Careful now by Doldrums/Army Girls

Doldrums is former Spiral Beach frontman, Airick Woodhead, mate of arty/eerie pop queen of the moment Grimes. He scored a coup recently when his cover of Portishead’s Chase the Tear featured on the b-side of said single’s vinyl release. Today’s MPFree was originally released on a mixtape early last year. However, it’s been doing the blog rounds this weekend so we though we’d bring it to your attention. Produced by Doldrums, the vocalist is, we think, Carmen Elle of Toronto’s Army Girls. Doldrums has just released a free EP entitled Empire Sound, available to download here.

Hook You Up by Sylver Tongue

We wish we could tell you more about the Purple Rain/Grace Jones/Sci-Fi obsessed Sylver Tongue. Alas, information has been less than forthcoming. Sometimes however this can be a good thing, as it lets the music – in this case perky synth-pop produced by James Rutledge of Everything Everything/Fever Ray fame – really do the talking.

Close-Ups by Torches

Noisy London upstarts Crushed Beaks and Torches are releasing a split download single, featuring covers of each other’s songs. First up is the latter’s version of the former’s Close-Ups. Celebrate with both bands at Power Lunches, E8, March 10th.

Lucky Soldier by Vinyl Jacket

Lucky Soldier, by Northumberland five-piece Vinyl Jacket, sounds a little like The Futureheads.  The Futureheads minus the searing post-punk guitars and with their collective balls trapped in a collective vice.  Not a bad thing we can assure you.  They’re just on the right side of quirky; expect the phrase ‘off-kilter’ to be banded nonchalantly about.  Anyway, they’re getting tons of radio play and tons of press, so you’re likely to hear a lot more of them in 2012.  Excellent, we say.

Pólyfónía Remixed by Apparat Organ Quartet

Pólyfónía Remixed is an extended EP of nine re-workings of tracks from Apparat Organ Quartet’s hugely likeable second album. Included is today’s MPFree: Robotaki’s rather jolly treatment of the already enormously jolly single, 123 Forever. Other artists lending a hand include fellow Icelanders FM Belfast and London based producer/remixer Dreamtrak. Pólyfónía Remixed is out February 27th.

Day by Day By by Mike Doughty

The release date of Doughty’s fourth solo album, Yes and Also Yes, has been put back to coincide with the publication of his autobiographical novel The Book of Drugs, the contents of which should be self-explanatory.

The former Soul Coughing frontman favours that curious blues/rap hybrid that only Americans seem able to pull off. Thankfully, he’s more Beck than Kid Rock. Both novel and album are out now, the latter on Hornblower Recordings/Snackshare.

Open by Rhye

There are plenty of rumours circulating as to who might be behind this secretive LA duo. Not wanting to appear foolish at a later date, we here at Snipe plan on being thoroughly non-committal. You won’t get anything out of us, mainly because we haven’t got a clue. So just lay back, pour yourself a glass of cheap white wine and sink into this stunning, melancholy love letter of a jam. The Open EP is available now via Innovative Leisure.

Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips by Moonface

Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade has teamed up with Finnish dramatists Siinai for the new album from his Moonface solo project. The rather grandly titled, With Sinnai: Heartbreaking Bravery, is released April 16th via Jagjaguwar. Download Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips below, if not for the opening line alone.

Mat Riviere unveils "not even doom music"

After his 2010 debut album “Follow Your Heart”, lo-fi solo artist Mat Riviere has put out a trailer for the long-awaited follow up, to be entitled “not even doom music”. This is something to be excited about. Trust. Keep your eyes on Mat’s Soundcloud and Facebook to hear more as he (hopefully) drip-feeds us new stuff. And in case you’re not yet familiar with the work of mister Mat Riviere (who can be found on twitter posing as @meretrivia) the song below was the compulsively awesome title track from album number one.

awE naturalE by THEESatisfaction

awE naturalE, the debut album from Seattle duo and Shabazz Palaces collaborators THEESatisfaction, is due for release March 27th via Sub Pop. Catch them at White Heat, April 24th. Today’s MPFree is a silky smooth groove from said album, available here in exchange for an e-mail address.