Singles and Downloads

Slagsmalsklubben, Sponsored By Destiny (Zarcorp)

When white 7" singles drop though my letter box with commercially suicidal band names, they're usually from artists just starting their career, boutique vinyl being cannily collectable in our MP3 age. Slagsmalsklubben, however, which means The Fight Club in their native tongue, are a six-piece from Norrkoping in Sweden who have three albums under their belt.

I don't know what they usually sound like but "Sponsored by Destiny" is a cracking combination of bass techno throb and a ridiculous catchy arcade game motif. It shouldn't work but it certainly does. Slagsmalsklubben on Amazon

Au Revoir Simone, Another Likely Story (Moshi Moshi)

All-female New York synth trio Au Revoir Simone are a favourite of David Lynch who played their music at his wedding. Their lush electronic backdrops and sweet hazy songs are not a million miles away from what Lynch, Angelo Badalamenti and Julee Cruise once got up to. "Another Likely Story", a highlight of their recent third album Still Night, Still Light, is a dreamy tinkling music box confection that remixing cannot improve, even by talented Belgian duo Aeroplane. Another Likely Story on Amazon

Messiah J & The Expert, Superfamous Supertune (Inaudible)

Who knows what it's like being Carl Douglas, spending half your life in kung fu clothes promoting a hit of thirty five years ago? Even successful bands are often known simply for one number, Motorhead and "Ace Of Spades", and so on. On "Superfamous Supertune" Messiah J & The Expert, an Irish hip hop duo, nail the frustration of giving birth to such an albatross, the wonder and frustration of it, especially when fame is long gone. Not so much sleek Jay-Z-style professionalism, as crude sample-funk with rapping, it's entertaining stuff. Messiah J & The Expert site here

Luke Smith & The Feelings, I'm Not Adventurous (Storm In A Teacup)

Bearded Canterbury pianist Luke Smith is the world's most insecure troubadour. Happily he's of the self-effacing Brit variety rather than from the Californian music-as-therapy school, thus his songs of love, bemusement and mild disappointment are both poignant and amusing. Half Ray Davis, half wistful music hall turn, Smith is at his best on "I'm Not Adventurous", a sister song to his classic ode to staying in, "I Don't Want To Go To Parties Anymore", and there's another gem in the hopeless, lovelorn "This Is All I've Got To Work With". With three albums under his belt, it's time the world discovered this very English secret. Luke Smith's site here

Detachments, Circles (Thisisnotanexit)

A bit NME, this lot, but well worth a look. They initially sound just like The Normal, Daniel Miller's punky synth outfit that featured heavily on BBC Four's recent Synth Britannia. Then again, sounding like new wave electro is as now as de rigeur as imitating Gang Of Four was two years ago, and frankly preferable. Halfway through "Circles", however, such lo-fi sounds suddenly give way, possibly courtesy of producer James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco, to something appealingly spacey and opulent. Detachments myspace here.

Kap Bambino, Batcaves (Because)

Arriving in media consciousness in the wake of Crystal Castles, fate hasn't smiled on French duo Kap Bambino. They're too similar in every way to the wave-making Canadian outfit, a dark-haired, sallow keyboard hipster backing a kohl-eyed shrieking harpy on aggressive arcade game noise-pop. This is a shame as they offer much to enjoy, especially on this ballistic six track EP which runs the gamut from shouty goth club fodder to garage rock. Batcaves on Amazon

Acos Coolkas, Free Flight (Nang)

From Andrei Tarkovsky's musical collaborator Eduard Artemyev onwards, Russians with synthesizers are always worth keeping an eye on. Acos Coolkas hail from Siberia and fit loosely into the dance sub-genres Balearic and cosmic disco, however, they have as much in common with the spaced out Moog odysseys that the likes of Tangerine Dream and Vangelis used to indulge in during the 1970s. A shimmering stoner treat, in other words. Free Flight (Instrumental) on Amazon

Baby Monster, Ultra Violence And Beethoven (50 Bones)

Eccentric Australian singer Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson and Empire of the Sun has quietly had quite an impact. His luxurious, orchestral take on pop, sprayed on a lavish sonic canvas but adhering to the old-fashioned values of a catchy tune, have crept in all over the place, as has his distinctive nasal voice. Certainly Baby Monster, a duo from Oregon, have been paying attention, and their debut single drips similar gaudy confidence, tinged with a whiff of overripeness. Baby Monster myspace here