ARGENTINA:
Zonaindie
Catalina
Vin - Caleidoscope
"Catalina
Vin é uma cantora e compositora argentino-americana que começou a estudar música aos 7 anos de idade.
Genuine é seu primeiro álbum, no qual suas raízes refletem em canções indie-pop oitentistas, tanto em inglês como em espanhol, com singelos arranjos de piano e cordas. "Caleidoscope" é uma das nossas canções favoritas no álbum."
AUSTRÁLIA:
Who The Bloody Hell Are
They?
Seekae
- Void
"Desde que a FBi Radio começou suas transmissões há cinco anos a cena musical independente de Sydney floresceu com a energia e apoio fornecido pela rádio. Um grande número de jovens músicos agora têm uma alternativa à rádio Triple J e isso encorajou compositores mais experimentais a investir em sons distintos, sabendo que serão tocados na rádio e ouvidos pelo público. Seekae é um claro exemplo de banda da nova cena de eletrônica experimental de Sydney. Com seus vocais abstratos e atmosfera remetendo a sonhos conquistaram seu espaço como líder do som da cidade em 2010."
BRASIL: Meio
Desligado
Curumin
- Vem
Menina
Curumin é um dos nomes mais conhecidos da cena independente do país e tem se apresentado por vários festivais focados na música alternativa e independente. Além de seu trabalho solo, toca com artistas como Otto, Céu e Guizado. "Vem Menina" é um samba extraído de seu primeiro álbum, Achados e
Perdidos, de 2003. Seu segundo e mais recente CD, Japan Pop Show, foi lançado em 2008 e comprova seu talento na mistura de soul, funk, samba, rock
e eletrônica.
CANADÁ:
I(Heart)Music
Leif
Vollebekk - Quebec
"Some
people hear Patrick Watson in Leif Vollebekk's vocals. Others have
compared his music to that of Owen Pallett/Final Fantasy. I'm not sure
about the comparisons, but I know this: Vollebekk is an incredibly
gifted performer and artist, and when his debut album, Inland, gets
re-released in a few weeks on hot new Toronto label Nevado Records, all
of Canada is going to find out just how talented he is."
CHILE:
Super 45
De
Janeiros - Montreal
"Milton
Mahan e Pablo Munoz são De Janeiros, um dos mais interessantes projetos da cena experimental chilena. Na mesma linha de bandas como Health or Fuck Buttons - that kind of plastic and colorful noise -
their sound goes beyond by adding a more playful and "tropical" feeling
to it. Chilean net-label Michita Rex have made their sophomore album
Plateado available to downloaded for free
here."
CHINA:
Wooozy
PK14
- Cuo
Guo Le
"PK14 é a melhor banda pós-punk da China. Formada em 1997, já lançaram cinco álbuns. Atualmente preparam um novo CD, para ser lançado este ano, e tocarão no festival
SXSW em março."
CINGAPURA:
I'm Waking Up
To...
Sherene's
Closet - Stereo
Loud
"Have we got a classic for you this
month! Though now defunct, Sherene's Closet is still very much
celebrated in the Singaporean music scene. You might say it all started
with this demo recorded during the now legendary Green Room Sessions,
and I hear it's a bit rarer than the LP version. This should be
considered one of the best local songs ever recorded, owing to Gerald
Stahlman's stellar vocal delivery and the raw energy of the rest of the
band."
CORÉIA DO SUL:
Indieful
ROK
Apollo
18 - Warm
"Last
year Apollo 18 established themselves as one of the very best rock acts
of Korea. Starting with a marvellous post-rock-oriented EP, an amazing
album followed in which they experimented with hardcore, shoegaze and
psychedelic elements. An international version of the first EP has just
been released and before the end of the month it'll be followed by
instrumental rock pieces of a more playful kind. Re-recorded to
magically sound even better than before, Warm is a stunningly beautiful
post-rock piece of epic proportions best played as loud as possible."
