For today's New Music Sunday I bring to you
Allo Darlin', a London-based indie pop four piece band that's been around since 2009, but the members have been recording with other bands and the lead singer, Elizabeth Morris, has been releasing her own music since 2007 and records with the Tender Trap. Allo Darlin' just completed a successful US mini-tour in conjunction with CMJ 2010 in New York (they were in Philadelphia in October and had I known about them before last night, I would have gone to see their set at Blocktoberfest). Their
self-titled album 
was released in the US last October and has been gathering critical acclaim.
The first video is
"The Polaroid Song"
, the first single from
Allo Darlin'. The song itself is very fun and has a great guitar line and some shades of Belle and Sebastian's chamber pop sound. The video is a take on The Breakfast Club and the memories that an old picture can evoke. The use of 16mm film and not digital or even videotape recording gives it a warm feeling that digital film just can't create and supports the song's theme of fuzzy memories that a forgotten picture can bring back.
Allo Darlin' -- "The Polaroid Song"
The second track is the second single,
"Dreaming"
. The song is an invitation from a girl to a guy to go out on the town and the guy is hesitant because he likes the girl (and she likes him) but he doesn't want to get hurt but knows that the two of them have a connection, chemistry if you will. The video was shot on Super-8, giving it a very grainy but warm and intimate feel, like being invited to watch the couple as they go out on the town. The video and the song complement each other and capture the feeling of following your heart despite knowing that you're going to get hurt in the end.
Allo Darlin' -- Dreaming
A comment left on the review over at
The Line of Best Fit called the band and the album "music to fall in love by" and I couldn't agree more. The entire album works as the soundtrack of a relationship and captures the feelings of two people who steal looks on the night bus and hold hands when no one's looking.
Tell me what you think about Allo Darlin' down in the comments section.
, for the song "Could It Be."
, and from the band on vinyl, CD and as a download (buy it from the band, all the proceeds go into their pocket)
, an all-girl band from Los Angeles recently found their way onto my iPod in the form of a free Amazon MP3 download for the song Undertow
from their first major label album, The Fool
is another track that starts slowly and builds to a smoldering fury that could burst into flames at any moment.
, The Decemberists
, and Modest Mouse
. New York transplants Ian Mackintosh and Ben Braun are excellent additions to the scene.
, entitled "Could It Be," is a great synthesizer-based track that sounds right at home in either a crowded club or in your iPod. It's not as early '80's sounding as La Roux or as poppy as Owl City, it's much deeper; a lusher sound and more expressive lyrics than usually found in synthesizer tracks. According to the band, their sound is "exciting and innovative, but that's also familiar" and I found it to be very innovative and still familiar. It pushes the boundaries of alternative music to where they intersect with chillout and trance and yet it retains the emotion that pure electronic music often lacks. The entire album continues the theme of expanding alternative and dance music to where fans of either will find Mackintosh Braun worth a listen.
.
, London-based band who's current single being played in the US is Crystalised. They have a lush sound that is unusual for indie bands, while you can hear the guitars and bass in their songs, you can also hear the high production values that differentiates them from other indie bands. Below is the official video for Crystalised and a fan-created video for the song Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit). Enjoy.
. Their first album, Tourist History
. They will be playing dates in the US in April and May. Check out their webpage for tour dates. Take a listen, listen takers.
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