Man Like Me - London Town

Garage dub trio Man Like Me are plotting to take over as urban kings of London town this summer. Having just played Camden Crawl, the top spring music festival in the UK, they are revving up to release their debut on May 11 and crash the likes of Glastonbury and Bestival this summer.

Their third single “London Town” is drenched with garage ska and electropop vibes. The song throws back to late 90s sunsoaked hip-hop jams, with electric piano chops and a neckpopping bassline.

SOUNDS LIKE Bran Van 3000, Dub Pistols, Santogold, Roots Manuva

Man Like Me - London Town
Download MP3 and watch the video below



FREE MP3s
B-Sides & Rarities Mixtape Free from Man Like Me's MySpace Blog

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iTunes Worldwide
eMusic MP3, worldwide
Juno Download MP3, worldwide

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM
Amazon UK CD, worldwide, most likely to get it first
Amazon US CD, worldwide
CD Universe CD, worldwide

Planet Funk - Lemonade

Italian house group Planet Funk have given us a refreshing beverage to cool our already flourishing sweaty summer playlist. “Lemonade” drips sweet funk all over an icy beat that is as addictive as the song's namesake.

The track is from their new greatest hits album, released last month. However, it already appears that it may be out of print, as it's no longer available at any popular online shops, so here are the original version and the remix by the world-famous Benny Benassi.

Planet Funk - Lemonade Download MP3
Planet Funk - Lemonade (Benny Benassi Edit) Download MP3
and watch both versions below!


Music video for “Lemonade”


Music video for “Lemonade (Benny Benassi Edit)”

BUY THE GREATEST HITS ALBUM
CD Universe CD, worldwide, currently backordered
Amazon CD, worldwide, currently backordered
The song is not available for digital download

Sugar Crisis - We Are Here to Save You

UK boy/girl band Sugar Crisis debuts with a blast of deranged super-twee. Sweetly addictive, their first ever single “We Are Here to Save You” is dripping with fun pop. I have to wonder what the crisis is, since where they lack in sugar, they have...more sugar.

SOUNDS LIKE Tilly and the Wall, Those Dancing Days, The Pipettes, CSS

Sugar Crisis - We Are Here to Save You
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace



BUY IT
Keep an eye on them via their MySpace. The single releases in May!

BWO - Kings of Tomorrow (Disco Version)

Swedish electropop group BWO presents their fourth album Big Science after considerable success in Scandinavia with their previous albums. The remix of “Kings of Tomorrow” is the standout track of the album, with its spacepop synths and melodramatic vocals run over a nonstop disco beat.

SOUNDS LIKE Pet Shop Boys, The Echoing Green, Empire of the Sun, VNV Nation

BWO - Kings of Tomorrow (Disco Version)
Download MP3 or Listen on YouTube


They haven't shot a video for “Kings of Tomorrow”, so here's the dramatically campy sci-fi video for “You're Not Alone”

BUY THE ALBUM BIG SCIENCE
iTunes Scandinavia only, You're Not Alone single worldwide
Scandinavian and Nordic Music CD, worldwide, eBay Store
CD Universe CD, worldwide, backordered
Amazon CD, worldwide, backordered
CDON.COM CD, EU and Scandinavia only

Hey Champ - Cold Dust Girl

Electropop trio Hey Champ's song “Cold Dust Girl” is an addictive dancefloor tune with a harmonizing bass synth that would make Röyksopp envious. The group was recently discovered by Lupe Fiasco and will be releasing their debut soon on his 1st & 15th imprint.

Hey Champ - Cold Dust Girl Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

DISCOVERED VIA The Burning Ear


Music video for “Cold Dust Girl”

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Hey Champ Merch T-Shirts, worldwide
Hey Champ's debut album is coming soon. Watch Hey Champ's MySpace for updates.

Polly Scattergood - Please Don't Touch

Polly Scattergood burst into the UK indie scene last fall. After many years spent writing hundreds of deeply personal songs while working at a tomato stand and an ice cream factory, she has released her eponymous debut.

Polly's intimate songwriting and her charming eccentricities have earned her many devoted fans, including myself. She writes to her fans in her blog almost daily, and one of her singles, “I Hate the Way”, came with a xeroxed sheet of her original handwritten lyrics scattered with notes and scribbles—an authentic and very personal touch.

Her fourth single “Please Don't Touch” is the most infectiously catchy song on the album. The 4-track digital single releases May 4 on Mute. It also includes a brilliant remix by The Golden Filter that captures Polly's lovely idiosyncrasies and twists them over a metallic electrodance beat. The music video premiered on Polly's MySpace yesterday and you can watch it below.

