Wampire

The cover photo alone was enough to make me want to check out the stylings of Portland's warped pop act Wampire.  The band's debut LP "Curiosity" is due in May, but single "The Hearse" will be available as a 7" from Polyvinyl on March 5th.  In the meantime, listen below.

Jack Robert Hardman

Starting with some echoed Appalachian-choir-style vocals (a la early My Morning Jacket or Fleet Foxes) and combining with an easy, airy, soft piano and string section, England's Jack Robert Hardman captures the feel of a winter's evening with "Plymouth," taken from his eponymous debut album.  Listen below and download for free here.  For the moment, the album is only available digitally from itunes.

The Deadly Spawn

Aside from an excellent array of film posters and prints, the folks over at Mondo Tees have been putting out an awesome string of vinyl soundtrack releases over the last year and a half (see "Maniac" and "The Beyond"), and the new release of the monster movie madness that is 1983's "The Deadly Spawn" is no different.  The packaging is beautiful and the remastering of Michael Perilstein's original score is fantastic.  Unfortunately, the record is already sold out, but if you live in the Austin area, there are probably still copies available at Waterloo or End of an Ear.  Listen to "End Theme" below.

Silent Diane and Feathers at Mohawk (Free Week)

Not wanting to miss all of Free Week here in Austin, we finally made it out to catch a night of thumping beats, swelling synths, and soothing female vocals, checking out local acts Feathers and Silent Diane.  Here's a couple of pics and tracks.

Feathers

Silent Diane

Factory Floor

UK dance trio Factory Floor continue their beat making madness, culling from house music and post punk to get the booties shaking and the heart blasting.  New single "Fall Back" is no exception.  Listen below and get it next week from DFA.

Autre Ne Veut

Combining elements of indie synth-pop and R&B Kenyan born American Ex-Pat Arthur Ashin's Autre Ne Veut project twists and turns on its own unique soundscape.  Soulful explorations into innerspace.  Sophomore effort "Anxiety" will be out via Mexican Summer/Software in February.  In the meantime, jam to "Counting" below.

Cold Name

I can't find much information on darkwave techno act Cold Name, but their music weasels its way into your cranium like some unstoppable brain roach, high on all the subdued beats, textures, and mumblings.  It's like taking heroin at My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult concert.  Listen to "Intent to Kill" below, and be on the lookout for the group's debut cassette on Living Tapes.

Sally Shapiro

Here's a stellar new roller disco jam from Sally Shapiro and Electric Youth called "Starman" (pun definitely intended).  Listen below, close your eyes, and dance...you know you want to.  Ms. Shapiro's new album "Somewhere Else" is due in February from Paper Bag.

Javelin

Brooklyn electro-weirdos (creators of "Lindsay Brohan," one of our favorite songs of the last 5 years) Javelin are back in March with new album "Hi Beams."  Listen to "Nnormal" below and download (it will cost you an email address).  Get the album from Luaka Bop.

Rachel Zeffira

Former opera singer Rachel Zeffira has forayed into the indie pop world, creating a great mix of 60's throwback and subtly haunting pop rock jams.  Instantly hooky.  Listen to "Here On In" below and look for "The Deserters" LP in March from Paper Bag.