Found - Founds

Do not adjust your peepers compadres, you saw it right the first time, for I do proclaim foundees that the final Found Of Confusion founders are called FOUNDS!* After Polarsets kicked us off in January, fifty two further bands have passed before your ears and now, one axed radio show; many crumpled A4 sheets; a sprinkling of insults; and a worn out thesaurus later, we gather together on one last Thursday to share in some music and round off the show. Here, take a handkerchief to wipe away those inevitable tears from your misty eyes, and now if you please, kindly transfer your gaze to the paragraph below where your final act is ready to perform.

Deep in the sun kissed soul of the southern hemisphere, amongst the bountiful beaches of Australia's eastern coast where surf and weekends singeing 'snags' rule the roost, it's hard to imagine that the snow capped extremities of Northern Europe would garner even a seconds thought. Yet listen closely, and you might just be surprised by what you hear, because hand in hand with cross city neighbours Little Scout, Brisbane based Founds are bringing a snapshot of Scandinavia to the sandy seafronts. In the eighteen months since their inception, the four parts male, two parts female, sextet, have previewed a smattering of tracks that are atmospheric without being aimless; fey but not flimsy. Shared half way through the year, 'Holograms' is a prime example of their art; a mellow Beach House aping intro, with all the right twinkles and sense of yearning, lays the groundwork for the drums and violins to swoop in and lift the melody up on their shoulders for a sprint to the finish. 'Caves' begins in equally restrained fashion, with only a light dusting of piano notes and a lonely vocal to it's name, but as the noise level ramps up and it threatens to build to something hugely climactic, there comes an unexpected and brilliant side step, with a cannibalistic drum beat leading the band into a chanted chorus, before the song then returns to the intended path for a soaring middle eight and a teasingly premature departure. With an album 'Hadean' nearing completion (thanks to the assistance of The Middle East producer Mark Myers), it could be that these Aussies are sat on one of the first great records of 2012; like all the best discoveries, these finders should definitely be keepers.

* I'm far more pleased with that sentence than I really should be!

Caves by Founds

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Found this interesting? Leave a comment below, e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk or get in touch on Google + (see the red square over on the right).

Found - Ninja Turtle Ninja Tiger

*Pad, Pad, Pad*, that's the sound of my latest pair of novelty slippers crossing the living room to the table, where I'll be faced with the tough choice of tasty turkey or a Curly Wurly from my selection box - IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY! Now I know you think that you've opened all your presents, but if you kick that crumpled pile of wrapping paper out of the way and peer round the side of the tree, you'll see one more box hiding...yep there, with the blue and white paper...pick it up and read the tag: 'To reader, with love from The Found Of Confusion xxx'. Go on, don't be shy you can open it.....SURPRISE...I got you another band to listen too, how brilliant is that!!

Of all the newborn musical messiahs to emerge blinking into the light this year, they'll be few better suited to this day of cracker bangs, party popper streamers and wonky primary colour hats, than Portland, Oregon's electropop wizards NINJA TURTLE NINJA TIGER. The trio, centred around hardcore habanero chomping* frontman Dustin Brown, have just completed work on their debut studio album, a record that, if it pursues the blueprint set out by it's quartet of lead up demos, will be a feast of fluorescent frivolity and pack as much kick as even the most piquant pepper. Amassed around firecracker drum patterns and crunching synths, came two examples of the sonic repercussions should anyone ever let Mario Balotelli play with his rockets in a paint pot factory. '..This City's Fallin' served up exactly the sort of exuberant, iridescent pop that saw MGMT and The Naked And Famous prosper; it's momentum building refrain crying out to be adopted by an elated crowd for a communal chanting session. 'Spinning On Fire' meanwhile is a track raised to know it's Manners - of the Passion Pit variety, and if 'The Reeling' ever wants a twin brother to step into its shoes then it need look no further. Not content to accept a supporting role the guitar grabs the spotlight on a third demo 'Vines, Baby'; picture the All Around The World In A Day Prince locked in a room with Empire Of The Sun and you'll end up in the right ball (paisley) park. Bringing up the rear in order rather than content came 'The Climb', a song set apart from it's predecessors by the presence of afrobeat percussion rolls and a softer chorus that slips through in the fashion of Phoenix; it's a more sedate affair but no worse for it. Visual and vibrant, Ninja Turtle Ninja Tiger are the bright lights heading for the top of the tree.

*Look them up on YouTube, all will become clear.

