Foals - Spanish Sahara

And the award for most improved band of the year goes to... Foals! Okay, that's a bit of an overstatement. It's not like Foals weren't writing good songs before, but this just feels like an incredible step up in terms of depth/fearlessness/overall song writing. Before they felt like a band who had taken the Bloc Party formula of angular post-punky guitar driven songs and built upon it (...I'd give Foals the one up in the lyrics department as well). Not to say that they sounded like Bloc Party, just that they seemed to be making music of a similar ilk with a similar energy to the songs. But 'Spanish Sahara' is a band pushing themselves to a whole new level. Great song with a great video to match it.

Their second album Total Life Forever drops on May 10.

Glasser - Apply

There are some bands I make a point to learn about (ie where they're from, their history, etc). And there are some bands I prefer to just keep a sort of mystery. Glasser is a band I'd prefer to keep a mystery. They sort of remind of Portishead by way of The High Places. They have a sound that seems to unsettle you as much as it does move you. They (well, she) released a great 12" on the wonderful True Panther that's front loaded with great originals and then backed by some killer remixes. Check it.

get it digitally here.

Perfume Genius - Mr. Peterson

About two years ago I was perusing Xiu Xiu's myspace and came across Perfume Genius on their top friends list. I listened to his music and was utterly blown away. I've been waiting for him to have a proper physical release and now it's finally arrived. Chalk this up to another brilliant step by the ever brilliant Transparent records who seem to have an ear to the ground like few other labels out there right now.

Perfume Genius is the music of Mike Hadreas who like Morrissey has the ability to kill you with so few lines. I'm not a big lyrics guy, but some people can just hit you where it counts. Take these lines from Mr. Peterson, a song about a relationship between a high school student and his teacher: "He made me a tape of Joy division/ He told me there was a part of him missing/ When I was sixteen/ he jumped off a building". So simple, but it cuts you right to the bone.

The Mr. Peterson 7" is out now via transparent and can be purchased from Pure Groove.

The Middle East- Blood

Wow. Occasionally I come across a song that just floors me from its opening notes. It's a rare thing, but when it happens I know I've stumbled upon something special. 'Blood' by The Middle East is one of those tracks. I remember seeing Bon Iver play 'Skinny Love' on Jools Holland. I pitied the band that had to follow that performance. If you've never heard this song before, be prepared: it might just be the best song you hear all day.

Kisses - Bermuda

I was telling a friend recently that I loved this song called 'Bermuda' by a band called Kisses. I told him the sound was as if Hall and Oates met Air France. That may be a horrible description, but it does suggest the high quality of this track. I can already tell I'm going to be listening to this song more than any other this summer. Can anyone say "this year's 'Feel It All Around' "? Really, it is that good.

Pre-order the 7" via insound.