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Albums of the Year 2012

If it really is the end of the world tomorrow, at least I will have listened to and loved this lot. Please see below for my albums of the year.

1) Grimes - Visions

2) Efterklang - Piramida

3) THEEsatisfaction - awE naturalE

4) Halls - Ark

5) Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

6) La Sera - Sees the Light

7) Grizzly Bear - Shields

8) Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse

9) Django Django - Django Django

10) Lone - Galaxy Garden

By some twist of fate, The Art of Stuffing is about to celebrate its second birthday. I'd like to thank all those to stumbled upon this site by mistake and lingered a while to listen to the bands and artists featured.

Warm wishes for Christmas and 2013,

Camilla x

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Menace Beach//Dream Out ep

Grunge revivalists Menace Beach caught my ear a while ago, but, as usual I was busy doing nothing and forgot to share my affection. Menace Beach’s debut ep is filled with obnoxious vocals and fuzzy riffs.  It’s possible “Dream Out” was recorded on a sweaty hangover, where the band felt inspired, anxious and pleasantly surprised by the results of the session.

 Menace Beach are made up of members of Sky Larkin You Animals and Hookworms. The four piece stay true to all things scuzzy and early nineties whilst making fun psychedelic pop tunes. “Dream Out” will be released on cassette next month. Here’s to hoping the Leeds lot will make the trip down the M1 for some gigs.

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Girls Names//The New Life

Belfast’s Girls Names have returned to form with their new single “The New Life”, released by Full Time Hobby. The track is seven minutes of downtrodden pop, filled with vacant vocals, a surging bass line and fractious guitar parts. “The New Life” would sound fantastic at a gloomy indie disco, inspiring impressive if self-conscious moves from the punters.

The band are set to release their Echo And The Bunnymen inspired new album next month. Girls Names are playing at Birthdays with Weird Dreams on 26th October.

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Fryars//Love So Cold

 London’s Fryars lays the melancholic electro on thick with his new track “Love So Cold”. He laments on a night spent rattling around the city on his lonesome and being disturbed by the “bleakest of sights”. One can only assume he is referring to KFC Brixton at 3 am. “Love So Cold” is a ghostly and subdued jam, best enjoyed when you’re feeling painfully introspective. Fryars is rumoured to be releasing an album soon, watch this space.

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King Krule//Rock Bottom

After a long pause, Archy Marshall who performs under the Nintendo inspired moniker King Krule, has returned with “Rock Bottom”. King Krule made waves with last year’ self-titled ep, shaming those who foolishly assumed he was just another Brit School brat.

“Rock Bottom”, starts as a bluesy ballad, with earnest vocals and soft chords and quickly becomes something more frantic. You can almost picture King Krule sneering as he half sung, half spat his lyrics over a 90’s jungle sounding drum beat.

I share Marshall’s adoration for Mike Skinner and was warmed by his decision to bring “Rock Bottom” to a close with lines from “Empty Cans”.  I sincerely hope the young Londoner is heading back to the studio, and this single is just the beginning.

 “Rock Bottom” will be released by Rinse on 25 September.

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Dinosaur Jr.//I Bet on Sky

Scuzzy riff exponents Dinosaur Jr. announced they will release a new album entitled “I Bet on Sky” via PIAS on 17 September 2012. “I Bet on Sky” is the trio’s third release after their decision to reform in 2005. If that wasn’t exciting enough, Dinosaur Jr. have announced a string of North American tour dates. We can only assume European ones will follow in due course.

 Please see below for the track list:

1. Don't Pretend You Didn't Know

2. Watch The Corners

3. Almost Fare

4. Stick A Toe In

5. Rude

6. I Know It Oh So Well

7. Pierce The Morning Rain

8. What Was That

9. Recognition

10. See It On Your Side

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Punkero Sonidero//Ondatrópica

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with London’s legendary Soundway Records. The label is committed to sharing the best obscure often forgotten “tropical and Afro sounds”. I’ve had their “Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-Rock & Fuzz Funk in 1970s Nigeria” compilation album on repeat since happening upon it on one of my Spotify binges. I’m sure you’ve all been there, suddenly hours have slipped by and you’re overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sounds, genres and artists to be explored and enjoyed.

Soundway’s latest offering comes from Colombian band Ondatrópica, made up of, amongst others Frente Cumbiero’s Mario Galeano and Will ‘Quantic’ Holland. Ondatrópica celebrates Colombia’s musical past and present with well known musicians from the country’s younger and older generation playing in the band.

“Punkero Sonidero” is an exciting and uplifting track, with buzzing synths, hypnotic guitar solos and an accordion thrown in. “Punkero Sonidero” is taken from the band’s new 7” under the same name, released by Soundway on 25 June. If you like what you hear, get a ticket to see Ondatrópica live at the Hackney Empire on 16 July. 

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We Work Night//Bad Habits

Thank godness the internet in our house came back to life so I could hear “Bad Habits”, whilst perusing  the pages of Abeano.  We Work Night don’t waste time hyping themselves on soundcloud, describing themselves as “2 Producers. One Night, LDN”.

A  wise DJ will spin this when sweat is dripping from the ceiling, punters are feeling euphoric and the night is still young. I defy you to overcome the urge to get down low after you hear the bass on this one.  

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Doldrums//Jump Up

The Canadian producer Doldrums (Airick Woodhead) has got bloggers all hot under the collar with his new single “Jump Up”, taken from his forthcoming ep “Eygpt”.