Ninja Turtle Ninja Tiger - Spinning On Fire by ninjaturtleninjatiger

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Find Them In These Places:

Soundcloud
Bandcamp
Facebook

If you want to get in touch all the usual means apply: comment below, come over to google+ or e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk .... but more importantly than any of that:

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL X

Found - Good Dangers

('Tis the days before Christmas and all is quiet)

................ Oh no!!......*scampering footsteps*...sorry readers! I was so caught up in rooting around under the bottom of the tree and prodding the presents that I completely forgot I had a blog to do! I am good at guessing what's beneath the wrapping paper though. This year there's a parcel that's long and thin and goes: triangle..dip..triangle..dip..triangle..dip - you know exactly like those huge Toblerone they sell - well I just know it's going to be a hand made sculpture of the Alps, hope I'm not disappointed!! Anyway, before the festivities get into full swing, and your mother commandeers the stereo for her sing along to 'Cliffs Chronic Christmas Covers Volume 278', lets take a moment to sit back and appreciate some shiny tinsel topped creations from the house of GOOD DANGERS.

In this instance 'house' is as much a nod to bricks and mortar as it is to the parlance of haute couture, because for this London based five piece it's the humble home that fulfils the role of makeshift studio; and whilst laying down licks in the living room normally screams, 'lo-fi looming', you'd be hard pushed to spot the simplicity of the surroundings that have spawned Good Dangers music in any of their output to date. Admittedly that back catalogue is not yet extensive; the band only have one official release to their name, 'So Unkind', which debuted in June as one half of a split single shared with equally promising Australian newbies Peppercorn. Though on the surface that track would pass as one of the clan in the Two Door Cinema Club family songbook, deep down it has indie disco deities in it's DNA; the lead guitar line walks the same Smiths hewn trail followed by The Incredible Flight Of Birdman, and the 'ah come on' in the chorus would surely raise a knowing smile from Jarvis Cocker, it's him all over. If you need more to go on than one tune then worry not, because there are a clutch of demos out there to also be enjoyed. 'Beat Of Your Heart' bounds with the infectious enthusiasm we loved in Big Wave Riders, and 'Brasilia' pushes keyboards front and centre to its great benefit, but it's 'Abigail' that really sits at the top of the pile; sounding like it could have danced straight off the recent albums from Cut Off Your Hands or TPOBPAH, it's a gladdeningly innocent and hopeful helping of chiming guitar pop that will have you smiling from now until...well at least Christmas! Remember that message drummed in to you as a kid about never ignoring the danger signs? Heed it now, you wouldn't want to miss something important.

Good Dangers 'Abigail' by friendsoffrenetics

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Find Them In These Places:

Facebook
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Bandcamp
Website

Too scared to comment? Why not fly in the face of danger and leave some wise words below, or if you prefer e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk ..or of course come to the grotto that is the google+ page.

Found - Leopard Of Honour

I've not put this LEOPARD OF HONOUR disc in my Sega Dreamcast yet, but I can just tell it's going to be a game and a half! It's probably not one of those where you speed about on a toadstool or curl up in a ball and pocket gold rings, but it's bound to be a damn sight better than dressing up as a leprechaun and spending four years walking through a forest looking for a fictional orb! No, I'm picturing a kung-fu cat on the African savanna, who - in order to avenge his fathers death, obviously - earns his spots and then gets all Shaolin on the naughty springboks and wildebeest; Wooooo, bring it on!!......I'll just put the disc in like so......... ahem, It would seem that I didn't read the box, this is an audio CD ......*twiddles thumbs*

Alright, Leopard Of Honour may not have you frantically mashing X and Y or wobbling on a Wii board, but the technophiles amongst us need not despair as the syntax of sound shaping software runs right through the core of the Mancunian producers writing process; and if there's a rockstar lifestyle lying in wait then he plans to reach it by playing games within the electronic arts. The man behind the jungle cat name is David Roocroft, who after becoming tired of doing online reviews for sub par experimental records, decided to take to his laptop and show the rest how it really should be done. The outcome of his sequencing and sampling are a handful of tracks that owe a debt to New York's discotheques; the vision of Arthur Baker; the British artists who observed and then interpreted the scene; and the little lady that led them all out from the clubs and into the worlds living rooms. What this isn't however, is a bland retro reenactment. The influence of Depeche Mode and New Order may be apparent on 'Palais Royal-Blue' but the tracks vocodered vocals are straight from the modern handbook of hip-hop. Similarly while 'Good Wives' might model itself on Madonna's 'Into The Groove' the overall look is embellished by the type of production quirks Kanye West flirted with on '808's & Heartbreak'. Even 'House Of Palms' with it's Funkadelic forms doesn't feel dated, thanks to a beefy beat and a harmonic melody that looks on in dazed wonder as the lights of the glitter ball strut through the dry ice. You know on reflection I don't think we need that console after all; drop the controllers readers, turn up the Leopard and 'Just Dance'.

