So that was the year that was 2011, and 2012 is just round the corner.
But before we leave the current year, I have a few songs that got into the Kooba submissions inbox; but with 2012 only hours away, didn’t quite make it onto our 2011 play lists.
So enjoy what the final gasps of 2011 had to offer with these lovely ditties.
Freddy Sans – ObE:
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Freddy Sans comes from the sunny climes Dallas, Texas; but her track ObE is an atmospheric, brooding electronica and soul mix that seems ideal for the long evenings and nights of winter.
Dead Social Club – Stockholm:
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Dead Social Club are a south London band that have released quite a few tunes in 2011. With their track Stockholm, they give a perfect pop example of achieving lushness with synths and blending that with punching guitars.
Hero & Leander – One Mississippi Two:
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Yozwers, how did Kooba Radio miss this? Those of you who can see through the smoke, mirrors and looking glass of Kooba Radio will know that we get shows and blogs out in between the Muggle world responsibilities of vegetable delivery logistics, public sector photocopying and golf holiday website coding. Anyway… Hero and Leander’s EP came out all the way back in August, but it deserves plenty of repeat listens as it’s compendium of just the sort of ear tickling pop that really ticks my boxes.
The Winterhours – Waves:
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It is the winter season, so when better to feature the Winchester band The Winterhours. They have the perfect blend of stadium rock of featuring an intimacy and vulnerability of a dark Teenage Fanclub or Big Star and the thrumming guitar power to to fill up speakers and stadiums alike.
The Vorticists – Lush:
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Remember the band Ooberman featured my Lost Classic slot earlier in the year? Well if you’re up for more prog influenced indie pop with a frontman pushing the fragility of his vocals to the limits, intimate folk stylings as a base and prog synths as rich detailing, then you’ll be in for a treat with the Vorticists.
Red Letters – It Only Takes One :
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They describe themselves as “verse, chorus, verse, chorus” and on the face of it, it is; but the secret (if it is one) is that do it really rather well. Strong British guitar pop at it’s best.
Oxo Foxo – Snow Days :
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Just from the title, I found it hard to imagine how this song could work in the context of a decidedly and typically British unsnowy season. But ah… therein lies the beautiful contrast of what is outside the window and what the song actually sounds like. And wow, what an absolute beauty of multi-layered pop song chock full of good will and heart warming sentiment…
And on that note, have a great 2012!