speed of dark

I get lots and lots of mail from band promoters and from bands themselves. It's really great to hear that someone has read our blog and wants to turn us on to their music. I don't like everything, or sometimes it just doesn't fit our format, but there is a lot of good stuff too. Today I'll make a feeble attempt to catch up with some of it, international-style.

House of Brothers

House of Brothers from Nottingham, U.K.,is the solo project of Andrew Jackson. The songs are loaded with beautiful strings, clever guitar lines, and gentle vocals in the vein of Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Mark Gardner, and Mark Kozelek.

The debut EP, Deadman, is set for release on 26th November. This is definitely worthy of attention. I liked "Deadman" so much I included it in a mix for a friend along with Ferraby Lionheart and Iron and Wine. It fit right in.
Band of Brothers: Deadman

MySpace | Label: Big Scary Monsters Recording Company | Buy


Destroy Cowboy



Destroy Cowboy are a band from Birmingham, U.K., who have supported acts such as Tapes n Tapes, Cold War Kids, The Stills, 1990s and Tokyo Police Club all in the past few months. At the top of their long list of influences is The Notwist, which makes me like them right away, and you can certainly hear that influence on "Needles of the Revolution." Listen to that on their MySpace page, but here's one right here to get you started.

Thank you, Steve State, who provides keys, vocals, and effects for Destroy Cowboy, for writing.
Destroy Cowboy: 1000 Candles

MySpace | Website | Label: Independent


EPO-555



Danish shoegazers epo-555 exhibit gorgeous western-American style guitar and rhythms on "Centipede" before dipping into a gameboy doodle at the end just for fun. Listen to lots more on MySpace, where you can also purchase the tracks directly from the band.
epo-555: Centipede from Mafia (2007)

MySpace | Website | Label: Crunchy Frog/Ryko Distribution
Buy at iTunes


Pet Politics



Magnus Larssen from Gothenburg, Sweden, has a new 7" EP called The Spring under the name of Pet Politics. The title song has a charming Kinks-like feel, and other tracks are good too. I'm especially fond of "Taken Away By Aliens."

Thanks, Magnus, for your e-mail and for these songs.
Pet Politics: The Spring

MySpace | Website | Label: Independent
Buy at The Great Pop Supplement


Think Quick



Back in the U.S.: Izzy Mozero is a DIY kinda guy from Monroe, CT, USA, who records songs under the name of Think Quick. He may prop his microphone up on a box of Ritz crackers (check his MySpace to see how I know that) and record directly into his computer, and certain parts of his songs owe a lot of influence to his friend Mario (in the photo), but he's pretty good with the tools he has. Check out his covers of "Such Great Heights" (Postal Service) and "Just Like Heaven" (the Cure).

Good luck to you, Izzy, and thanks for writing. Every journey has a first step.
Think Quick: The Only Prescription

MySpace