I don't appear to have personally uncovered any new bands this month but there is a high supply of great new music from established artists.
1) Tracers by Johnny Marr
Guitar-fest heralding the return of Johnny Marr and his third solo album since striking out under his own name. Actually his real name is John Maher but he adopted his stage moniker to avoid confusion with the drummer of The Buzzcocks.
2) The Lovecats (TC & Benny Remix) by The Cure
The Cure's 1990 remix album Mixed Up was my first introduction to this seminal band and I quickly hovered up their back catalogue (except Faith /Carnage Visors (1981) which I couldn't stand). Twenty eight years later The Cure are preparing a special edition of Mixed Up and this previously unreleased remix of their 1983 pop single is a welcome discovery.
3) Fascination by Confidence Man
Funky Australian electro taken from their debut album Confident Music for Confident People.
4) Surfing In The Sky by The Vaccines
High tempo crashing drums and guitars with soaring melodies and chipper vocals make this an infectious slab of punk pop rock n roll.
5) I Am A Dog by Ball Park Music
This song is on high rotation in our household and it's my wife's new favourite song. The dog likes it as well.
6) Burn It by Sunflower Bean
New York band have released their second album produced by Jacob Portrait of Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Thankfully this record has avoided the weirdness that has spun Unknown Mortal Orchestra into their current unlistenable experimental direction.
7) Into My Arms by Band Of Horses
A cover of the classic 1997 love song by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
8) Bad Got Me Good by Gin Wigmore
This is a timeless breakup anthem which I can't listen to without imagining it's being sung in a 1930's Speakeasy. Maybe it isn't timeless if I think it has a specific time? It's great anyway.
9) Sundials (976-DUB) by Django Django
A dub remix of Django Django - I'm in blissed out heaven!
10) Serotonin by GUM
Keeping things on the calmer side GUM's latest single sounds like Spiritualized playing Screamadelica. Relax, Man.
11) When You're Ready (Karizma Remix) by Winston Surfshirt
Winston Surfshirt's debut album has been given the remix treatment and Sponge Cake Rebaked has been released. This track was remixed by Karizma - an artist on Spotify who had one follower. I'm now number two in the Karizma fanclub so I'll let you know how their career develops!
12) Blaze Away by Morcheeba & Roots Manuva
This collaboration sounds good on paper and happily it doesn't disappoint on wax.
13) Better Than That by James
Manchester survivalists James are back with an upbeat single, top vocals and drum n bass rhythms.
14) Right Here, Right Now (Friction One In The Jungle Remix) by Fatboy Slim
Keeping it Massive - a tasty d&b remix of the Fatboy Slim track that was turns 20 this year!
15) Pablo Picasso by Jack White
Ex White Stripes man covers one of my favourite songs originally recorded by the Modern Lovers in the early 1970s. I prefer the original but this cover is a fun re-interpretation. In Jack White's mind he is Jimi Hendrix.
16) TiedUpRightNow by Parcels
Berlin based Australian group specialising in five piece harmonies and funky disco. Beloved by Daft Punk who co-wrote their previous single.
17) Loaded by Miles Kane
Miles Kane is one half of The Lost Shadow Puppets. The other half is Alex Turner who will release the Arctic Monkeys long awaited sixth album next month.
18) For Now (Confidence Man Remix) by DMA's
The Oasis fixated Sydneysiders have released a second album and this baggy inspired track is remixed by fellow Aussies, Confidence Man.
19) Everything's Gone Green (live) by Peter Hook & The Light
I'm currently reading Peter Hook's book Substance - Inside New Order which is a gripping read about the music, the tour antidotes and the inter-band rivalry. I often wondered why Hooky left New Order but after a few chapters of this book I'm surprised they lasted so long. This is a live recording of New Order's first programmed tracked. It was the forerunner to the dance hits Temptation and Blue Monday.
20) She Taught Me How To Fly by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
This song is so catchy I had to included it so it can be stuck in your heads as well.
