The Indie Kids Are Making A Comeback

Although recent times has seen a reversion in tastes from frenetic indie pop to Deep South drenched folk (The National, Band of Horses, Bon Iver, Iron & Wine) , the times are changing again, and three bands that are pioneering a new era of hyper indie-isms are Friendly Fires, Late of the Pier, and Vampire Weekend.

I am really enjoying Friendly Fire's eponymous debut at the moment. As far as dance-funk-jazz-rock fusions go, they really have the market cornered. It's an album of unbelievable pop sensibilities considering they have garnered very little commercial success (just great reviews). Personally, I find it great to listen to an album that seems to be a complete entity by itself, a real piece of work that you can sense the guys put their hearts into. Oh and the lead singer (in the middle) looks like the Bish, for those that are onto it...

Download: Friendly Fires - Jump In The Pool


Download: Friendly Fires - White Diamonds

Just as interesting but with less of a complete album to offer us are Late of the Pier, who's particularly hyper brand of odd-sock pop has been adorning NME's pages of late. That is no great accolade, but shows the high esteem in which they are held amongst the industry.
Personally, the only problem I have with the album that it is just too hyper... it sounds like the poorly-planned product of children suffering from ADD. Why do they try to play three different songs in one track? It's beyond me... But when they get the balance between genius post-punk riffery and freneticism right on songs like "Heartbeat" and "Focker", the hype is completely justified & 2008's pop zeitgeist emerges.


Download: Late of the Pier - Heartbeat

Download: Late of the Pier - Focker

Download: Late of the Pier - Focker (Phrenzy Remix)

When people reminisce about what happened musically in 2008, the emergence of Vampire Weekend as leaders in the commercial indie movement will remain one of the biggest talking points of the year.
Given such a fantastically successful year then, it's great to see New York's finest not resting on their laurels but producing new music all the time... And so they gave us "Ottoman"... Fundamentally, it's the more mature ,older brother of their debut, but all the summer-esq playfulness that made 2008 fall in love with them remains.

Download: Vampire Weekend - Ottoman