Sound Supp.ly Drop 5

I haven't posted much here for a while. One of the last times was celebrating the last, great, drop from Sound Supp.ly, Drop 4. Well, it seems that two months have passed, and another drop has around 8 days until it is removed once again. If you are as yet unaware of what happens here, basically the deal is amazing. 10 albums, for $15 (£9.50) which you can get from here. What is even better about this latest drop is that it features incredible new albums from Circa Survive, Pswingset and John Frusciante. Yes, he is the one from Red Hot Chilli Peppers. This is a high quality set of releases, with some wonderful new acts for us all to discover. And so you should. Now.

If you need more incentive to do so, watch this:

The Good The Bad "034"

The Good The Bad were one of my favourite musical discoveries of last year. I was pleasantly surprised earlier on today to receive news from their PR that they have returned with a new album. It doesn't seem five minutes since the last one to be honest, but who am I to quibble. This is one of the "funnest" bands in Europe. No doubt. If you want the evidence of the continued growth and greatness of these instrumental genii, watch the video for new single "034" below.

'034' (The Film) by The Good The Bad from The Good The Bad on Vimeo.

Sound Supp.ly Drop 4

It's that time again, Sound Supp.ly is back. This time with drop four. Included this time are brilliant albums from Civil Twilight, Kevin Devine, Conduits, Mansions and LA Dispute, amongst a whole heap of others. As I write this, there are six and a half days left to download these five albums, and five more, for only $15 (that's just under £9.50). This year I've found Sound Supp.ly to be the best way to discover new music in affordable, legal way, in which artists get properly paid for their work. Definitely worth supporting, whether you do it bi-monthly like I do, or pay $75 for an annual subscription.

3 Car Pile Up - Find Love

I'll write more about this later, but for now, just download the new EP from 3 Car Pile Up, a recently reformed 90s alternative band, featuring Josh Stump, a friend of mine. Josh is one of the funniest and insightful people I know. His band is brilliant.

Moro - Lay Down Your Ghosts EP

I can't remember where I first came across Moro - I think it might have been a tweet from Tim Hughes or something equally random. Whichever it was I'm glad I followed a link to Soundcloud and basked in the glory of the title track of this EP. Lay Down Your Ghosts is immense, soulful, dirty and heavy, but perfectly formed as the best pop song you've heard all year. You will love it. Your mum'll love it. Your dog'll love it.

This EP is the follow up to an album from last year, Slow River, which I really need to hear. All the rhetoric is that this new EP is a change of gear, a new direction. Motorcade, the second song, features some chiming U2-esque guitars, and a vocal performance with incredible energy and passion from Steve Hughes. Hunting For Gold is driven by a rock solid rhythm section and another soaring chorus.

There's so much invention here. Partly, I suspect, provided by the production team of Mo Hausler (U2, Lily Allen) and Adrian Hall (Sinead O'Connor, Alicia Keys) but also drawn from the musicality and skill of the band themselves. This EP provides a snapshot of a band on a major growth spurt. Probably, they are already in a place where domination of airwaves/live settings should be within their grasp, but woe-betide other indie bands if Moro actually have the temerity to grow even further over the coming months. We'll be powerless to resist.

This is most clearly seen on this wonderful taster EP's closer "Don't Need Your Love", a song which threatens to explode throughout and never does, as Hughes whispers and hollers over a bed of beautiful atmospherics.

Simply put, this is great, and I can't wait to hear more.