Polly Scattergood - Please Don't Touch
(The Golden Filter Pop Mix)
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace


The brand new music video to “Please Don't Touch”

BUY THE 4-TRACK DIGITAL SINGLE—MAY 4
iTunes Worldwide
7digital MP3, UK only
Amazon MP3 US only
Amazon MP3 UK only

You can also buy her album on CD and digitally from most major and indie record stores.

Fun - At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be)

Fun is about to be New York's latest indie pop sensation. Just signed to Nettwerk, their debut single “At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be)” releases May 5. They have back and forth male/female whoa-oh-oh's, piano stabs across rhythmic guitar and a swinging horn-filled bridge—all key elements of a perfect pop song, and yes, it's perfect.

UPDATE Fun's debut album Aim & Ignite releases August 25 on Nettwerk.

SOUNDS LIKE of Montreal, I'm From Barcelona, Feist, Mother Mother

Fun - At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be)
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY FUN
Funmerch.com Fun t-shirts
Fun on MySpace The single releases May 5, get info here
Nettwerk Store Check here for the single on May 5

FREE MP3
Fun Mailing List Free download of “At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be)” after sign-up!

Rico Bernasconi - Love Deep Inside

In celebration of our brand new site design, I bring you a glistening new dance track that brings summer a bit nearer. Rico Bernasconi and Tom Pulse give us “Love Deep Inside (Sunshine Reggae Remix)”, mixing house with dancehall reggae to create a vital piece of this year's soundtrack to summer paradise.

Rico Bernasconi - Love Deep Inside (Tom Pulse Sunshine Reggae Remix)
Download MP3 or Listen on IMEEM

Sadly, we have another artist promoting their new single but providing nowhere to buy it. Check Rico Bernasconi on MySpace for future updates concerning the release date of “Love Deep Inside“ and, hopefully, where to buy it.

The Fancy Toys - Gypsy Eyes

Upon first listen of The Fancy Toys, my thoughts swirled around what I could only describe as sophisticated silliness. A minute later I felt daft when I read the band's name again. Their distinctly inimitable creations are captivating, especially in their debut single, “Gypsy Eyes”. The Fancy Toys demand your attention like an unheralded prodigy at a café open mic.

SOUNDS LIKE The Decemberists, Dent May, Pop Levi, Andrew Bird

The Fancy Toys - Gypsy Eyes Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY IT
iTunes

Timid Tiger - Are You Gonna Go My Way

Timid Tiger's revision of Lenny Kravitz's “Are You Gonna Go My Way” is a massive fusion of big electro beats and hip-hop cuts led by Lenny's sizzling guitar, his steady-rocking voice and the effortless raps of Ludacris and Biggie. I know that statements like the following tend to drive rabid fans mad, but Timid Tiger's remix makes the original outdated and utterly obsolete. Sorry Lenny.

The track is part of Timid Tiger's PMA.EP, released via Pretty Much Amazing, and it's absolutely free! Their forthcoming album, Timid Tiger & The Electric Island, is set to release in autumn 2009.

SOUNDS LIKE InnerPartySystem, Shiny Toy Guns, Ratatat, CSS

Timid Tiger - Are You Gonna Go My Way
(feat. Ludacris & The Notorious B.I.G.)
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

DISCOVERED VIA The Burning Ear

FREE MP3s
Pretty Much Amazing Download Timid Tiger's free EP!

Roxy Rawson - Riddle It

Roxy Rawson's music is unconventionally crafted with a strumming violin, squeaky vocals and a scattering of unidentifiable percussive sounds. It's just as weird as it sounds, yet strangely addictive. Her debut EP releases May 4 on Ambiguous Records.

Roxy Rawson - Riddle It Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

PRE-ORDER THE EP
Pure Groove Vinyl, worldwide

The Fake Lazy Supernovas - Golden Boy (Sunshine Mix)

Whimsically genre-bending, The Fake Lazy Supernovas send forth their debut single, “Golden Boy” with a glimmer of sunny island pop. The groovy tune and silky vocals make me feel like lounging on a chaise longue, girlie-drink in hand. The single is out now and comes packed with a great after-dusk B-side.

