News This Week In New Music (11th August 2012)

In the fast and fickle stratosphere of new music, time can often feel like it’s several steps ahead of you. As is the case with most weeks, these past 7 days have been hellish for the new music addicts who also happen to appreciate the occasional play of an esteemed classic. Therefore DIY has opted to compress the week’s happenings into one tidy - and ever so slightly competitive - feature compiling the very best in new music.

Over on these picturesque shores, we premiered new tracks from Crows (a London band very new to these ears) and London via. New York via. somewhere exotic Youthfall (whose return was welcomed with open arms). As for new music profiles, the site shunned a guitar flavour in favour of upcoming producers this week. First there was Airhead who initially caught our attention with a stunning, Karen-O sampling ‘Wait’. From the home of the Olympics to the city that very nearly got it but sorry, no second prizes: Paris. Holy Strays is really making a name for himself. “Few out there will mix a church organ with multiple, frenetic percussive parts and a pitch-shifted vocal segments; both choral and rooted deeply underground,” we declared on Wednesday. If you can find anyone attempting the same feat, do let us know. The more Holy Strays, the better. And now for a shallow - albeit hugely fun - rundown of the week’s best videos, tracks and new music discoveries:

TRACK OF THE WEEK

First On is not a section of the DIY site to shun hyperbole. We don’t tend to turn a blind eye to superlatives. And so out they spilled, like a truckload of baked beans on the M11, when Peace returned in ‘Delicious’ form. Bands rarely produce something as timeless or potentially career-defining when they’re as fresh-faced as this Birmingham band can claim to be. ‘California Daze’ warranted a special ‘First Listen’ piece upon its release, so significant did it seem at the time. And just a few days on, it still retains its sheen.

- High Highs also impressed, continuing to showcase an ability to send new music listeners in a sorry sleep, too comfy to escape from. Check out ‘Once Around The House’.

- ABADABAD were after our own hearts with the title of the lead track from their forthcoming EP. No doubt about it, the phrase ‘All The Bros Say’ is being printed onto t-shirts as I type.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Budgets remain low for new bands - unless, of course, you’re iamamiwhoami, who practically had an entire film crew to support her emergence. Not Childhood. These guys are keeping it real. The video for ‘Haltija’ is all unbounded escapism, as the band members frolic about some forestry surroundings, all getting off on their own psychedelic vibes. Think you’ve heard it all before? See for yourself.

- Sin Cos Tan’s video for ‘Trust’ relies on archived clips and a film noir aesthetic, but by golly, it fits the gripping, in-vogue synth-pop sound they so confidently sport.

DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK It was a toss-up between the aforementioned Sin Cos Tan and a selection of acts who’ve yet to make it onto the pages of DIY, though their time is nigh on the horizon.

JOEY FOURR, far from being the creationist cult figure that the styling of his song titles might suggest, enjoys a not-too-shabby dayjob of being Tubelord’s guitarist. His solo outings are lo-fidelity to the max, with ‘CROSS†DRESSER’ in particular, leaving us in a state of content paralysis. His debut EP even comes with a free zine.

CROSS†DRESSER by JOEY FOURR
I’m not at all sure what to make of Bagel Project. The few conversations I’ve had about her songs have made me no less decided. It’s halfway between a musical worst nightmare and something truly inspiring. She emailed DIY referring to us as “Dawgg”, which we like, and her music is like a cross between the Micachu style of recording and the ever-so-slightly-cringeworthy application of Kitty Pryde.

SHY GAME by bagelproject