Leopard Of Honour - House of Palms by JonAlt-Stoked

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Find Him In These Places:

Myspace

Bandcamp

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Have you enjoyed this or the other tracks on the blog? Get in touch by e-mailing foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk, post a comment below or have a glance at the Google+ page.

Sunday Sounds No. 2

Looky here, even more new music has been emanating from the magnificent minds of our erstwhile Found Of Confusion feature artists, and on such occasions it falls upon me to do my bit and pass their cracking compositions on to you, the loyal reader - so tuck in!

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Racing to the front of the 'have some new music folks' queue are INTERNET FOREVER who have announced that they will be releasing their first full length record this coming February. The eponymous album contains twelve tracks, three of which they've been kind enough to preview already; and that's not the end to their generosity, no sir, as you can acquire Break Bones for free from their Website for the meagre sum of just a 'tweet' or a 'like' - can't say fairer than that!

Internet Forever, Break Bones from Tom Blyth on Vimeo.

Centre Of Your Universe by Internet Forever

3D by Internet Forever

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If you can't wait until the second month to spend your Christmas dosh then you're in luck, because you'll be able to send some of it SECRET RIVALS way on January 16th. That's the day the Oxford quartet release their brand new double a-side single, 'Once More With Heart'/'I Know Something'. The video for the former is below and it's a typically thrilling audio conniption, but if you prefer a slightly more sedate pace then you're catered for too, as you can download Alphabet Backwards' great remix for free right here.

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If that's got your blood flowing and your rock and roll thirst needs further quenching then don't panic, BLUE LIP FEEL have got this one. The Sheffield lads this week added two new tracks to their Soundcloud page, 'Make You Love This' and 'Velvet Cape'. Both tracks tick the box of a band with big stage bravado in their blood, so take the chance of catching them at more intimate venues while you can.

Make you love this by Bluelipfeel

Velvet Cape by Bluelipfeel

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Last of all for today are recent 'Founders' ZULU WINTER, who this week went into the studio to continue work or their much anticipated debut album. I don't have any new tracks from that for you, but they were considerate enough to re-upload 'Silver Tongue' a few days ago, and as you didn't get to hear it first time round, here it is for your grooving pleasure now:

Silver Tongue by Zulu Winter

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Enjoy your sunday song session and if you want to get in touch the usual routes apply foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk 

Found - Friends

Amigos; Homies; Muckers, Cobbers: all acceptable ways to address your friends.....if you have some, which - going by the dust amassing on the 'foundees' box to the right, or the tumbleweed that keeps sticking its tongue out at us on Google+ - this blog does not. Why we're the billy no mates of blog land is a bit of a puzzler, after all we keep introducing you to our achingly cool rockstar acquaintances, and personally I think we look pretty fine in our black and gold threads, white bobble hat, and yellow and blue kicks. Hmm maybe it's those rumours The Sound Of Confusion spread about us...which weren't true!!! Anyway we're bound to attract some new hombres this week after we hang out with the most popular kids on the block...

......Not that you'd necessarily know that's what they were at first glance. Contrarily for a band with a communal tilt to their name, Brooklyn's FRIENDS aren't going out of their way to accumulate buddies or bring the public into their gang. Look hard but you wont find a Facebook, Twitter or Bandcamp, nor any other of the habitual haunts inhabited by breakout bands. What they do have though is a moniker conducive to attracting YouTube hits, and as their video counter whirs ever upwards, so it would seem does there stock, with the springboard to their surging popularity being the quintet's aptitude for creating alternative pop tracks that are minimal in their construction but abundant in attitude. Nothing fits that description more confidently than 'I'm His Girl'; Samantha Urbani mimicking the street corner strut of the baseline with a sassy, swagger Neneh Cherry exuded in her pomp; the rapped rebuttal to love rivals prompting recollections of Lindy Layton laying down the law on Dub Be Good To Me. Rhythm also provided the central pillar for earlier single Friend Crush; on that occasion the stripped back, detached signature style of Warpaint was scrawled across the track, but it was the b-side accompanying that release that is perhaps the most intriguing of Friends recordings to date. Listening to 'Feelin Dank' is like wandering into a deserted multi-storey car park and stumbling upon a cypher, where the resident beatboxers are lending their skills to a rehearsing girl group doing their best impression of The Crystals - it's naive, rough around the edges, and all in all absolutely great! Add into the mix a hot to trot cover of Ghost Town's 'My Boo' and it's clear that pop is in safe hands, while for us...well with Friends like these who needs anything else.

Friends - I'm His Girl by LuckyNumberMusic

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Find Them In These Places:

Lucky Number Music (Friends Record Label) Facebook
Lucky Number Music Bandcamp
Lucky Number Music Soundcloud

Want to make friends? e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk, get circling on Google+, or start a conversation in the comment box below.