SOUNDS LIKE De-Phazz, Morcheeba, Tosca, Kruder & Dorfmeister

The Fake Lazy Supernovas - Golden Boy (Sunshine Mix) Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY THE SINGLE & THE ALBUM
iTunes Worldwide
eMusic MP3, worldwide
Townsend Records CD, worldwide

The Very Best - Dinosaur On the Ark

UK production duo Radioclit and African singer Esau Mwamwaya met in London and formed The Very Best, releasing afro-beat remixes and covers of popular songs by artists like Vampire Weekend, M.I.A. and The Beatles. They have released a free mixtape to promote their album which is set to release later this year.

The remixes and covers are excellent but the standout track is “Dinosaur On the Ark”, a tropical collaboration with the mysterious band Bermuda. The song sounds like The Lion King soundtrack clashed with The Shins or Vampire Weekend.

The Very Best - Dinosaur On the Ark Download MP3 or Listen on Bermuda's MySpace

FREE MP3s
Fairtilizer Official release of The Very Best Mixtape—free download!
The Very Best on MySpace More songs and info + the same free download

Finlay Morton - The Devil (Ain't Getting My Soul)

London alt-country singer Finlay Morton has just re-issued his second album Back to Basics after another round with it in the studio, but he is still virtually undiscovered in the vast reaches of the internet. He delivers a rich style of Americana filtered through his soulful voice. The first single “The Devil (Ain't Getting My Soul)” is the warm soundtrack to a dusty drive on a desert road.

SOUNDS LIKE Chris Rea, The Isley Brothers, Jacksoul, Sade

Finlay Morton - The Devil (Ain't Getting My Soul) Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace


Promotional music video for “The Devil (Ain't Getting My Soul)”

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iTunes Worldwide
Amazon MP3 US only
CD Baby CD/MP3, worldwide
CD Universe CD, worldwide

Mike Bailey - Wild World

British TV series Skins has a reputation for introducing their fans to loads of fantastic music. Series one ends with one of the most intense finales of any television drama and the episode finishes with a montage of Mike Bailey (Sid) and the rest of the cast singing Cat Stevens' “Wild World”.

Mike Bailey - Wild World Download MP3 or Watch the video below


The cast of Skins sings “Wild World”

The song is only available on the Skins soundtrack which has only been released in CD format and is somewhat rare, but Amazon UK is selling it for an unusually low price.

BUY THE SOUNDTRACK
Amazon UK CD, worldwide

Ted & Francis - Erlend

Despite the BFF bandname, Ted & Francis are not cute and friendly twee-folk, but rather enigmatic artisans of irresistible sound. You know those rare occasions when you try a new dish at a new restaurant and you not only love it, but you can taste each delicious flavour creating heaven together? Imagine that, but with a chilled rhythm and a sizzling electro synth offset by warm strokes of monochromatic keys.

SOUNDS LIKE The first time you heard your favourite Moby/Air/Massive Attack song

Ted & Francis - Erlend Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

DISCOVERED VIA The Burning Ear


Promo video for the Ted & Francis EP

The Ted & Francis EP releases April 20 on Kitsuné. Until then, you can also get “Erlend” on a few of the brilliant Kitsuné compilations, linked below.

BUY THE SONG
Amazon MP3 UK only
Pure Groove CD, worldwide
Boomkat CD, worldwide
Amazon CD, worldwide
Amazon UK CD, worldwide

BUY THE REMIX (YouTube)
eMusic MP3, worldwide
Juno Download MP3, worldwide
Beatport MP3, worldwide
Amazon MP3 US only

Bishi - Never Seen Your Face

Multi-instrumentalist Bishi's single “Never Seen Your Face” is crunchy-bass electro with an unmistakable touch of Bollywood. Her album is a year old now but Radio 1's Huw Stephens recently took notice of the song, so naturally I did as well.

SOUNDS LIKE La Roux, Florence and the Machine, VV Brown, Little Boots

Bishi - Never Seen Your Face Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace


Music video for “Never Seen Your Face”

BUY THE SINGLE
iTunes Worldwide
eMusic MP3, worldwide
Rough Trade Vinyl, worldwide
7digital MP3, worldwide
Recordstore CD/vinyl, worldwide
Norman Records CD/vinyl, worldwide
Amazon UK CD/vinyl, worldwide

BUY THE ALBUM
iTunes Worldwide
eMusic MP3, worldwide
Amazon MP3 US only
Amazon MP3 UK only
7digital MP3, UK only
Bishi Store CD, worldwide
Recordstore CD, worldwide
Norman Records CD, worldwide
Amazon UK CD, worldwide

The Big Pink - Velvet

The Big Pink unleash their debut single “Velvet” next week on 4AD. It starts with an industrial drum beat and comatose vocals, slowly intensifying as the murky guitar ascends. It's the type of music that's made for late-night headphones.