DINAMARCA:
All
Scandinavian
Cours
Lapin - Cache
Cache
"Cours Lapin is what happens when four
movie score composers (Louise Alenius, Asger Baden, Peder and Jonas
Struck) get together to do pop. Their name is French (translated as
"bunny run"), their lyrics are in French (of course) and the French
chanson is at the root of their mellow, melancholic pop that makes me
think of black and white movies (and yes, they're French)."
ESCÓCIA:
The Pop
Cop
Galleries
- Underground
Overground
"Galleries have only been in
existence for a matter of months, yet the quality of the songs on their
MySpace page can't help but mark them out as a band whose reach is sure
to extend much wider than the blogosphere. The Glasgow group is made up
of three students and, interestingly, BBC political reporter Andrew
Black on drums. The lush sounds of Underground Overground beautifully
hints at their The National and Jimmy Eat World influences and is taken
from Galleries' forthcoming debut EP. It's a MAP exclusive download so
feel privileged that you're getting to own it first."
ESPANHA:
Oscuro
Magazine
2 Minuts
d'Odi - Cuidad
De Dios
"2 Minuts d'Odi ("2 Minutes Of
Hate") are part of the "Brave Coast Punk-Rockers" movement which
extends throughout the Costa Brava. Cuidad De Dios ("City Of God") is a
song against religion which speaks of the Palestinian problem and the
bad influences that hatred and violence can have on a kid growing
thirst for revenge."
ESTADOS UNIDOS:
I Guess I'm
Floating
Vikesh
Kapoor - Mack
The Knife
"Vikesh Kapoor is an up-and-coming
acoustic artist, currently based near Boston, who writes ballads which
draw their strength from storytelling-type lyricism. After making
appearances in Billboard and The Boston Globe, Kapoor is releasing his
Newspress Scare 7" featuring this great rendition of the Kurt
Weill-composed Mack The Knife."
ESTÔNIA:
Popop
UNCANDY
- Lovecool
"UNCANDY
(and yes, it's important to write it in capital letters) is
multi-talented Maria Juur from Tallinn. Her home recordings have
already created quite a buzz in the Estonian indie scene and rumour has
it we won't have to wait long for a debut album. She also records under
the name
Maria
Minerva. Lovecool is featured on new Estonian indie
compilation album, Kohalik Ja Kohatu 3."
FINLÂNDIA:
Glue
Vishnudata
- Silver
Falls feat. Suho Superstar (radio edit)
"Established
in 2003, Vishnudata is a project by electronic dance music guru Ville
Lankinen which explores the artist's techno and house influences.
Silver Falls is the closing track of his self-titled sophomore album
and progressively it introduces the listener into a shiny ethereal
atmosphere and psychedelic soundscape. This radio edit version, which
features Suho Superstar on vocals, is included in a recently released
EP along with three more remixes."
FRANÇA:
ZikNation
Ibrahim
Maalouf - Souma
Hia
"Born in Lebanon, Ibrahim Maalouf grew
up in Paris and began studying the trumped at the age of seven. Ten
years later he met Maurice André, who advised him to give up his
mathematics studies to dedicate himself to music. Maalouf also had the
opportunity to record a song with French singer Matthieu Chedid and
this collaboration can be found in the very good Diachronism album. The
track Souma Hia carries a great deal of energy."
GRÉCIA:
Mouxlaloulouda
Exposed
By Observers -
In
My Skin
"Exposed By Observers aim to rape
the listeners' ears, yet are less faithfully wed to punk and more
interested in dance-derived rhythms, deploying more tightly coiled
riffs and distinctive beats than most screamo bands. Secondhand Youth
EP, which was given away for free on their website, sounds like
everything they'd ever heard, spewed out and rewired for a different
type of moshpit etiquette, a brand new teenage riot. They frantically
blend cheap samples, beatbox rhythms, clicks, bleeps, fringes, beeps
and guitars with manic electro buzz and raw, squawking vocals.
Unsurprisingly, there's also a noticeable undercurrent of emo here too,
but actually feels charged and compelling in the momentary tantrums of
In My Skin. Listen loud!"