Up On The Clouds No. 2

As the clouds outside start to take on a grey, foreboding presence, so the nimbostratus over Soundcloud also lingers heavy in the air.....heavy with great new songs that is!.....and that's quite possibly the worst link I've ever written isn't it.....we better just move on to the music, and let me tell you these tunes are raining melody!...oops there I go again:

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Untroubled by the pending precipitation are SPACE FIGHT who, from their lofty position above the globe, have been busy sprucing up their website and introducing themselves to the passing public of YouTube. In between battling for the universe they've also found time to pop into an intergalactic studio and record a new track by the name of Strange Land, which documents their fascinating discovery of a brand new planet....no I'm lying, it doesn't at all - great song though!

Strange Land by Space Fight

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Inevitably the arrival of bad weather will also signal the complete collapse of our permanently punctual, state of the art, train service. If you feel the desire to soundtrack that moment when you're stood freezing for two hours on a bitter York platform, (with only Burger King litter for company as they've taken away all the bins!) then what better way to do so than with VIOLET YOUTH and their re-recorded version of 'Delays'. Attempting to air mimic the added keyboard will also alleviate the chances of your frozen fingers dropping off!

Delays by Violet Youth

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A further way to combat the cold is to draw upon the power of imagination. When the outside world is doing it's best impression of a shouting freezer, why not whack up the heating and allow your mind to lead you to more hospitable surroundings. Thoughtfully, CALM AS THE COLOUR have penned just the track to help you with this feat of cosy self-delusion; stick 'Velvet Sunburst' on nice and loud, and it's sunny disposition will have you lounging with The Byrds amongst the greenery of Laural Canyon faster than you can say, 'Crosby pass me an ice pop'.

Velvet sunburst by calmasthecolour

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Of course if it ends up like last winter then one song alone wont be enough for your cerebrum to keep the chilly conditions at bay - but that's where the prolific SUMMER HEART comes in; he's back with another new track, one that will have your brain packed off to bathe in the blue waters of the Balearic's. The trademark waves of warm electronica are joined by an acid house backing beat to make 'It's Been A While' one of Mr Heart's best creations yet, and your passport to 'that happy place'

It's Been A While by SUMMER HEART

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So there you go a survival guide in the form of song, no need to thank me.....no, actually there is, you owe me big time found fans!! See you on Thursday.

foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk ; Google+ Page

Found - Zulu Winter

Ah..Ah...Achoo! Yep it's that stage of year again; the time of streetlights, sneezes and snugly fitting snoods. It's hard to believe that twelve months have lapsed since the infamous 'Torrent of Trouble' that rocked the Found Of Confusion's sleepy neighbourhood. The horror unfolded when bunches of feral kids took it upon themselves to construct shambolic igloos, and then send snowballs arcing through the sky in the defence of their structures. Many were too fall, and when teatime was called and parents emerged to survey the welly and bobble hat strewn battlefield, one was heard to sob: 'If only they'd headed our warning to stop chucking those bloody spheres!', wise words indeed. The camcorder footage hits cinemas next year under the banner ZULU WINTER - well that's if the band will lend us their name of course.

In this instance luck may be on our side, as the London quintet should be far too busy over the coming months to bother with the hassle of getting tangled up in a naming rights quibble; big things are being predicted for the band in 2012, and on the strength of the tracks they've debuted thus far, it's not difficult to see why. Circulated in the summer, a demo 'Silver Tounge' set the buzz ball rolling, as a snake hipped baseline, beatific breakdown and build up section, and impossibly high pitched backing vocals, linked up to deliver a fully formed offspring of Friendly Fires fav's 'Lovesick' and 'Pala'. Appetites wet, autumn brought the release of a debut double a-side single. 'Let's Go Back To Front' shared the foundation stones of it's forerunner, the bright and buoyant, glockenspiel speckled verses laying the groundwork for an all hands to the pump crescendo. 'Never Leave' though was a more tempestuous affair, the celestial interlude being flanked by a dark rumbling drum roll reminiscent of White Lies, plus a vocal from Will Daunt that, while sharing much in style with those of Chris Martin, was executed with far more bite than the Coldplay man can ever muster. A recent radio session for BBC Six Music introduced two further new tracks, one of which was notable for it's chorus claim that: 'you deserve better, sweetheart' - well I've bad news for the subject of that affection; on this form better may be tough to find!

Let's Move Back to Front by Zulu Winter

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Find Them In These Places:

Soundcloud
Blog
Facebook

Lawyers please note, there is no movie, I made it up....although if the concept appeals to you then let's talk! You can get in touch via Google+, by e-mailing foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk or by putting a comment below.