SOUNDS LIKE M83, Starsailor, Operahouse, Stereophonics

The Big Pink - Velvet Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace



PRE-ORDER THE SINGLE
Amazon MP3 UK only
7digital MP3, UK only
Recordstore Vinyl, worldwide
Norman Records Vinyl, worldwide
CD Universe Vinyl, worldwide

Lissy Trullie - Self-Taught Learner

Lissy Trullie, new Wichita recruit, releases her elegant debut Self-Taught Learner EP on May 25. Her vocal styling is effortless and has the same vintage sound as her lo-fi guitar, coupled with her sharp lyrics and DIY aesthetic. The standout track of the EP is the title track, but she also does a subtly stunning cover of Hot Chip's “Ready for the Floor”.

SOUNDS LIKE Harlem Shakes, Wolf Parade, Vampire Weekend

Lissy Trullie - Self-Taught Learner Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace


Promo video for “Self-Taught Learner”

BUY THE EP
Insound CD, worldwide

Releases May 25, but Insound seems to already have it. After the release date it should be available through iTunes, Amazon and most indie stores like Norman Records and Recordstore.

FREE MP3
RCRDLBL is also giving away a free download of “Self-Taught Learner”

Eskimo Fires - Be There

Two weeks ago I posted about London band One eskimO. Seems that eskimo might be the next word to seed the bandname generator. Eskimo Fires brings a piano rock ballad in their debut “Be There”. Beautiful song.

SOUNDS LIKE White Lies, Starsailor, One eskimO, Kutless

Eskimo Fires - Be There Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY IT
iTunes Worldwide
Eskimo Fires Store CD, worldwide

FREE MP3
Eskimo Fires The band is offering a free download of “Be There”

Marie Serneholt - Disconnect Me

Marie Serneholt, formerly of Swedish boy/girl group A*Teens, started her solo career in 2006 and last month performed “Disconnect Me” in Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national song competition to determine who will represent the country in Eurovision 2009. The electro beats and not surprisingly, a few orchestra stabs reminiscent of Scandinavian symphonic metal, transform a generic pop song into a magnificently consuming arrangement.

This is the second Melodifestivalen artist I've posted—the first was Rigo & the Topaz Sound—so I'd like to emphasize once again that one should not compare Melodifestivalen and Eurovision to their less talented and less creative American counterparts.

SOUNDS LIKE La Roux, Lily Allen, Robyn

Marie Serneholt - Disconnect Me Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace


Marie performing “Disconnect Me” at Melodifestivalen

BUY THE SINGLE
Klicktrack MP3, worldwide

BUY THE MELODIFESTIVALEN 2009 ALBUM
CDON Melodifestivalen 2009 compilation CD, EU and Scandinavia only
Scandinavian and Nordic Music CD, eBay store, worldwide

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up

The Brian Jonestown Massacre, nine albums to their name, brings together psychedelic rock with a haunting piano and a distinct spaghetti western vibe in “You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up” from their 2003 album And This Is Our Music.

SOUNDS LIKE Ennio Morricone, Animal Collective, The Velvet Underground

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up
Download MP3 or Watch on YouTube below


Fan video of “You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up”

BUY THE ALBUM
iTunes Worldwide
eMusic MP3, worldwide
Amazon MP3 US only
Amazon MP3 UK only
7digital MP3, UK only
Recordstore CD, worldwide
Norman Records CD, worldwide
Insound MP3/vinyl, worldwide
CD Universe CD, worldwide
Amazon CD, worldwide
Amazon UK CD, worldwide

Crystal Castles - Alice Practice

The term new rave sounds like a corruption of rave and new wave, but really all it takes from the former is flourescent clothing, neon lights and glow sticks—and from the latter, the genre fusions and the trashy, anarchic aesthetic. Crystal Castles, one of Toronto's top exports, interprets new rave as scratchy, distorted Gameboy sounds, writhing female screams and bodies dancing to a path beaten by drums. Close your eyes, experience the flashing lights and feel the urge to reach for a tablet.

SOUNDS LIKE Peaches, Digitalism, Hot Chip, The Prodigy

Crystal Castles - Alice Practice Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace


Crystal Castles performing “Alice Practice” on TV show Skins. Also on YouTube.

