The Zzub Chart

The National take prime position


1 (2) THE NATIONAL – TROUBLE WILL FIND ME – 4AD

Following the huge success of High Violet, the Brooklyn based outfit return with a knowing confidence on their sixth studio LP, but they still haven’t lost any of that fragile beauty that makes them so special. http://youtu.be/yIWmRbHDhGw

 

2 (4) THE PASTELS – SLOW SUMMITS / CHECK MY HEART – DOMINO

It’s been 16 years since the release of their last LP Illumination, but now The Pastels return with the excellent Slow Summits, a beautiful collection of songs and melodies that have got a misty eyed nostalgic quality. Preceding it is the excellent single. Check My Heart, a summery slice of fuzzy feel good pop with a sing a long chorus that shimmys & jingle jangles in all the right places. http://youtu.be/sjxYLFWxR6E

 

3 (6) OUT COLD – ALL I WANT – HEAVENLY

A carefully layered psychedelic opus of shimmering beauty from Cherry Ghost’s Simon Aldred. Ewan Pearson serves up a chunky 4/4 mix, shot through with sonic zaps, disco strings and perky key riffs. Whilst Mode give the song a certain groovy sunshine Balearicness. Lovely stuff.

http://youtu.be/yh0OuKvtXIc

 

4 (1) CHARLIE BOYER & THE VOYEURS – CLARIETTA – HEAVENLY

Oozing charisma, style and swagger, with a knowing glint in the eye, and a hint of Tom Verlaine’s Television, Howard Devoto’s Magazine and Johnny Thunders’ Heartbreakers, this East London five piece have raised the stakes for LP of the year with a stunning debut. http://youtu.be/K-K-wxjJebQ     http://youtu.be/VUbeV4q4G_Q

 

5 (7) RITUEL – DEUX – MICRONAUTICS

The lead track Club Zanzibar is a nod to the legendary New Jersey nightspot, as well as a heads up to the African tribal influences that spice up the dancefloor, making this a peak time house number with great samples and Italo Disco leanings. It comes backed with the firing on all cylinders Nirvana Dance, a pumping tempo changing bass heavy stonker with a mesmerising vocal. http://youtu.be/9h_a033uk3w

 

6 (12) DANIELE BALDELLI & DJ ROCCA – PODALIRIUS REMIXES VOL.1 – NANG

Three choice cuts with Andrew Weatherall working Complotto Geometrico into a chunky intricately woven out there Balearic delight. Prins Thomas gives Space Scribble extra squiggle, and Luke Solomon injects some raw and funky percussive post punk disco into A TV Show. It don’t get much better than this.

 

7 (9) TYTHE – CARELESS WOMAN – SUNDAY BEST

A sun drenched Balearic groover with originality, subtlety and substance that doesn’t do the obvious. Lapalux wrap it in swathes of warm electronics and send it into orbit. Throwing Snow give it some bump’n’clutter, and 12 Tree get it back in the groove and on the dancefloor. http://youtu.be/afHGkEob_do

 

8 (13) MY FAVORITE ROBOT – LOOKING FOR FROST – No.19 MUSIC

The Toronto threesome deliver an ethereal atmospheric builder that’s got a certain 90’s feel about it, sort of Underworld meets Rising High meets Sabresonic. Comes with a nice couple of house mixes care of Juan Maclean and Louie Fresco.

 

9 (16) MIXHELL – SPACES – SUNDAY BEST / BOYSNOIZE

Debut LP from Iggor Cavalera, the percussionist in Sepulutra, (a Brazilian heavy metal band that have sold more than 10 million records), with his DJ wife Laima Leyton and producer Max Blum, they decided to form a cutting edge electronic outfit that have already toured with Soulwax, James Murphy, Erol Alkin and played Lollapalooza.

http://youtu.be/23-gm95WkOY

 

10 (5) NEIL HALSTEAD – SPIN THE BOTTLE – SONIC CATHEDRAL

The second single to be lifted from his excellent Palindrome Hunches LP, comes with a newly recorded Alternative Version which gets a tad cosmic. There is also a beautiful live mix of a new song Chasing Rainbows, and a deep layered Mark Van Hoen Remix of Full Moon Rising. http://youtu.be/dlqtGim9cpk

 

11 (15) KID A – BB BLEU – TECHNICOLOUR

This has got nothing to do with Radiohead, in fact it is the gorgeous debut release from Virginia, U.S.A. based Ann Alexander Thweat. She floats her distinctive slightly folkish breathy vocals over lush electronic loops. It comes with 3 remixes, Eliphino delivers a bumping house number, Dolor gets spun out adding other worldly textures, and Daedelus takes it down into the bottomless pit. http://youtu.be/ZydRe0kmU1k

 

12 (18) TELONIUS – KISS YOUR FACE – GOMMA

Seductive and enticing house with female fashionista vocals that have got a certain ZE Records New York feel. On the remix front Tigerskin adds a shaker shuffle, teasing key riffs and atmospheric pads, whilst Nolan creates a bit of a B52’s vibe with clever vocal antics. Another winner from Gomma.

