Polar Bear - Held On The Tips Of Fingers

(Babel, 2005 - Mercury Music Prize nominated)

It was a big surprise for me when I came across British jazz quartet Polar Bear. 'Cause I don't expect something so catchy, fresh, joyfull and with a punkish energy :))

Members of group originate from Aberdeen, Scotland are drummer and leader Seb Rochford who wrote all the tunes, electronica artist Leafcutter John, bassist Tom Herbert and finally two tenor saxmen Mark Lockheart and Pete Wareham. If I were to pick a two favourite tracks it would be Beartown with marvellous leading twin saxes conversation and Fluffy for great breakbeat drums, noirish electronic soundscapes with big tension inside.

Polar Bear playing a clever post-jazz which you can only love or hate. Nothing else. I love it. So what's your choise? ;)

Free mp3
> Beartown mp3
> Fluffy (I Want You) mp3
> Held on the Tips of Fingers mp3

MySpace > http://www.myspace.com/sebastianrochford

Support artist and buy here.

Man Man - Engrish Bwudd + Young Einstein on the Beach (live)

This video totally blows my mind! I wanna see Man Man live!

loydd 2006/10/09: I'm so sorry but this awsome video is removed from YouTube: "This video has been removed due to terms of use violation."

DeVotchKa - How It Ends

(Ace Fu Records, 2004)

DeVotchKa (English transcription for девочка in Russian) is word means "young girl" and was used in Burgess's novel A Clockwork Orange.

The quartet based in Denver, Colorado (1997) and uses a lot of instruments such as theremin, guitars, piano, trumpet, violin, accordion, sousaphone and upright bass in their amazing music, which is full of crazy mariachi, balkan and east-european gypsy-rock influences as I like it :o) I had last similar outstanding experience with Beirut - Gulag Orchestar this year.

Btw. Ace Fu Records is really interesting label with many another great bands ... Tunng, Pinback, The Dears etc.

Free mp3 > Venus in Furs (from new Curse Your Little Heart EP)
MySpace > http://www.myspace.com/devotchkamusic
Support artist and buy here.

Man Man - Six Demon Bag

(Ace Fu Records, 2006)

When I first heard this great Philadelphia group I was impressed.
Man Man's music universe is mainly raucous voice of Honus Honus, clanging percussion, sonorous saxophone-trumpet-oboe lines and funny rollicking back vocals. All toghether is really weird experimental indie sound reminiscents you Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart maybe. Following short description from allmusic.com set laughing me: klezmer-influenced soundtrack to your scariest nightmare about killer clowns. ;o))

Best songs: Ice Dogs, Black Mission Goggles

I really enjoy Six Demon Bags very much. So I highly recommend this very unique release!

MySpace > http://www.myspace.com/wearemanman
Free video (Quicktime) > 10 Lb. Moustache
Free mp3 > 10 Lb. Moustache / Black Mission Goggles / Van Helsing Boombox
Support artist and buy here

The Happy Planets

The Happy Planets is the solo project of 19 year old songwriter and producer Eric Rieper. He looks like a younger Beck but his music is a little different, I'd say more introvert indie pop music combines accustic guitar sound with analog landscapes. Especially at the last release.

His first release Miles From Home (2004) and the recent Life During and After (2006, collection of B-sides) can be downloaded from his website www.thehappyplanets.com in full length. Life During and After streamable version at last.fm.

MySpace > http://www.myspace.com/thehappyplanets

Welcome! Come and feel The Quaint Space ;-)

The Quaint Space blog will be full of music which is definitely worth a listen.
Don't expect totally fresh stuff here but only fresh for me ...
So sit down comfortably, keep your mind open and enjoy a following bunch of small gems.

loydd