HOLANDA:
Amsterdam Event
Guide
The
Wooden Constructions -
No
No (Hip Hop)
"Happy New Year from the
Netherlands crew. We'll kickstart 2010 with one of the most
talked-about Amsterdam acts, The Wooden Constructions. Their tribal
disco with punk-infused lyrics (which harness the confidence of Mark E.
Smith) sit alongside their own blend of twangy guitars and driving
rhythms. Their unique musical stylings and great live shows have got
the city rather excited about what 2010 might offer for this band and
the Amsterdam scene itself. Watch this space."
ÍNDIA:
Indiecision
Seven
Degrees - Shadows
In The Dark
"Seven Degrees is a boy-girl
punk duo from New Delhi. This irreverent twosome produce angular,
infectious punk that's largely bare-boned yet crashy enough to cause a
decent racket. Shadows In The Dark is part of a free compilation album
called Stupid Stupid Stupid available on Indiecision. The song is a
spiralling, old-school punk tribute that leaves you with the distinct
feeling of wanting to get up and not be lazy anymore."
INDONÉSIA:
Deathrockstar
Seringai
- Mengadili
Persepsi (Bermain Tuhan)
"Seringai are one
of the finest Indonesian metal bands, often described as a blend of
Motorhead and Black Sabbath. Their brilliant lyrics are a social
critique of religious extremism, policies, domestic violence and
sometimes just about stupid people."
INGLATERRA:
The Daily
Growl
Thomas
Western - Your
Front Door
"Last month I picked an Italian
musician based in England for MAP - this time it's the turn of an
Englishman currently living in Scotland. Thomas Western's bluesy/folky
approach to songwriting is reminiscent of Elliott Smith or Bob Dylan,
while his exquisite vocal range is pitched halfway between Tim and Jeff
Buckley. Western moved from Derbyshire to Edinburgh last year to
complete his university studies and Your Front Door is his masterpiece."
IRLANDA:
Nialler9
I Am The
Cosmos - Remembering
You
"Remembering You is a beautiful slice of
broody 80s-inspired electronica buttressed on creaking synth stabs and
high-pitched melodies. Its creator, Ross Turner, is known for his work
behind the drum kit with various Irish bands but stepping out on his
own here as I Am The Cosmos, he shows us what he can do in sole
producer mode."
ISLÂNDIA:
I Love
Icelandic Music
Bloodgroup
- My
Arms
"Bloodgroup was formed in 2006 by
Halez, Lilja, Raggi and Janus during some boring winter days on the
east coast of Iceland and they make catchy electronic dance-pop. Debut
album Sticky Situation was released on the band's own label, Sild Ehf,
and got excellent reviews. Its follow-up, Dry Land, was released on the
Record Records label last month. My Arms is their latest single."
ITÁLIA:
Polaroid
Port-Royal
- The
Photoshopped Prince
"There was a blizzard
here last week and I found myself listening again to this third album
by Port-Royal. It was the perfect soundtrack. Shoegaze, IDM, electro
and ambient influences blend together to build an epic soundscape. The
Genoa-based quartet used to be on the renowned Resonant label and have
worked with Ulrich Schnauss and made remixes for Ladytron and Felix Da
Housecat. Now they're back with a throbbing, intense, unpredictable,
brimful of life new record."
JAPÃO:
JPOP
Lover
Green
Blossoms - Hana
Akari
"Green Blossoms are folky duo Aiko
Koga and Anthony Guerra. Aiko sings and plays ukulele, Anthony plays
the other instruments. They released their second album, Whiskey
Leaves, on US-based Digitalis Recordings last summer. Hana Akari is
beautiful, softly-intoned songwriting and its ghostly incantations will
stick in the back of your mind."
