Yo La Tengo
Here to Fall Remixes
Inspirational hip-hop influenced reinterpretations on vinyl only of lead track from Yo La Tengo's latest 'Popular Songs' album
To Rococo Rot
Speculation
Accessible electronica on eighth album from experimental and continously evolving Dusseldorf-based trio To Rococo Rot
Quasi
American Gong
Exuberant and imaginative indie rock on tenth album from Quasi, the other project of Built to Spill guitarist Sam Coomes, and Janet Weiss, the drummer for both Sleater Kinney and Stephen Malkmus
Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now
Fixin' the Charts: Volume One
Shallow and throwaway debut album album from Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now, which in reworking several popular standards veers close to parody
Nick Cave And Warren Ellis
The Road : Original Film Score
Pastel Nick Cave and Warren Ellis soundtrack to faithful new film adaption of Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road', which proves restricted by the film and book's macabre and desolate nature
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Live At The Quarter Note Lounge, New Orleans, LA, July 26 1977
Rewarding double live CD recorded at a gig in 1977 by influential San Francisco acid rock outfit, Quicksilver Messenger Service
Clientele
Bonfires on the Heath
Glorious and melodic folk-tinged pop on fifth album from continously underrated London-based group, the Clientele
Om
God is Good
Gloomy, but meditative and compelling stoner rock on fourth album from stoner rock duo, OM
Big Pink
A Brief History of Love
Stylish, but unsasisfactory debut album from much hyped electronic duo and recent 4AD signing, the Big Pink
Manchester Orchestra
Mean Everything to Nothing
Cerebral, but surprisingly versatile debut album from Atlanta-based group the Manchester Orchestra, which will come as a welcome treat to punk metal fans
Various
Brand Neu!
Erratic and uneven tribute album to influential 7O's German experimental group Neu!, which includes contributions from Sonic Youth, Primal Scream and School of Seven Bells
Wooden Shjips
Dos
Compelling combination of German minimalistic influences and Detroit-style garage rock on second album from experimental Californian-based group, Wooden Shjips
Jackie-O Motherfucker
Ballads of the Revolution
Evocative and lush-sounding tenth album from psychedelic/folk experimentalists, Jackie O Motherfucker
Bonnie Prince Billy
Beware
Surprisingly vibrant new album from Will Oldham, under his moniker of Bonnie Prince Billy, which, while losing none of his usual darkness, proves to be more hopeful in its tone than his past work
Katie Malco
Four Goodbyes
Refreshing, but compelling tales of love and loss on new four song EP from Northampton-based singer-songwriter, Katie Malco
Shearwater
The Snow Leopard EP
Mesmerising compilation of highights from this year's 'Rook' album, B-sides and live tracks on new EP from highly acclaimed baroque pop outfit, Shearwater
Jackie O Motherfucker
The Blood of Life
Effective combination of new material and reworkings of old songs recorded live in Amsterdam by Portland-based oddball and maverick post rockers Jackie O Motherf**ker
Skeletons
Money
Incomprehensible, but occasionally rewarding fifth album from Skeletons which defies easy categorisation and is a delightfully disorientating mess
El Perro Del Mar
From the Valley to the Stars
Sparse, immaculate-sounding third album from El Perro Del Mar, the moniker of Swedish chanteuse Sarah Assbring, which somewhat overtly downbeat, does not quite match up to the heights of her well-received eponymous second album
Hamell on Trial
The Terrorism Of Everyday Life: Live From Edinburgh
Lo-fi, but abrasive live album recorded at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival from New York-based singer-songwriter and social satirist, Hamell on Trial, which twisting common interpretations of reality into new and exciting shapes reveals to its listener the modern world in a new light
Tall Firs
Too Old to Die Young
Thoughtful and excellent second album from much acclaimed Maryland psychedelic folk duo Tall Firs, which like its predecessor has been released on Sonic Youth's Thurstone Moore's Ecstatic Peace label
Fuck Buttons
Horrrsing
Richly rewarding combination of noise and melody on debut album from tribal-influenced duo, F**k Buttons
HEALTH
HEALTH
Compellingly intense debut album from unpredictable and aggressive pioneers of the Los Angeles Underground scene, HEALTH
Xiu Xiu
Women as Lovers
Menacing and near psychotic, but compelling eighth album from Xiu Xiu, the project of avant garde musician Jamie Stewart.
Various
Rough Trade Shops Counter Culture 07
Variable compilation in their annual 'Counter Culture' series from the Rough Trade label including sveral of the main acts on the current alternative scene including Dan Deacon, No Age, Pete & the Pirates, Von Sudenfed and Of Montreal
Jóhann Jóhannsson
Englabörn
Unique merging of electronica with acoustic instrumentation on latest work from prolific Icelandic neo-classical musician Jóhann , originally intended as the musical accompaniment to a 2002 theatre piece and now reshaped as a standalone album
That Fucking Tank
The Awesome Magnet
Painfully raw but powerful new single from superior Leeds-based hardcore trio That Fucking Tank
Beirut
The Flying Club Cup
Superbly melodic and optimistic second album from Beirut, the project of young American singer-songwriter Zach Condon
Two Gallants
Two Gallants
Mornful and regret-sodden, yet enthralling third album from Californian-based duo Two Gallants who make their unique sound by mixing up punk, rockabilly and blues
Mono
Gone
Stunning B sides and rarities collection from Japanese instrumental and classically inspired post rock group, Mono
Animal Collective
Peachbone
Splendid new single from the Animal Collective, the first on Domino Records
Asobi Seksu
Citrus
Vibrant-sounding electronic pop on upbeat second album of shoegazing New York-based art rockers Asobi Seksu
Kinski
Down Below It's Chaos
Ballsy rock on somewhat cumbersome sixth album from Kinski, the first to feature vocals from the previously all instrumental Seattle-based post rockers
Two Gallants
Scenery of Farewell
All acoustic new EP from country punks Two Gallants recorded on tour at sound checks and on the tour bus, the follow up to their rapturously received Saddle Creek debut, What the Bell Tolls', from last year
Strange Death of Liberal England
Forward March !
Focused and passionate debut mini-album from Portsmouth-based post-rock band the Strange Death of Liberal England who combine brash liberal politics with explsoive tunes
Sebadoh
The Freed Man
Rambling and ragged, but stimulating re-release with extra tracks of spearheads of the lo-fi movement Sebadoh's mid 1990's album, 'The Freed Man'
Asobi Seksu
Walk on the Moon
Impressive debut UK single from New York-based shoegazing group Asobi Seksu
Jesu
Conqueror
Surprisingly mellow and subdued second album from JESU, the project of Justin Broadrick, the former frotnman with Napalm Death and Godflesh
Trans Am
Sex Change
Umpredictable and invigorating seventh album from durable post rock/electronica act, Trans Am
Brakes
Hold Me in the River
Exuberant, urgent latest single from their new second album 'The Beatific Visions' for the much acclaimed Brakes
Rainydayfuckparade
Meridian
Paint by numbers metal on debut album from Raindayfuckparsde, the new band of ex-Unborn guitarist Nigel Morton and North by Northwest drummer Paul Dudley