Video Of The Year: The Second Contenders

Good morning my video connoisseur friends, back for the second installment of The Found Of Confusion: Video Of The Year Vote! (That's a lot of capitals isn't it). You should already know the rules and how to vote from yesterdays post (I'm glaring at you again street teams!) but if you don't.....well it's directly below this so just go and have a read, it wont take long.

Let's get on with it, here are contenders D-F.

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D - Mausi - Sol

Soaking up the sunshine

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E - Calm As The Colour - The Rain Must Fall

The time is right for dancing in the street

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F - Beaty Heart - Slush Puppy

Ice Ice Baby

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That's it, you now have all six in your possession. Enjoy watching them and let me know your pick for Video Of The Year!

Video Of The Year: The First Contenders

Video killed the radio star - well not quite, it just forced all the DJ's on to I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, and as of yet the snakes and spiders of the outback haven't kept up their end of the bargain. Videos are great though, and a good one can add hugely to a songs impact. This is something a number of our 'Found Of' bands seem to be well aware of, because over the last few months they've come up with some great visual displays to compliment their top of the range tunes. As such I think it's only right we doff our cap to them, get interactive and pick our favourite!

Now I'm well aware that without your co-operation this could fall flat on it's grumpy, ruddy, rotund face - but we'll give it a go anyway! (Worst comes to worst I'll just pick the winner myself). Here's how it works, all you need do is watch the six videos (3 posted today and 3 tomorrow) then decide which you like best...and of course let me know. You can do that by leaving a comment below either post, e-mailing foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk or contacting me on Google+ - simple enough.

Any passing street teams please note: This is just a little bit of fun for the readers of the blog, they'll be no award ceremony, prizes or cash incentives; feel free to vote if you like but don't bother mobilising half of Facebook or tearing up Twitter. The winner will be mentioned in a post at the end of the year, so you've got until then to choose.

Happy watching, here's the first three.

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THE NOMINEES

A - Discopolis - When Ghosts Get Angry

Living in a box, he's living in a cardboard box

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B - Tomahawks For Targets - The Modern Hunter

Seek and ye shall find

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C - Little Scout - We Are Walking Out

Bolshoi below the branches, Bussell by the bushes

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That's A-C for you to mull over. See the remaining contenders back here tomorrow.



Found - Gung Ho

'Let's go surfing now / everbody's learning how'

...Well I'm not!! I hate the ocean and it doesn't care for me much either. It's full of salt (that refuses to help me float); dogs chewing tennis balls; nip nip crabs; and carrier bags that disguise themselves as jellyfish to send little kids - who were meant to be enjoying their holidays - running out of the water crying and on to a beach, where they may or may not sit on a bee and get stung!! On top of all that, in Scotland the sea is ****** cold!! So sorry surfing if you don't mind I'll just stay in the warmth of the car and listen to music instead, now what's on this CD down here....oooo surf-pop!

Ok concession time, for a stupid hobby, surfing has more than done its bit when it comes to inspiring great music (unlike you skateboarding!), and they'll be few better recent illustrations of the merit in tidal tunesmithery than 'Twin Rays', by Brisbane trio GUNG HO. Part of the August singles appeal however, comes from the fact that it's not a straight up and down surf-pop pastiche. The rippling lead melody, rolling drum break and hollow production approach - re-familiarised by Best Coast and chums - all give the track a clear sixties flashback flavour, but the presence of a forlorn lyric and flecks of nu-wave synth help to widen the songs scope and lightly nudge the sound into the vicinity inhabited by post punk revivalists like Selebrities. This sparing eighties touch begins to make more sense after an exploration of Gung Ho's April demos, and in particular 'Weekend Mothers', which is vintage Factory Records in it's sound. Vocals are yelped, the baseline is taut, and the whole package has funk in its angular bones; in short this is a track that shacked up with A Certain Ratio then took to town for some freaky dancing with Happy Mondays. 'Vacation' is a somewhat simpler affair, but not one to be overlooked, thanks to the presence of a tip-top chorus and teasing jammed outro. Three songs, only one conclusion: Surf boards = thumbs down; Fretboards and mixing boards = big thumbs up!

Weekend Mothers by Gung Ho

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Find Them In These Places:

Bandcamp
Soundcloud

Facebook

Are you amped for Gung Ho? Is this review sick? Should I just shut up now? Comment below, e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk or have a look over the new Google+ page (click the red G up on the right).

Found - The Brow Horn Orchestra

It's not my time you're wasting class, it's your own, and If Kevin Wright would bother to turn and face the front and stop swinging on his chair then perhaps we could get started! Ok, who can remember what we discussed last lesson? Yes Miss Madeup?... that's correct: 'The benefits of enjoyment and variety in music compositon'. As some of you were quite obviously snoozing throughout our discussion, I thought it only right that we revisit the topic; so take out your jotters please and copy down the name written on the board -THE BROW HORN ORCHESTRA - *sigh* yes Kevin you can borrow a pen.