BUY THE ALBUM
iTunes If this shows up as a Partial Album, try one of the MP3 stores below.
Juno Download MP3, worldwide
Beatport MP3, worldwide
Amazon MP3 US only
Amazon MP3 UK only
7digital MP3, UK only
Recordstore CD/vinyl, worldwide
Norman Records CD/vinyl, worldwide
Insound CD, worldwide
CD Universe CD/vinyl, worldwide
Amazon CD/vinyl, worldwide
Amazon UK CD/vinyl, worldwide

Peaches - Talk to Me

Canadian queen of perverted electroclash, Peaches is prepping her fifth album after three years of silence. The first single “Talk to Me” is an ear-crunching derangement of Peaches' shrieking vocals and a heavy electro beat. The album I Feel Cream releases May 4 on XL.

Peaches - Talk to Me Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

SOUNDS LIKE La Roux, Little Boots, Simian Mobile Disco, Soulwax, Justice, Digitalism


No music video yet for “Talk to Me” so here's a scandalous mash up of Peaches' “Fuck the Pain Away” with The Andy Griffith Show

BUY THE ALBUM
Insound Pre-order CD/vinyl, worldwide
CD Universe Pre-order CD, worldwide
Amazon Pre-order CD/vinyl, worldwide
Amazon UK Pre-order CD/vinyl, worldwide

Señor Coconut and His Orchestra - Da Da Da (English Version)

Señor Coconut is a German DJ and the unlikely father of electrolatino music—not that the genre has spawned any offspring. His unprecedented fusion of tropical lounge beats with jazzy bossa nova and a campy Spanish accent is ridiculously entertaining.

SOUNDS LIKE Manu Chao, Plastilina Mosh, Ozomatli

Señor Coconut - Da Da Da (English Version) Download MP3 or Listen on RCRDLBL


Music video for the English version of “Da Da Da”

The English version of the song is available as a free download from RCRDLBL. You can buy the original German/English version on Señor Coconut's album Around the World, and you can hear it on his MySpace.

BUY AROUND THE WORLD WITH SEÑOR COCONUT
iTunes Worldwide
eMusic MP3, worldwide
Juno Download MP3, worldwide
Amazon MP3 US only
Amazon MP3 UK only
Norman Records CD, worldwide
Insound CD/MP3, worldwide
CD Universe CD, worldwide
Amazon CD, worldwide
Amazon UK CD, worldwide

FREE MP3s
RCRDLBL Free legal download of “Da Da Da (English Version)” and more

Argon 40 - When the Words Don't Come

New York duo Argon 40 takes a brazen dive into the over-saturated sea of chillout music. The genre may have peaked years ago but Heather Greene and Adam Williams give it a smack to the chest with their debut single “When the Words Don't Come”. Heather's vocals rasp gorgeously against the smooth flowing synths, but the masterful complement is the gritty percussion.

SOUNDS LIKE Hooverphonic, Morcheeba, Bitter:Sweet

Argon 40 - When the Words Don't Come Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY THE SINGLE
iTunes Worldwide
eMusic MP3, worldwide
Shockhound MP3, US only
Lala MP3

Kizzy Star - Out of Control

This article has been removed.

Kids Love Lies - Count in My Head

Kids Love Lies' latest effort, “Count in My Head” is a twee-punk track supercharged with riot grrrl attitude. The 7-inch single releases April 13 on Cherryade Records and digital downloads are already available.

IF YOU LIKE: Sleater-Kinney, Thomas Tantrum, The Kabeedies

Kids Love Lies - Count in My Head Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace


The music video for “Count in My Head”

BUY THE SINGLE
iTunes Worldwide
Amazon MP3 US only, available now
Amazon MP3 UK only, available now
Rough Trade Pre-order, releases April 13, worldwide
Norman Records Pre-order, releases April 13, worldwide
Pure Groove Releases April 13, worldwide

Lucky Soul - Whoa Billy!

The first taste of Lucky Soul's sophomore, “Whoa Billy!” is an infectiously sweet delight of sugary bubblegum washed down with a whole bottle of vintage soul. Luck be damned—it's by their pure brilliance that the sophomore jinx will stand aside.

IF YOU LIKE: The Marvelettes, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Pipettes

Lucky Soul - Whoa Billy! Download MP3 or Listen on Ruffalane


No video for this one yet, so here's one of Lucky Soul's older videos.

BUY IT
The single is coming soon on Ruffalane. Watch Lucky Soul's MySpace for details.