“Jump Up” is made up of spliced guitar chords, trippy vocals and off beat drumming. It puts me in mind of the weird pop on Beck’s “Odelay” album. His latest offering will be available on 4 June via Sotterain Transmissions. 

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Seams//Potential

Big congratulations to the Berlin based producer Seams who has just signed to Full Time Hobby. The label will release his new ep in the next few months. He offers us a free taster of things to come with “Potential” which you can download from soundcloud.

Seams' sound has evolved since 2010’s introspective and thoughtful “Nightcycles” ep.  “Potential” has big beats, reassuring repetition and synths, making for an energetic piece of electronic music.  It appears Seams has taken some inspiration from the sights and sounds in Berlin's infamous clubs.

You can catch Seams at hipster hole The Shackwell Arms with support from Becoming Real and Enjoyed tomorrow or The Great Escape at the weekend. 

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Meek Mill//Amen ft. Drake and Jeremih

Phillidephia’s Meek Mill dropped his new mixtape "Dreamchasers 2" on Monday. “Dreamchasers 2” is bursting with bravado and high profile collaborations with amongst others, Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar.

On ‘Amen’ Meek Mill lists the exciting ways he spends his days. All the partying, sipping on expensive booze and  being a big hit with all the “bad bitches in the building” sounds like hard graft. The song’s gospel feel is reminiscent of Kanye West before his ego got the better of him. Meek Mill is joined by Jeremih and the lovely Drizzy, for a track will most probably be played to get parties started everywhere. 

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Only Real//Cadillac Girl

  I had every intention of writing about Only Real when I happened up his track via much better blogs last month. Unfortunately, emigrating from Denmark Hill to Camberwell, getting a job and pretending to train for a charity run got in the way.

 West London boy Niall Galvin is a bedroom musician, skater and prolific cereal eater. The twenty-one year old makes lazy pop, inspired by weed, hip hop and artists like Jamie T circa “Panic Prevention”.

“Cadillac Girl” swirls around with a hazy and resonant riff and half sung, half spat lyrics about a lady who is so over it. Currently unsigned, I suspected record labels are falling over themselves for a meeting with the young rapscallion. 

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The Very Best//Yoshua Alikuti

I was pretty ecstatic to hear The Very Best have a new album on the way. ‘MTMTMK’ is out on 17 July via Moshi Moshi.  After the success of ‘Warm Heart of Africa’, Esau Mwamwaya and Johan Hugo (of Radioclit) felt they should immerse themselves in the process of writing, recording and producing in order to ensure they delivered the goods. ‘MTMTMK’ was recorded in Sweden, Malawi and New York and  involved a number of high profile collaborations, including one with Amandou & Mariam.

‘Yoshua Alikuti’ was directed by Village Beat. The duo pays a fitting tribute to Lil Wayne’s video for ‘A Milli’. Mwamwaya dons red skinny jeans and tears it up in a Nairobi township with his entourage, stopping for a haircut, a chapati and to pet a goat along the way. 

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Alice Phelps//The Good Ship//23.02.12

Apparently, Thursdays were made for drinking with work colleagues. I am told the nation’s suits come together to debate trivialities like spreadsheets, whose turn in it is to buy milk and whether the boss is sexist or just “old fashioned”. FYI it’s always the latter. Thankfully the goodly people of North London realised that there are more important things like the folk at The Good Ship.

 I was lucky enough to encounter Alice Phelps, whose brand of whimsical pop reminded me of Kate Bush and Bat for Lashes. Having learned and excelled at pretty much every instrument she could get her hands on, Alice decided it was high time to go it alone with her harp. Since relocating to London, the soloist has thrown herself into the gig circuit to showcase fast expanding repertoire.

Alice’s songs are delicate, dreamlike and eccentric. Her vocals have a sultry quality, and she kept the crowd entertained with her enchanting lyrics. I suggest you seek out before she joins the big league.

Follow Alice on soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/alicekatherinephelps

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Baio//Tanto. Feat Matias Aguayo

Vampire Weekend bassist and sometimes DJ Chris Baio has impressed the crowds in his native New York for some time. His first solo ep Sunshine is out on 21 May via Joe Goddard’s label Greco-Roman. Baio describes his sound as ‘colourful’.  Baio doesn't disappoint with his first single, the smooth and sun soaked ‘Tanto’. It's a joyous track, with Matias Aguayo’s rambling vocals, steel drums and summer vibes. You can catch Baio at this year’s Lovebox festival.

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XXXY//I Know This Can’t Be Love

Blimey, I’m a little too excited for XXXY’s "Everything" EP to come out in a few weeks. The Manchester producer treated us to the new video for “I Know This Cant’ Be Love”, featuring some roses that look a little sorry for themselves starting to decay before they burst into flames. Deep. “I Know This Can’t Be Love” lends itself to house, combining big beats and a soulful sample. I envisage it being a hit with broken hearted dance fans everywhere.  

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Peace//Follow Baby

Birmingham boys Peace brightened up many a Monday with their new video for “Follow Baby”.  The trippy pink hills and heavy petting put me in mind of The Smashing Pumpkins’ video for “Today”.  Peace are a confused lot, describing themselves as “dark melodic indie techno” and have attracted comparisons with Foals and WU LYF.

The video features the band rocking out in the countryside while some attractive girls swan about in Topshop’s Nineties range, dip dyed hair swaying in the wind. Peace are playing a fair few spring festivals including: Camden Crawl, Dot-to-Dot and Tramlines. “Follow Baby” is released on 23 April via Deadly People.