Right then, now you've got that down here's what you need to know. Bobbing and bouncing their way out from Perth, Western Australian, The Brow Horn Orchestra are a menagerie of multi instrumentalists who plan to let the good times roll, and by sharing their shenanigans on record everyone is welcome along for the ride. September's 'Can't Afford This Way Of Life EP' was like getting an invite to a street party over at Genre Avenue, where Mr and Mrs Rap, Ska, Pop, Soul and House have hung out the bunting and are bursting to provide the entertainment for the assembled congregation. On their passport the six tracks on offer would probably list their occupation as 'hip-hop record' and in the case of 'King' and 'Kick Back & Fight' that's essentially true; both songs sporting the live authenticity of The Roots and the positive mindset of Afrocentric age acts such as Arrested Development. Delve in to the rest of the EP though and there's wider influences to be found. 'Every Single Day' is a perky portion of uptempo pop, it's triumphant horn section recalling El Presidente or even Dexy's, while 'We Were Where The Heart Is' has more than a bit of Basement Jaxx in it's charismatic chorus and dancefloor tempo. Rounding the celebrations off is the title track, and as it skips along to the same beat as The Avalanches, only a solitary question needs to be answered - when's the next party please? We'll be there!

We Were Where The Heart Is by thebrowhornorchestra

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Find Them In These Places:

Facebook
Bandcamp
Soundcloud
Twitter

Did you enjoy the party? Well leave a comment below, drop in on us on Google+, e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk or buy me a present to say thanks.

Musical Youths

As the year begins to wind down to it's conclusion, so many of our Found Of Confusion friends start to turn their attention to the future and map out their assaults on 2012 - or actually just sit in watching X-Factor, writing their list to Santa and arguing over whether Roses or Quality Street are on the menu. Now that's all well and good, but we want new material don't we?.....('Yes we do Andy').....Well thankfully not everyone is holding back, so long live the impulsiveness of youth, you've come through for us threefold!

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Since featuring them in March we - actually just I - have neglected to mention the good men of MOSCOW YOUTH CULT - well that can now change as they are to release a new EP, titled 'Iris', on November the 21st. You can listen to the EP in full over at Soundcloud , with particular highlights being 'Survivasm' and The LA2019 remix of the title trick, the original of which you can listen to below.

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From Moscow to Moss Side* we go, for fresh recordings from one of Septembers featured artists, VIOLET YOUTH. They've placed two new tracks up on Soundcloud during the last fortnight, '20 Minutes Later' and 'Poland'. There's no indication at this point in time as to whether these will be part of an official single release, but, as they're out there for you enjoyment at the moment, I'd suggest you get on it!

* not really, it's Stockport but that doesn't flow as well does it...I could have used Moston but nobody has heard of there!

 20 Minutes Later by Violet Youth

Poland by Violet Youth

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Last but by absolutely no means least comes DAUGHTER whose 'The Wild Youth EP' is now available for streaming and purchase from her Bandcamp page. I can't speak highly enough of this collection, from start to finish it's immaculately composed and contains four of the most emotionally charged and lyrically interesting tracks you'll have heard all year. Go and buy it as soon as possible, but before you do have a listen to the third track 'Youth', below.

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That's us done and dusted for today but if you want to get in touch please do so - you can e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk, or as you can see by clicking the red G in the box on over on the right hand side, the blog now has a Google+ page! I don't really understand how it works but if I get my head round it you can pop in over there for extra content...or not!

Found - Beaty Heart

Music lessons at school were great weren't they, a period of sanctuary separating the hour of 'I can't do long division miss' from the sixty minutes of 'Mon crayon est sur la table'. These god sent slots were the opportunity for us giddy kids to grab the first thing that came to hand (iinstruments only thank you!) and plonk, strum, bash, blow and shake until something loosely resembling a tune appeared - accompanied by a huge sense of satisfaction! Strangely, on forming a band, many musicians seem to lose sight of the fun they can have with their craft......that's not always the case though.

