The Phase 4

Burton Upon Trent, UK is home to the duo of musician/illustrator Paul McCaffrey and multi-instrumentalist Martin Carnaby who formed their music project The Phase 4 in 2004. Earlier this year, the band was featured on Compilation 18 from Columbus, Nebraska-based label Series Two Records. Unfortunately, we did not take our cue/email at the time and neglected to post the showcased track from that particular release. Months later, we received a physical copy of a promo CD and finally had a proper listen to what was explained to us as a work in progress that will eventually become The Phase 4 debut album. After giving this promo disc quite a few spins, it became almost impossible to figure out what needed to be tweaked or changed in any way. Instead of bothering with vague comparisons involving mid-60s garage, late-80s twee or early 90s pop from Japan, we will simply give you a listen to the following pair of previews we were especially taken with. Expect a more detailed review once the debut album is released. For now, it might be a good time to start swaying those shoulders and snapping that finger. Nice.

MP3: Lost And Found
MP3: Out Of The Blue

MML: Sunday Feline Frenzy!

However silly it might sound, after a few cocktails on the banks of the Ohio River and some discussion regarding how lovely our own little mini-tigers happen to be, we decided to re-feature random songs about our favourite brand of domesticated flea-bag. Cats, Cats and more Cats. Have fun listening and be sure to follow the links to support these artists. Also, if you have spare change jingling around somewhere in your pockets, contact a local cat shelter and give it to them. Money well spent... Meow!!

Soda Fountain Rag - I Wanna Be Your Cat

Erik Voeks - Finger Painted Cat

Takako Minekawa - Fantastic Cat

The Sheds - Mtn Cat

The Lovekevins - Private Life Of A Cat

Polynya: Crop Rotation

Updates on previously featured artists seem to have become a staple of our existence these days and this time around we have quite the treat to share. Back in January 2008, we originally reviewed Chapel Hill, North Carolina based four piece Polynya and their lovely self-titled debut album. Since that time, musicians Andrea Parthemore (guitar, vocals), Luke Berchowitz (guitar vocals, programming), Pat Johnson (keyboard, drums) and Thom Canova (bass, programming) have written and recorded another brand new full-length release titled Crop Rotation through their very own label Childhood Pet Records. The finished product is an impressive collection of songs that, once again, has our attention captured completely. A first listen from the brand new release is well in order.

MP3: Fan Fiction



With the 11 tracks that make up Crop Rotation, Polynya manages to thread classic psychedelia and a sprinkling of experimental electronic accompaniment into their unique brand of spirited yet measured indie rock. The result is an overwhelmingly solid release in which the instrumentation could seemingly spiral off into a dream state at any given moment if not for the gleaming vocal combination/exchange of Andrea and Luke to guide each song back into vivid focus. From the trippy beginnings of Ribbon Dragons to the searing guitar outbursts throughout Calico and final goodbyes of The Way Out At Last, Polynya delivers a favorite new album for 2009 in Crop Rotation. Another song for you.

MP3: Maul

Additional links:
Polynya MySpace
Polynya Facebook
Polynya ReverbNation

Golau Glau

Golau Glau are UK-based musicians who have made it quite clear that they would like to remain mostly anonymous for the time being. As much as we would usually consider this some sort of PR carrot'n'stick mechanism, the music is outstanding enough to pique our interest and have us scrambling to share the love after a number of listens. A quote from the band, followed by the lovely new track they sent our way:

"We are shy and nervous and we don’t want people to write about who we are as people or what we wear or how far we deviate from the music that has influenced us, just the music and the artwork. We hope you don’t mind that we haven’t written about how we met or what famous bands we like or how old we are or anything."

MP3: Summer Games

Yes... it really is that good. However tempting it might be to sink our teeth into a number of comparisons in the direction of Tom Tom Club or Future Bible Heroes, another expanded blather-fest can be set aside as we bring you the limited information available to us. Three days ago, the band released their debut single Soft Silver Young / Heartland Half Seizure through London, UK-based net-label Odd Box Records (Odd Box MySpace) and it is completely free for download. There is also a Golau Glau blog where you might find additional tidbits of information as well as a handful of other international music sites who were fortunate enough to receive a heads-up on this newly-formed project. A preview from the new single for you. Simply put... we are smitten.

MP3: Soft Silver Young

Starring Me: Parallels

Often times, it seems the artists who send updates on newly released music have perfect timing where sound and climate/season are concerned. Such would be the case for Jacksonville, Florida-based outfit Starring Me who we originally featured with a toasty little indie-rock gem to keep us nice and warm in October 2007. Since that time, members Tara Golden (vocals), Reed Clendenen (bass/vocals) and John Hashtak (guitar/vocals) happen to have located their long-lost drummer Jim Singleton to complete the full lineup once again. After a few brutal re-programming sessions for this reunited percussionist, the band now has a brand new, seven song CD titled Parallels to share that definitely has our summer-ears perked with the sparkling delivery we experienced. The track we've decided to showcase is probably the sweetest near-pop song of the new collection but, impressive as it might be, don't be fooled. There are a number of listening moments with decorative-yet-dark edges and enough meat on the guitar to keep any respectable shoegaze loyalist more than interested. For additional music, both past and present, pay a visit to the Starring Me MySpace page and also be sure to check out the band's side-project Purplespace who we recently made mention of just this past February. Have a first listen to an MML favourite from Parallels...

