TOY have been on my radar for a while now, having broken onto the scene early last year. I immediately fell in love with the track ‘Left Myself Behind‘ all 7:57 of it when it was released and the guys at Heavenly Records have now released it as a limited 12” inch. TOY are as they describe themselves as ‘a Korg Delta led 5 piece’ with similarities being cast to the likes of The Horrors. TOY are embarking on a short residency at the Shacklewell Arms, London which started on 18th January.

Here at the The Indie Crowd we have moved into the promoter market, the flagship night The Indie Crowd Presents launches on Friday 10th Feb at Club 85 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The lineup consists of some amazing new talent from Hertfordshire and also London. The night will be headlined by the amazing Wildlife who over the past year or so have been smashing across London and beyong supporting the likes of The Vaccines, Various Cruelties & Life In Film. With support from the equally amazing The Stags and the first live show of local boys Panic The Vulture this night will be one to remember.

Wildlife

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The Stags

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Panic The Vulture

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The Indie Crowd DJ’s

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Peanut Butter Lovesicle are a band from Brooklyn, New York. They consist of two brothers (Jake D’Arc & Mike D’Arc) and their cousin (Timmy Miller) and they are making quite a stir. The new single ‘Black Eyed Blues‘ their first since their debut EP ‘Heavy Haze, Wildcat Craze‘ is a dirty psyched out rock and roll affair with a bluesy undertone. Having released the single back in August it is now making the rounds again thanks to the release of the brilliant new video.

The video for ‘Black Eyed Blues’ features cameos from Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick and Sports Illustrated model Julie Henderson and was directed by Evil Twin aka acclaimed NY based artist Todd DiCiurcio and filmmaker Taylor Steele. Set in a Brooklyn dive bar the rock n roll feel is not only musical but visual. Peanut Butter Lovesicle are set to release a new EP in March which they will back with a tour here in the UK, so keep yourself updated with their goings on their site.

Soft Metals are an synth pop duo from Portland are dropping some new songs to promote the release of their debut self titled LP in July via Brooklyn imprint Captured Tracks. After the hugely successful ‘Cold World Melts’ EP last year there is a lot of buzz and excitement for the full length release. The duo Ian Hicks and Patricia Hall blend a dark gothic disco vibe with smooth 80′s style synths coupled with a dark broody vocal which intensifies as the tracks go on. The new offering ‘Psychic Driving‘ takes you for a journey with subtle vocals which leaves you with a constant yearn to listen to more.

Soft Metals – Psychic Driving

Atlanta band Gold-Bears are set to release their debut LP this month. Coming on 17th May via Slumberland Records, this will help cement the band into everyones stereos this summer. After the success of their debut 7” on Magic Markers, this album picks up where the 7” left off.  The 11 track album ‘Are You Falling In Love‘ sets off with an infectious strummy-pop ballad called ‘Record Store‘ which effortlessly seams into the second track ‘All Of Those Years‘ which shows their quality in writing a catchy pop song. This album is bursting with energy and will have you bopping all the way through the summer and beyond.

Gold-Bears – Record Store

The debut 7” single from Canadian duo Purity Ring drops on London based Transparent Records this week. The electro gem reminiscent of a future pop dubstep combination that is ‘Ungirthed‘ has been making everyones mouth water since it arrived on the seen a couple of months ago. The beautifully crafted pop melodies coupled with the innocent vocals of lead singer Megan James not only make you go weak at the knees but will inevitably lead you to their songs over and over again. The B Side ‘Lofticries‘ takes a darker edge than ‘Ungirthed‘ but do not let that fool you as the effect is exactly the same. Purity Ring are a duo that will be around for some time to come.

The Great Last are a five piece band hailing from rural Hertfordshire. Having only formed a few months ago, they are set to deliver their debut EP ‘Rio‘. The Great Last combine traditional British Indie sounds with sophisticated songwriting and an undeniable charm rooted in the music. The track ‘One Out Of Three‘ has a prominent bassline reminiscent of The Black Keys twinned with the undeniable vocals of lead singer Matthew Davey adds to a more gothic vibe compared to the title track ‘Rio‘ which with a more guitar leading emphasis could well be compared to the likes of The Strokes.

They are set to play their debut London show on the 12th April Upstairs at the Relentless Garage, Islington. They will be supporting Gaolers Daughter and French band We Were Evergreen.

The Great Last – Rio

The Great Last – One Out Of Three

Danish producer Eim Ick aka Nick Eriksen returns with a a project mixing minimal, chillwave and some filtered house. Taragana Pyjarama is the fifth release on Parisian label Fool House which is an imprint of leading French blog Fluokids. The standout track from the debut release is ‘Girls’ which is a perfect example of melodic chillwave combined with a minimal house beat carrying the track, with a twist of indie pop thrown in. This will be a hit for any parties in the sunshine. ‘Girls’ has been given a video with a nostalgic insight into the changing of the seasons and the memories of what could have been directed by Emmanuel Beaudry. The self titled EP is out now and is available to buy from Fool House which contains an exclusive remix by The Indie Crowd favourites Teengirl Fantasy.

1. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2. Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers

3. Gold Panda – You

4. Robyn – Body Talk

5. Zola Jesus – Stridulum II

6. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

7. Four Tet – Is There Love In You

8. Caribou – Swim

9. Beach House – Teen Dream

10. Toro y Moi – Causers Of This

1. Still Corners – Don’t Fall In Love (Great Pop Supplement)

2. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Round & Round (4AD)

3. Gold Panda – You (Notown)

4. Girl Unit – Wut (Night Slugs)

5. Egyptian Hip Hop – Heavenly (Hit Club)

6. James Blake – CMYK (R&S)

7. Ceo – Come With Me (Modular)

8. Wild Nothing – Summer Holiday (Captured Tracks)

9. Crystal Castles ft Robert Smith – Not In Love (Fiction)

10.  Four Tet – Angel Echoes (Domino)

This selection of tracks is available on a Spotify Playlist but it does not contain Still Corners or Egyptian Hip Hop.

Spotify Link: http://bit.ly/h5w6Rv