MP3: Ray Rumours - Tomorrow
(London, 1:44 mins, 192 kbps, 2.4MB)

MP3: Ray Rumours - Dance of the Ghosts
(London 2:07 mins, 96 kbps, 1.5MB)

1. First listen to Tomorrow, then play Dance Of The Ghosts - they intersect, hold hands, clink glasses and walk in step with no difficulty. Together Ray Rumours folk music shimmers, and shocks you into thoughts of problems usually left hidden under stresses and strains, this is the music of anticipated release and complete freedom “Every problem can be solved… just give it some time”.

2. “Tomorrow” is the warm up, the prep, it’ll make your mind process colourful images twice as fast when you properly get up to speed. The guitar is cobweb thin, harp-like, and a thing to marvel at.

THREE: “Dance of the Ghosts” is slowing down to make sure you catch up, and once you have, you’ll wonder why you ever walked slowly, and was so interested in the ground passing underneath your feet. LOOK UP & 4WDS 4EVER! It’s says in bold type.

4. Ray Rumours was the bassist in the fantastic-but-currently-hiatused Electrelane who played an incredible set before the Beastie Boys this summer.

V. Ray Rumours have had releases with, and have played with/ featured on the same label as Francois, Sleeping States and Caz Mechanic, all bands that I raved out on NBGL in the past year. Buy at Tome, More at Myspace

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“I love the music of the “freak folk” scene - Devendra Banhart, Animal Collective, Iron & Wine, Joanna Newsom, etc. What rap music would I like?” [answers]

Tags: Best of NBGL, Folk, Johnny 5 Is Alive by Mike Smith
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MP3: The Bridge Gang - London Sky Tonight (demo)
(Hackney, 2:26 mins, 128 kbps, 2.3MB)

Quite possibly the finest song of the last couple of the years. London 3-piece The Bridge Gang held themselves so well, but called it a day earlier this year and are moving on to pastures new, but as a good bye they are releasing two of their finest songs, London Sky Tonight and the intense Sarah’s Brother. The demo version of L.S.T preserves the raw pop energy of a band who gave it their all.

Jose: The Bridge Gang has really cemented all of our desires to make music and to spend our lives putting records out, that’s the best thing we all could’ve hoped for when we started the band.

Almost two years ago I said they are “a band so uncomplicated, so raw; a trio with ambitions to match their monumental style,” and I stand by that.

myspace.com/thebridgegang

You can buy the final 7″ here and hear the proper version of both track at last.fm.

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Unrelated:

A glorious 8mm skate video from 1970s Britain

Tags: Best of NBGL, Johnny 5 Is Alive, London, not-folk-music by Mike Smith
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MP3: Head and Neck Sessions - Moya Moya
(Shrewsbury via London, Bristol and Southampton, 3:34 mins, 320 kbps, 8.2MB)

Electronica for the urgent and determined, from a geographical unsure 3 piece. The Head and Neck sessions, are boucing feelers towards you in a very subtle manner; you may not even feel the bleeps and bass engaging both sides of your brain, spinning colours and geometric shapes through your mind and making feel great again. It’s fresh and exciting in a way that doesn’t sound bedroom produced, ill-considered or lost on a journey to nowhere and back. It’s thoughtful and soulful, and there’s not much better to prepare you for a night of excitement, fireworks and bonfires than a some low-key electronica.

myspace.com/headandneck

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Undoubtedly a track of the month already, in high quality sound. Have you got some really good new British music to share? Send me an email.

Tags: Best of NBGL, not-folk-music by Mike Smith
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MP3: Text Adventure - Boobook (for R)
(Glasgow, 4:50 mins, 160 kbps, 5.6MB)

“An exploded folk album about girls”

Folk music is been a staple part of my musical diet (or should that be indulgence?) of late; it has been nourishing me in all sorts of different weathers, and places. That’s why I delight in it, not for the intricacies, nor for the warmth, but for the ease: I don’t find it difficult. I remember Text Adventure games being very difficult, but this isn’t a game, this is Scottish folk music with bleeps and hollows in the valley where the machines regroup for the final assault, only to be stopped in there by a lazy stream and a frog. 2:17 is the moment when I awoke. It’s the folk band that inspired TVOTR - if only.

http://www.myspace.com/iamtextadventure

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Yes, that above, that’s a music review. I hope you enjoyed it.

Tags: Best of NBGL, Folk, Johnny 5 Is Alive, Not London by Mike Smith
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MP3: The Last Dinosaur - The First, Last Dinosaur Song
(Near Cambridge, Unsigned 4:03 mins, 160 kbps, 4.7MB)

“No computers were used in the making of this music! Multitrack recorders are our friends!”

“We want to release beautiful recordings with beautiful artwork for the people who recognise honesty and just love music.” the dinosaurs told NBGL.

A droning and jazzy march towards the dusk, thousands of people stomping, and receiving a hearty round of applause from onlookers and well wishers. A welcome return to nourishment after the Radiohead album starved some of my musical senses not fulfilled by “In Rainbows”, although it’s a fantastic album, and it’s still improving. The First Last Dinosaur is a song full of clarity, and big ideas realised in a subtle and careful way. They’re not climbing any peaks, or conquering anybody - they are just enjoying the journey, and so should you. I eagerly await a live show, and the coming together of something BIG!

myspace.com/thelastdinosauruk

Tags: Best of NBGL, Folk, Johnny 5 Is Alive, Not London by Mike Smith
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