To BEATY HEART the studio is a Willy Wonka world of delights, one for which they've won the golden ticket; a place to concoct head spinning hymns that whirl straight out from the sugar rush. The rudiments of their musical recipe are well chosen - a healthy dollop of tribal drums a la Yeasayer, a smattering of Small Black's squiffy sonics and a teaspoon of falsetto and fantasy from Passion Pit - but it's the secret ingredients that really make the dish, tossing the senses through a land of Caribbean Carnivals, South American street parade's and Aboriginal artistry. For 'Cola' and 'Slush Puppy' it's the titles themselves that give the best indication as to what lies in store. The former is effervescent in the purest sense of the word, the impression of bubbles fizzing upwards being captured in the percussive samba beat, which in turn runs into a middle eight, presumably recorded from right inside the can as it's shaken to the point of explosion. The latter is just as depictive, seeming to submerge the listener within the crushed ice, before it all melts away amongst the heat of a jungle paradise. Nor is that the end to the variety; with it's steelpan, calypso chorus, '2 Good' must have been recorded behind the boundary rope at the Queens Park Cricket Oval in Trinidad, and as for 'We're All Friends Here' - well god knows where 'here' actually is but it's a place with plenty of didgeridoo! Imaginative, definitely a little bonkers, and without doubt one of the freshest sounds to appear this year.

2Good

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Top Tip: A slush makes an ideal ice bath for overworked tooth fairies. Agree? Like the music? Comment below, e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk or pay us a visit on Google+

Found - The Bilinda Butchers

Forget synchronising their haircuts; drawing straws over whether to have Ribena or Vimto on the rider; or even writing some songs; the most arduous task many young bands will face is settling on a name without two members trading punches or penning a creative differences Post-it. One way to circumnavigate the issue (and avoid the singer turning up at A&E with a pair of drumsticks lodged up his nose) is through a spot of good old fashioned identity theft! That person you all said you admire, why not nab their name, they probably won't miss it - you can ask THE BILINDA BUTCHERS if you don't believe me.

For those too young or absent minded to remember, Miss Butcher was - and in theory still is - a member of seminal shoegaze purveyors My Bloody Valentine, but her name, tired of hanging about waiting to appear in the sleeve notes of another record, has now upped sticks to start an independent life of it's own in sunny San Francisco. There it's been taken under the wing of an enterprising duo who, though obviously fans of Kevin Sheilds maverick troupe, have concocted a 'regret, love, guilt, dreams' EP that has greater parallels with the becalmed consonance of Chapterhouse, along with some more current influences. 'Careless Teens' and 'All My Friends' both share the welcoming demeanor of The Radio Dept., the latters whimsical vocals and glinting synth, dovetailing perfectly with the fulsome, Rickenbacker ring of the guitars, before bowing out to a well deserved round of applause. If that's not quite to your taste then there's an extra string to the EP's bow to be found on 'Sigh' and 'Boyfriend', where it's the organic grooves of Memory Tapes that are emulated confidently. The job of knitting these elements together falls upon 'Tulips', and as it's Hawaiian hula melody gently sways the time away, Bilinda's name can lie back, sip it's coconut, and reflect on the prospect of an exciting life ahead.

all my friends

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Want to butcher my choice of band? or are we all friends on this one? Leave a comment below, e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk or get on a boat, plane or train and pop round to the house for cake and a chat.

Brought To You By The Letter W

Don some safety goggles viewers and take a white coat from the rack, today we take a trip into the laboratory - feel free to have a look around as you please, but don't handle any funny coloured liquids, it wont end well! This is the place where the three W's of the 'F.O.C Experimental Electronica Guild' spend their hours massaging molecules in the name of artistic alchemy. Let us observe them at work:

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At workbench one we find WONDER BEAR who are busy testing their hypothesis that stripping away excess materials will not impact on the strength and beauty of the base element. In order to do this they've enlisted the help of Dr Bon Iver and his revered 'Skinny Love' paper. There certainly seems to be merit in their observations don't you agree?


Skinny Love (Bon Iver Cover) by Wonder Bear

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Now we must be respectful and try not to disturb him, but if you look over in the far corner you will see Mr WASKERLEY WAY hard at work. He continues to dedicate his time to surveying the impact of distortion on melodic sustainability and his most recent findings can be examined over at his Bandcamp page (here). In our opinion, his salient discovery is that which he refers to as 'Greem'

06 Greem by Waskerley Way

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As fortune would have it you've actually picked a very exciting day for this field visit, it's a momentous occasion for the third member of our triumvirate. After a study spanning over a year WISHING WARS this morning published his keynote work. The thesis is titled 'Phases' and is divided into ten enlightening chapters. To view the document in it's entirety you'll need to pay a visit to the I.Tunes Library (here) but below is a snippet of his conclusions.

Phases by Foundofconfusion

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I think it's best that we leave them with peace now to continue with their processes. Thank you for your visit and please pick up something from the gift shop on the way out and sign the visitors book.

foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk





Found - Little Scout

Dyb Dyb Dyb! Being a big Scout is great; stripes adorn the sleeves, Swiss Army Knives become de-rigueur, and on tap there's a steady flow of impressionable Cubs who dutifully believe it's their job to put up the tent while their seniors do a spot of sunbathing. Being a little Scout...not so fun! Fatty's in sleeping bags crush you, knots are practiced on your hands and feet, and we wont even mention what is done with the woggles! The quickest way to rise through the ranks of respect is to get a string of badges running up your arm; down in Australia one shrewd LITTLE SCOUT has cottoned on to this fast track system and is taking aim at the king of all badges, 'Musician' - on the strength of their debut long player the Brisbane quartet would probably be wise to go and invest in a sewing kit.