 

13 (NEW) ROYAL FOREST – SPILLWAY – MOLLUSC

A psychedelic outfit from Austin, Texas, that like to work with analogue tape loops, manipulate sounds, experiment on a whim and go out on a limb, but they keep it musical and write good songs with a slight sense of humour. If you’re into The Flaming Lips, Eels and Grandaddy…    http://youtu.be/n2D2JtjtyIE    http://youtu.be/Lzz-1lt6aUY

 

14 (NEW) HEADMAN FT. SCOTT FRASER AND DOUGLAS MCCARTHY – NOISE – RELISH

Douglas McCarthy repeatedly asks “Do you want some noise now” in his distinctive style, over typical industrious 80’s Euro beats, with brooding synths alongside vocal grunts & groans, giving extra momentum to the seedy backroom vibe. Daniel Maloso gives it a bit of a fuzzy high energy feel, and Hardway Bros aka Sean Johnston makes the most of the Nitzer Ebb connection, and throws in some very nice outer space effects.

 

15 (17) THE ORB FT. LEE SCRATCH PERRY – MORE TALES FROM THE OBSERVATORY – COOKING VINYL

Part 2 of the psychedelic skank sesh that knows no boundaries. Stargazing has never been so colourful. http://youtu.be/A-n4i0eX3aY

 

16 (19) HOOKWORMS – RADIO TOKYO – TOO PURE SINGLES CLUB

Soaring, swirling, well charged and overloaded abrasive psychedelic garage from Leeds, for an ear bleeding, mind bending freak out. http://youtu.be/9C1pU0Qm0KQ

 

17 (NEW) TALA – SOMETIMES SWING – DOBLE CLIC MUSIC

A feel good slice of summery house with skittering beats and lush warm pads that make you want to take the coast road on a scooter or in a sporty soft top.

 

18 (20) EMIKA – DVA – NINJA TUNE

A collection of bleak electronic songs that soundtrack the struggle to survive in an Eastern European city, set in the not too distant future. http://youtu.be/oscuSiHfbwo

 

19 (NEW) THE BLACK 80’S – GIVE ME SOMETHING – AIR LONDON

Hollis P Monroe and Overnite are The Black 80’s, together they have created a moody and atmospheric deep house number with soulful vocals, that is set to raise more than a few eyebrows.

 

20 (23) GRAINGERBOY – SILENT UNIVERSE EP – POPCRISIS

Electro pop with soaring typically British 80’s influences, crimped hair, bad eyeliner, disco pulses and a small town indie feel.

 

21 (16) DECO CHILD – SKINLESS EP – NINJA TUNE

Deco Child returns with an even broader and more accomplished sound, adding a classical element and pop rhythmic handclapping to his overwhelming electronics. http://youtu.be/9VJEpMT7WeI

 

22 (NEW) ALISON MOYET – CHANGELING – COOKING VINYL

Horse Meat Disco’s Severino cooks up a simmering hip shaking percussive number, Ali Renault delivers a nice slo-mo dub, and Photonz get a bit of a low slung rhumba with Balearic overtones on the go. Alf goes house diva!

 

23 (NEW) HAPPY FAMILIES – NEW FORGETTING – SONIC CATHEDRAL

This sonically challenging fuzzy wall of sound, loaded with feedback and a barrage of white noise, is the debut single from a new band formed by Lawrence Chandler (Bowery Electric) and artist Lucia Rivero. It comes backed with a version of The Ramones’ I Remember You. Prepare to be shot to pieces.

 

24 (NEW) AKRA – TUNNELVISION – TENG

Deep and cavernous melodic techno, with rhythmic pulses, sinister organ, emotive piano and an overall dark superior feel.

 

25 (NEW) MEGABLAST PRESENTS MIKELE DIO – A KIND OF FLIGHT FT. AMINATA SEYDI – LUV LITE

A seductive slow burning house that teases as it pleases, just adding the right amount of spice, that builds into a full blown sizzling diva anthem, with all its faculties and sussed know how remaining intact. Watch this fly.

 

To get your track submitted for consideration please contact Dean Thatcher at deanthatcher25@hotmail.com The Zzub Chart is physical. Vinyl & CD’s.