Carpark), from Rapprocher (video)
VOXHAUL BROADCAST "Turn The Knife" (self-released), single
THE RAPTURE "Sail Away" (DFA), from In The Grace Of Your Love (video)

EXITMUSIC "The Night" (Secretly Canadian), from Passage (video) 

MINT JULEP "Aviary" (Village Green), from Save Your Season (video)

Music via  Review Stalker, The Mad Mackerel, Austin Town Hall, Fluxblog, Aquarium Drunkard, 8106, Another Dying Art Form, Rollo & Grady, Chromewaves, mu-sique         

DOWNLOAD The Big Beat 'casts 56 & 57

This is the last call for downloads of The Big Beat'cast. Here are the final two shows for download, in addition to those remaining online. I'll be canceling my Soundcloud account at the end of this week, so DL 'em while you can. Streams of the show will remain online, thanks to DIY Radio. Thanks for your support!