Prattle

Darkel - TV Destroy
He’s half of Air, of course. The album is a bit of a mess, but this song is by far the best track, I think. Loving it.

Milburn - What you could’ve won
They seem to be one record company’s response to the other company finding Arctic Monkeys. Still, this song reminds me of Maximo Park towards the end, and that’s still a good thing, just about.

Albert Hammond Jr - In transit
Strokes guitarist makes semi-powerpop album. This was the pick of a fairly decent bunch.

Fortune Drive - To the rye
I think Fortune Drive are a local band, as they’re frequently listed as playing at nearby venues. They were the first of two support bands for the Young Knives the other week, and I found them to be surprisingly good. They get a bit carried away on this one, as it’s a full version of an otherwise shortened single. Stick with it. If nothing else, you’ll feel a satisfied relief when it’s over.

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Nevermore
Well, I did just go to Sweden, and the hotel had left a TSOOL album in one of the rooms. So it seems rude not to include this, arguably their finest moment.

The Sounds - Night after night (alt version)
Hilarious Swedish synthpoprock band, with one foot in the 80s. Bought their second album while I was away, and enjoyed listening to their Eurovision-sized choruses on the way home.

Jarvis Cocker - Running the world
Foul-mouthed hidden track on his new album, it’s the best thing he’s done since This Is Hardcore. And if you didn’t like that, it’s the best thing since Sorted for Es and Whizz. The rest of the album is less instant than this one, but it’s growing on me.

Tunng - Jenny Again
Bought on a whim in Stockholm, I’m rather enjoying the new Tunng album. It’s very calming.

Final Fantasy - This is the ballad of Win and Regine
Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) won this year’s Polaris Prize (the Canadian equivalent of the Mercury Prize). Saw him supporting his pals the Arcade Fire, and had to be impressed by his skill levels and command of the loop pedal. This is a live recording of a song he wrote about Win and Regine of the Arcade Fire, which allows you to hear how he constructs the loops. Very good indeed.

Joanna Newsom - Emily
Well, this is a strange one. I think most people will hate this. It’s ridiculous, very long and very squeaky. But Newsom’s new “album”, entitled “Ys”, has a hypnotising effect on me. Newsom, however, is mad as a box of frogs. She sounds like a geriatric Bjork.