'Take Your Light' was released in August and is a record that excels with it's blend of compsure, sentiment and diaphaneity. Whether it's the measured emotion of the Bat For Lashes styled intro 'In The Air', the grandeur of 'We Are Walking Out's closing moments, or the way the title track slow dances it's way across the room, this is an album that carries itself demurely; the atmospheric arrangements shaping a pocket into which Melissa Tickle's exquisite vocal can slip. A supporting slot for Camera Obscura last year provides a pointer to Little Scout's modus operandi, but for the Glaswegians merriment they've substituted modesty, outright celebration is replaced with cautious optimism. Later in the piece there's a touch of Rose Elinor Dougall in some of the compositions, while 'Right Now We Are Here' sounds like the type of material Tennis could start to produce once they've satisfied their wander lust and moored the sailing boat at the jetty. Any proper Scout will make a promise to always do their best, this little one has kept its word.

DEAD LOSS by LittleScout

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Let's have your thoughts on Little Scout please. Leave a comment below, e-mail foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk or spell out your point using Alphabetti Spaghetti on toast.

Sunday Sounds

Morning Confusionists! Are you well?

Do you like my new logo? I invested a whole two minutes of my time in to creating that! Not totally sure I like it... but it's certainly better than my frightening face peering out the screen at you! To commemorate what is a ridiculously minor rebranding (and my 50th post), I thought we really could do with some new tunes to enjoy...and what do you know, as ever, our reliable Founders were more than happy to oblige!

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Kicking off the party are DISCOPOLIS, who have decided to try their hand at a spot of remixing. First up they turned their attention to Paper Crows, putting a fresh sheen on 'When Friends Survive':

Paper Crows - When Friends Survive (Discopolis Remix) by discopolismusic

Before then tackling the task of proving that it is actually possible to make The Wombats sound decent - and they've manged it too!

The Wombats - 1996 (Discopolis Remix) by discopolismusic

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Phew, there's nearly ten minutes worth of dancing there and I'm getting on a bit, can we calm it down a little please!! Get stuck into Channel Swimmer and his lovely remix of MAUSI's Sol, while I try and get my breath back *collapses*

Mausi - Sol (Channel Swimmer Mix) by Channel Swimmer

No it's no good, I'm still shattered - you know what would have been perfect to follow that tune with though, a new track from SUMMER HEART, if only there was such a thing....hold on what do I spy over here...oh I'm such a tease! Enjoy My Forever Smile.

My Forever Smile by SUMMER HEART

After that I don't think we need a party, lets just kick back on the settee and relax!

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Don't forget they'll be more new music coming your way on Thursday, but before I go I must mention the most important thing about today - it's Manchester derby day - COME ON CITY!!!

foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk

Found - Big Wave Riders

Making the most of having our furry winter coat out of the wardrobe, and knowing the trouble mum went to knitting these fetching pink mittens, the Found Of Confusion has decided to extend our stay on the northern patch of the globe. After last weeks stopover in the centre of Scandinavia, we're fanning out a touch this time to visit a nearby Nordic nation - namely Finland - a country famous for....I don't know what it's famous for actually.. Nokia phones perhaps? Sorry Finnish friends, I'm sure you have much more going for you than that, take BIG WAVE RIDERS for a start!
 
Modern music may have scant regard for international boundaries, but Helsinki would probably still come fairly low on the list of places you'd go to unearth a band well versed in the finer points of Anglo American indie rock. Big Wave Riders however are clearly aficionados when it comes to what either side of the Atlantic has to offer, and they've brought these influences together in a very enjoyable debut EP that has synth, surf and jangle pop at it's core. The ace in the pack is 'Behind These Walls', which for two and half minutes rubs shoulders with Stellastarr* and Deastro in the sing along stakes, only to then be gatecrashed by the type of squealing guitar finale that John Squire once adored. Elsewhere 'Republic Of The Average' arrives dressed in flares and a bucket hat, 'Skate or Die' shuns it's pop punk title in favour of getting strung out with The Verve and 'Pictures Of Lifestyle and Friends' encourages The Drums and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart to come together for a spot of inter group bonding. Big wave; Big songs; Big result!

Big Wave Riders - Republic of the average

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Want to educate me on the merits of Finland? Simply wish to praise the band? Leave a comment below, spend months randomly searching for me on social networks, or go with good old e-mail: foundofconfusion@hotmail.co.uk