MP3: Skip The Beginning

**Bonus** From the release "Perfect In The Night" (2005)

MP3: Waves

MML: Sunday Night Cigarette Mix

Not much to report on this beautiful Sunday evening... just winding down the weekend with a handful of songs that all happen to address the particular habit of cigarette smoking while sounding quite well together. Please be sure to light up these lovely songs and also pay a visit the links for the featured artists where you will find plenty of music and information. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em...

The Spires - My Favorite Cigarette

Catholic Gaydar - Cigarettes And Sleeplessness

The Sheds - Do You Have A Marlboro

The Sheds - Between The Moon And Love

Fredrik Ståhl: Universally Personal

Gothenburg, Sweden-based musician Fredrik Ståhl is half of the duo Honeymoon Over! who were first featured here in August 2007. Since that time, we've mentioned Fredrik's full-length solo album Shortcomings & Longshots, a followup to his debut 2006 Start Making Sense EP, and now have another full-length offering to report. Universally Personal was released earlier this month and contains a number of gems that might just find their way into your summer vacation soundtrack. As sleepy-yet-sprightly as pop music can possibly be, Mr. Ståhl maintains a sound we consider perfectly suited for poolside or oceanside consumption on any continent. The entire new release is completely free for download through underground Gothenburg label Frukt Records and is well worth a spin. Have a listen...

MP3: Stoic Calm

The Argument: Everything Depends

Sorting through our email inbox has once again provided us with an update on a previously featured artist we've been hoping to hear more from [November 2008 review + download]. As a follow up to their self-released debut Summer/Winter Nights, the Malmö, Sweden based duo of Marcus and Niklas who make up The Argument have a new EP titled Everything Depends that was just released last week. Additional information plus music for listening can be found on The Argument MySpace page and there is also The Argument blog for some insight. The brand new EP is an effective yet understated collection of acoustic-threaded indie-pop songs that we've been enjoying over the past few days. The best part? You can download, at no cost, all seven songs that belong to Everything Depends by visiting The Argument Bandcamp page. A couple of tracks we were especially smitten with... enjoy.

MP3: Fallen Leaves
MP3: Black Eyed Bunny

Red Kitchen: The Second Person

Revisiting previously featured artists is always a welcomed occasion here at MML and this time we happen to have yet another musician that most certainly deserves an extended listen. Our original exposure to, and subsequent review of the Quebec City, Canada-based music project Red Kitchen took place in April 2008. Since that time, primary songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt McClure has been busy recording and finalizing 13 tracks for a newly released album titled The Second Person. A first listen for you...

MP3: Still Life From Courtroom

Interestingly enough, all of the songs contained within the new album serve as chronicles of an elderly man and his life as advanced Alzheimer's disease takes hold of his mind. For the lyrics or additional and frequently updated episodes to read, there is a Red Kitchen blog to visit. As for the music, if you've skipped ahead to listen we can hardly blame you. The sound is an impressive balance of crisp acoustic instrumentation, moderately distorted vocals and a warm underlying current of lo-fi accompaniment that manages not to stray too far into either an airtight studio or dank basement. Mr. McClure also inhabits a Red Kitchen MySpace page where you can explore more of the music and find further information. Another preview?

MP3: The Wake Or 110 Days

The Mystery Slides?

As an aside, we occasionally mention some of the unique, amusing and often confusing items we receive when bands send us a physical copy of their music. Everything from expensive glossy press-kits to poems, pins and even a colouring book (don't ask) seem to be fair game. Upon opening the package containing today's CD, a pair of Kodachrome photo slides fell out of the bubble-pack and we were almost certain they had made their way to us by mistake. After contacting Matt, it turns out that the slides are two out of a set of 20 that he would look at every morning while writing the music for The Second Person. We will undoubtedly keep them with our collection of curious treasures from the MML music blog. One final song from the new album...

MP3: The Museum Of Angry Dogs

Foxes!

However belated, we have an update to share on a band that was first mentioned here well over two years ago in December 2006. Since this very long time ago, Kayla Bell (vocals, drums, keyboard) and Adam Bell (guitar, vocals, keyboard) seem to have relocated from Oxford to Brighton, UK and have enlisted the musical accompaniment of Al Grice (bass, keyboard, percussion) as well as Matt Twaites (omnichord, keyboard, guitar, bass) to complete the latest lineup for Foxes! The brand new single, titled Who Killed Rob?, was recently released through CatCutter Records and is an impressive new listen that flirts playfully with nouveau-twee while managing to offer the band's longstanding take on traditional indie rock. The next live performance is set for this Saturday, June 13, at Brighton's West Hill Community Hall. Have a listen to this B-side (if you can call it that) from the new single Who Killed Rob? Lovely.

MP3: Albania

Video: Who Killed Rob? (2009)



*Bonus* From the EP 46a Appleside Drive (2006)
MP3: 6 O'Clock