Guardian Music — This Newcastle band don't do urgent or frantic. They do glacial, and play as if the last 20 years never happenedHometown: Newcastle.The lineup: Sarah Hall (vocals), James King (drums), Mark Brown (bass), Graeme Martin (guitar), James Hall (guitar).Th... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Mr Tear said... Q: What to get for the girl who has everything? A: Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 - Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (1986) Of course! http://snapcrackleandpops.blogspot.com zero said... Blogger.com deleted the good old Zero G Sound blog. So we... more info

Guardian Music — Not had enough of those sleepy, creepy wraithpop trios? These 'alpha femmes' could be the soundtrack to Carrie's breakdownHometown: Austin, Texas.The lineup: Stefanie Franciotti (keyboards, vocals), Sarah Brown (bass, vocals), Christa Palazzolo (guit... more info

Guardian Music — This San Francisco duo combine the Horrors' shimmery reverb with Mazzy Star's icy vocals to create a hazy, indie noiseHometown: San Francisco.The lineup: Tamaryn (vocals, instruments), Rex John Shelverton (production, instruments).The background: The... more info

Starpulse — Happy Birthday to: King of Pop Michael Jackson (1958; d. 2009) Simple Plan bassist David Desrosiers (1980) Watchmen actress Carla Gugino (1971) Singer Me'Shell NdegeOcello (1969) Cocteau Twins... more info

Guardian Music — Label's classic album covers, minimalist style and cult bands still revered by fans as it marks three decades at the cutting edgeFor a music brand that is all about innovative sounds, British record label 4AD's 30th anniversary is one of the quietest... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Toxik Boys said... V/A - Rock Sobterraneo Contra el Quinto Centenario (1991) Tape ...or in english; "subterranean rock against the 5th centenary", or the celebrations of the spanish invasion in our continent. Inc: TODOS TUS MUERTOS, LOS VIOLADORES, A... more info

Nialler9 — Solar Bears made a mixtape for jamie Hodgson’s Radar blog on NME.com. Grab the mp4 here. Tracklisting: Cocteau Twins – Cherry Coloured Funk The Budos Band – Chicago Falcon Solar Bears – Forest Of Fountains Clark – Outside Plume Twin Sister... more info

NME - Radar — Dublin duo Solar Bears are the Planet Mu's latest signing. They make analog synth music that sounds like the singing Triffids from a JG Ballard novel getting amorous with Little Weed from Bill and Ben. In their downtime they hang-out in one of their ... more info

The Vinyl Villain — A few weeks ago, when writing about Cocteau Twins I mentioned how I'd gone along to a gig by The Fall in 1982 that had left me totally bemused. Now I may have given the impression that Mark E Smith and his cohorts were an act that have always left m... more info