MÉXICO:
Red Bull
PanameriKa
The Hong Kong Blood
Opera - Cansei
De Ser Gangsta
"The Mexican alternative
scene recently witnessed the rise of a synthetic yet raw punk
generation raiding the underground. A frenetic quintet from desertic
Hermosillo stood out - The Hong Kong Blood Opera. A bloody opera? More
like straight hardcore screaming evil and rough beats. The HKBO got
sweaty teenagers shaking their guts and also blew the critics away when
they won a nationwide competition sponsored by a monopolic corporation
a few years ago. Instead of vanishing like every band from those
schemes usually does, they reappeared with a remarkable album titled
Not For The Faint Of Heart. The record breaks the rock-band-contest
cliché and at the same time mocks the whole mediatic circus and abusive
music industry models with killer singles like Cansei De Ser Gangsta."
NORUEGA:
Eardrums
Sacred
Harp - Next
Time Too
"Sacred Harp are a trio from Oslo
who recently released their beautiful self-titled debut EP on the small
Norwegian label The Perfect Hoax. Their music is quite difficult to
describe because it's so in the middle of everything. It's dark, but
there's also a lot of light and colour in there. It's experimental, but
it's also full of pop structures and lovely melodies. It's sacral and
calm, other times almost brutal. It's music you just have to listen to.
The members are from Norway, Finland and Holland, so they really fit
the spirit of the Music Alliance Pact."
NOVA ZELÂNDIA:
Counting The
Beat
The Mint
Chicks - Crush
"For
three decades, Chris Knox has made some of New Zealand's most exciting
music - from the punk of The Enemy, Toy Love, virtually inventing the
country's indie music scene with four-track recordings of his band Tall
Dwarfs and writing one of the nation's most popular songs. Knox
suffered a debilitating stroke last year and to aid his recovery many
who have been influenced by him have contributed to an album of covers
called Stroke. The roll call includes Jay Reatard, Stephen Merrit, Will
Oldham, Lou Barlow and more. Crush, from The Tall Dwarfs' 1984 EP Slug
Bucket Hairy Breath Monster, is performed by The Mint Chicks, one of
New Zealand's most exciting bands."
PERU:
SoTB
La
Mente - La
Problema
"In its wonderful fusion of
tropical rhythms, reggae and psychedelic electronic models, La Mente
has uncovered an inexhaustible source of energy and dynamism which
beckons you onto the dancefloor. La Problema is a feast of total
madness and one of the strongest songs from La Mente's new album, Para
Los Muertos Y Los Vivientes."
PORTUGAL:
Posso Ouvir
Um Disco?
Malcontent
- Aggressive
"Malcontent
are a quartet from Oporto led by Sérgio Costa. When you listen to them
you know their influences (The Jesus And Mary Chain, Black Rebel
Motorcycle Club, Sonic Youth, Joy Division, Nine Inch Nails) and they
don't deny them. They started playing in 2007 and released several
promo singles. Finally, they have their first full LP out, called Love
The Gun, which the band self-released."
ROMÊNIA:
Babylon
Noise
Aievea
- Joy
Of Life
"Vlaicu Golcea and Electric Brother
are two incredibly talented multi-instrument players. They combine
conventional music with electronic beats and the creative rhythms of
Tavi Scurtu, the drummer who juggles with sound. To an already great
recipe, we add Marta Hristea's incredible voice for the perfect nu-jazz
experience. After a six-year pause, they've just released their second
album, Cinema, which can be fully downloaded
here."
SUÉCIA:
Swedesplease
Jenny
Björkqvist -
To
Heal Your Wounds
"To Heal Your Wounds by
Jenny Björkqvist is a song that successfully straddles the worlds of
indie and folk - it would be as comfortable hanging out with Nick Drake
or Jose Gonzalez as it would be spending time with Dylan or Guthrie.
Friend and fellow neo-folkie Tim Schmidt contributes vocals on this
track."
VENEZUELA:
Barquisimento
El
Pacto - Hyperdance
En La Curva De San Pablo
"El Pacto are music
legends in the city of Barquisimeto. Since 1992, they have been devoted
to merging rock, pop, jazz, ska and folk music in a sound so original
and vanguardist, they have even influenced famous national bands like
Amigos Invisibles. Their shows ususally include circus-like
performances with actors and acrobats. Hyperdance En La Curva De San
Pablo is taken from the album of the same name."
ÁFRICA DO SUL: 
ALEMANHA: 
